Anna-Lisa Martino, MD
Fellow (Class of 2025)
Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship
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About
Why I Chose Peoria:
My family and I made the decision to move to Peoria, and it has proven to be one of the best decisions we’ve made. The cost of living is affordable, the school districts are excellent, and the availability of high-quality daycare has made our transition easy. Professionally and personally, we have loved living in this community, from meeting new friends, having my son join in activities like soccer and swimming lessons, and participating in town festivals. We are incredibly happy with our lives here.
At Children’s Hospital of Illinois, we are an AAP-designated Level IV 64-bed unit, which serves as the perinatal referral center for north-central Illinois, giving us the ability to practice bread and butter neonatology, but we also experience zebras often. In this setting, I have gained extensive experience caring for medically complex children, both inborn and outborn, participating actively in transports, deliveries, and procedures. We are thoroughly trained in ECMO management, hypothermic cooling, and high-frequency ventilation having experience with both oscillator and jet ventilators.
One of the hallmarks of this program is the close-knit community among the fellows. We are more than colleagues; we are a family, supporting each other through the challenges and highlights of training. The neonatologists who serve as mentors are not only exceptional clinicians but also trusted friends who have played a pivotal role in shaping my career trajectory. Opportunities for research, quality improvement, committee involvement, and leadership positions are abundant - the faculty and university are incredibly supportive.
Moreover, the wealth of knowledge and experience available from our neonatal nurse practitioners and other colleagues enriches our learning environment. The program fosters a culture of support, collaboration, and continuous growth, providing us with excellent opportunities and challenges to develop as physicians.
As I look towards the future, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. This fellowship program has equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in my career as a neonatologist. I wholeheartedly endorse this program to any aspiring fellows seeking a nurturing and enriching training experience. It is rigorous but balanced, and has everything one could hope for in a training program.
Research Interests:
Throughout my fellowship, under the mentorship of Dr. Jawad Javed, my research has focused on one-time single-dose RSV prophylaxis with Palivizumab in preterm infants with expansion into dispersing and triaging newly developed monoclonal antibody prophylaxis options. Additionally, my quality improvement initiatives have focused on antenatal corticosteroid administration in the periviable period as well as neonatology prenatal consultation procedures. I have written several protocols for our unit, beyond my quality improvement work, including developing a humidity guideline. Furthermore, I have been actively involved in the NICU’s CLABSI prevention committee, contributing to the development of protocols and guidelines aimed at enhancing patient care and safety, including a vascular access device selection algorithm. My engagement extends beyond clinical practice as I enjoy committee work and am strongly involved in the AAP, holding a significant role as a TECaN Program Delegate.
Personal Life:
In my free time, I love traveling and spending quality moments with my family. Our energetic two-year-old keeps us busy and active, making every day an adventure.
Professional Leadership
Rising Neonatology Chief Fellow (2024), Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship, OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
Clinical Associate (2022-Present), Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
Chief Pediatric Resident (2021-2022), Sanford Children’s Hospital at Sanford University of South Dakota (USD) Medical Center and Hospital, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Education
- Fellowship (current): Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship, OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
- Pediatrics Residency: Sanford Children’s Hospital at Sanford University of South Dakota (USD) Medical Center and Hospital, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences (UND SMHS), Doctorate of Medicine, Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Undergraduate: University of North Dakota, B.A. in Anthropology with a focus on Biological Anthropology and a Concentration in Mathematics, Cum Laude, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Licensures and Certifications
- (2022-Present) Board Certified, Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics: General
- (2022-Present) Medical Board of Illinois
- (2019-Present) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Certification
- (2019-Present) Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification
- (2016-Present) Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
- (2016-Present) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification
Professional Memberships
- (2024-Present) AAP - Illinois Chapter (ICAAP)
- (2024-Present) AAP Section on Simulation and Innovative Learning Methods (SOSILM)
- (2023-Present) TECaN Program Delegate
- (2023-Present) 2026 Board Review Leader of the TECaN Education Committee; AAP Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN)
- (2023-Present) Education Committee Member; AAP Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN)
- (2023-Present) Research and Quality Improvement Committee Member; AAP Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN)
- (2022-Present) AAP Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN)
- (2022-Present) AAP Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (SONPM)
- (2020-2022) American Academy of Pediatrics Residency Delegate
- (2019-Present) AAP Section on Pediatric Trainees (SOPT)
- (2018-Present) Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- (2018-2019) AAP Medical Student Delegate
Research Currently in Progress
Clinical / Quality Improvement Activities:
- (2023-Present) Antenatal Corticosteroid Administration in the Periviable Period & Neonatology Consultation Initiative - Fellow Project;
Principal Investigator & Author; Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois - (2023-Present) NICU CLABSI Workgroup - Fellow Physician Member; Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center,
Peoria, Illinois - (2023) Children’s Hospital of Illinois NICU Humidity Guideline (2023) - Principal Investigator & Author; Children’s Hospital of
Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois - (2023-2024) Children’s Hospital of Illinois Vascular Access Device (VAD) Selection Algorithm (2024). Co-editor; Children’s Hospital
of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois
Research:
- 2022-Present Fellowship Research Project: Does RSV prophylaxis with a single, one-time dose of Palivizumab prior to discharge in
premature infants born between 29-32 weeks gestational age decrease RSV complication risks? Principal Investigator.
Faculty Advisor: Jawad Javed, MD, FAAP - Retrospective chart review analyzing data on premature infants born at 29-32 weeks gestation, now corrected to term who
were hospitalized in the OSF St. Francis Level IV NICU during RSV season and received a single, one-time dose of
Palivizumab prior to discharge to determine if this decreased RSV complications and sequelae following NICU discharge
including completing a cost-benefit analysis.