Lina Fahed Chalak, MD
Division Chief of Neonatology
Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Division Director at Children's Health
- Languages Spoken:
- English
Biography
Lina Chalak, M.D., is a board-certified neonatologist at Children's Health℠ and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at UT Southwestern. She is the Division Chief of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Children’s Health and is also Director of the Neurological Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Neuro-NICU) Program – the first-of-its-kind in Texas. Dr. Chalak specializes in the care of infants with neurological conditions, such as seizures or brain injuries.
Dr. Chalak earned her medical degree at American University – Beirut. She completed her residency training in pediatrics at Children's Medical Center Dallas and her fellowship training in neonatology at UT Southwestern.
“I love taking care of newborns, providing brain targeted multidisciplinary care,” says Dr. Chalak. “I also love teaching and mentoring. Every baby deserves a bright future and full potential. What a joy to be part of making that happen.”
I love taking care of newborns, providing brain targeted multidisciplinary care.
Dr. Chalak is the Co-Director of the Fetal and Neonatal Neurology Fellowship Training Program at Children’s Health. She leads a team of scientists, including physiologists, biomedical engineers and MRI specialists working to uncover best practices in detecting and treating brain injury in infants. Dr. Chalak has over 100 peer-reviewed publications to her name and has received funding from the National Institutes of Health for her work.
In her free time, Dr. Chalak loves to travel, listen to operas and symphonies and she is a real foodie.
Education and Training
- Medical School
- American University of Beirut (1995)
- Internship
- Children's Medical Center Dallas (2002), Pediatrics
American University of Beirut (1996), Pediatrics - Residency
- Children's Medical Center Dallas (2004), Pediatrics
American University of Beirut (1998), Pediatrics - Fellowship
- UT Southwestern Medical Center (HR) (2001), Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
- Board Certification
- American Board of Pediatrics/Neonatal-Perinatal
Conditions
- Abdominal Masses
- Achondroplasia (Dwarfism)
- Ambiguous Genitalia
- Anencephaly
- Anorectal Malformation (Imperforate Anus)
- Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)
- Biliary Atresia
- Bladder Exstrophy
- Bladder Outlet Obstruction
- Bowel Atresia
- Brachydactyly (Symbrachydactyly)
- Chronic Lung Disease (CLD)
- Cloacal Exstrophy
- Colon Atresia
- Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Congenital Infections
- Congenital Lung Lesions
- Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM)
- Craniosynostosis
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Down Syndrome
- Duodenal Atresia
- Edema
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
- Encephalocele
- Encephalopathy (Encephalitis)
- Enteroviruses
- Esophageal Atresia
- Feeding Disorder (PFD)
- First Unprovoked Seizure
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Gastroschisis
- Goldenhar Syndrome (Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Dysplasia (OAV))
- Head and Neck Lumps
- Hemophilia
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Hirschsprung's Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydronephrosis
- Hydrops
- Hyperbilirubinemia (Jaundice)
- Hypotonia (Floppy Muscle Syndrome)
- Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) (Intrapartum Asphyxia)
- Intestinal Disorders
- Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Stroke
- Isolated Craniosynostosis
- Jejunal and Ileal Atresia
- Laryngomalacia
- Lordosis
- Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
- Meconium Aspiration
- Mediastinal Masses
- Metabolic Disease
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
- Newborn Tumors
- Noonan Syndrome
- Omphalocele
- Open Neural Tube Defects (ONTDs)
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Pierre Robin
- Pleural Effusions
- Poland Syndrome (Poland Sequence)
- Prematurity
- Prenatal Drug Exposure
- Pulmonary Sequestration
- Pyloric Stenosis
- Renal Malformation
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
- Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
- Rubella (German measles)
- Sepsis/Meningitis
- Short Bowel Syndrome
- Skeletal Dysplasias and Abnormalities
- Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele)
- Syndromic Craniosynostosis
- Syphilis
- Tay-Sachs
- Toxoplasmosis
- Tracheoesophageal Fistula
- VATER Syndrome (VACTERL Association)
- Very Low Birth Weight
Departments and Programs
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Research Interests
- Asphyxia
- Hypothermia
- Neonatal brain injury
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Publications
- Association of Increased Seizures During Rewarming With Abnormal Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 2-Year Follow-up: A Nested Multisite Cohort Study. Chalak LF, Pappas A, Tan S, Das A, Sánchez PJ, Laptook AR, Van Meurs KP, Shankaran S, Bell EF, Davis AS, Heyne RJ, Pedroza C, Poindexter BB, Schibler K, Tyson JE, Ball MB, Bara R, Grisby C, Sokol GM, D'Angio CT, Hamrick SEG, Dysart KC, Cotten CM, Truog WE, Watterberg KL, Timan CJ, Garg M, Carlo WA, Higgins RD, JAMA neurology 2021 Oct
- Wavelet-based neurovascular coupling can predict brain abnormalities in neonatal encephalopathy. Das Y, Leon RL, Liu H, Kota S, Liu Y, Wang X, Zhang R, Chalak LF, NeuroImage. Clinical 2021 Oct 32 102856
- Perinatal Acidosis and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in Preterm Infants of 33 to 35 Weeks' Gestation., Chalak LF, Rollins N, Morriss MC, Brion LP, Heyne R, Sánchez PJ J. Pediatr. 2011 Oct
- Low-voltage aEEG as predictor of intracranial hemorrhage in preterm infants., Chalak LF, Sikes NC, Mason MJ, Kaiser JR Pediatr. Neurol. 2011 May 44 5 364-9
- End-tidal CO2 detection of an audible heart rate during neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation after asystole in asphyxiated piglets., Chalak LF, Barber CA, Hynan L, Garcia D, Christie L, Wyckoff MH Pediatr. Res. 2011 May 69 5 Pt 1 401-5
- A newborn with Poland anomaly and liver ectopy: an unusual association with important prognostic implications., Chalak LF, Parham DM Pediatr. Dev. Pathol. 2007 Mar-Apr 10 2 134-7
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Professional Activities
- American Pediatric Society
- International Perinatal Collegium
- Newborn Brain Society
- Perinatal Research Society
- Society for Pediatric Research
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Awards and Honors
- Best Mentor Award 2021, UT Southwestern Leaders in Clinical Excellence Awards
- Program Development Award Nomination 2020, UT Southwestern Leaders in Clinical Excellence Awards
- Mentor Award Nomination 2020, UT Southwestern Leaders in Clinical Excellence Awards
- Acarin Award for Outstanding Presentation 2016, 2016, 10th Hershey Conference Equivilly, France
- PRS Young Research Investigator Award 2010, Perinatal Research Society Annual Meeting Travel Award
- Dean’s Teaching Award for Education 2007-2008, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas, Little Rock
- Best Teacher Award 2006-2007, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas, Little Rock
- Educator of the Year 2005-2006, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas, Little Rock
- AAP Young Investigator Award 2004, AAP Annual Meeting
- Perinatal Travel Grant Award, 2004, 2001, AAP Annual Meeting
- Best Graduating Resident Award 1998, Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut
- Dean’s Honor List, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, American University of Beirut