Dr. Kamran Ahmed specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. He provides comprehensive medical and surgical care for children with eye problems.

Dr. Ahmed appreciates the cutting-edge technology available at Phoenix Children's because he believes it enables him to safely deliver better visual outcomes to his patients. While the advanced technology was certainly a draw, Dr. Ahmed explains that his decision to join the Phoenix Children's team was about much more. "The people who work here truly care about children, and it shows in the dedication that everyone has to the institution," he says.

After earning his medical degree with distinction in research from the University of Texas-Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Ahmed completed his ophthalmology residency at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He then completed a pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Ahmed is affiliated with numerous professional groups, including the American Board of Ophthalmology, the Arizona Ophthalmological Society and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

In addition to his practice, Dr. Ahmed is an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. He also serves as a reviewer for the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Ahmed has been named to America's Best Doctors - Top Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Strabismus Specialist since 2020.

To further understanding in the field of ophthalmology, Dr. Ahmed has taken part in research and has had multiple publications covering a wide range of pediatric eye health topics.

Ophthalmology was not a field that Dr. Ahmed had considered (or even heard of) until he volunteered at an eye hospital and school for the blind in the mountains of Northern Pakistan. He saw firsthand how much of an impact treatment had on the patients' lives. "Restoring vision to children is one of the most gratifying experiences a person can have," he explains.

Dr. Ahmed is dedicated to helping patients have the best vision possible - now and for the rest of their lives. "I want patients and their families to know that I care about them first. Then, I use my knowledge and skills to provide the highest quality of care," he explains.

Outside of his practice, Dr. Ahmed enjoys spending time with his family and friends as well as volunteering at his mosque and with community projects. He also loves to travel and practice Brazilian jiujitsu.

Ruth Bristol, MD, is a pediatric neurosurgeon at Phoenix Children's. Dr. Bristol practices all aspects of pediatric neurosurgery, including brain and spine tumors, trauma and developmental anomalies. She has a special interest in craniofacial disorders, hypothalamic hamartoma, hydrocephalus, tethered cord and endoscopic neurosurgery.

Dr. Bristol is proud to be part of the Barrow Neurological Institute surgical team. She is also a member of Phoenix Children's Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Care, which offers a collaborative approach to caring for children with craniosynostosis and other skull anomalies.

Originally from New Hampshire, Dr. Bristol earned her medical degree from Tulane University in New Orleans. She completed residency training in neurological surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix and a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

Dr. Bristol believes that a supportive and involved family is very important for optimal healing in children. She takes the time to explain complex medical conditions, which helps build understanding and strong relationships with her patients and families.

Dr. Amanda Downey is an Associate Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, where she practices as both a pediatrician and psychiatrist specializing in the care of adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. She partners with patients and their families to develop individualized treatment plans that honors their unique strengths and challenges.

Dr. Downey’s research focuses on developing novel pharmacotherapies for eating disorders, including psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy using ketamine and psilocybin, and investigating metabolic processes and refeeding strategies in anorexia nervosa to improve clinical outcomes. She serves as the Assistant Medical Director of the UCSF Eating Disorders Program and as the Medical Lead for the UCSF Translational Psychedelic Research Program (TrPR).

Dr. J. Craig Egan is a native of Redlands, California. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, he attended Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. He completed his general surgery residency training at David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base. After general surgery practice for the U.S. Air Force, he received additional training in pediatric surgical critical care at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin prior to his pediatric surgery fellowship.

Dr. Egan is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is board certified in Pediatric Surgery, General Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery. He enjoys training surgeons from Mayo Clinic - Arizona, Honor Health residency, and Creighton Residency. He and the other surgeons teach medical students from surrounding medical schools.

His special interests include pediatric surgical critical care, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and chest wall disorders. Dr. Egan also leads the surgical group's pediatric melanoma surgery (as a member of the Pigmented Lesions Clinic), and has extensive experience with pediatric thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

Dr. Egan enjoys spending time with his family and attending his children's extracurricular activities.

