Kathleen R Billings

Kathleen R Billings is a Professor of Otolaryngology specializing in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, practicing at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Her clinical expertise spans pediatric ear, nose, and throat disorders with emphasis on evidence-based management of complex cases.

Her academic training includes:

• MD from Rush Medical College (1990)
• Surgery Internship at UCLA Medical Center (1991)
• Surgery Residency at UCLA Medical Center (1992)
• Otolaryngology Residency at UCLA Medical Center (1996)
• Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship at Children's Hospital Boston (1997)

Dr. Billings' research focuses on acute/chronic otitis media, hearing loss, tympanic perforations, cholesteatoma, and ENT manifestations of craniofacial syndromes including Down and Turner’s. Her work advances surgical and non-surgical management of adenotonsillar diseases, obstructive sleep apnea, and recurrent tonsillitis through rigorous clinical investigation. Current studies examine cost-effective epistaxis protocols, opioid stewardship in pediatric tonsillectomy, and comparative outcomes for sleep-disordered breathing interventions.

Recent publications reveal strong trends in optimizing pediatric ENT care through health economics analysis, risk-stratified perioperative protocols, and evidence-based decision frameworks for common surgical indications. Her work bridges clinical practice with health services research to improve resource utilization and patient outcomes.

Professional honors include:

• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
• Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP)
• Member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society

Dr. Billings serves on the Pediatric Otolaryngology Education Committee and as Editorial Board Member for Laryngoscope and International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. Her leadership extends to Women in Otolaryngology initiatives and multiple national societies including American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology and American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, she collaborates with multidisciplinary craniofacial teams and syndrome-specific programs to deliver comprehensive care for children with complex ENT conditions, particularly those requiring integrated management of airway, hearing, and feeding disorders.