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Sarah Sobotka

TitleAssociate Professor
InstitutionUniversity of Chicago
DepartmentPediatrics-Developmental and Behavioral
AddressChicago IL 60637
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    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    Dr. Sarah Sobotka is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Dr. Sobotka sees patients with delays and disabilities. She has a particular interest in patients whose disabilities are a sequelae of medical complexity, particularly after prolonged critical illness. Her mixed methods approach focuses on studying trends and improving health systems to support families of children with medical complexity and disabilities, especially those with mechanical ventilation dependency. Specifically, she is interested in creating efficient and effective healthcare service models, which minimize hospitalizations and provide support for families, and most importantly enable children with severe disabilities to reach their developmental potentials. Dr. Sobotka received her medical degree and a master’s degree in public health sciences from the University of Chicago. Her clinical training includes pediatric residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital/Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and fellowship training in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Chicago.

    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    University of Chicago, ChicagoMD06/2009
    University of Chicago, ChicagoMSCP06/2009
    Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago06/2010Pediatric Internship
    Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago06/2012Pediatric Residency
    University of Chicago, Chicago06/2015Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship
    University of Chicago, Chicago06/2016Advanced Research Fellowship
    Collapse awards and honors
    2019The Peter Huttenlocher Award for Scholarly Excellence, The University of Chicago- Department of Pediatrics

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
         (SOBOTKA, SARAH ANN)Apr 5, 2024 - Apr 4, 2027
    The Gerber Foundation
    An interdisciplinary intervention to promote oral feeding in young children with feeding tubes and tracheostomies
    Role: Principal Investigator

         (SOBOTKA, SARAH A)Apr 1, 2023 - Mar 31, 2024
    Chicago Chronic Condition Equity Network
    Disparities in Home Nursing for Children with Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: Identifying National Trends and Piloting a Parent-to-Parent Intervention in Chicago
    Role Description: To conduct a mixed methods intervention for families of children with invasive mechanical ventilation to understand the degree of disparities in home nursing and hospital length of stay not explained by medical factors and pilot a parent-to-parent coaching model for families awaiting hospital discharge.

         (SOBOTKA, SARAH A)Feb 15, 2023 - Jun 1, 2024
    The Comer Development Board
    Applied Behavioral Analysis for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Jumpstarting to Independence
    Role Description: To pilot a short-term Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy intervention for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

         (Olufunmilayo I. Olopade)Jan 1, 2022 - Sep 30, 2023
    Walder Foundation/Doris Duke Charitable Foundation/Department of Pediatrics/Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation
    SECURED: Supporting Early Career University Researchers to Excel through Disruptions

    T73MC11047-09-00     (Kruti Acharya)Jul 1, 2021 - Jun 30, 2026
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
    Illinois LEND Program
    Role Description: IL LEND offers important and diverse graduate and continuing education opportunities for trainees, including, but not limited to, subspecialty trainees in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. It also provides consultation and technical assistance and supports implementing and evaluating programs and policies to improve the health and welfare of individuals with disabilities and their families.
    Role: Co-Investigator