Neil Friedman, MBChB, obtained his medical degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 1987.  He worked in London, UK for 3 years under the tutelage of Professor Victor Dubowitz at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK.  His specialty training included a Pediatrics residency at the University of Arizona (1995) with subsequent completion of a Neurology fellowship with special qualifications in Child Neurology through Children’s Hospital, Boston (1998).  From 1998-2019, Dr Friedman served as a staff physician in Pediatric Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic and served as the director of the Center for Pediatric Neurosciences in the Neurological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic from 2014-2018. Dr. Friedman is currently Director of Barrows Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s, a staff physician in pediatric neurology, and serves as Director of Clinical Transformation. He is also Director of the Neurocritical Care program.   

Dr. Friedman’s clinical specialty interests include pediatric stroke, the neurological complications of congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathy, fetal and neonatal neurology, and pediatric neuromuscular disease. His research work has been in the field of pediatric stroke. Dr Friedman co-edited a textbook on the “Neurological Manifestations of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiency Syndromes”.  He has authored over 50 papers in peer review journals, written a number of book chapters, and presented extensively at invited lectures around the world. 

Randon T. Hall, MD, is an orthopedic physician specializing in sports medicine, concussion and fracture management. He approaches patient care with empathy and focuses on listening to patients' and families' unique needs and concerns. Growing up as the child of two teachers inspired Dr. Hall to become a constant learner. Like his parents, he has a passion for teaching, knowing that educating patients and their families plays an essential role in developing a plan to get athletes back to the activities they love. As a lifelong athlete, he knows how important staying active and playing sports are to youths. "Whether competing for a state championship or simply living a healthy lifestyle, sports can transform the lives of young people," says Dr. Hall. He's passionate about the impact he can have on his patients' ability to be active and achieve their goals. "I love the motivation young athletes have to get better and get back to what they enjoy," says Dr. Hall. "The ability to assist with their recovery never gets old. It's awesome to see my patients grow and mature." Dr. Hall values Phoenix Children's focus on the health of pediatric patients. He believes centering all resources on pediatric and adolescent patient care improves outcomes.

When he's not caring for patients, Dr. Hall turns his attention to his family and being the best husband and father he can be. He loves spending time with them on traveling adventures.

Dana Harb, MD, is a pediatric dermatologist at Phoenix Children's. Dr. Harb is skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of skin conditions that affect children and adolescents.

After earning her undergraduate degree with distinction in biology, Dr. Harb graduated with her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. She completed a year of research fellowship in collaboration with both the dermatology and rheumatology departments followed by a dermatology residency training at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Beirut, Lebanon. After relocating to the USA, she completed her fellowship training in pediatric dermatology at Phoenix Children's.

Dr. Harb is a member of the American Medical Association, the Society for Pediatric Dermatology and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Her research interests include psoriasis, histiocytosis, inflammatory disorders and skin cancers. Dr. Harb has published research in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, the Archives of Rheumatology and the International Journal of Dermatology.

When not caring for her patients, Dr. Harb spends time with her family. She enjoys outdoor activities, board games, hiking, cooking and baking.

Kara S. Lewis, MD, is a pediatric neurologist and medical director of Fetal Neurology at the Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's. Dr. Lewis has extensive training in the field of pediatric and fetal neurology. She is skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of neurologic conditions that affect children, including headaches and migraines, as well as cerebral palsy and other conditions that develop before and after birth. Dr. Lewis is regularly honored as a Top Doctor by PHOENIXMagazine. 

A native of the Phoenix area, Dr. Lewis has called Arizona home since returning for medical school. She joined the Phoenix Children's team when a joint program was developed with Barrow Neurological Institute in June 2011. She is proud of the clinical care, education, research and advocacy services that she and her colleagues provide for their patients. Dr. Lewis enjoys the puzzle-solving challenge of managing each patient's neurological condition. 

