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Rachel Dana St. John, MD $$

Pediatrician

Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Director, Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children at Children's Health

Languages Spoken:
English American Sign Language

Locations

UT Southwestern Pediatric Group

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Biography

Rachel St. John, M.D., NCC, NIC-A, is the director of  Family-Focused Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children at Children’s Health℠, and a Professor of Otolaryngology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. St. John is a board-certified pediatrician, has a masters in counseling from Gallaudet University, and holds a NIC-Advanced sign language interpreter certification through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Her interests include language access, advocacy and supporting effective medical homes for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. She presents regularly at state, national, and international conferences, and completed a term as an American Academy of Pediatrics delegate to the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing.

Education and Training

Medical School
University of Virginia School of Medicine (1999)
Internship
Georgetown University Medical Center (2000), Pediatrics
Residency
Georgetown University Medical Center (2003), Pediatrics
Graduate School
Gallaudet University (2004)
Board Certification
American Board of Pediatrics

  • Research Interests

    • Developmental outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
    • Early language access
    • Newborn hearing screening
    • Resident education and practice retention

  • Publications

    Publications

    • Dang Q, Hoffman M, St. John R.  Diagnostic Overshadowing: A Delayed Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Deaf Child.  Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, 2024, 9(1), 17-21.
    • Narayanan A, Dabbous H, St John R, Kou Y, Johnson R, Chorney S.  Pediatric Tracheostomy Audiometric Outcomes – A Quality Improvement Initiative.  International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 2023, 173: 111694.
    • Wynings E, Jaffal H, St John R, Johnson R, Chorney S.  Mechanical ventilation and middle ear effusions among tracheostomy-dependent children. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 2022; 155:111062.
    • St John R, Mitchell RB, Lee K.  Achieving Optimal Vaccine Administration in a Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program After Implementation of a Quality Improvement Project.  The Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 2021; 146:110750.
    • Year 2019 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs.  Joint Committee on Infant Hearing.  Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, 2019, 4(2), 1-44. DOI: 10.15142/fptk-b748.
    • The role of routine hearing screening in children with cystic fibrosis on aminoglycosides: A systematic review. Farzal Z, Kou YF, St John R, Shah GB, Mitchell RB. Laryngoscope. 2016 Jan;126(1):228-35.
    • The otolaryngologist's role in newborn hearing screening and early intervention. Bower CM, St John R. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2014 Oct;47(5):631-49.
    • Regarding review of psychopathology in children and adolescents who are deaf or hard of hearing. St John R. JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Aug;168(8):778-9.
    • Developmental, audiological, and speech perception functioning in children after cochlear implant surgery: a reply. St John R, Nelson DB. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Apr;158(4):401; author reply 401-2.

    Books

    • Wiley S, St John R.  Outcomes Among Infants and Children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing.  In: Kliegman, Robert. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Edition 22. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier (2024)
    • Getting Started: Hearing Screening, Evaluation, and Next Steps. In Early Intervention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers, and their Families. St John R, Lytle L, Nussbaum D, Shoup A (2016). New York, NY, Oxford University Press
    • Neonatal Hearing Screening. In Atlas of Procedures in Neonatology. St. John R, Morgan S. Neonatal Hearing Screening. In: MacDonald MG, Ramasethu J (2006). Washington, DC, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

  • Professional Activities

    • American Academy of Pediatrics (2002)
    • Dallas Medical Society (2012)
    • National Board of Certified Counselors (2004)
    • Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (2009)
    • Texas Pediatric Society (2010)

  • Awards and Honors

    • Children's Health Physician of the Month (2018)
    • Texas Guide By Your Side Program Physician Champion (2014)
    • EHDI Award of Excellence (AAP, CDC, MCHB/HRSA) - For continued efforts to improve the lives of children and families through early hearing detection and intervention as the Texas AAP Chapter Champion (2011)
    • External Collaboration Award, Gallaudet University - In recognition of major contributions to the Gallaudet University Community, and in particular, to the students of the Department of Counseling, throughout the years (2008)
    • Pediatric Resident of the Year - Georgetown University Hospital Pediatric Residency Program outstanding resident of the year award (2004)
    • Resident Teaching Award - Hugh Hussey Resident Teaching Award in Pediatrics (2001)
    • Robert Wood Johnson Generalist Scholar - Primary care medical education scholarship (1995-1999)

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