Dr. Simon Parzen-Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases. He currently serves as the Director for the pediatric antimicrobial stewardship service. This collaborative, interdisciplinary service targets improving drug selection, slowing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, reducing antibiotic expenditures, and improving patient outcomes at UChicago Medicine’s Comer Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Parzen-Johnson is also the Director of UME to GME Transitions for the UCM Department of Pediatrics. In this role, he oversees the rotations of all 4th year medical students, from both the Pritzker School of Medicine and visiting institutions, with the goal of ensuring improved access and experience for all students involved.
Dr. Parzen-Johnson's primary clinical and academic interests focus on medical education, antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship. Much of his work is focused on utilizing the electronic health record, along with in-person discussion and teaching, to improve resource utilization within the hospital system to better care for the pediatric patients of Chicago.
Dr. Parzen-Johnson completed his medical training at University of Wisconsin-Madison, pediatric residency at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital of Oakland, and infectious diseases fellowship at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago associated with Northwestern University.
Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Fellowship, Pediatric Infectious Diseases
2023
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital of Oakland
Residency, Pediatrics
2020
University of Wisconsin-Madison
MD
2017
Emory University
BS - Biology, Religion
2012
Improving Preparatory Materials for the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Initial Certifying Exam: A Targeted Needs Assessment.
Improving Preparatory Materials for the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Initial Certifying Exam: A Targeted Needs Assessment. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2025 May 25.
PMID: 40413637
Childhood opportunity index and vaccine uptake in pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Childhood opportunity index and vaccine uptake in pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations. Vaccine. 2025 Feb 27; 48:126734.
PMID: 39823851
Evaluation and Treatment of Congenital Syphilis: A National Survey of US Pediatric Specialists.
Evaluation and Treatment of Congenital Syphilis: A National Survey of US Pediatric Specialists. J Clin Med. 2024 Oct 21; 13(20).
PMID: 39458235
Navigating the Spectrum of Two Pediatric COVID-19 Complications: Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.
Navigating the Spectrum of Two Pediatric COVID-19 Complications: Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. J Clin Med. 2024 Feb 18; 13(4).
PMID: 38398460
Antimicrobial stewardship for nurse practitioners and physician assistants: enhancing patient safety through education.
Antimicrobial stewardship for nurse practitioners and physician assistants: enhancing patient safety through education. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2023; 3(1):e165.
PMID: 38028918
Unusual Presentation of Pediatric Scurvy: A Necrotic Gastrostomy Tube Site in a 14-Year-Old Boy.
Unusual Presentation of Pediatric Scurvy: A Necrotic Gastrostomy Tube Site in a 14-Year-Old Boy. Am J Case Rep. 2023 Jul 19; 24:e940770.
PMID: 37464734
Biliary Complications of Prolonged Ceftriaxone Use in Patients With Intracranial Infections.
Biliary Complications of Prolonged Ceftriaxone Use in Patients With Intracranial Infections. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2023 06 30; 12(6):379-380.
PMID: 37285212
Fluoroquinolone Use Among Hospitalized Children: Diagnosis-Based Stratification to Identify Stewardship Targets.
Fluoroquinolone Use Among Hospitalized Children: Diagnosis-Based Stratification to Identify Stewardship Targets. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jun; 10(6):ofad297.
PMID: 37323425
Sociodemographic Comparison of Children With High-risk Medical Conditions Referred vs Identified Through Screening Plus Outreach for COVID-19 Therapeutics.
Sociodemographic Comparison of Children With High-risk Medical Conditions Referred vs Identified Through Screening Plus Outreach for COVID-19 Therapeutics. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 12 01; 5(12):e2248671.
PMID: 36576739
Staphylococcus aureus-Associated Glomerulonephritis and Chronic Granulomatous Disease in an Adolescent Male.
Staphylococcus aureus-Associated Glomerulonephritis and Chronic Granulomatous Disease in an Adolescent Male. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2022 Sep 29; 11(9):422-425.
PMID: 35748038