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Dear UVA Health Team Members, 

Today I’m excited to announce the appointment of Madhusmita Misra, MD, MPH, as the new Chair of the UVA Department of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief for UVA Health Children's, effective Dec. 4, 2023.

Dr. Misra brings with her a wealth of experience and accomplishments from her current role as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Talbot Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Boston. She is also the Director for Pediatric Research and Associate Program Director at the Massachusetts General Hospital Translational and Clinical Research Center, Medical Research Officer at Massachusetts General Hospital through the Harvard-wide CTSA, and Associate Chief for Academic Faculty Development at Mass General for Children.

With more than 15 years of leadership experience at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Misra has also served as the Fellowship Program Director for Pediatric Endocrinology, Clinical Director for the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Co-chair of the Faculty Development Program at Mass General for Children. At the national level, she has served as President of the Pediatric Endocrine Society.

Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Misra has demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities, conducted groundbreaking research, and provided high-quality care to patients. Additionally, she has played a vital role as a caring mentor for colleagues and physicians in training. Dr. Misra's track record is outstanding, and she has made significant contributions to her field of expertise. Her research on weight-related conditions, from anorexia to obesity, and their effects on bones and the body's hormone system, has been widely recognized for its impact on managing low bone density in youth with low-weight eating disorders. She has authored over 200 peer-reviewed original research papers and co-edited two pediatric endocrine textbooks. Dr. Misra has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other funding agencies for her research since 2004 and currently serves as PI or multi-PI on three NIH R01 grants and a Department of Defense grant.

As a patient-care provider, Dr. Misra has specialized in caring for children with neuroendocrine and bone disorders. During her tenure as division chief, she successfully established several specialty programs, including a multidisciplinary pediatric diabetes program, offering comprehensive care to children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. She also expanded the division's community outreach efforts, ensuring that patients have access to quality care at 10 satellite clinic locations.

Dr. Misra's expertise aligns perfectly with the School of Medicine’s vision and four mission areas. Her leadership will further strengthen the Department of Pediatrics and UVA Health Children's, building upon the already recognized No. 1 ranking as Virginia's leading children's hospital, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Misra will succeed Dr. James Nataro, who has served admirably as chair since 2010. I am deeply grateful for Dr. Nataro’s distinguished leadership and dedication in making our Department of Pediatrics one of the best in the country. His efforts have been pivotal in expanding our services and delivering excellent care to children across Virginia and beyond. 

Dr. Misra will be joined by her husband, Dr. Sidhartha Pani, who will be joining UVA in the Department of Medicine as the Medical Director for the recently opened same-day clinic at the medical center as well as having a primary care practice at Pantops.  

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Misra to our UVA team. I’m confident that her presence will inspire and drive us to achieve even greater heights in research, patient care, education, and community outreach.

Sincerely,

Melina R. Kibbe, MD
Dean, UVA School of Medicine
James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science
Chief Health Affairs Officer, UVA Health
Professor, Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering
Editor in Chief, JAMA Surgery