Our team

Danielle DeCourcey

Danielle DeCourcey, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Dr. Danielle DeCourcey is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Associate Chief of the Division of Medical Critical Care at Boston Children’s Hospital. A pediatric intensivist and palliative care researcher, she leads the PediSIC-Care Lab with a vision to transform care for children with serious illness through research, education, and clinical innovation. Her work focuses on advance care planning, communication science, and improving family-centered outcomes for medically complex children and their families. Dr. DeCourcey is the creator of the Pediatric Serious Illness Communication (PediSIC) Program, a structured, family-centered approach to advance care planning . She is recognized nationally as a leader in pediatric palliative care research and guideline development. In addition to her research and clinical leadership, Dr. DeCourcey is deeply committed to narrative medicine as a way to honor the lived experiences of children, families, and clinicians. She serves as an editor for the narrative medicine section of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, and her writing explores the emotional complexities of practicing critical care and the vital role of language in moments of uncertainty.  Through both clinical research and storytelling, she strives to amplify the voices of families and promote more compassionate, values-driven care at the bedside.

  1. Pediatric Palliative Care Consultation in the PICU Following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Analysis of the U.S. Pediatric Health Information Systems Database, 2013-2023; Oct 30, 2025; pubmed:41165414. View on PubMed
  2. "Leave No Question Unanswered": Nurses' Role in Preparing Children's Families During End-of-Life Care; Aug 31, 2025; pubmed:40887437. View on PubMed
  3. Pediatric Palliative Care Subcompetencies for Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Trainees; Jun 16, 2025; pubmed:40522004. View on PubMed
  4. Navigating Time-Critical Decisions in Pediatric Critical Care: A Proactive Communication Guide for Cultivating Prognostic Awareness; May 19, 2025; pubmed:40384441. View on PubMed
  5. Navigating the Healthcare System with a Complex Chronic Condition: Multidimensional Roles of Adolescents, Young Adults, and Parents; Mar 28, 2025; pubmed:40150599. View on PubMed
  6. Development of an Interprofessional Clinician Training in Pediatric Serious Illness Communication; Feb 12, 2025; pubmed:39937105. View on PubMed
  7. Feasibility of a Serious Illness Communication Program for Pediatric Advance Care Planning; Jul 26, 2024; pubmed:39058485. View on PubMed
  8. "At Least I Can Push this Morphine": PICU Nurses' Approaches to Suffering Among Dying Children; Apr 28, 2024; pubmed:38679304. View on PubMed
  9. Reflecting Upon Our Stories: The Compendium of Narratives in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine; Feb 26, 2024; pubmed:38407335. View on PubMed
  10. Economic Hardship at the End of Life for Families of Children With Complex Chronic Conditions; Dec 27, 2023; pubmed:38151216. View on PubMed
  11. The roles of preparation, location, and palliative care involvement in parent-perceived child suffering at the end of life; Jun 24, 2023; pubmed:37355461. View on PubMed
  12. Parent Preferences and Experiences in Advance Care Planning in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; May 18, 2023; pubmed:37201532. View on PubMed
  13. Advance Care Planning and Parent-Reported End-of-Life Outcomes in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Apr 28, 2023; pubmed:37116531. View on PubMed
  14. The Case for Advance Care Planning in the NICU; Nov 2, 2022; pubmed:36321383. View on PubMed
  15. Relationships and Resources Supporting Children With Serious Illness and Their Parents; Aug 9, 2022; pubmed:35945359. View on PubMed
  16. An Automatic Pediatric Palliative Care Consultation for Children Supported on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Survey of Perceived Benefits and Barriers; Mar 23, 2022; pubmed:35319287. View on PubMed
