Katharine Kevill, MD

I chose medicine as a career due to a combination of a love of science and a desire to serve. The field of pediatrics attracted me for a variety of reasons, including a focus on the whole person, opportunities to make a difference in the trajectory of children’s lives by addressing health issues, and a focus on preventing health problems rather than simply reacting once problems occur. Additionally, I saw in pediatrics an opportunity to teach and to have fun with my patients. After my residency training, I practiced general pediatrics for four years at a public hospital, and then pursued a subspecialty in pediatric pulmonology.

Over 20 years later, I continue to practice pediatric pulmonary medicine. Often by the time a child reaches a pediatric subspecialist, there is more than a single reason for a problem, such as a cough. I try to tease out the different components of the problem and address each one. I strive to place each patient’s respiratory issues in the context of their overall health and their lives at school and in the community. I tell my patients that my job as a breathing doctor is to help kids so that breathing trouble doesn’t get in the way of being a kid.

My particular area of expertise is the care of children with chronic complex respiratory issues, including the need for chronic home ventilation. Many of these children have breathing problems as a complication of underlying disorders, such as premature birth, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, seizures, or systemic rheumatologic diseases. I recognize that for children with medical complexity, it truly takes a team to help each child reach their full potential. This team includes the patient and family at the center, community resources, and an array of health care professionals. The composition of this team is unique for each child. I’m fortunate to collaborate with a multidisciplinary group of talented colleagues with the goal of tailoring the treatment plan to the unique needs of each child.