Meredith Rose Hickson

Meredith Rose Hickson, MD, is an Associate Scholar and Pincus Global Health Fellow at the Global Health Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She is currently based in Botswana, where she provides inpatient pediatric and neonatal care at the national referral hospital and leads an implementation research project on a Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS). Her work also includes mentorship of medical students and residents at the University of Botswana. She has prior global health experience in Uganda and Senegal.

Education:

• Medical Degree: University of Michigan Medical School
• Residency: Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

Dr. Hickson's research interests focus on health systems strengthening, particularly in tertiary pediatric care in low-resource settings. She specializes in implementation science, pediatric critical care, and pediatric hospital medicine. Her work aims to improve referral systems, inpatient care, and escalation of care for children in sub-Saharan Africa. She has conducted research on the long-term neurodevelopmental impacts of malaria and placental malaria in Uganda.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in pediatric infectious diseases, child development, and implementation research in global health contexts. Key themes include malaria-related complications, nutritional interventions, deworming programs, and behavioral outcomes in children.

Scientific Awards and Fellowships:

• NIH-Fogarty Global Health Fellow
• Pincus Global Health Fellow

Dr. Hickson is actively involved in global health mentorship and research training. She mentors medical students and residents in Botswana and has participated in structured global health education programs. Her current implementation research on PEWS is supported through CHOP’s Global Health Center and involves collaboration with local nurses, educators, and hospital staff. She has also contributed to research on antiretroviral treatment adherence and parasitic infections.

Dr. Hickson works within the Global Health Center at CHOP and collaborates with teams at the University of Botswana and in Uganda. Her projects involve multidisciplinary teams including clinicians, researchers, and community health workers focused on improving child health outcomes through system-level interventions.