Children’s Health Services Research

Children's Health Services Research

Established in 2001, the Division of Children's Health Services Research (CHSR) at Indiana University School of Medicine is one of the largest and most active pediatric research divisions of its kind in the country. CHSR is recognized nationally for its innovative work and research services it provides to pediatricians throughout the state of Indiana.

As a national leader in health services research, our expertise falls in four priority areas: informatics, implementation science, community engagement, and systems and policy analysis. Faculty in CHSR are recognized internationally for leading cutting-edge research and contributing to policy decisions related to children and health care issues. The division consists of faculty members across eight pediatrics subspecialties and general pediatrics.

Interested in joining our faculty?

Works in Progress Meeting

The Works in Progress meeting takes place the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Children’s health service research investigators present research projects and explore research opportunities with discussion encouraged.

Upcoming Events

Recent Highlights

Tracey Wilkinson, MD, MPH, appears on Jack Turman, PhD's podcast Community Solutions to talk "Putting YOU First in Reproductive Health Care"
Michelle Starr, MD, shares first monthly check-in update newsletter on AWAKEN 2.0; program Over 100 sites have expressed interest in participating!

Pediatrics

Grassroots MCH has four programs accepted for inclusion on the national MCH Innovation Hub

The Grassroots Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Initiative within the Department of Pediatrics is grounded in a human-rights based approach to MCH. Under the leadership of Jack E. Turman, Jr., PhD, the initiative works to build the capacity of individuals and organizations within traditionally marginalized communities to bring about systems change to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

December 05, 2024

a toddler plays with toys in the early autism evaluation hub

Pediatrics

Eye-tracking tool to spot autism sets sights on commercialization

The number of children who need an autism evaluation far outweighs the supply of specialists qualified to do the evaluations, leading to long waits for families. IU School of Medicine researchers have created an eye-tracking tool that can diagnose autism with equal accuracy as specialists. [Story by Inside Indiana Business]

December 03, 2024

Division Leadership

Division Director

Matthew C. Aalsma, PhD

Jonathan and Jennifer Simmons Professor of Pediatrics

Read Bio

Fiscal Officer

Lane Cheslyn

Academic Division Administrator

Research Areas of Excellence

Research conducted by the Division of Children’s Health Services Research is concentrated in four priority areas.

Operating one of the largest and most active pediatric informatics program in the country, CHSR has physician scientists and software engineers from the Child Health Informatics Research and Development Lab (CHIRDL) who use data to develop information systems for routine clinical practice to capture and analyze health information. Child Health Improvement through Computer Automation (CHICA), a computer-based pediatric clinical decision support system which improves the delivery of primary care to children, is an example of a system created by a faculty member in CHSR.

Other examples in pediatric research include:

Utilization of geostatistical data to study how physical and social environments impact children's health
Creation a cell phone application for glucose monitoring to increase self-management behaviors in adolescents with diabetes
Development of global positioning systems to track the movement and context associated with risky behaviors among adolescent women

Faculty within the Children's Health Services Research Division are involved in implementation work across the globe. This includes the implementation of telemedicine services for children and youth with chronic diseases, improved screening programs for developmental disabilities and the development of maternal-child HIV health services implementation in resource-constrained settings. A robust implementation science research program has been developing through our behavioral health work. Our group is conducting hybrid implementation projects in over 40 Indiana counties focused on interventions for suicide, addiction services and implementation of behavioral health services into pediatric and family medicine primary care.

Collaboration efforts with patients, caregivers, healthcare providers and community members are an integral part of CHSR research. Faculty members have access to a patient engagement core called Research Jam, a multi-disciplinary team composed of health services researchers, human-centered design researchers and visual communication design experts. Research Jam engages with patients, caregivers and health care providers through human-centered design research methods to explore, create and test solutions to difficult problems around research, health and wellness.

Faculty members actively serve on committees that generate local and national health care guidelines and frequently present research evidence to legislators, community partners and organizations. For instance, faculty members lead and collaborate with the Wellbeing Informed by Science and Evidence in Indiana (WISE Indiana) initiative. This partnership between Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Monon Collaborative and Indiana Family and Social Service Administration engages Indiana faculty to guide practices, programs and policies at a state level. Other faculty members serve in leadership roles in the American Academy of Pediatrics Partnership for the Policy Implementation program, integrating health information technology functionalities into AAP policy and for national polices regarding reproductive health and maternal and child health.

