Dr. Christine Gleason, MD

Dr. Gleason's primary clinical interest is in the care of the high-risk newborn, especially those infants born at the "limits of viability" (23-24 weeks gestation). These infants are at high risk for abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome and she is interested in improving our clinical practices in caring for these "micronates" and in preventive or neuroprotective strategies. Her research has been focused on the developing brain for the past 25 years; specifically the effects of drugs such as cocaine, alcohol and narcotics.



Along with Dr. Sandra Juul, she is currently using rodent models of neonatal stress and morphine treatment that are relevant to the highly stressed premature baby population in the NICU. She and Dr. Juul are trying to understand the long-term neurodevelopmental effects of both severe neonatal stress, and our attempts to ameliorate these effects with narcotics. Dr. Gleason's local teaching activities are focused on educating pediatric residents and neonatology …fellows in the NICUs at Seattle Children's Hospital and UWMC; research teaching and mentorship of neonatology fellows; and teaching of newborn resuscitation and basic stabilization procedures to ground transport team and Airlift NW team members.

Regionally, she teaches as a visiting professor in the WWAMI program and also does case reviews and presentations at regional hospitals. She has also chaired a subcommittee of the State's Perinatal Association, which revised the Levels of Neonatal-Perinatal Care guidelines for the state of Washington. Nationally, her teaching activities have been focused on neonatal fellowship education and certification via her role on the neonatology sub-board of the American Board of Pediatrics. She also serves as co-editor of a major neonatal textbook (Avery's Diseases of the Newborn, currently preparing the 9th edition) and finally, she has been invited to serve as a visiting professor at academic medical centers, and a speaker at medical conferences.