Department of Pediatrics

Training

• Neonatal Pharmacotherapy Fellowship, The Women's Hospital of Greensboro, 2006 - 2008

Licensure and Board Certification

• 2006 - 2019NC, Pharmacist license
• 2008 - 2020MO, Pharmacist license
• 2017 - 2024Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacotherapy Specialist

Recent Publications view all (63)

Publication Co-Authors

Alexandra Lahart

Nathalie El Ters

Jason Newland, M.D., M.Ed.

Phillip I. Tarr, M.D.

David A. Hunstad, M.D.

Barbara B. Warner, M.D., MSc

Jennifer A Wambach, M.D.

Thomas Ferkol, M.D.

Zachary A. Vesoulis, MD MSCI

Gary S Gottesman

Alexis M. Elward, M.D., M.P.H.

Ahmed, Said, M.D., Ph.D.

Rakesh Rao, M.D.

Ana María Arbeláez, M.D. MSCI

Halana Whitehead, MD

Francis Sessions Cole, III, M.D.

Washington University has a long tradition of collaboration amongst colleagues.The faculty above have co-authored publications with Christopher McPherson

1. Liviskie CJ, Lahart MA, O'Connor NR, Said AS, McPherson CC. Antithrombin Dose Optimization in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Infants. ASAIO J. 2021;67(10):1163-1169. PMID:33528157 
2. Whyte MP, May JD, McAlister WH, Burgener K, Cortez SR, Kreienkamp R, Castro O, Verzola R, Zavala AS, McPherson CC, Gottesman GS, Ericson KL, Coburn SP, Arbelaez AM. Vitamin B₆ deficiency with normal plasma levels of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in perinatal hypophosphatasia. Bone. 2021;150:116007. PMID:34000433 
3. Htun ZT, Schulz EV, Desai RK, Marasch JL, McPherson CC, Mastrandrea LD, Jobe AH, Ryan RM. Postnatal steroid management in preterm infants with evolving bronchopulmonary dysplasia. J Perinatol. 2021;41(8):1783-1796. PMCID:PMC8133053  PMID:34012057 
4. McPherson C. Gabapentin in Infants: Critical Evaluation of a Novel Sedative/Analgesic Medication. Neonatal Netw. 2021;40(4):267-272. PMID:34330877 
5. McPherson C, Frymoyer A, Ortinau CM, Miller SP, Groenendaal F, Newborn Brain Society Guidelines and Publications Committee.. Management of comfort and sedation in neonates with neonatal encephalopathy treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021;101264. PMID:34215538 
6. Liviskie C, Vesoulis Z, Zeller B, Rao R, McPherson C. Respiratory effects of prolonged prednisolone use in infants with evolving and established Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Early Hum Dev. 2021;156:105344. PMID:33684601 
7. Liviskie C, McPherson C. Delirium in the NICU: Risk or Reality? Neonatal Netw. 2021;40(2):103-112. PMID:33731377 
8. McPherson CC, Vesoulis ZA, Metjian TA, Grabic M, Reyes S, Reyes S, Krucylak C, Terrill C, Newland JG. Utilization of the Sharing Antimicrobial Reports for Pediatric Stewardship (SHARPS) Collaborative electronic mailing list (listserv) by healthcare professionals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020;1-3. PMID:33353577 
9. McPherson C, Ortinau CM, Vesoulis Z. Practical approaches to sedation and analgesia in the newborn. J Perinatol. 2020. PMCID:PMC7700106  PMID:33250515 
10. McPherson C. Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding: An Ounce of Prevention. Neonatal Netw. 2020;39(6):356-362. PMID:33318232 
11. Pazandak C, McPherson C, Abubakar M, Zanelli S, Fairchild K, Vesoulis Z. Blood Pressure Profiles in Infants With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Response to Dopamine, and Association With Brain Injury. Front Pediatr. 2020;8:512. PMCID:PMC7479124  PMID:32984221 
12. Whitehead HV, McPherson CC, Vesoulis ZA, Cohlan BA, Rao R, Warner BB, Cole FS. The Challenge of Risk Stratification of Infants Born Preterm in the Setting of Competing and Disparate Healthcare Outcomes. J Pediatr. 2020;223:194-196. PMID:32711746 
