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General Pediatrics Research

Research Overview

Shalini H. Shah, DO is a practicing board-certified pediatrician, environmental medicine physician, and assistant director for the Boston Children’s Pediatric Environmental Health Center (PEHC) and Region I Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU). 

Dr. Shah cares for patients in primary care pediatrics and environmental health clinic. Her work focuses on the intersection of the climate crisis, environmental justice, and children’s health and has been presented regionally and nationally. Her research centers on developing and implementing environmental screening (e.g. the Healthy Homes screener) and clinical education tools (e.g. ClimateRx) in clinical settings to strengthen families’ capacity to adapt to climate-related health risks. Dr. Shah also co-leads educational programs at the Region I PEHSU, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School to integrate environmental and climate-related education across all stages of medical training — from high school and undergraduate students to medical trainees and practicing clinicians.

Research Background

Dr. Shah practices primary care pediatrics and environmental medicine. She attended medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed her subspecialty training in pediatric and reproductive environmental health at Boston Children's Hospital in 2023.

Selected Publications

  1. Lewandowski A, Shah SH, Bernstein J, Zielinski A. Climate-Related Health Impacts and Mitigation Strategies in Clinical Settings. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2026 March. doi: [2]https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2026.02.004.
  2. Shah SH, Whitman E, Story D, Manning K, Hauptman M. The Intersection of Climate and Equity in Clinical Pediatric Practice. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2026 March. doi: [3]https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2026.01.007.
  3. Baker N, Shirley H, Kline MC, Malits J, Mandalapu A, Mazumder DR, Shah SH, Hauptman M, Eisen J, Jones D, Pelletier S, Basu G. Evaluating the impact of a longitudinal, integrated climate change, health, and environment curriculum in undergraduate medical training at Harvard Medical School. PLOS Climate. 2025 December. doi: [4]https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000727.
  4. Shah SH, Hauptman M. Lead Poisoning in a Child. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jun 5;392(21):2150. doi: 10.1056/NEJMicm2501209. PubMed PMID: 40466068.
  5. Brewster RC, Acosta K, Story D, Bayuh F, Shah S, Woolf A, Buncher N, Hauptman M. Take the Lead on Lead: Feasibility of a Telemedicine-Based Clinic for Lead Poisoning Prevention and Management. Acad Pediatr. 2025 Aug;25(6):102844. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2025.102844. Epub 2025 Apr 17. PubMed PMID: 40253003; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12317827.
  6. Hauptman M, Nascarella M, Silvester J, Kellogg M, Shah SH, Acosta K, Yousuf A, Woolf AD. Lead Toxicity From Imported Jewelry. Pediatrics. 2024 Oct 1;154(Suppl 2). doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-067808J. PubMed PMID: 39352039; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11460313.
  7. Shah SH, Ragavan MI. Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, and Child Health: A Call to Action. Pediatrics. 2024 Sep 1;154(3). doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-067391. PubMed PMID: 39206497; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11350094.
  8. Kaufman HW, Niles JK, Brewster RCL, Acosta K, Shah SH, Hauptman M. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Blood Lead Testing in Children in the United States. Popul Health Manag. 2024 Jun;27(3):199-205. doi: 10.1089/pop.2023.0298. Epub 2024 Apr 8. PubMed PMID: 38587281; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11971586.
  9. Shah SH, Woolf AD, Manning K, Holder-Niles F, Tully B, Flanagan S, Spence MC, Hauptman M. The more you know: Insights from integrated pre-visit surveys in a pediatric environmental health center. Int Public Health J. 2023;15(3):297-306. PubMed PMID: 38362063; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10868725.
  10. Finkelstein JB, Hauptman M, Acosta K, Flanagan S, Cahill D, Smith B, Bernstein A, Shah SH, Kaur R, Meyers H, Shah AS, Meara JG, Estrada CR Jr. Environmental Impact of a Pediatric and Young Adult Virtual Medicine Program: A Lesson from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Acad Pediatr. 2024 Apr;24(3):408-416. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2023.07.011. Epub 2023 Jul 25. PubMed PMID: 37499794; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10809144.

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