Dr. Mourani, who will also hold the position of professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care in the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), joins Arkansas Children’s from the University of Colorado and Children’s Colorado Hospital where he served as a professor of pediatrics in the Section of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Mourani, who is board-certified in pediatric pulmonary and critical care medicine, has been an influential leader at Colorado Children’s in development of child health research strategy and clinical research programs and infrastructure. He has served as medical director of the Children’s Hospital Clinical Research Organization (CCRO) and most recently as medical director of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Research Institute.

“We know Dr. Mourani’s strong track record of NIH funding, his clinical research background, and his strong leadership skills will ensure Arkansas Children’s succeeds in our five-year strategic plan of fully integrating research across our entire system,” said Arkansas Children’s President & CEO Marcy Doderer, FACHE. “Arkansas children face a brighter future as ACRI makes more discoveries and breakthroughs on their behalf with his guidance.”

Dr. Mourani, who will also hold the Ross and Mary Whipple Family Distinguished Research Scientist Endowed Chair at Arkansas Children’s, has maintained a consistent track record of NIH funding to support multi-center investigations focusing on pulmonary and pulmonary vascular disease in preterm infants, as well as projects investigating the pathogenesis and care of critically ill children with severe lower respiratory tract infection, including ventilator-associated pneumonia.

“Integrating research and innovation across the Arkansas Children’s system is an essential part of making children better today and healthier tomorrow,” Mourani said. “I’m thrilled to join and lead a team of nationally recognized scientists who are becoming a creative force in pediatric healthcare. Arkansans are already seeing new diagnostics, devices and therapeutics coming forward as a result of Arkansas Children’s efforts, and I look forward to leading us into the next era of child health.”

Dr. Mourani is the site principal investigator and steering committee member for the prestigious eight-site National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) supported Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network (CPCCRN), which performs impactful clinical research in the field of pediatric critical illness and injury. ACRI will join the 24-site CPCCRN if a pending renewal application is accepted.

He joins the Arkansas Children’s and UAMS health systems on Dec. 7.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S

Arkansas Children's, Inc. is the only healthcare system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' more than 700,000 children. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a 336-bed, Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state's only burn center; the state's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state's only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS); the state’s only magnetoencephalography (MEG) system for neurosurgical planning and cutting-edge research; and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Additionally, ACH is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four pediatric subspecialties (2020—2021): Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Nephrology, Pulmonology and Urology. ACH is one of only five hospitals in the nation that have achieved Magnet Status, ACS Level 1 verification and a Beacon award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the Northwest Arkansas region, opened in Springdale in early 2018. ACNW operates a 24-bed inpatient unit; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and Northwest Arkansas' only pediatric emergency department, equipped with 30 exam rooms. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children's since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health. To learn more, visit archildrens.org.

ABOUT UAMS

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute and Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise including its hospital, regional clinics and clinics it operates or staffs in cooperation with other providers. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report named UAMS Medical Center the state’s Best Hospital; ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top 50 nationwide; and named six areas as high performing — cancer, colon cancer surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, knee replacement and lung cancer surgery. UAMS has 2,727 students, 870 medical residents and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.

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