Our mission at Saint Louis University Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine is to provide our patients with excellent, high-value care from birth until 21 years of age.
We accomplish this standard of excellence through respectful collaboration between our SLU staff, fostering a supportive work environment within our multidisciplinary teams, and building relationships of trust with our patients and their families. Our practice is dedicated to scholarly achievements, clinical excellence, mentorship, community outreach, professional development, education and lifelong learning. Our physicians and advanced practice nurses are recognized for experience, mentorship, knowledge and a commitment to the education of others.
Aline Tanios, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Division chief, Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Associate program director, Pediatric Residency Program
Aline Tanios, M.D., is a pediatric hospitalist, and her passion has always been caring for hospitalized children, especially the vulnerable population. She is an avid teacher and a strong advocate for all types of learners, mainly residents, supporting them to reach their full potential. She believes in getting challenged in order to grow, and this is reflected in her daily roles, allowing learners to be curious and get out of their comfort zones. Mentoring in academia has helped her find purpose and fulfillment by collaborating and sharing life and career experiences to help shape us into the professionals we aspire to be.
Andrew Ellis, M.D.
Assistant professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Medical director 2 and 3 South Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
Fellowship program director, Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Andrew Ellis M.D., originally from Arvada, Colorado, is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, after which he completed his residency in pediatrics and fellowship in pediatric hospital medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. His clinical and academic interests include value-based care, diagnostic reasoning, quality improvement, clinical efficiency, and patient communication. In his free time, he is an avid golfer; Denver Broncos, St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Buffaloes fan; and enjoys all the activities St. Louis has to offer with his wife and two young children.
Samantha Hanna, M.D.
Assistant professor of pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Samantha Hanna, M.D., is a board-certified pediatric hospitalist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She completed medical school at West Virginia University, a pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt University, and a pediatric hospital medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama – Birmingham/Children’s of Alabama. She received a Master of Public Health from Brown University. She specializes in caring for hospitalized children with acute and chronic illnesses using a team-based approach to provide comprehensive patient- and family-centered care. Hanna has interests in advocacy, quality improvement and patient safety.
Jennifer Hoefert, M.D.
Assistant professor in Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Associate program director, Pediatric Residency Program
Jennifer Hoefert, M.D., is a pediatric hospitalist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon
Children's Hospital. She graduated from Rush Medical College and completed her pediatric
residency at the University of Louisville, receiving a certificate in global health.
She completed a pediatric hospital medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama
at Birmingham and received a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Quality and Safety
from the UAB School of Health Professions. She joined Saint Louis University School
of Medicine/SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital as faculty in 2020. She
also serves as associate program director for the pediatric residency program. Her
interests include medical education, global health and healthcare disparities, quality
improvement, and high-value care.
Marta King, M.D.
Professor, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Marta King, M.D., is passionate about advancing medical education through innovation, program development, process improvement, mentoring, and scholarship. A nationally recognized leader in medical education, King is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Educators in Pediatrics, the Pediatrics in Review editorial board, and faculty in the Academic Pediatric Association Educational Scholars Program. Two of her first-author manuscripts have been recognized among the top 10 publications of the year in medical education and pediatric hospital medicine. A firm believer in lifelong learning and continuous personal and professional growth, King completed her medical degree, pediatric residency, master's in medical education, and quality improvement science training at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Elyse Shaw Ellis, M.D.
Assistant professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Elyse Shaw Ellis is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She completed residency at Riley Hospital for Children/Indiana University and one year of pediatric cardiology fellowship at Saint Louis University before pivoting to a career in hospital medicine. Her interests include medical education, resident mentorship, and quality improvement. Outside of work, she enjoys running, crossword puzzles, going to Target and spending time with her spouse and two children.
Melanie Trenkamp, M.D.
Assistant professor of pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Pediatric clerkship director, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Melanie Trenkamp, M.D., is originally from St. Louis. She graduated from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, after which she stayed to complete her residency in pediatrics at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. Trenkamp has a strong passion for mentorship and medical education. She serves as the pediatric clerkship director and pediatric primary specialty advisor for Saint Louis University School of Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her large family, and exploring new hobbies (most recently, quilting!).
Kayla Heller, M.D.
Associate professor of pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Program director, Pediatric residency
Kayla Heller, M.D., provides inpatient pediatric care for infants and children (birth to age 21), treating various illnesses and medical needs, including infections, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, asthma, and influenza, as well as offering general pediatric and post-surgical care. She sees patients in many hospital areas — the pediatric ward, newborn nursery, emergency department, neonatal intensive care unit, and pediatric intensive care unit.
Heller’s clinical interests include medical education, simulation, and inpatient behavioral health. She provides exceptional medical care to her patients while keeping their families informed and supported throughout their child’s hospitalization. She is a reliable resource for them when they are most vulnerable. When a patient is discharged, Heller gives their pediatrician a report and detailed instructions for additional care.
Rebecca Phelps
Rebecca "Becky" Phillips is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner and practices as a pediatric hospitalist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.
Becky's interests include inpatient hospital medicine and providing care to pediatric patients with acute illnesses and chronic conditions. Focusing on diagnostic and management strategies is essential to stabilizing patients with acute and unstable chronic illnesses.
She received her bachelor's degree in nursing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and began her nursing career at St. Louis Children's Hospital as a registered nurse. She then pursued her pediatric nurse practitioner career by attaining a master's from the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Her experience of over 13 years as a pediatric nurse practitioner includes primary care, emergency/urgent care, and hospitalist.
Her professional memberships include the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and the St. Louis chapter of NAPNAP.
Madeline Smith
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Madeline Smith is a dual-certified primary and acute care pediatric nurse practitioner actively involved in the St. Louis chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. In addition to her nursing credentials, she holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She carries certifications as a certified exercise physiologist and in Exercise is Medicine from the American College of Sports Medicine.
Smith's professional expertise extends to her personal interests. A fervent traveler, she dedicates her free time to diverse activities, including working out, rock climbing, mountain biking, and pickleball. Beyond her active pursuits, Madeline has a passion for brewing her own beer and values quality moments spent with family and friends.
Millicent Palacios, D.N.P.
Pediatric nurse practitioner
Millicent Palacios, D.N.P., is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University in 2010 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 2019.
Kathleen Rinehart
Kathleen Rinehart is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University. She has more than nine years of hospital nurse practitioner experience. In her free time, she loves being with her two boys and husband and spending time at the lake and hiking.
Staff
Christel Reed
Administrative assistant
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital