Little Airways. Big Learning.

We are a group of Pediatric Emergency Medicine physicians dedicated to researching and improving the quality of pediatric airway management. Please see our bios below to learn more.

Katherine Edmunds, MD, MEd

As a pediatric emergency medicine physician, my clinical interest is to improve the care of critically ill pediatric patients, especially those undergoing endotracheal intubation. My master’s degree in medical education has allowed me to couple my clinical and educational interests, and has allowed me to become of the lead airway educators in my division. I teach weekly airway courses to Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellows and faculty members, and have given local, regional and national airway conferences.

Notable Airway Publications:

  1. Edmunds KJ, Shah A, Geis GL, Kerrey BT, Klein G, DeBra R, Zhang Y, Ahaus K, Boyd S, Thomas P, Dean P. Rapid cycle deliberate practice to improve airway skills and performance of trainees in a pediatric emergency department. AEM Educ Train. 2024 Jan 16;8(1):10.1002/aet2.10928. doi: 10.1002/aet2.10928. PMID: 38235393; PMCID: PMC10790190.

  2. Edmunds K, Pierpoint S, Frey M, Ahaus K, Boyd S, Shah A, Zhang Y, Kerrey B. Fraction of Expired Oxygen as a Measure of Preoxygenation Prior to Rapid Sequence Intubation in the Pediatric Emergency Department. J Emerg Med. 2022 Jul;63(1):62-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2022.04.023. Epub 2022 Aug 4. PMID: 35933262.

  3. Edmunds KJ, Byczkowski T, Frey M, Boyd S, Caruso M, Zhang Y, Kerrey BT, Timm N. Risk factors for inadequate sedation after endotracheal intubation in the pediatric emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2022 Jun;56:15-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.03.002. Epub 2022 Mar 10. PMID: 35344822.

  4. Dean P, Edmunds K, Shah A, Frey M, Zhang Y, Thomas P, Boyd S, Geis G, Kerrey BT. The Importance of Median Glossoepiglottic Fold Engagement on Laryngeal View and Tracheal Intubation Success in Children. Ann Emerg Med. 2023 Jun;81(6):658-666. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2022.12.027. Epub 2023 Feb 15. PMID: 36797132.

  5. Dean P, Edmunds K, Shah A, Frey M, Zhang Y, Boyd S, Kerrey BT. Video Laryngoscope Screen Visualization and Tracheal Intubation Performance: A Video-Based Study in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med. 2022 Apr;79(4):323-332. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.11.019. Epub 2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34952729.

Gary Geis, MD

I serve in the role of Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician and Simulation Center Medical Director. I am also an experienced clinical researcher, having been funded for multiple clinical trials on a national level as a primary investigator and a co-investigator. My research interests include medical simulation, systems integration, patient safety and pediatric resuscitation, especially endotracheal intubation. With my research, my team and I are attempting to find ways to strengthen airway management and team-based healthcare services for severely ill and/or injured children. I have received multiple teaching awards throughout my career.

Notable Airway Publications:

  1. Kerrey BT, Rinderknecht AS, Geis GL, Nigrovic LE, Mittiga MR. Rapid sequence intubation for pediatric emergency patients: higher frequency of failed attempts and adverse effects found by video review. Ann Emerg Med. 2012 Sep;60(3):251-9. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2012.02.013. Epub 2012 Mar 15. PMID: 22424653; PMCID: PMC3400706.

  2. Rinderknecht AS, Mittiga MR, Meinzen-Derr J, Geis GL, Kerrey BT. Factors associated with oxyhemoglobin desaturation during rapid sequence intubation in a pediatric emergency department: findings from multivariable analyses of video review data. Acad Emerg Med. 2015 Apr;22(4):431-40. doi: 10.1111/acem.12633. Epub 2015 Mar 16. PMID: 25779855; PMCID: PMC4465288.

  3. Kerrey BT, Mittiga MR, Rinderknecht AS, Varadarajan KR, Dyas JR, Geis GL, Luria JW, Frey ME, Jablonski TE, Iyer SB. Reducing the incidence of oxyhaemoglobin desaturation during rapid sequence intubation in a paediatric emergency department. BMJ Qual Saf. 2015 Nov;24(11):709-17. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003713. Epub 2015 Jul 16. PMID: 26183713.

  4. Dean P, Geis G, Hoehn EF, Lautz AJ, Edmunds K, Shah A, Zhang Y, Frey M, Boyd S, Nagler J, Miller KA, Neubrand TL, Cabrera N, Kopp TM, Wadih E, Kannikeswaran N, VanDeWall A, Hewett Brumberg EK, Donoghue A, Palladino L, O'Connell KJ, Mazzawi M, Tam DCF, Murray M, Kerrey B. High-risk criteria for the physiologically difficult paediatric airway: A multicenter, observational study to generate validity evidence. Resuscitation. 2023 Sep;190:109875. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109875. Epub 2023 Jun 14. PMID: 37327848.

  5. Edmunds KJ, Shah A, Geis GL, Kerrey BT, Klein G, DeBra R, Zhang Y, Ahaus K, Boyd S, Thomas P, Dean P. Rapid cycle deliberate practice to improve airway skills and performance of trainees in a pediatric emergency department. AEM Educ Train. 2024 Jan 16;8(1):10.1002/aet2.10928. doi: 10.1002/aet2.10928. PMID: 38235393; PMCID: PMC10790190.

Benjamin Kerrey, MD, MS

I am a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician and Medical Director for a Pediatric Emergency Department. My research focuses on attempting to optimize care in the resuscitation area of the pediatric emergency department. Research areas I am specifically interested in and pursue include pediatric airway management, improvement of care for high acuity but low-frequency pediatric emergencies, video review and continuous vital signs for data collection during pediatric resuscitation.

