Lauren VonHoltz, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Emergency Medicine Department at the Perelman School of Medicine and a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Attending at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. VonHoltz’s research interests lie at the intersection of health and digital and social media technologies. She seeks to find innovative ways to identify and serve at-risk youth within digital networks that are an integral part of their daily lives. She also aims to use technology to bridge the divide between patients and their doctors through novel communication methods.
Dr. VonHoltz recently spearheaded the creation of a social needs assessment and resource allocation program that operates within the CHOP Emergency Department, entitled “Family Connects.” During an ED visit, families with self-reported needs are provided with information about available community resources. This project has been the recipient of a two-year institutional grant to solidify processes and enhance referrals to community program.
She worked as an Academic Associate in the Emergency Department at North Shore University Hospital. This experience further cemented her plan to practice emergency medicine and fueled an interest in a career in research, with a focus on policy and public health. She went on to complete her medical degree at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and earned her Master’s in Public Health during this time. She then completed a residency in general pediatrics and a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.