Dr. Lewis earned her undergraduate degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California, and her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Arizona. She completed her postgraduate training in Phoenix, Arizona, including her residency in pediatrics at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, along with a fellowship in child neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute. 

Dr. Lewis is board certified in neurology, with a special qualification in child neurology, in addition to subspecialty board certification in headache medicine. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society, as well as a member of Professors of Child Neurology, the Child Neurology Society, the Southern Pediatric Neurology Society and CACTI (Consortium of Arizona Cephalalogists, Teachers and Investigators). She is a national speaker, and her research has appeared in peer-reviewed publications including Current Pain and Headache Reports, Pediatrics in Review, Frontiers in Neurology and Neurology Genetics. 

Dr. Lewis's approach to patient care is led by her belief in listening to and respecting her patients and their caregivers, as well as continuous learning. She fosters the intellectual curiosity that has guided her career and the empathy needed to care for children with complex conditions. Dr. Lewis is a member of the national Make-A-Wish America medical advisory board, which has given her the chance to travel and meet people from a wide range of medical fields with the goal of caring for children with life-threatening conditions. 

When she isn't at work, Dr. Lewis enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, traveling, enjoying the beach, hiking, golfing, watching live theater, reading and cheering on her favorite college basketball teams. 

Dr. Dorothee (Dang) Newbern specializes in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes. She is the Medical Director of the Cardiometabolic Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) program and serves as a clinician and endocrine expert in several multidisciplinary programs at Phoenix Children's, including the Survivor Clinic and the 22q Clinic. 

Dr. Newbern was inspired to become a physician because it combines her love for science and helping others in a concrete and meaningful way. She decided to pursue endocrinology when she was diagnosed with a parathyroid adenoma in medical school. She's fascinated by how hormones affect nearly all functions in the body. 

As a physician, Dr. Newbern believes her role is to empower her patients and families to optimize their health. She strives for open communication, mutual understanding and consensus building, so that she and her patients can work as a team to achieve their goals. 

Born in France, Dr. Newbern moved to North Carolina when she was 15. She relocated to Phoenix when her husband, a neuroscientist, obtained a tenured position at Arizona State University. With Phoenix Children's being the only stand-alone children's hospital in the state and one of the largest children's healthcare systems in the country, she knew it was where she wanted to be. 

After obtaining her undergraduate degree from Duke University, Dr. Newbern earned her medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She went on to complete her internship, residency and fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. She holds both a general pediatrics and a pediatric endocrinology certification from the American Board of Pediatrics. 

At Phoenix Children's, Dr. Newbern has been able to pursue and achieve her career goals, which includes focusing on her clinical skills, being a leader in medical education, and participating in scholarly and academic activities including research and quality improvement. She's also enthusiastic about her role as a mentor to medical students, residents, fellows and junior faculty. Under her tutelage, all Phoenix Children's pediatric fellowship graduates from 2015 through 2021 have joined the faculty. 

Dr. Newbern is chair of the Graduate Medical Education Committee and program director of the Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship at Phoenix Children's. She served as the associate program director of the pediatric residency program from 2017 to 2021 and was awarded the Grace Caputo Mentor of the Year award by residents. She currently serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Pediatric Residency Program Evaluation Committee. 

Dr. Newbern has been a long-time member of the Endocrine Society and Pediatric Endocrine Society. She joined the Association of Pediatric Program Directors in 2018. 

Active in research, Dr. Newbern has collaborated to publish on varying topics, including pediatric endocrinology, childhood cancer survivorship and medical education. 

In addition to her publications, Dr. Newbern has also presented on precocious puberty at the 45th Annual Melvin L. Cohen, MD Pediatric Update Conference in 2022; on bone health at the Children's Cancer Network Conference in 2018; and on Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) and Endocrine Disorders at the Phoenix Histiocytosis Patient and Family Regional Meeting in 2017. 