    K23HD097276     (SOBOTKA, SARAH ANN)Aug 1, 2019 - Jul 31, 2022
    NIH
    Predictors of Days at Home for Children with Mechanical Ventilator Assistance
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. High MS, Lynch E, Sobotka SA. Parent perspectives on education to support hospital discharge for children with invasive mechanical ventilation. J Pediatr Nurs. 2024 Sep-Oct; 78:e167-e174. PMID: 39025713.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    2. Sobotka SA, Lynch E, Liao C, Graham RJ, Msall ME. Autism and neurodevelopmental disability risks in children with tracheostomies and ventilators. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2024 May; 59(5):1380-1387. PMID: 38426806.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    3. Sobotka SA, Lynch E, Golden SLS, Nageswaran S. Home Health Nursing Agencies' Services for Children With Medical Complexity: Parent and Nurse Perspectives. Acad Pediatr. 2024 04; 24(3):477-485. PMID: 38278479.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. Sobotka SA, Ross LF. Newborn Screening for Neurodevelopmental Disorders May Exacerbate Health Disparities. Pediatrics. 2023 Oct 01; 152(4). PMID: 37727945; PMCID: PMC10522928.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    5. Sobotka SA, Lynch E, Laudon S, Whitmore K. Home health nurses for children with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV): Perspectives on gaps and opportunities for recruitment. J Pediatr Nurs. 2023 Sep-Oct; 72:e158-e165. PMID: 37394300; PMCID: PMC10680155.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Reyes ZMD, Lynch E, Henry J, De Simone LM, Sobotka SA. Diagnosis of autism in a rare case of tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency: a case report. BMC Med Genomics. 2023 04 11; 16(1):78. PMID: 37041529; PMCID: PMC10088295.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. Kwon S, Blakely C, Sobotka SA, Brittan M, Foster CC, Carter K, Goodman DM, Agrawal R. Paying Family Medical Caregivers for Children's Home Healthcare in Colorado: A Working Medicaid Model. J Pediatr. 2023 10; 261:113347. PMID: 36775189; PMCID: PMC10412725.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Sobotka SA, Lynch E, Msall ME, Graham RJ. Early childhood developmental skills of children with tracheostomies and ventilators recently discharged home. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2023 03; 58(3):853-865. PMID: 36448249; PMCID: PMC10680148.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. Dunbar PJ, Sobotka SA, Rodean J, Pulcini CD, Macy ML, Thomson J, Harris D, Coller RJ, Desmarais A, Hall M, Berry JG. Prevalence of and Spending on Ear, Nose, Throat, and Respiratory Infections Among Children With Chronic Complex Conditions. Acad Pediatr. 2023 03; 23(2):434-440. PMID: 36122827; PMCID: PMC10767753.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Sobotka SA, Lynch EJ, Dholakia AV, Mayampurath A, Pinto NP. PICU Survivorship: Factors Affecting Feasibility and Cohort Retention in a Long-Term Outcomes Study. Children (Basel). 2022 Jul 13; 9(7). PMID: 35884025; PMCID: PMC9317147.
      Citations:    
    11. High MS, Julion W, Heigel S, Fawcett A, Sobotka SA. Parent education programs for children assisted by invasive mechanical ventilation: A scoping review. J Pediatr Nurs. 2022 Sep-Oct; 66:160-170. PMID: 35797806; PMCID: PMC10767751.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Sobotka SA, Laudon S, Jackson AJ, Harendt SE, Baker CD. A Literature Review of Feeding Disorders in Children with Tracheostomies and Ventilators. Pediatr Ann. 2022 Jul; 51(7):e291-e296. PMID: 35858218; PMCID: PMC9584144.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    13. Sobotka SA, Lynch E, Agrawal R. The Role of Care Coordinators for Children with Respiratory Technologies and Home Nursing. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol. 2022 06; 35(2):49-57. PMID: 35723661; PMCID: PMC9247673.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. Guerrero MGB, Sobotka SA. Understanding the Barriers to Receiving Autism Diagnoses for Hispanic and Latinx Families. Pediatr Ann. 2022 Apr; 51(4):e167-e171. PMID: 35417307; PMCID: PMC9584143.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Sobotka SA, Hall DE, Thurm C, Gay J, Berry JG. Home Health Care Utilization in Children With Medicaid. Pediatrics. 2022 02 01; 149(2). PMID: 35028664; PMCID: PMC9003864.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Sobotka SA, Ross LF. 50 Years Ago in TheJournalofPediatrics: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Contextualized. J Pediatr. 2021 Oct; 237:58. PMID: 34563323; PMCID: PMC9006142.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Heneghan JA, Sobotka SA, Hallman M, Pinto N, Killien EY, Palumbo K, Murphy Salem S, Mann K, Smith B, Steuart R, Akande M, Graham RJ. Outcome Measures Following Critical Illness in Children With Disabilities: A Scoping Review. Front Pediatr. 2021; 9:689485. PMID: 34277522; PMCID: PMC8283563.
      Citations: 6     