13. McPherson C, Miller SP, El-Dib M, Massaro AN, Inder TE. The influence of pain, agitation, and their management on the immature brain. Pediatr Res. 2020;88(2):168-175. PMCID:PMC7223850  PMID:31896130 
14. McPherson C, O'Mara K. Provision of Sedation and Treatment of Seizures During Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia. Neonatal Netw. 2020;39(4):227-235. PMID:32675319 
15. Vesoulis ZA, McPherson CC, Whitehead HV. Racial disparities in calculated risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a dataset. Data Brief. 2020;30:105674. PMCID:PMC7248447  PMID:32478148 
16. McPherson CC. Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus: The Long Road to Improved Outcomes. Neonatal Netw. 2020;39(2):92-98. PMID:32317339 
17. Greenberg JM, Poindexter BB, Shaw PA, Bellamy SL, Keller RL, Moore PE, McPherson C, Ryan RM. Respiratory medication use in extremely premature (<29 weeks) infants during initial NICU hospitalization: Results from the prematurity and respiratory outcomes program. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2020;55(2):360-368. PMID:31794157 
18. Meyers RS, Thackray J, Matson KL, McPherson C, Lubsch L, Hellinga RC, Hoff DS. Key Potentially Inappropriate Drugs in Pediatrics: The KIDs List. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2020;25(3):175-191. PMCID:PMC7134587  PMID:32265601 
19. Kolf MJ, McPherson CC, Kniska KS, Luecke CM, Lahart MA, Pineda JA. Early Post-traumatic Seizure Occurrence in Pediatric Patients Receiving Levetiracetam Prophylaxis With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2020;25(3):241-245. PMCID:PMC7134584  PMID:32265608 
20. Liviskie CJ, Brennan CC, McPherson CC, Vesoulis ZA. Propranolol for the Treatment of Lymphatic Malformations in a Neonate - A Case Report and Review of Literature. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2020;25(2):155-162. PMCID:PMC7025746  PMID:32071591 
21. Rostas SE, McPherson C. Caffeine Therapy in Preterm Infants: The Dose (and Timing) Make the Medicine. Neonatal Netw. 2019;38(6):365-374. PMID:31712401 
22. Lahart AC, McPherson CC, Gerber JS, Warner BB, Lee BR, Newland JG. Application of an antibiotic spectrum index in the neonatal intensive care unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2019;40(10):1181-1183. doi:10.1017/ice.2019  PMID:31352907 
23. McPherson C. Pharmacotherapy for the Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Can Anything Compete with Caffeine and Corticosteroids? Neonatal Netw. 2019;38(4):242-249. PMID:31470395 
24. Liviskie CJ, DeAvilla KM, Zeller BN, Najaf T, McPherson CC. Nicardipine for the Treatment of Neonatal Hypertension During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. Pediatr Cardiol. 2019;40(5):1041-1045. PMID:31065758 
25. Charron AC, Carl MA, Warner BB, Newland JG, McPherson CC. Determinants of Initial Antibiotic Duration in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates. Infect Dis Ther. 2019;8(2):209-217. doi:10.1007/s40121-019-0241-6  PMCID:PMC6522625  PMID:30825133 
26. Ryan RM, Keller RL, Poindexter BB, D'Angio CT, Shaw PA, Bellamy SL, Moore PE, McPherson C, Greenberg JM, PROP Investigators.. Respiratory Medications in Infants <29 Weeks during the First Year Postdischarge: The Prematurity and Respiratory Outcomes Program (PROP) Consortium. J Pediatr. 2019;208:148-155.e3. PMCID:PMC6486865  PMID:30857774 