Dr. Newbern is a wife and a mom to two daughters which keeps her busy, but in her free time, Dr. Newbern enjoys hiking, traveling and cooking. She also loves to run and has participated in two half-marathons and in the Ragnar Trail Adventure. 

Dr. O'Neil is a Board certified pediatric ophthalmologist. He treats a broad spectrum of pediatric ophthalmology disorders with a caseload of more than 10,000 surgeries in nearly 30 years of practice. Clinical milestones include being an early adopter of telemedicine, and the second ophthalmologist in the United States to perform remote retinopathy of prematurity screenings to prevent blindness in premature infants. Dr. O'Neil has clinical publications in scientific medical journals, and has developed patented vision assessment applications currently in use throughout the world. In 2003, Dr. O'Neil co-founded VisionQuest 20/20 [a 501c(3) non-profit] which has facilitated vision screenings of over 2,000,000 schoolchildren using computerized vision screening software Dr. O'Neil designed. Other volunteer activities include serving on the national A.A.P.O.S. vision screening community, and Eyes on Learning medical advisory board. 

Dr. Mike Pitt is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota where he is an Associate Residency Program Director, Associate Chair of Faculty Development and Strategic Planning, and the Fellowship Director for hospital medicine. A winner of multiple teaching awards, Dr. Pitt speaks across the country with a primary focus of improving the way medical providers communicate with each other and their patients. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and textbook chapters in leading medical journals and has developed curricula used at hundreds of universities in more than 20 countries. As an award-winning professional magician, he has performed for Fortune 500 Companies all over the world and has taught over 3,500 pediatricians how to think like a magician at the bedside to improve rapport and increase diagnostic yield. 

Dr. Radesky is the David G. Dickinson Collegiate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she directs the Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics. Her NIH-funded research examines the use of mobile and interactive technology by parents and young children, parent-child relationships, and child social-emotional development. She authored the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statements Media and Young Minds and Digital Advertising to Children and is co-Medical Director of the AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. She is editor of the developmental behavioral pediatrics textbook Encounters With Children, 5th Edition and serves on the Board of Children Youth and Families at the National Academy of Sciences. 

Dr. Shauna Schroeder has been practicing Pediatric Gastroenterology at Phoenix Children’s over the last decade.  She is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Arizona and Mayo Clinic.     

She started the Multidisciplinary Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Clinic and Sedation Free Programs and medical education as program director of the Pediatric GI/Hepatology Fellowship Program.   She did her undergrad training at the University of Illinois Champaign and moved to Florida where she got her master’s in biomedical sciences at Florida Atlantic University.  Her interest for Pediatric GI started as a Medical Student at the University of Miami Leonard School of medicine and moved to Yale Pediatric Residency program for further training.  She completed her GI/Hepatology Training at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  She has been involved in multiple industry and clinical translational research studies at Phoenix Children’s. 

Dr. Tran is proud to be associated with Phoenix Children's because of its stellar reputation for clinical excellence. He enjoys the cooperation and friendly support within the Gastroenterology Department. He also appreciates the tremendous opportunities for growth in a center that is building a national reputation. In addition, Dr. Tran looks forward to helping Phoenix Children's continue to establish itself as a leader in medical education. 

After earning his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado, Dr. Tran completed a pediatric residency at Children's Health/University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. He then went on to complete a pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colorado. During both his residency and fellowship, Dr. Tran was honored with teaching awards that recognized his passion and dedication to clinical teaching and mentorship. 

Dr. Tran is actively involved with the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). He serves as a member of their endoscopy committee, education special interest group and polyposis special interest group. 

He has given several presentations on preparation for clinical rotations and residency, including ones at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Rocky Vista University of Medicine. Dr. Tran has also presented research on feedback in procedural education and medical student curricula at several national conferences. 

Dr. Tran strives to empower his patients to be advocates for their own healthcare. He views his role as being a coach to patients and families to educate and support them in making informed decisions about their health. Among his core beliefs are that kindness and respect are unconditional and he will always treat families as if they are his own. 

