The Department of Pediatrics is excited to kick off Year 2 of the Department of Pediatrics Visiting Professor Program! Beginning July 1, 2025, nominations will open for all members of the department to apply. Up to four one-day visiting professorships will be awarded per academic year, offering a unique opportunity to bring distinguished experts to our community.
Any department member may apply to host a visiting professor by submitting a completed application. Prior approval from the applicant’s division head or supervisor is required. Applications will be reviewed by the Visiting Professor Committee, with selections based on the strength of the proposal and alignment with departmental needs.
2025–2026 Visiting Professors
November 13, 2025: Dr. Christine Cole Johnson
The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to welcome Dr. Christine Cole Johnson as our first visiting professor, hosted by the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology. She will present Pediatrics Grand Rounds in person on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 7:30–8:30 a.m. in HSLC 1335 or via zoom.
Johnson joined Henry Ford Health System in 1985 and has led numerous cohort studies, clinical trials, and interventional research projects. Her work focuses on the prevention of cancer and pediatric allergic disorders, with a strong emphasis on reducing health disparities.
She has played key roles in national initiatives such as the Cancer Research Network (CRN), PLCO and NLST cancer screening studies, the NIH Precision Medicine Initiative “All of Us,” and the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, where she co-chairs the Airways Committee. She also leads a recently renewed NIH program project (P01) on the microbiome, immune system development, and asthma, and contributes to multiple food allergy research consortia.
With over 280 publications and memberships in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the American Thoracic Society, and the American Epidemiological Society, Johnson is recognized as a national leader in pediatric allergy, asthma, and population health research.
Session Information
Title: From Mutts to Microbes: The Impact of Early Life Environmental Exposures on the Risk for Pediatric Asthma and Allergy
Overview: The last half century saw a dramatic increase in allergy and asthma prevalence among children. Multiple epidemiological birth cohort studies (including at UW!) designed to longitudinally follow children have demonstrated how various biological, environmental and social factors have influenced the incidence of these diseases over time, overturning initial hypotheses and changing clinical approaches. This lecture will review a slice of this research journey.
December 11, 2025: Dr. Jenny Radesky
The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to welcome Dr. Jenny Radesky as a visiting professor, hosted by the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. She will present Pediatrics Grand Rounds in person on Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 7:30–8:30 a.m. in HSLC 1335 or via zoom.
Radesky’s research focuses on the intersection of mobile technology, parenting, and child development, particularly in the areas of executive functioning, self-regulation, and social-emotional well-being. Her projects use diverse methods — including surveys, videotaped parent-child interactions, time diaries, and mobile device app logging — to better understand how families use mobile technologies in their daily lives.
She has pioneered novel content analysis approaches to evaluate young children’s experiences with mobile apps, examining factors such as advertising, educational quality, and data collection practices. Her work emphasizes questions grounded in everyday parenting and aims to identify design improvements that create healthier digital environments for children and families.
Pediatrics Grand Rounds Title: The 5 Cs of Media Use: A Strengths-Based Approach to Digital Media Guidance
Pediatrics Grand Rounds Session Overview: Children and teens’ relationships with digital media are complex and go beyond “screen time” and the “2 hour rule.” Therefore, Dr. Radesky and the AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media developed the 5 Cs of media use, to help pediatric providers provide evidence-informed, strengths-based approaches to managing media. Research underlying the 5 Cs and practical tips and resources will be discussed.
Campus Lecture: During Dr. Radesky’s visit, she will also provide her presentation, “Beyond Screen Time: Parent-Child Relationships, Digital Design, and Child Wellbeing,” on December 10, 4–5 p.m., at Union South (see Today in the Union board for room number). This event is provided in partnership with the School of Human Ecology and the PELICAN Center. View a PDF with more information.
January 15, 2026: Dr. Ethylin Jabs
The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to welcome Dr. Ethylin Wang Jabs as a visiting professor, hosted by the Division of Genetics and Metabolism. She will present Pediatrics Grand Rounds in person on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 7:30–8:30 a.m. in HSLC 1345 and via zoom.
Jabs is professor and chair of the Department of Clinical Genomics at Mayo Clinic and is board certified in clinical genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics and genomics, and pediatrics. Her clinical expertise focuses on the dysmorphology of rare and complex conditions, particularly craniofacial disorders such as craniosynostosis and cleft lip and palate.
