Pamela Okada

Pamela J. Okada is a board-certified Clinical Professor in Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center, with a primary focus on Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She serves as the Medical Director and Service Chief of the Plano Children's Emergency Department, Associate Program Director for the UTSW/Children’s Health Pediatric Residency Program, and has held leadership roles including President of the Children’s Health Plano Medical Staff and Chair of the Credential’s Committee.

• Education: MD (Tulane University School of Medicine, 1990), Pediatric Residency (Harbor-UCLA Medical School, 1990-1993), Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship (UT Southwestern, 1993-1996), MS in Clinical Science (UT Southwestern, 2016), Certificate in Medical Management Education (University of Texas at Dallas, 2018)

Her research explores neurologic emergencies (traumatic brain injury, seizures), infection diagnostics (meningitis, sepsis), and pediatric emergency protocols (hydration, pain management). Key trends in her publications include advancing diagnostic accuracy, optimizing treatment for status epilepticus, and evaluating therapeutic hypothermia in pediatric critical care.

• Scientific Recognition: Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP) and American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP); Editorial Board member for the Pediatric Society of Greater Dallas.

Dr. Okada actively mentors future pediatricians and collaborates with regional practitioners to improve emergency care for children in the Greater Dallas Fort Worth community.