Latest Research

O’Reilly L, Meadors D, Marriott B, Hulvershorn L, Aalsma M. Adolescent suicide risk screening in primary care: A qualitative analysis of providers and clinic managers. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2025;76(3). doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.11.206

O’Reilly L, Dir A, Schwartz K, Brown S, Ouyang F, Monahan P, Adams Z, Zapolski T, Hulvershorn L, Aalsma M. O’Reilly L, Dir A, Schwartz K, Brown S, Ouyang F, Monahan P, Adams Z, Zapolski T, Hulvershorn L, Aalsma M. A descriptive analysis of substance use screening among youth involved in the legal system. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2025;76(3). doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.11.207

Hooper L, Svetaz MV, O’Brien JG, et al. “Before that, the doctors I had were all white. so, seeing a person of color was very, like, relaxing.” Strengths-based, culturally responsive, body positive approaches to adolescent nutrition-related health in primary care. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2025;76(3). doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.11.117

Guerrero N, O’Reilly L, Dellucci TV, Pederson C, Adams Z, Hulvershorn T, Zapolski T, Aalsma M. Hopelessness as a mediator of the association between parenting factors and adolescent suicidality and substance use among juvenile justice‐referred youth. Mental Health Science. 2025;3(1). doi:10.1002/mhs2.70000

Brown S, Heneghan J, Badke C, Dziorny A, Flynn A, Farris R, Bennett T, Tawfik D, Cornell T, Wetzel R, Nishisaki A, Rogerson C. 1684: Use of vasoactive medications across Pediatric Intensive Care Units. Critical Care Medicine. 2025;53(1). doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0001105400.63973.53

Rogerson C, Brown S, Badke C, et al. 1685: Vasoactive inotropic score following administration of hydrocortisone or methylene blue in children. Critical Care Medicine. 2025;53(1). doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0001105404.24348.bb

Mai M, Rogerson C, Rowan C. 1211: A novel score for high-flow nasal cannula failure in children with immunocompromising conditions. Critical Care Medicine. 2025;53(1). doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0001103508.71332.03

Miller A, Nonoyama M, Abu-Sultaneh S, Al-Subu A, Rogerson C. 1209: POST-EXTUBATION noninvasive respiratory support for pediatric ards. Critical Care Medicine. 2025;53(1). doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0001103500.91819.26

Rogerson C, Abu-Sultaneh S, Nelson Sanchez-Pinto L, Gaston, B, Wiehe S, et al. 1203: A matched analysis of the use of high-flow nasal cannula for pediatric severe Acute Asthma. Critical Care Medicine. 2025;53(1). doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0001103476.79605.73

Rogerson C, Nelson Sanchez-Pinto L, Gaston B, Wiehe S, et al. 1208: Identification of severe acute pediatric asthma phenotypes using unsupervised machine learning. Critical Care Medicine. 2025;53(1). doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0001103496.01340.a2

Hopwood A, Schade Willis T, Starr M, Hughes K, Malin S. 1340: Development and implementation of a fluid management strategy in the pediatric ICU. Critical Care Medicine. 2025;53(1). doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0001104024.50214.d4

Saletin JM, Wolfson AR, Wahlstrom KL, Honaker S, et al. Instructional approach, sleep, and perceived academic well-being in adolescents during COVID-19: Evidence from the nested study. Sleep Health. 2024;10(4):485-492. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2024.04.006

Zitnik E, Streja E, Laster M. The impact of glomerular disease on dyslipidemia in pediatric patients treated with dialysis. Nutrients. 2025;17(3):459. doi:10.3390/nu17030459

Whitener M, Khazvand S, Carson I, Martin A, Salyers M, Cyders M, Aalsma M, Zapolski T. Acceptability and efficacy of an adapted school-based Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Group for Adolescents: A qualitative perspective. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing. 2025;62. doi:10.1177/00469580251314279

Yabrodi M, Abulebda K, Pearson KJ, Spitzer T, Nitu M, Rogerson C, et al. Using a serious game to teach central line care in pediatric critical care nursing. AJN, American Journal of Nursing. 2025;125(2):36-42. doi:10.1097/ajn.0000000000000008

Nicholson W, Silverstein M, Wong J, Chelmow D, Coker T, Davis E, Jaén C, Krousel-Wood M, Lee S, Mangione C, Ogedegbe G, Rao G, Ruiz J, Stevermer J, Tsevat J, Underwood S, Wiehe S. Screening for osteoporosis to prevent fractures. JAMA. Published online January 14, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.27154

Hamilton S, Schneider JG, Boyd L, Enane L, Wood JB. Characterizing parental and provider beliefs on antimicrobial resistance and prescribing practices: A survey-based study. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. 2024;13(Supplement_3). doi:10.1093/jpids/piae088.019

Molfenter T, Ducharme L, Stein L, Belenko S, Mitchell S, Watson D, Aalsma M, et al. A conceptual framework for assessing implementation strategy integrity. Implementation Research and Practice. 2024;5. doi:10.1177/26334895241297278

Smoker MP, Weinstock J, Marriott BR, Aalsma MC, Adams ZW. Using state opioid response grant funding to disseminate contingency management for substance use disorder treatment in Indiana. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment. 2025;169:209589. doi:10.1016/j.josat.2024.209589

Whitener MP, Khazvand S, Carson I, Martin A, Salyers M, Cyders M, Aalsma M, Zapolski TCB. (2024). Acceptability and efficacy of an adapted school-based dialectical behavioral therapy skills group for adolescents: A qualitative perspective. INQUIRY.

O’Reilly L, Schwartz K, Brown SA, Gillenwater L, Dir Allyson, Phillips N, Pederson C, Aalsma M. Suicidality among youth in the legal system: The use of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screener. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Published online December 12, 2024:1-18. doi:10.1080/23794925.2024.2440700

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