Lynn Sheets

Dr. Lynn Sheets is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, working within the Division of Child Advocacy and Protection. She maintains dual affiliations with the Comprehensive Injury Center and Neuroscience Research Center at the institution, reflecting her multidisciplinary approach to child abuse research and clinical practice.

Dr. Sheets' research focuses on identifying subtle indicators of physical abuse in children, particularly sentinel injuries in infants that may precede more severe harm. Her work examines specific bruising patterns including facial bruising as precursors to abusive head trauma, palm bruising as recognizable abuse patterns, and patterned bruises from abusive squeezing. She has made significant contributions to understanding drug exposure in abused children and the complex intersection between medical child abuse and children with genuine medical complexity.

Her publication record shows consistent scholarly activity from 2013 through 2025, with her most influential work being 'Sentinel injuries in infants evaluated for child physical abuse' which has received over 300 citations. Dr. Sheets' research demonstrates a strong emphasis on translating findings into clinical practice through educational initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration.

• 321 citations for seminal work on sentinel injuries
• Multiple publications addressing interprofessional knowledge gaps
• Curriculum development for child abuse pediatrics education
• Research on drug-endangered children protocols

Dr. Sheets actively contributes to improving clinical recognition of child abuse through evidence-based approaches, with particular focus on early intervention opportunities that can prevent escalation of abuse. Her work bridges forensic pediatrics, clinical practice, and medical education to enhance child protection systems.