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Ashwini Lakshmanan, MD, MS, MPH, FAAP

Biography

Associate Professor

Health Systems Science

Dr. Ashwini Lakshmanan is a neonatologist, educator, and researcher dedicated to improving infant outcomes and advancing health equity in perinatal-neonatal medicine through patient-centered research, process improvement, and digital innovation. At KPSOM, she teaches in Health Systems Science and mentors students in research and clinical skills. Her work examines how preterm birth and NICU hospitalization affect family quality of life, mental health, financial burden, and access to early intervention services, with publications in Journal of Pediatrics, JAMA Network Open, Journal of Perinatology, BMC Pediatrics, Clinical Pediatrics, and Academic Pediatrics.

Dr. Lakshmanan previously directed the Laboratory for Fetal and Infant Health Outcomes at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and chaired the Academic Pediatric Association’s Qualitative Research Group. She also led education and advocacy initiatives for the Perinatal Quality Improvement Panel and the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC). She is Co-Chair of the Society for Pediatric Research’s Advocacy Committee.

Profile headshot of Ashwini Lakshmanan, MD, MS, MPH, FAAP

Education and Training

Degrees
BS, Magna Cum Laude, University of Southern California
BA, Magna Cum Laude, University of Southern California
MD, Keck School of Medicine of USC
MPH, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
MS, Clinical, Biomedical, and Translational Investigations, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Postdoctoral Training
Internship and Residency, Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Chief Residency, Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Fellowship, Harvard Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Program
Fellowship, Pediatric Health Services Research, Boston Children’s Hospital

Professional Positions

Section Head, Epidemiology and Outcomes, Fetal and Neonatal Institute
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
2014-2022
Director, Laboratory for Fetal and Infant Health Outcomes Research
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
2019-2022
Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Population and Public Health Sciences
Keck School of Medicine of USC
2022-present
Associate Professor, Health Systems Science
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
2022-present

Honors and Awards

Young Investigator Award
Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health
2013
Innovation Challenge Winner
American Hospital Association
2019
Best Apps of 2020 Honorable Mention
Fast Company
2020
Mobile App Gold Award
W3 Mobile App Awards
2020
mHealth Outstanding Authors
AME Publishing Company
2023

Community Engagement

Member
Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools
2024-present
Member
Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit (Credit Building)
2024-present

Scholarly Activities

View Dr. Ashwini Lakshmanan’s Researcher Profile

Selected peer-reviewed research manuscripts
  • Lakshmanan A, Agni M, Lieu T, Fleegler E, Kipke M, Friedlich PS, McCormick MC, Belfort MB. The impact of preterm birth <37 weeks on parents and families: a cross-sectional study in the 2 years after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2017 Feb 16;15(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s12955-017-0602-3. PMID: 28209168; PMCID: PMC5312577.
  • Lakshmanan A, Kubicek K, Williams R, Robles M, Vanderbilt DL, Mirzaian CB, Friedlich PS, Kipke M. Viewpoints from families for improving transition from NICU-to-home for infants with medical complexity at a safety net hospital: a qualitative study. BMC Pediatrics. 2019 Jul 5;19(1):223. doi: 10.1186/s12887-019-1604-6. PMID: 31277630; PMCID: PMC6610911.
  • Lakshmanan A, Song AY, Belfort MB, Yieh L, Dukhovny D, Friedlich PS, Gong CL. The financial burden experienced by families of preterm infants after NICU discharge. Journal of Perinatology. 2022 Feb;42(2):223-230. doi: 10.1038/s41372-021-01213-4. Epub 2021 Sep 24. PMID: 34561556; PMCID: PMC8460846.
  • Lakshmanan A, Sunshine I, Calvetti S, Espinoza J, Santoro S, Butala S, House M, Kipke M. Designing a Mobile Health Solution to Facilitate the Transition from NICU to Home: A Qualitative Study. Children (Basel). 2022 Feb 15;9(2):260. doi: 10.3390/children9020260. PMID: 35204980; PMCID: PMC8870191.
  • Lakshmanan A, Sunshine I, Escobar CM, Kipke M, Vanderbilt D, Friedlich PS, Mirzaian CB. Connecting to Early Intervention Services After Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge in a Medicaid Sample. Academic Pediatrics. 2022 Mar;22(2):253-262. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.10.006. Epub 2021 Oct 29. PMID: 34757023; PMCID: PMC8901461.
  • Lakshmanan A, Rogers EE, Lu T, Gray E, Vernon L, Briscoe H, Profit J, Jocson MAL, Hintz SR. Disparities and Early Engagement Associated with the 18- to 36-Month High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Visit among Very Low Birthweight Infants in California. Journal of Pediatrics. 2022 Sep;248:30-38.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.05.026. Epub 2022 May 18. PMID: 35597303.
  • Sunshine IL, Kysh L, Lakshmanan A. Mobile applications to support parents in the transition from neonatal intensive care unit to home: a narrative review. mHealth. 2023 Jul 12;9:27. doi: 10.21037/mhealth-23-10. PMID: 37492120; PMCID: PMC10363998.
  • Gorsky KG, Butala S, House M, Moon C, Calvetti S, Khando T, Kipke M, Lakshmanan A. Uncertainty and the NICU Experience: A Qualitative Evaluation of Family and Provider Perspectives. Children (Basel). 2023 Oct 27;10(11):1745. doi: 10.3390/children10111745. PMID: 38002836; PMCID: PMC10670907.
  • Chou FS, Zhang J, Nguyen C, Faison GM, Thompson LR, Villosis MFB, Barseghyan K, Lakshmanan A. The impact of exclusive human milk diet on short-term growth of very preterm infants. Journal of Perinatology. 2024 Nov;44(11):1567-1574. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01980-w. Epub 2024 Apr 27. PMID: 38678082.
  • Chou FS, Zhang J, Villosis MFB, Lakshmanan A. Exclusive human milk diet is associated with lower risk of motor function impairment at three years of corrected age. Journal of Perinatology. 2025 Apr 21. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02296-z. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40259098.