  17. Bereaved Parent Perspectives on the Benefits and Burdens of Technology Assistance among Children with Complex Chronic Conditions; Oct 7, 2021; pubmed:34618616. View on PubMed
  18. Is this as good as it gets? Implications of an asymptotic mortality decline and approaching the nadir in pediatric intensive care; Oct 2, 2021; pubmed:34599379. View on PubMed
  19. Symptoms and Suffering at End of Life for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions; Jul 26, 2021; pubmed:34311060. View on PubMed
  20. Factors Affecting Recruitment and Participation of Bereaved Parents in Research: A Brief Report; Apr 12, 2021; pubmed:33845118. View on PubMed
  21. Clinician Identified Barriers and Strategies for Advance Care Planning in Seriously Ill Pediatric Patients; Apr 6, 2021; pubmed:33823242. View on PubMed
  22. Clinical Care Strategies That Support Parents of Children With Complex Chronic Conditions; Apr 4, 2021; pubmed:33813549. View on PubMed
  23. The Words We Say; Feb 24, 2021; pubmed:33625200. View on PubMed
  24. Timing of Co-occurring Chronic Conditions in Children With Neurologic Impairment; Jan 8, 2021; pubmed:33414236. View on PubMed
  25. Weighing Distress and Benefit: Understanding the Research Participation Experiences of Bereaved Parents of Children With Complex Chronic Conditions; Dec 6, 2020; pubmed:33279601. View on PubMed
  26. Toddler With New Onset Diabetes and Atypical Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome in the Setting of COVID-19; Oct 10, 2020; pubmed:33037119. View on PubMed
  27. Development of a Stakeholder Driven Serious Illness Communication Program for Advance Care Planning in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Serious Illness; Sep 19, 2020; pubmed:32949579. View on PubMed
  28. A Breather during the Time of Breathlessness; Jul 14, 2020; pubmed:32654592. View on PubMed
  29. "I Could Never Prepare for Something Like the Death of My Own Child": Parental Perspectives on Preparedness at End of Life for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions; Jul 7, 2020; pubmed:32629083. View on PubMed
  30. Chronic Medication Use in Children Insured by Medicaid: A Multistate Retrospective Cohort Study; Mar 28, 2019; pubmed:30914443. View on PubMed
  31. Association of Home Respiratory Equipment and Supply Use with Health Care Resource Utilization in Children; Jan 8, 2019; pubmed:30612815. View on PubMed
  32. Advance Care Planning and Parent-Reported End-of-Life Outcomes in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Complex Chronic Conditions; Oct 11, 2018; pubmed:30303834. View on PubMed
  33. Patterns of Care at the End of Life for Children and Young Adults with Life-Threatening Complex Chronic Conditions; Nov 28, 2017; pubmed:29174080. View on PubMed
  34. It's Very Treatable; Nov 4, 2017; pubmed:29100003. View on PubMed
  35. Saying Goodbye; Mar 14, 2017; pubmed:28288258. View on PubMed
  36. Medication Reconciliation Failures in Children and Young Adults With Chronic Disease During Intensive and Intermediate Care; Feb 16, 2017; pubmed:28198758. View on PubMed
  37. Suspected Cerebral Edema in Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Is There Still a Role for Head CT in Treatment Decisions?; Jan 21, 2017; pubmed:28107262. View on PubMed
  38. The authors reply; Mar 11, 2014; pubmed:24608506. View on PubMed
  39. Increasing use of hypertonic saline over mannitol in the treatment of symptomatic cerebral edema in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis: an 11-year retrospective analysis of mortality*; Jul 19, 2013; pubmed:23863818. View on PubMed
Suzanne Gouda

Suzanne Gouda, MD

Core Faculty

Dr. Gouda is an Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician in both the Division of Medical Critical Care and the Pediatric Advanced Care Team at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is a dual-trained intensivist and palliative care physician. Her research explores the underutilization of pediatric palliative care following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and how care teams can improve communication and support for families during high-acuity admissions.

