Leah Finkel, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Director of Emergency Medicine Pediatrics
Department of Emergency Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her
About
Dr. Leah R. Finkel is an associate professor of emergency medicine and serves as Director of Pediatrics in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Board-certified in both pediatric emergency medicine and general pediatrics, she focuses on improving pediatric emergency care through clinical innovation, education, and quality initiatives. Her academic interests include point-of-care ultrasound, pediatric resuscitation, and simulation-based training. Dr. Finkel has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, served as guest editor for Pediatric Annals, and has been recognized repeatedly for her excellence in teaching and mentorship at UIC.
Publication Aggregators
Notable Honors
2024, Nomination for Faculty of the Year, UI Health
2023, Best Specialty Attending, William Tito Award, University of Illinois Chicago, Emergency Medicine Residency Program
2022-2023, Outstanding Performance in Student Teaching, Pediatrics Subspecialty Faculty Award, University of Illinois Chicago
2021, Outstanding Teaching Faculty Award For Student Education in Pediatrics, University of Illinois Chicago
2021, Jet Blue Healthcare Hero, University of Illinois Chicago
2020, Best Specialty Attending, William Tito Award, University of Illinois Chicago, Emergency Medicine Residency Program
2019, CME/CPD Award, American Academy of Pediatrics
2019, Rising Star, University of Illinois Chicago, Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Education
Ultrasound Fellowship, University of Illinois Chicago
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship, University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital
Pediatric Residency, University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital
M.D., University of Illinois College of Medicine
B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Spanish, University of Illinois Chicago
Selected Presentations
Rahim N, Uraizee A, Rao A, Finkel L. Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies – Recognition, Approach, and Management. Pediatr Ann. 2023. PMID 37036777.
Finkel L, Staley S E. Pediatric Emergencies: Are You Ready? Pediatr Ann. 2023. PMID 37036773.
Finkel L, Gottlieb M. Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Pediatric Provider. Pediatr Ann. 2021. PMID 34617845.
Porat D, Finkel L, Eilbert W. Infected Intracranial Dermal Sinus Tract in a Child. Am J Emerg Med. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2021.06.016
Finkel L, Ospina-Jimenez C, Byers M, Eilbert W. Fever Without Source in Unvaccinated Children Aged 3 to 24 Months. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2020. PMID 33170564
Research Currently in Progress
Current projects include case write-ups in collaboration with residents on pediatric emergency presentations and educational innovation, as well as the development of a new quality improvement initiative in pediatric emergency care. Scholarly interests center on pediatric resuscitation, simulation-based learning, and point-of-care ultrasound education.