My colleagues and I are looking to enhance systems of care in pediatric emergency settings when medical knowledge or clinical experience by itself is inadequate. I first became interested in this research due to my clinical training and skills and my motivation to provide the best care possible. The group I work with, the Medical Resuscitation Committee, was created in 2007. It has become a nationally recognized leader in treating pediatric patients with high acuity and low-frequency conditions.

Notable Airway Publications:

  1. Kerrey BT, Rinderknecht AS, Geis GL, Nigrovic LE, Mittiga MR. Rapid sequence intubation for pediatric emergency patients: higher frequency of failed attempts and adverse effects found by video review. Ann Emerg Med. 2012 Sep;60(3):251-9. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2012.02.013. Epub 2012 Mar 15. PMID: 22424653; PMCID: PMC3400706.

  2. Rinderknecht AS, Mittiga MR, Meinzen-Derr J, Geis GL, Kerrey BT. Factors associated with oxyhemoglobin desaturation during rapid sequence intubation in a pediatric emergency department: findings from multivariable analyses of video review data. Acad Emerg Med. 2015 Apr;22(4):431-40. doi: 10.1111/acem.12633. Epub 2015 Mar 16. PMID: 25779855; PMCID: PMC4465288.

  3. Kerrey BT, Mittiga MR, Rinderknecht AS, Varadarajan KR, Dyas JR, Geis GL, Luria JW, Frey ME, Jablonski TE, Iyer SB. Reducing the incidence of oxyhaemoglobin desaturation during rapid sequence intubation in a paediatric emergency department. BMJ Qual Saf. 2015 Nov;24(11):709-17. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003713. Epub 2015 Jul 16. PMID: 26183713.

  4. Kerrey BT, Rinderknecht A, Mittiga M. High Risk, Low Frequency: Optimizing Performance of Emergency Intubation for Children. Ann Emerg Med. 2017 Dec;70(6):783-786. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2017.06.015. Epub 2017 Jul 24. PMID: 28751086.

  5. Dean P, Geis G, Hoehn EF, Lautz AJ, Edmunds K, Shah A, Zhang Y, Frey M, Boyd S, Nagler J, Miller KA, Neubrand TL, Cabrera N, Kopp TM, Wadih E, Kannikeswaran N, VanDeWall A, Hewett Brumberg EK, Donoghue A, Palladino L, O'Connell KJ, Mazzawi M, Tam DCF, Murray M, Kerrey B. High-risk criteria for the physiologically difficult paediatric airway: A multicenter, observational study to generate validity evidence. Resuscitation. 2023 Sep;190:109875. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109875. Epub 2023 Jun 14. PMID: 37327848.

Preston Dean, MD, MS

I am a pediatric emergency medicine physician with a special clinical interest in resuscitation, especially critical procedures. In addition to a clinical interest in resuscitation and critical procedures, I also actively research both topics, with a special focus on tracheal intubation. My current efforts, with the help of an amazing research team, are focused on video laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in physiologically high-risk patients. This work has led to multiple improvement initiatives — all designed to improve proceduralist performance, and more importantly, increase safety for the highest risk patients. I have received multiple research awards and grants for these efforts. I also teach weekly airway courses to Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellows and faculty members, and have given local, regional and national airway conferences.

Notable Airway Publications:

  1. Edmunds KJ, Shah A, Geis GL, Kerrey BT, Klein G, DeBra R, Zhang Y, Ahaus K, Boyd S, Thomas P, Dean P. Rapid cycle deliberate practice to improve airway skills and performance of trainees in a pediatric emergency department. AEM Educ Train. 2024 Jan 16;8(1):10.1002/aet2.10928. doi: 10.1002/aet2.10928. PMID: 38235393; PMCID: PMC10790190.

  2. Dean P, Geis G, Hoehn EF, Lautz AJ, Edmunds K, Shah A, Zhang Y, Frey M, Boyd S, Nagler J, Miller KA, Neubrand TL, Cabrera N, Kopp TM, Wadih E, Kannikeswaran N, VanDeWall A, Hewett Brumberg EK, Donoghue A, Palladino L, O'Connell KJ, Mazzawi M, Tam DCF, Murray M, Kerrey B. High-risk criteria for the physiologically difficult paediatric airway: A multicenter, observational study to generate validity evidence. Resuscitation. 2023 Sep;190:109875. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109875. Epub 2023 Jun 14. PMID: 37327848.

  3. Dean P, Edmunds K, Shah A, Frey M, Zhang Y, Thomas P, Boyd S, Geis G, Kerrey BT. The Importance of Median Glossoepiglottic Fold Engagement on Laryngeal View and Tracheal Intubation Success in Children. Ann Emerg Med. 2023 Jun;81(6):658-666. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2022.12.027. Epub 2023 Feb 15. PMID: 36797132.

  4. Dean P, Edmunds K, Shah A, Frey M, Zhang Y, Boyd S, Kerrey BT. Video Laryngoscope Screen Visualization and Tracheal Intubation Performance: A Video-Based Study in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med. 2022 Apr;79(4):323-332. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.11.019. Epub 2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34952729.

  5. Dean P, Edmunds K, Shah A, Frey M, Zhang Y, Boyd S, Kerrey BT. Video Laryngoscope Screen Visualization and Tracheal Intubation Performance: A Video-Based Study in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med. 2022 Apr;79(4):323-332. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.11.019. Epub 2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34952729.