Sonia Michail, MD, FAAP, CPE, AGAF

Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Pediatrics

Director, The George Donnell Society for Pediatric Scientists

Director, Research for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program

Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Education

Medical School

Ain Shams University College of Medicine

Internship

Ain Shams University College of Medicine: Rotating internship

Residency

Michigan State University: Pediatrics (Chief Resident)

Fellowship

Creighton University and University of Nebraska Medical Center: Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Accomplishments

Certifications

Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology: American Board of Pediatrics
Physician Executive, Board Certification in Medical Management, American Board of Pediatrics

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Pediatrics: Fellow
American Gastroenterology Association: Fellow
North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
Society for Pediatric Research: Elected member

Awards

Inducted as a member of the American Pediatric Society, a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, and an American Gastroenterology Association Fellow (AGAF), an honor bestowed by the AGA and AAP for superior professional achievement in the field of Pediatrics and Gastroenterology. Dr. Michail is also a reviewer/chair reviewer for many institutions and societies including the National Institute of Health, the American Gastroenterological Association, North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, etc. She is also a reviewer for major medical journals and abstract reviewer for several medical societies and has served on the editorial board of journals. She is an invited lecturer at the national and international levels. Dr. Michail has been named best doctor by LA magazine and Pasadena Magazine.

Publications

Books and Book Chapters

Probiotics in Pediatric Medicine. Series: Michail, Sonia; Sherman, Philip M. (Eds.) 2009, XX, 352 p. 12 illus., Hardcover, ISBN: 978-1-60327-288-9

Pediatric Neurogastroenterology: Gastrointestinal motility and functional disorders in children. Chapter 5, Inflammation, microflora, motility and visceral sensitivity. Editors: Faure and DiLorenzo. Authors: Michail S and Ng MW (Ped GI fellow), 2013

Rosh and Bousvaros' Curbside Consultation book for Pediatric GI. Chapter 19, 2014

Wyllie Robert, Chapter 94: New chapter 26. authors: Liu Q, Michail S and Mitsinihos T. Gastritis, Gastropathy, and Ulcer Disease, Wyllie:Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 5th Edition, 2015

Selected Publications

Shneider BL, Magee JC, Karpen SJ, Rand EB, Narkewicz MR, Bass LM, Schwarz K, Whitington PF, Bezerra JA, Kerkar N, Haber B, Rosenthal P, Turmelle YP, Molleston JP, Murray KF, Ng VL, Wang KS, Romero R, Squires RH, Arnon R, Sherker AH, Moore J, Ye W, Sokol RJ; Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN); Childhood Liver Disease Research Network ChiLDReN. Total Serum Bilirubin within 3 Months of Hepatoportoenterostomy Predicts Short-Term Outcomes in Biliary Atresia. J Pediatr. 2016 Mar;170:211-217.e2. PMID: 26725209

Michail, S, Lin M*, Fanter R, Frey M, Paliy O, Reo N. Altered Gut Microbial Energy and Metabolism in Children with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. FEMS microbial ecology, FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2015 Feb;91(2):1-9. PMID:25764541

Teckman, Jeffrey H¹; Rosenthal, Philip²; Abel, Robert³; Bass, Lee M.⁴; Michail, Sonia ⁵; Murray, Karen F.⁶; Rudnick, David A.⁷; Thomas, Daniel W.⁵; Spino, Cathie³; Arnon, Ronen⁸; Hertel, Paula M.⁹; Heubi, James¹⁰; Kamath, Binita M.¹¹; Karnsakul, Wikrom¹²; Loomes, Kathleen M.¹³; Magee, John C.¹⁴; Molleston, Jean P.¹⁵; Romero, Rene¹⁶; Shneider, Benjamin L¹⁷; Sherker, Averell H¹⁸; and Sokol, Ronald J¹⁹ Baseline Analysis of a Young Alpha-1-AT Liver Disease Cohort Reveals Frequent Portal Hypertension. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2015 Jul;61(1):94-10. PMID:25651489

Shankar V, Homer D, Rigsbee L, Khamis HJ, Michail S, Raymer M, Reo NV, Paliy O. The networks of human gut microbe-metabolite associations are different between health and irritable bowel syndrome. ISME J. 2015 Aug;9(8):1899-903. . PMID:25635640

Michail S, Klonoff A*. Review of fecal transplant in childhood gastrointestinal disorders. Ann Pediatr Child Health 3(2): 1043, 2015

Michail S, Harb R, Botros*. An update on probiotic safety and efficacy. Ann Pediatr Child Health 3(2): 1042, 2015