27. Ryan RM, Feng R, Bazacliu C, Ferkol TW, Ren CL, Mariani TJ, Poindexter BB, Wang F, Moore PE, Prematurity and Respiratory Outcome Program (PROP) Investigators.. Black Race Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. J Pediatr. 2019;207:130-135.e2. PMCID:PMC6458591  PMID:30612812 
28. McPherson C, Luecke CM, Liviskie CJ, Zeller BN, Vesoulis ZA. Acetaminophen Serum Concentrations in Infants Treated Intravenously for Patent Ductus Arteriosus. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2019;24(2):134-137. PMCID:PMC6478358  PMID:31019406 
29. Rostas SE, McPherson C. Intravenous Lipid Emulsions in Infants: Is Balanced Better? Neonatal Netw. 2019;38(1):39-45. PMID:30679255 
30. McPherson C. Premedication for Endotracheal Intubation in the Neonate. Neonatal Netw. 2018;37(4):238-247. PMID:30567922 
31. McPherson C, Wambach JA. Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Neonates. Neonatal Netw. 2018;37(3):169-177. PMID:29789058 
32. McPherson C, Liviskie C, Zeller B, Nelson MP, Newland JG. Antimicrobial Stewardship in Neonates: Challenges and Opportunities. Neonatal Netw. 2018;37(2):116-123. PMID:29615159 
33. McPherson C, Lee BR, Terrill C, Hersh AL, Gerber JS, Kronman MP, Newland JG. Characteristics of Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs: Current Status of the Sharing Antimicrobial Reports for Pediatric Stewardship (SHARPS) Collaborative. Antibiotics (Basel). 2018;7(1). PMCID:PMC5872115  PMID:29370071 
34. Rostas SE, McPherson C. Acid Suppression for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Infants. Neonatal Netw. 2018;37(1):33-41. PMID:29436357 
35. Luecke CM, Liviskie CJ, Zeller BN, Vesoulis ZA, McPherson C. Acetaminophen for Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Neonates. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2017;22(6):461-466. PMCID:PMC5736259  PMID:29290747 
36. McPherson C, Inder T. Perinatal and neonatal use of sedation and analgesia. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2017;22(5):314-320. PMID:28734732 
37. Liviskie CJ, Lange SA, McPherson CC. Precipitation of Heparin Products With Calcium Gluconate: The Activity of Inactive Ingredients. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2017;22(4):314-315. PMCID:PMC5562213  PMID:28943828 
38. Vesoulis ZA, Hao J, McPherson C, El Ters NM, Mathur AM. Low-frequency blood pressure oscillations and inotrope treatment failure in premature infants. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2017;123(1):55-61. PMCID:PMC6157481  PMID:28428252 
39. Luecke C, McPherson C. Treatment of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn: Use of Pulmonary Vasodilators in Term Neonates. Neonatal Netw. 2017;36(3):160-168. PMID:28494828 
40. McPherson C, Smith JR. Analgesia in the Premature Neonate: Walking the Tightrope Requires a Great Team. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2017;31(2):99-100. PMID:28437299 
41. Kalish BT. Management of Neonatal Hypotension. Neonatal Netw. 2017;36(1):40-47. PMID:28137353 
42. Rostas SE, McPherson C. Pharmacist-driven respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis stewardship service in a neonatal intensive care unit. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2016;73(24):2089-2094. PMID:27919877 
43. McPherson C. Morphine exposure in preterm infants correlates with impaired cerebellar growth and poorer neurodevelopmental outcome. Evid Based Med. 2016;21(6):234. PMID:27760778 
44. Vesoulis ZA, McPherson C, Neil JJ, Mathur AM, Inder TE. Early High-Dose Caffeine Increases Seizure Burden in Extremely Preterm Neonates: A Preliminary Study. J Caffeine Res. 2016;6(3):101-107. PMCID:PMC5031091  PMID:27679737 
