Seven Miller School of Medicine Doctors Elected to American Pediatric Society
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine pediatricians comprise almost 10% of the incoming member class of the esteemed organization dedicated to excellence in pediatrics.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine physicians comprise seven of the 92 new members of The American Pediatric Society (APS).
APS members are recognized child health leaders of extraordinary achievement who work together to strengthen academic pediatrics by expanding the workforce, nurturing leaders and developing innovative approaches to address child and adolescent health challenges.
“The American Pediatric Society is the oldest and most prestigious academic society in pediatrics,” said Glenn Flores, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics, senior associate dean of child health and the George E. Batchelor Endowed Chair in Child Health at the Miller School. “The process of becoming an APS member is rigorous and highly selective. Having seven members of the Department of Pediatrics become APS members this year means that 8% of the new 2025 APS members are from our department. In addition, more than 20% of our department’s faculty—30 in total—are APS members, a truly impressive tribute to our faculty members’ relentless pursuit of excellence.”
The new Miller School APS members include:
Nelson Claure, Ph.D., Research Professor of Pediatrics
Dr. Claure’s research has focused on improving the understanding of advantages and limitations of neonatal respiratory support. Dr. Claure’s interests also include the understanding of the mechanisms producing respiratory and oxygenation instability in premature infants, as well as factors contributing to abnormal lung development and chronic lung disease of prematurity.
Teresa Del-Moral, Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Dr. Del-Moral studies nutrition and gastrointestinal diseases in premature infants, with the long-term goal of developing novel therapies to promote intestinal mucosa maturation to prevent gastrointestinal dysfunction and disease. Throughout her research career, she has been involved in clinical trials focused on nutritional aspects of care in premature infants.
“I chose to become a pediatrician when I came to understand that the most dramatic physiological moment of our lives is the transition from fetal to extrauterine life. Optimizing care at those moments can completely alter an infant’s life trajectory,” said Dr. Del-Moral. “I am proud to join this esteemed organization and become part of a network of dedicated professionals who share a passion for improving child health.”
Dainelys Garcia, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Innovation and Community Engagement at the Mailman Center for Child Development
Dr. Garcia focuses on advancing access to evidence-based behavioral health services. Her work centers on refining and individualizing evidence-based parenting interventions for high-need communities through community-partnered initiatives that strengthen provider capacity, improve treatment engagement and retention and enhance outcomes for families facing substantial barriers to care.
“I chose pediatrics because I believe early childhood offers a unique opportunity to improve developmental and behavioral health trajectories while building more accessible systems of care that truly meet families’ needs,” Dr. Garcia said. “Becoming an APS member is an incredible honor and a humbling recognition of this work and of the many colleagues, families and community partners who have made it possible.”
Lisa Gwynn, D.O., M.B.A., M.S.P.H., Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Section Chief for Community Pediatrics, Medical Director of the Pediatric Mobile Clinic and School Health Programs
Dr. Gwynn oversees three primary care pediatric practices, serves as medical director for the Miller School’s Pediatric Mobile Clinic, a program that provides medical and behavioral health services to uninsured immigrant children, and program director for the School Health Initiative, nine pediatric clinics in Miami-Dade County public schools. She runs the mobile immunization program “Shotz-2-Go!,” which travels to schools and health fairs to provide vaccinations to children in need. Her recent research focused on COVID-19, for which she received NIH funding to explore the feasibility of COVID-19 testing in schools and to better understand COVID-19 knowledge and testing barriers in underserved populations.
“I chose pediatrics because I have always been inspired by the resilience of children and the profound impact that timely, compassionate care can have on the trajectory of a child’s life,” said Dr. Gwynn. “Becoming an APS member is deeply meaningful to me. It affirms that community-focused work, delivered in schools, neighborhoods, and mobile clinics, is essential to the academic mission and to advancing child health at a population level.”
Jennifer Muñoz Pareja, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Member of the Scientific Faculty at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
Dr. Muñoz Pareja’s research centers on pediatric neurocritical care, with a particular focus on neuroinflammation and the development of blood-based biomarkers to diagnose, monitor and predict outcomes after brain injury in critically ill children.
“I chose pediatrics because children are the future and caring for them brings me purpose and joy,” she said. “They are capable of brightening even our hardest days. Becoming an APS member is a true honor, as it reflects the trust and recognition of distinguished peers. Being recommended and welcomed into this society is both humbling and deeply motivating.”
Elizabeth Pulgarón, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Mental Health Services for the School Health Initiative
Dr. Pulgarón specializes in psychosocial behavioral interventions for children with chronic illnesses such as sickle cell disease, persistent asthma, diabetes and obesity. Dr. Pulgarón has spent a significant amount of her professional career working in the community. Schools, community centers, primary-care offices and summer camps have all been settings in which she has provided services and conducted clinical research.
“Caring for children means investing in the future,” said Dr. Pulgarón. “My passion has always centered on promoting access and improving care for marginalized youth. Becoming a member of the American Pediatric Society is such an honor, and I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with dedicated colleagues nationwide as we work to ensure every child receives the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve.”
Miguel Saps, M.D., Chief of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the George E. Bachelor Chair in Pediatrics, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Saps’ research centers on the pathophysiology and treatment of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders in children. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and 30 book chapters, lectured more than 200 times nationally and internationally and is currently authoring the first comprehensive book dedicated to chronic abdominal pain in children. He is widely regarded as a leading international expert in pediatric disorders of gut–brain interaction.
Tags: Batchelor Children's Research Institute, Batchelor Foundation, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Dr. Dainelys Garcia, Dr. Elizabeth Pulgarón, Dr. Glenn Flores, Dr. Jennifer Munoz Pareja, Dr. Lisa Gwynn, Dr. Miguel Saps, Dr. Nelson Claure, Dr. Teresa del Moral, Micah Batchelor Award for Excellence in Children's Health Research, neonatology, pediatrics, School Health Initiative