Dr. Paul Severin, chair of pediatric critical care medicine for Cook County Health, has been awarded the 2021 Ron W. Lee, MD – Excellence in Pediatric Care Award by the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children.

Dr. Severin has devoted his career to advancing pediatric critical care and childhood injury prevention initiatives at Cook County Health and across the state of Illinois. He has directed the care of children with COVID-19 and managed Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) across the health system during the pandemic. He was also instrumental in developing a pediatric sepsis alert system that reduced the time to targeted therapy at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital.

In his ongoing work across the state of Illinois, Dr. Severin chairs the MIS-C work group for IDPH.

“As a pediatrician, I know the importance of recognizing the specific needs of children in critical emergency situations and how different that critical care may look compared to adults,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “I want to thank Dr. Severin for his work on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children during this pandemic. I am proud to award Dr. Paul Severin the Ron W. Lee, M.D. Excellence in Pediatric Care Clinical Excellence Award.”

The Ron W. Lee, MD – Excellence in Pediatric Care Award program was established in 1999 to recognize outstanding achievements by individuals dedicated to pediatric emergency care and childhood prevention initiatives in Illinois. This award honors the memory of Dr. Lee who was instrumental in establishing the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children program.

“Dr. Severin has long been a medical leader in disaster preparedness for pediatric care in children throughout the state of Illinois and is a well-respected physician in our medical community,” said Dr. Claudia Fegan, chief medical officer for Cook County Health. “I have seen firsthand Dr. Severin’s exemplary work in advancing the care of ill and injured children. He has an innate drive to make things better for everyone – our patients, their families, caregivers, his peer physicians and the communities we serve.”

With over 25 years of pediatric critical care experience, Dr. Severin has also educated and trained the next generations of pediatricians.

He is a sought-after lecturer nationally and internationally on disaster planning and bioterrorism, and has numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on his work in pediatric acute care.

“Thank you to the Illinois Department of Public Health for this recognition,” said Dr. Paul Severin, chair of pediatric critical care medicine for Cook County Health. “I am honored and grateful to my colleagues who nominated me. The work we do at Cook County Health in caring for our youngest patients is vital to improving the lives of people in Cook County and beyond.”

Dr. Severin earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College. He is double board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine.

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