  1. Pediatric Palliative Care Consultation in the PICU Following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Analysis of the U.S. Pediatric Health Information Systems Database, 2013-2023; Oct 30, 2025; pubmed:41165414. View on PubMed
  2. Children are not "tiny" adults: Pediatric palliative care research as advocacy; Jun 19, 2025; pubmed:40533912. View on PubMed
  3. Advanced strategies for enhancing the neuroprotective potential of curcumin: delivery systems and mechanistic insights in neurodegenerative disorders; Mar 3, 2025; pubmed:40029926. View on PubMed
  4. Advances in nanomedicine for retinal drug delivery: overcoming barriers and enhancing therapeutic outcomes; Dec 18, 2024; pubmed:39694681. View on PubMed
  5. Timing Is Everything; Dec 4, 2024; pubmed:39631052. View on PubMed
  6. Starting From Scratch; Dec 4, 2024; pubmed:39630073. View on PubMed
  7. "Palliative Intensive Care" at the End of a Child's Life; Nov 3, 2023; pubmed:37920949. View on PubMed
  8. Parental Perception and Measured Functional Status Following Pediatric Critical Illness: A Secondary Analysis of the Survivor Outcomes Study; Aug 7, 2023; pubmed:37548521. View on PubMed
  9. Walking a Tightrope: Balancing Continuity for Long-Stay Patients and Wellness for Clinicians in an Ever-Evolving Landscape; Jun 1, 2023; pubmed:37260334. View on PubMed
  10. Why the Individual Provider Approach to Pediatric Palliative Care Consultation Exacerbates Healthcare Disparities: A Moral Argument for Standard Referral Criteria; Dec 22, 2022; pubmed:36548239. View on PubMed
  11. Moral Distress in Italian PICUs-Are Healthcare Organizations Listening?; Nov 3, 2022; pubmed:36326458. View on PubMed
  12. Palliative Care Utilization Following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Pediatrics; Feb 25, 2022; pubmed:35211682. View on PubMed
  13. Collateral Damage; Dec 2, 2021; pubmed:34854848. View on PubMed
Allison Wise

Allison Wise, MD

Core Faculty

Dr. Wise is an Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and a dual trained pediatric hospital medicine and palliative care physician. She brings a clinical and research focus on integrating serious illness communication earlier in the PICU course and understanding parental legacy, memory-making, and decision-making.

