Engin Deniz, MD, is a pediatric critical care specialist who says he thrives on taking care of children—and families—during some of their most trying times.
“In the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, we care for patients who are sickest,” Dr. Deniz says. “When a child is struggling because of a birth defect or because of a severe infection or something else that can be life-threatening, just to be next to them and help them is the most appealing aspect of my job.”
When a child comes into the ICU, the entire family becomes part of the medical team and is actively involved in making decisions, Dr. Deniz says. “Here at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, parents ‘round’ [when various specialists discuss a patient’s medical care] with us,” he says. “Sometimes, care is adjusted and modified based on a parent’s wishes. A child’s well-being goes hand in hand with a parent’s. This is the tradition here, and it works great.”
Dr. Deniz’s research focuses on understanding the genetics of hydrocephalus, a birth defect in which fluid builds up deep inside the cavities, or ventricles, of the brain. He is also an assistant professor of pediatric critical care at Yale School of Medicine.