Outside his practice, Dr. Tran enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons - exploring the outdoors and trying out new restaurants. 

As a pediatric surgeon for nearly 20 years, Dr. Kathleen Van Leeuwen joined Phoenix Children's in 2006 to lead the development of the system's first program for Reproductive Anomalies and Differences of Sexual Development, which affect between 1 and 2 percent of the population. Throughout her career, she has been a forthright advocate for her patients at every stage, identifying needs and creating innovative programs to address them. 

Under her leadership, the program brings together teams of experts across a wide range of fields that support children with reproductive anomalies, including general surgery, urology, gynecology, endocrinology and psychology. Now recognized as a national leader in disorders of sexual development, Dr. Van Leeuwen is known for her willingness to listen carefully, connect patients and families with others going through similar situations, and create clinical and community partnerships that support patients for a lifetime. 

In 2022, Dr. Van Leeuwen was appointed associate surgeon-in-chief of Phoenix Children's Hospital - East Valley. In addition to this and her role as co-director of the Reproductive Anomalies and Differences of Sexual Development Clinic, she is director of the Center for Fetal and Neonatal Care at Phoenix Children's and a clinical associate professor of surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix. She also serves on a number of editorial review boards for professional publications, including the Journal of Pediatric Surgery and the Journal of Adolescent and Pediatric Gynecology. 

Dr. Van Leeuwen earned her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. She then completed a surgical residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor, where she served as chief administrative resident. She then completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. Dr. Van Leeuwen is board certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery. 

Long committed to research, Dr. Van Leeuwen and her team developed the first-ever registry for patients diagnosed with a reproductive anomaly, a resource that will help improve patients' health and quality of life. In addition, she is the primary investigator on studies ranging from decision-making for patients with differences of sexual development, to non-cardiac surgery for patients with heterotaxy syndrome and intestinal malrotation, and the care of children with blunt renal trauma. The author of several book chapters and numerous journal articles, Dr. Van Leeuwen has developed multiple care pathways for complex patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and androgen insensitivity. 

Dr. Van Leeuwen earned numerous academic scholarships and honors, and since completing her fellowship, she has been included in the Best Doctors in America database since 2007, consistently recognized as a Top Doctor in PHOENIX magazine, and she was voted the 2011 Community Educator of the Year by residents training at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. 

"I am inspired every day by our patients and families. We listen very carefully to what they need and want, and we've changed the way we treat certain conditions because of all we've learned from them. Listening can change a life." 

Because patients with reproductive anomalies often need care into adulthood, Dr. Van Leeuwen had a recent experience she called "thrilling." 

"I was able to attend to the birth of a baby whose mother was born with cloaca (a malformation in which a newborn has only one opening for the anus, urethra and vagina). The mother had many reconstructive surgeries over the years, but when she was ready, she wanted to have her own baby. Yes, it was very complex, but we formed a team that safely delivered her baby, and for me, that was the most amazing experience." 

Dr. Van Leeuwen "looks for joyfulness" in all she does. She has performed in and directed theatrical productions, from musicals to Shakespeare, and today, she loves singing in the all-physician rock band, "Central Line." Occasionally, her three daughters, who also love music, join her to sing on stage. She especially enjoys it when the many Phoenix Children's staff who attend the band's performances join in for a sing-along.

Dr. Karen Yeager is originally from Houston, Texas. After completing medical school at the University of North Texas in Fort Worth, she moved to Phoenix to complete residency and fellowship training at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. After fellowship, Dr. Yeager completed an MS degree and board certification in Clinical Informatics in June 2022. Dr. Yeager is passionate about bedside medical education and loves teaching residents and fellows, as well as leveraging data analytics solutions to improve patient care and workflows. As such, she joined the fellowship leadership in April 2023 as an associate program director and the clinical informatics team in October 2023. Outside of work, Dr. Yeager loves to bake, travel, and do DIY crafts. She spends most of her time with her husband, daughter, and two labradoodles.