  1. "We Don't Like to Be Invisible": The Expert Roles of Medical Interpreters in Hospital Pediatrics; Aug 5, 2025; pubmed:40763932. View on PubMed
  2. Navigating the Healthcare System with a Complex Chronic Condition: Multidimensional Roles of Adolescents, Young Adults, and Parents; Mar 28, 2025; pubmed:40150599. View on PubMed
  3. Fabry Disease Podocytes Reveal Ferroptosis as a Potential Regulator of Cell Pathology; Feb 24, 2025; pubmed:39990892. View on PubMed
  4. The activity of early-life gene regulatory elements is hijacked in aging through pervasive AP-1-linked chromatin opening; Jul 3, 2024; pubmed:38959897. View on PubMed
  5. <em>Letter to the Editor:</em> Medical Interpreters as Coaches for Pediatric Palliative Care Clinicians; Jun 20, 2024; pubmed:38899505. View on PubMed
  6. GLA-modified RNA treatment lowers GB3 levels in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from Fabry-affected individuals; Aug 22, 2023; pubmed:37607539. View on PubMed
  7. Modularization for mastery learning in CS1: a 4-year action research study; Jun 26, 2023; pubmed:37359038. View on PubMed
  8. The protective effects of a novel AT<sub>2</sub> receptor agonist, β-Pro<sup>7</sup>Ang III in ischemia-reperfusion kidney injury; Mar 22, 2023; pubmed:36948137. View on PubMed
  9. Modelling X-linked Alport Syndrome With Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Podocytes; Nov 22, 2021; pubmed:34805641. View on PubMed
  10. Using theory-informed data science methods to trace the quality of dental student reflections over time; Sep 3, 2021; pubmed:34476651. View on PubMed
  11. The Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Podocytes In Vitro; Mar 18, 2021; pubmed:33733390. View on PubMed
  12. Supporting the shift to digital with student-centered learning analytics; Nov 30, 2020; pubmed:33250614. View on PubMed
  13. Percutaneous intrarenal transplantation of differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells into newborn mice; Feb 13, 2020; pubmed:32048472. View on PubMed
  14. Renal epithelial cells retain primary cilia during human acute renal allograft rejection injury; Nov 3, 2019; pubmed:31676011. View on PubMed
  15. The therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells on pulmonary myeloid cells following neonatal hyperoxic lung injury in mice; Jun 10, 2018; pubmed:29884181. View on PubMed
  16. Calcium Regulatory Endomembranes of the Prophase Mitotic Apparatus of Sand Dollar Cells Contain Enzyme Activities That Produce Leukotriene B4 but Not 1,4,5-Inositol Trisphosphate; Jun 2, 2017; pubmed:28570177. View on PubMed
  17. <em>miR-378</em> reduces mesangial hypertrophy and kidney tubular fibrosis via MAPK signalling; Jan 6, 2017; pubmed:28053239. View on PubMed
  18. Phenotype and influx kinetics of leukocytes and inflammatory cytokine production in kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury; Oct 4, 2016; pubmed:27696567. View on PubMed
  19. Mesenchymal Stem Cells Deliver Exogenous MicroRNA-let7c via Exosomes to Attenuate Renal Fibrosis; May 21, 2016; pubmed:27203438. View on PubMed
  20. Human mesenchymal stem cells alter the gene profile of monocytes from patients with Type 2 diabetes and end-stage renal disease; Nov 7, 2015; pubmed:26544198. View on PubMed
  21. Combination therapy of mesenchymal stem cells and serelaxin effectively attenuates renal fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy; Nov 15, 2014; pubmed:25395452. View on PubMed
  22. Human mesenchymal stem cells alter macrophage phenotype and promote regeneration via homing to the kidney following ischemia-reperfusion injury; Mar 14, 2014; pubmed:24623144. View on PubMed
  23. Establishing the flow cytometric assessment of myeloid cells in kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury; Nov 23, 2013; pubmed:24265261. View on PubMed
  24. Mesenchymal stem cells in kidney inflammation and repair; Jul 23, 2011; pubmed:21777348. View on PubMed
  25. Investigation of single-stack drainage for multi-storey flats; Sep 1, 1954; pubmed:13195534. View on PubMed
  26. Design factors for one-pipe drainage; Apr 1, 1954; pubmed:13168214. View on PubMed
Katherine Martz

Katherine Martz, MD

Core Faculty

Dr. Martz is an Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician in both the Division of Medical Critical Care at Boston Children’s Hospital and at Franciscan Children’s Hospital. She is a pediatric intensivist whose research focuses on improving communication and care delivery for critically ill children and their families, particularly in complex and high-stakes settings such as brain death determination, end-of-life care, and chronic critical illness. Her research uses qualitative and mixed-methods approaches to examine how communication practices among interprofessional teams affect clinical decision-making, systems-level outcomes, and family experiences. She has led studies exploring multidisciplinary perspectives on pediatric brain death communication, highlighting the challenges posed by variability in practice patterns, legal frameworks, and moral distress among providers. Dr. Martz is a collaborator on the international Pediatric Registry of Brain Death Practices (PROBE), and her work continues to investigate how best to align clinical communication with evolving standards, legal definitions, and family needs. She has also examined symptom burden and suffering in children with complex chronic conditions, the role of pediatric palliative care in improving outcomes, and communication challenges in conditions like congenital heart disease. Across all areas, her research aims to advance compassionate, consistent, and family-centered care in the pediatric intensive care unit.

  1. Symptoms and Suffering at End of Life for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions; Jul 26, 2021; pubmed:34311060. View on PubMed
  2. Impact of Specialized Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review; Aug 13, 2019; pubmed:31404638. View on PubMed
  3. Patterns and Outcomes of Care in Children With Advanced Heart Disease Receiving Palliative Care Consultation; Sep 10, 2017; pubmed:28887267. View on PubMed
  4. Chronic Critical Illness in Infants and Children: A Speculative Synthesis on Adapting ICU Care to Meet the Needs of Long-Stay Patients; Jun 14, 2016; pubmed:27295581. View on PubMed
  5. Long-term outcomes in borderline psychopathology: old assumptions, current findings, and new directions; Dec 6, 2011; pubmed:22139609. View on PubMed
Emily Upham

Emily Upham, BS

Clinical Research Coordinator 
Email: Emily.upham@childrens.harvard.edu

Emily is the lab’s clinical research coordinator and supports all aspects of study design, implementation, and dissemination. She is passionate about compassionate care delivery and promoting equity for patients and families in the healthcare system. 