    18. Bilaver LA, Sobotka SA, Mandell DS. Understanding Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Autism-Related Service Use Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children. J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Sep; 51(9):3341-3355. PMID: 33219917; PMCID: PMC8137720.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. Sobotka SA, Dholakia A, Agrawal RK, Berry JG, Brenner M, Graham RJ, Goodman DM. Discharge Practices for Children with Home Mechanical Ventilation across the United States. Key-Informant Perspectives. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2020 11; 17(11):1424-1430. PMID: 32780599; PMCID: PMC7640721.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Sobotka SA, Dholakia A, Berry JG, Graham RJ, Goodman DM, Agrawal RK, Brenner M. Home nursing for children with home mechanical ventilation in the United States: Key informant perspectives. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2020 12; 55(12):3465-3476. PMID: 32949218; PMCID: PMC8055039.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. Sobotka SA, Lynch E, Peek ME, Graham RJ. Readmission drivers for children with medical complexity: Home nursing shortages cause health crises. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2020 06; 55(6):1474-1480. PMID: 32212321; PMCID: PMC7290239.
      Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Sobotka SA, Ross LF. 50 Years Ago in TheJournal ofPediatrics: Why Patients Don't Follow Medical Advice: A Study of Children on Long-Term Antistreptococcal Prophylaxis. J Pediatr. 2019 12; 215:63. PMID: 31761146; PMCID: PMC7289628.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. Sobotka SA, Lynch E, Quinn MT, Awadalla SS, Agrawal RK, Peek ME. Unmet Respite Needs of Children With Medical Technology Dependence. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 10; 58(11-12):1175-1186. PMID: 31502488; PMCID: PMC7232777.
      Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. Kastner K, Pinto N, Msall ME, Sobotka S. PICU Follow-Up: The Impact of Missed School in a Cohort of Children Following PICU Admission. Crit Care Explor. 2019 Aug; 1(8):e0033. PMID: 32166274; PMCID: PMC7063946.
      Citations: 6     
    25. Sobotka SA, Ross LF. 50 Years Ago in TheJournal ofPediatrics: Parents of the Mentally Retarded Child: Emotionally Overwhelmed or Informationally Deprived? J Pediatr. 2019 Jun; 209:106. PMID: 31128722; PMCID: PMC7295391.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    26. Sobotka SA, Foster C, Lynch E, Hird-McCorry L, Goodman DM. Attributable Delay of Discharge for Children with Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation. J Pediatr. 2019 09; 212:166-171. PMID: 31153586; PMCID: PMC7290238.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. Sobotka SA, Gaur DS, Goodman DM, Agrawal RK, Berry JG, Graham RJ. Pediatric patients with home mechanical ventilation: The health services landscape. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2019 01; 54(1):40-46. PMID: 30461228; PMCID: PMC7286281.
      Citations: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Lewis AH, Chugh A, Sobotka SA. Behavioral Outbursts in a Child with a Deletion Syndrome, Generalized Epilepsy, Global Developmental Delay, and Failure to Thrive. Pediatr Ann. 2018 Mar 01; 47(3):e130-e134. PMID: 29538787; PMCID: PMC7289123.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    29. Sobotka SA, Peters S, Pinto NP. Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the PICU Population. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2018 07; 57(8):913-919. PMID: 29096537; PMCID: PMC7234832.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. Sobotka SA, Agrawal RK, Msall ME. Prolonged Hospital Discharge for Children with Technology Dependency: A Source of Health Care Disparities. Pediatr Ann. 2017 Oct 01; 46(10):e365-e370. PMID: 29019630; PMCID: PMC7234831.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. Sobotka SA, Hird-McCorry LP, Goodman DM. Identification of Fail Points for Discharging Pediatric Patients With New Tracheostomy and Ventilator. Hosp Pediatr. 2016 09; 6(9):552-7. PMID: 27538680.
      Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Sobotka SA, Msall ME. Supporting Vulnerable Children after Life-Threatening Neonatal Illness: Opportunities for Improving Outcomes. J Pediatr. 2016 11; 178:12-14. PMID: 27539395; PMCID: PMC8077699.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    33. Sobotka SA, Francis A, Vander Ploeg Booth K. Associations of family characteristics with perceptions of care among parents of children with autism. Child Care Health Dev. 2016 Jan; 42(1):135-40. PMID: 26470756.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. Shah R, Sobotka SA, Chen YF, Msall ME. Positive Parenting Practices, Health Disparities, and Developmental Progress. Pediatrics. 2015 Aug; 136(2):318-26. PMID: 26216325; PMCID: PMC4516939.
      Citations: 17     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    35. Sobotka SA, Danielson KK, Drum ML, Estrada CL, Lipton RB. Maternal body mass index (BMI) is independently associated with the control of diabetes mellitus in young patients. Pediatr Nurs. 2014 Jul-Aug; 40(4):187-94. PMID: 25269359; PMCID: PMC4183965.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    36. Sobotka SA, Deal SB, Casper TJ, Booth KV, Listernick RH. Petechial rash in a child with autism and Trisomy 21. Pediatr Ann. 2014 Jun; 43(6):224-6. PMID: 24972417.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Cook AF, Sobotka SA, Ross LF. Teaching and assessment of ethics and professionalism: a survey of pediatric program directors. Acad Pediatr. 2013 Nov-Dec; 13(6):570-6. PMID: 24238684.
      Citations: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    38. Fuller L, Lin G, Matsui JY, Sobotka SA, Cooke DT. Teaching surgery to medical students: perspectives from our mentees. Bull Am Coll Surg. 2008 Jul; 93(7):48-53. PMID: 19469345.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    39. Abbo ED, Sobotka S, Meltzer DO. Patient preferences in instructional advance directives. J Palliat Med. 2008 May; 11(4):555-62. PMID: 18454606.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
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