Department of Pediatrics critical care faculty research earns top honors at national conference

Drs. Kelly Lyons and Jaimie Furlong-Dillard part of international team given Bronze Snapshot Award from Society of Critical Care Medicine

A recent study exploring how to better support parents of children receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) was recognized by the Society of Critical Care Medicine. The international research team included University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics critical care faculty members Kelly Lyons, MD, assistant professor, and Jaimie Furlong-Dillard, MD, associate professor.

Dr. Lyons presented the study, “Trauma-Related Psychopathology in Parents Following ECMO: A Qualitative Study,” at the 2026 Critical Care Congress on behalf of the research team led by Oliver Karam, MD, of Yale University. The abstract received the Bronze Snapshot Award, recognizing it among the top 10 abstracts in its category.

Drs. Lyons and Furlong-Dillard served as site leads at Norton Children’s Hospital for the study, which sought to better understand trauma-related psychological effects experienced by caregivers of children treated with ECMO. The findings revealed that more than half of participating parents experienced symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, or depression, underscoring an urgent need for trauma-informed care practices to better support these patients and their families.

Click here to read the full study. 

About the University of Louisville Department of Pediatrics
The University of Louisville (UofL) Department of Pediatrics, part of UofL’s School of Medicine, aims to provide inclusive excellence in clinical care, medical education, pediatric research and community advocacy to meet the health-related needs of children. The faculty are researchers who explore innovation in pediatric medicine, serve on local, regional and national committees and organizations while helping set standards of care and formulate new models of treatment. They are educators, focused on training the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. In addition, our faculty serves as pediatricians who provide services of Kentucky and the region through our affiliation with Norton Children's Hospital.