Get to Know Me
Scott L. Weiss, MD MSCE FCCM is an associate professor of pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University and division chief of critical care medicine at Nemours Children’s Hospital. Previously, Dr. Weiss was on the faculty at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he earned recognition as an international expert in pediatric sepsis. Dr. Weiss’ NIH-funded research focuses on epidemiology, fluid resuscitation and mitochondrial dysfunction in pediatric sepsis.
Why I Treat Children
Medicine offers a rare opportunity to engage with an individual at a vulnerable point of suffering from illness or injury, especially in critical care. I wear this as a badge of humility and respect for our patients and families. When the patient is a child, the trust offered by a family is particularly noteworthy and opportunity to support health and well-being is particularly impactful. I am also constantly amazed that, despite not feeling their best, children look to play, smile and enjoy life rather than seeing themselves as patients. In the intensive care unit, I am inspired every day by the children and their families, which drives me to provide the best care possible.
What I'm Passionate About
My clinical focus is on children with sepsis, which is a medical emergency of life-threatening organ failure caused by a severe infection. I have been privileged to work with local, national and international teams to optimize systems and methods to recognize and treat sepsis in children to reduce negative impacts that this illness can have on families.
How I Try to Make A Difference
In addition to my clinical responsibilities in the pediatric ICU, I work as a scientist studying mechanisms of organ failure during sepsis. In particular, I focus on the role of mitochondria in sepsis. Mitochondria are the parts of our cells that produce the energy our body needs to stay healthy. My research seeks to understand how sepsis damages mitochondria, in order to develop new therapies that will promote recovery from sepsis-induced organ failure.