She also serves as an adjunct professor of genetic medicine and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University. Nationally, Jabs has served on the NIH NIDCR Board of Scientific Councilors and the NIH National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council. She currently serves on advisory boards for Smile Train, the Moebius Syndrome Foundation, and the Born a Hero Research Foundation. She is co-editor of the book Genomics in the Clinic.
Jabs’ research group has identified genetic causes for numerous syndromes involving homeobox and helix-loop-helix transcription factors, fibroblast growth factor receptors, and connexins. Her work integrates sequencing technologies with RNA expression and protein interaction studies across animal, organoid, biochemical, and iPSC systems. These large-scale data efforts are advancing understanding of developmental pathways, genotype-phenotype correlations, and therapeutic strategies, with promising approaches currently being evaluated in mouse models.
June 11, 2026: Dr. O.N. Ray Bignall II
The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to welcome Dr. O.N. Ray Bignall II as a visiting professor, hosted by the Division of Nephrology. He will present Pediatrics Grand Rounds in person on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 7:30–8:30 a.m. in HSLC 1345 and via zoom.
Bignall is the chief health equity officer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where he also serves as director of kidney health advocacy and community engagement for the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and as an associate professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. A graduate of Howard University and Meharry Medical College, he completed his pediatrics residency, nephrology fellowship, and NIH post-doctoral research fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
As a physician-advocate, Bignall’s work centers on the social determinants of child health, kidney health, and transplantation, advancing change through community-based scholarship, engagement, and advocacy. He has served as a member of the White House Health Equity Roundtable Series on Access to Care, is the Inaugural Chair of the American Society of Nephrology’s Health Care Justice Committee, and serves on the Council on Medical Legislation for the National Medical Association.
Bignall’s leadership has been recognized nationally: he is a recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Award, a John E. Lewy Fund Advocacy Scholar of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, and was named a 40 Under 40 Leader in Minority Health by the National Minority Quality Forum and the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust.
Applications open until September 30, 2025
A copy of your application will be sent to you, your division head or supervisor, and the professional development team.
Visiting Professor Program Resources
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Program Information I 2026-2027
Each visiting professor grantee will receive:
- A stipend to cover honorarium, travel, lodging, and dining for one speaker.
- Support in planning a Pediatrics Grand Rounds for continuing medical education (CME) credit and other educational activities* for the Department of Pediatrics.
- Support in marketing the visiting professorship.
*Other educational activities could include meeting with fellows or residents, small group meetings with faculty, workshop, etc.
Expectations:
- Before reaching out to the speaker, visiting professor grantees will have a 75-minute meeting with the professional development team, communications team, division MPA, and division head or relevant supervisor to review the visiting professorship itinerary, event date, communication plan, expectations, and check-in timelines.
- Visiting professor grantees and members of their division or workgroup will attend the Pediatrics Grand Round and other educational activities associated with their visiting professorship in-person.
- The Department of Pediatrics encourages visiting professor grantees and members of their division or workgroup to attend and support all visiting professorships during the academic year.
Application Information I 2026-2027
Application Information
In order to submit a completed application, you will need to provide the following items:
- Confirmation that the applicant has approval and support from their division head or supervisor.
- Vising professor/speaker name and information pertaining the speaker including: bio, proposed topic area, why they should be selected, and a recording of the speaker if available.
- Proposed learning outcomes for the visiting professor.
- A list of internal and external groups who will need to be invited.
- A plan detailing how the applicant and their division or workgroup will attend the Pediatrics Grand Round and other educational activities associated with their visiting professor in-person.
- A plan detailing how the applicant will encourage and support their division or workgroup in attending other visiting professors during the year.
Upcoming Visiting Professor Dates I 2026-2027
- November 12, 2026
- January 14, 2027
- March 11, 2027
- April 8, 2027
Application Timeline I 2026-2027
Application Timeline
- July 1, 2025 — applications become available to the Department of Pediatrics.
- September 30, 2025 — applications close.
- October 2025 — Visiting Professor Committee will announce visiting professor grantees.
Flourish Hour explaining Visiting Professor Program
View our recent Flourish Hour detailing information about the Visiting Professor Program, as well as tips from department members who have successfully organized visiting professorships.
Administrative Support
If you’re looking for resources, have a question, or need support, please contact our professional development manager, Reva Finkelman, at rfinkelman@wisc.edu.