Pride Month: Q&A With Featured Research Trainee, Nathan Markiewitz, MD

Editor’s Note: Our Featured Research Trainee for June, Pride Month, is Nathan Markiewitz, MD. Dr. Markiewitz is a resident physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University, and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. In this Q&A, he discusses his research, his experience at CHOP, and his thoughts on Pride Month.

What message do you hope people take away from Pride Month?

Every year, Pride Month reminds me of the importance of community. The rights and spaces we enjoy today are the products of our LGBTQI+ ancestors working together. It is our duty to continue the legacy of these diverse leaders. Good science happens in places that take inclusion and equity seriously. I’m grateful to be part of Providers of Pride (POP) at CHOP and the Pediatrics Residency Program, which work tirelessly to welcome LGBTQI+ patients, families, and trainees.

What are some research projects you’re working on and why are they important?

I work with Jon Edelson, MD, to explore the determinants of exercise capacity after heart transplant in children. Heart transplant remains the definitive therapy for children with refractory advanced heart failure. Although survival has improved, our patients still face reduced exercise capacity that can prevent them from engaging in activities they enjoy. Understanding its determinants can inform interventions and potentially improve quality of life.

I also work with Adam Himebauch, MD to understand the role of the right atrium in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is a common cause of pediatric intensive care unit morbidity and mortality that often makes it challenging for the right heart to perfuse the lungs. Echocardiography with strain imaging of the right atrium, an easily visualized structure, may provide prognostic and clinically actionable information.

Both projects stem from my interest in using observational models to inform care in cardiology and critical care.

What are some of the most salient training experiences you’ve had at CHOP thus far?

From both a clinical and research angle, it is difficult to imagine a better place to train than CHOP. This enterprise offers cutting-edge care by some of the most brilliant and kind people. Working alongside them to support inpatient and outpatient care for children and their families is truly a privilege. The Cardiac Center has been particularly welcoming. From the operating room to the Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology Lab, physician-scientists have introduced me to the full spectrum of caring for families affected by pediatric heart disease. It is this intense collaboration that makes training at CHOP such a joy.

Aside from research, what do you consider your biggest accomplishment?

Marrying my husband is my greatest accomplishment, hands down. We met before I even considered medical school, and he has been my rock throughout training.

What do you do for fun when you’re not working?

Outside of the hospital, I love going on walks with my husband and corgi, lifting weights, and baking various pastries to power my co-residents through shifts. Some of my favorite pastries include kouign-amann, a cake reminiscent of a sweet croissant, and blueberry slab pie.