Ng V, Haber B, Magee J, Miethke A, Murray K, Michail S, Karpen S, Kerdar N, Molleston J, Romero R, Rosenthal P, Schwarz K, Shneider B, Turnelle Y, Alonso E, Sherker A, Sokol R. Medical Status of 219 Children with Biliary Atresia Surviving Long-Term with their Native Livers: Results from a North American Multicenter Consortium. J Pediatr. 2014 Sep;165(3):539-546. PMID:25015575

Michail S, Bultron G, Depaolo RW. Genetic variants associated with Crohn’s disease. Appl Clin Genet. 2013 Jul 16;6:25-32. PMID:23935379

Rigsbee L, Agans R, shankar V, Kenche H, Khamis H, Michail S, Paliy O. Quantitative profiling of gut microbiota of children with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol. 2012 Nov;107(11):1740-51.PMID:22986438

Michail S, Durbin M*, Turner D, Griffiths A, Mack D, Hyams J, LeLeiko N, Kenche H, Stolfi A, Wine E. Alterations in the gut microbiome of children with severe ulcerative colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2012 Oct;18(10):1799-808. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2012 Oct;18(10):1799-808. PMID:22170749

Hyams J, Damaraju L, Blank M, Johanns J, Guzzo C, Winter HS, Kugathasan S, Cohen S, Markowitz J, Escher JC, Veereman-Wauters G, Crandall W, Baldassano R, Griffiths A; T72 Study Group. Induction and maintenance therapy with infliximab for children with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Apr;10(4):391-9. PMID:22155755

Michail, S. Ramsy M, Soliman E*. Advances in inflammatory bowel disease in children. Minerva Pediatr. 2012 Jun;64(3):257-70. Review. PMID:22555319

Agans R, Rigsbee L, Kenche H, Michail S, Khamis HJ, Paliy O. Distal gut microbiota of adolescent children is different from that of adults. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2011 Aug;77(2):404-12.PMID:21539582

Michail S, Kenche H. Gut Microbiota is Not Modified by Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of VSL#3 in Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. 2011 Mar;3(1):1-7.PMID:22247743

Hyams JS, Lerer T, Mack D, Bousvaros A, Griffiths A, Rosh J, Otley A, Evans J, Stephens M, Kay M, Keljo D, Pfefferkorn M, Saeed S, Crandall W, Michail S, Kappelman MD, Grossman A, Samson C, Sudel B, Oliva-Hemker M, Leleiko N, Markowitz J. Outcome Following Thiopurine Use in Children With Ulcerative Colitis: A Prospective Multicenter Registry Study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 May;106(5):981-7. PMID:21224840

Tschudy J*, Michail S. Disseminated histoplasmosis and pneumocystis pneumonia in a child with Crohn's disease receiving infliximab. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2010 Aug;51(2):221-2 J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2010 Aug;51(2):221-2. PMID:20410844

Paliy O, Kenche H, Abernathy F, Michail S. High throughput quantitative analysis of human intestinal microflora with phylogenetic microarray. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009 Jun;75(11):3572-9. PMID:19363078

PubMed Link

Publications on PubMed

Research

Gut Microbiome

Our intestine is populated by billions of beneficial organisms. Their number far outnumbers the cells in our entire body. These microbes can help us remain healthy. Dr. Michail’s past research contribution helped us understand the gut microbial profile in healthy children as well as describe the gut microbiome in several digestive disorders including inflammatory bowel disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver and irritable bowel syndrome. Knowledge gained can be used as building blocks for future therapeutic strategies. The Michail lab is charged with understanding how the gut microbiome can help prevent illness and treat pediatric disease and how to manipulate the microbiome to our advantage.

Fecal Microbial Transplant

Dr. Sonia Michail is leading a program for fecal microbial transplant to treat children with recurrent clostridium difficile infection and has research studies to offer this new therapy for children with inflammatory bowel disease. View Clinical Trial.

IBD Smartphone App

Through the generous gift from the Higgins Family Foundation, Dr. Michail has developed a smartphone application for children with inflammatory bowel disease that allows children to inform us of their status in a timely manner and receive information from the managing team about their overall success in controlling their disease.

iOS App
Android

ChiLDREN Liver Center

Dr. Michail is a co-investigator in the ChiLDREN Liver Research Center at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, a research effort to understand and treat infant and pediatric liver disease.

Probiotics

Probiotics are good bacteria that can be taken by individuals for health benefit. Dr. Michail’s research effort helps us understand how those probiotics can enhance the health of children with various digestive disorders.