Trainees and Alumni

Our lab proudly mentors medical students, residents, fellows, and early-career investigators.

Alumni publications

Marcus KL, Kao PC, Ma C, Wolfe J, DeCourcey DD. Symptoms and Suffering at End of Life for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions. Journal of pain and symptom management. 2020 Feb; 63(1): 88-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.07.010. PMID: 34311060. 

Deming RS, Wolfe J, DeCourcey DD. Weighing Distress and Benefit: Understanding the Research Participation Experiences of Bereaved Parents of Children With Complex Chronic Conditions. Journal of pain and symptom management. 2020 Dec 4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.11.018. PMID: 33279601. 

Basu MR, Partin L, Revette A, Wolfe J, DeCourcey DD. Clinician Identified Barriers and Strategies for Advance Care Planning in Seriously Ill Pediatric Patients. Journal of pain and symptom management. 2021 Sep 1; 62(3): e100-e111. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.03.006. PMID: 33823242. 

Cleveland RW, Snaman JM, DeCourcey DD. Factors Affecting Recruitment and Participation of Bereaved Parents in Research: A Brief Report. Journal of pain and symptom management. 2021 Sep 1; 62(3): e213-e217. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.03.026. PMID: 33845118. 

Lin M, Sayeed S, DeCourcey DD, Wolfe J, Cummings C. The Case for Advance Care Planning in the NICU. Pediatrics. 2022 Dec. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-057824. PMID: 36321383. 

Moon, RY. The Need for Advance Care Planning for Seriously Ill Infants. AAP Journal Pediatrics Blog. November 2022 

Broden EG, Mazzola E, DeCourcey DD, Blume ED, Wolfe J, Snaman JM. The roles of preparation, location, and palliative care involvement in parent-perceived child suffering at the end of life. Journal of pediatric nursing. 2023 Sep 1; 72: e166-e173. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.06.024. PMID: 37355461. 

Avery M, Wolfe J, DeCourcey DD. Economic Hardship at the End of Life for Families of Children With Complex Chronic Conditions. Journal of pain and symptom management. 2024 Apr 1; 67(4): e313-e319. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.12.014. PMID: 38151216. 

Lin M, Williams D, Vitcov G, Sayeed S, DeCourcey DD, Wolfe J, Cummings C. Advance Care Planning and Parent-Reported End-of-Life Outcomes in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. American journal of perinatology. 2024 May 1; 41(S 01): e1657-e1667. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1768488. PMID: 37116531. 

Lin M, Williams D, Vitcov G, Sayeed S, DeCourcey DD, Wolfe J, Cummings C. Parent Preferences and Experiences in Advance Care Planning in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. American journal of perinatology. 2024 May 1; 41(S 01): e1783-e1791. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1768960. PMID: 37201532.

Broden EG, Eche-Ugwu IJ, DeCourcey DD, Wolfe J, Hinds PS, Snaman J. "At Least I Can Push this Morphine": PICU Nurses' Approaches to Suffering Among Dying Children. Journal of pain and symptom management. 2024 Aug 1; 68(2): 132-141.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.04.018. PMID: 38679304. 

Wise AF, Upham EJ, DeCourcey DD. Navigating the Healthcare System with a Complex Chronic Condition: Multidimensional Roles of Adolescents, Young Adults, and Parents. Children. 2025; 12(3):318.  

Broden EG, Eche-Ugwu IJ, DeCourcey DD, Rosenberg AR, Snaman JM. ‘Leave No Question Unanswered’: Nurses' Roles in Family Preparation During End-of-Life Care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. American Journal of Critical Care. In Press 2025

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