Natalia Henner

Natalia Henner, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, serving as Interim Chief of Palliative Care. Her clinical work spans Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, focusing on neonatal and perinatal palliative care systems.

Education:

• MD: University of Louisville (2006)
• Residency: Pediatrics, Tufts/New England Medical Center (2009)
• Fellowship: Neonatology-Perinatal Medicine, Tufts/New England Medical Center (2012)
• Fellowship: Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago MacLean Center (2013)
• Fellowship: Hospice and Palliative Care, Northwestern Memorial Hospital (2015)

Her research centers on optimizing care pathways for infants with life-limiting conditions, examining parental/provider decision-making variability in prenatal consultations, and improving symptom management in NICUs. She pioneers work in perinatal palliative care delivery systems and communication frameworks for complex family-provider interactions, bridging neonatology, ethics, and palliative medicine through interdisciplinary approaches.

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal strong thematic convergence in perinatal decision ethics, bereavement support systems, and standardization of care for extremely preterm infants. Her work consistently integrates psychological, ethical, and systems-level perspectives to address gaps in neonatal palliative care, with particular emphasis on family-centered communication and cultural competency in high-stakes clinical scenarios.

Scientific recognition includes:

• The Kathy Farrow Teaching and Mentorship Award (2020)
• Faculty Excellence in Education Awards (2015, 2018)

Dr. Henner actively shapes medical education through systems improvement initiatives and communication training, though specific grant details aren't provided in source materials. Her leadership as Interim Chief of Palliative Care drives institutional palliative care integration within neonatology, supported by active roles in the Society of Critical Care Medicine, AAHPM, and AAP where she contributes to national practice standards and ethical frameworks.