45. Rostas SE, McPherson C. Systemic Corticosteroids for the Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Picking the Right Drug for the Right Baby. Neonatal Netw. 2016;35(4):234-9. PMID:27461202 
46. Rostas SE, McPherson CC. Pharmacotherapy for Patent Ductus Arteriosus: Current Options and Outstanding Questions. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2016;12(2):110-9. PMID:27197952 
47. McPherson C. Pharmacotherapy for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Choosing the Right Opioid or No Opioid at All. Neonatal Netw. 2016;35(5):314-20. PMID:27636696 
48. McPherson C, Haslam M, Pineda R, Rogers C, Neil JJ, Inder TE. Brain Injury and Development in Preterm Infants Exposed to Fentanyl. Ann Pharmacother. 2015;49(12):1291-7. PMCID:PMC4644677  PMID:26369570 
49. McPherson C, Neil JJ, Tjoeng TH, Pineda R, Inder TE. A pilot randomized trial of high-dose caffeine therapy in preterm infants. Pediatr Res. 2015;78(2):198-204. PMCID:PMC4928641  PMID:25856169 
50. Steinhorn R, McPherson C, Anderson PJ, Neil J, Doyle LW, Inder T. Neonatal morphine exposure in very preterm infants-cerebral development and outcomes. J Pediatr. 2015;166(5):1200-1207.e4. PMCID:PMC4928575  PMID:25919729 
51. Ruoss JL, McPherson C, DiNardo J.. Inotrope and vasopressor support in neonates. NeoReviews. 2015;16:e351-e361. 
52. McPherson C, Grunau RE. Neonatal pain control and neurologic effects of anesthetics and sedatives in preterm infants. Clin Perinatol. 2014;41(1):209-27. PMCID:PMC3925313  PMID:24524456 
53. McPherson C, Yaroslaski AM, Luedtke S, Super J.. Probiotic use in the NICCU: What's taking so long? Infant Child Adolesc Nutr. 2014;6:270-272. 
54. Heble DE Jr, McPherson C, Nelson MP, Hunstad DA. Vancomycin trough concentrations in overweight or obese pediatric patients. Pharmacotherapy. 2013;33(12):1273-7. PMID:23798327 
55. McPherson C. Sedation and analgesia in mechanically ventilated preterm neonates: continue standard of care or experiment? J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2012;17(4):351-64. PMCID:PMC3567888  PMID:23413121 
56. McPherson C, Warner B, Hunstad DA, Elward A, Acosta EP. Oseltamivir dosing in premature infants. J Infect Dis. 2012;206(6):847-50. PMCID:PMC3572879  PMID:22807525 
57. Rao R, Bryowsky K, Mao J, Bunton D, McPherson C, Mathur A. Gastrointestinal complications associated with ibuprofen therapy for patent ductus arteriosus. J Perinatol. 2011;31(7):465-70. PMID:21252965 
58. Wilkerson J, McPherson C, Donze A. Fluconazole to prevent systemic fungal infections in infants: reviewing the evidence. Neonatal Netw. 2010;29(5):323-33. PMID:20829180 
59. McPherson C, Gal P, Ransom JL, Carlos RQ, Dimaguila MA, Smith M, Davonzo C, Wimmer JE Jr. Indomethacin pharmacodynamics are altered by surfactant: a possible challenge to current indomethacin dosing guidelines created before surfactant availability. Pediatr Cardiol. 2010;31(4):505-10. PMID:20063159 
60. McPherson C, Gal P, Smith M, Wilder W, Richter S, Ransom JL, Carlos RQ, Dimaguila MA, Wimmer Jr. JE.. Necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus: does indomethacin increase the risk? Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. 2008;1(4):209-216. 
61. McPherson C, Gal P, Ransom JL. Treatment of Citrobacter koseri infection with ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime in a preterm infant. Ann Pharmacother. 2008;42(7):1134-8. PMID:18577764 
62. Sykes R, McPherson C, Foulks K, Wade J, Gal P. Aminophylline compatibility with neonatal total parenteral nutrition. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2008;13(2):76-9. PMCID:PMC3462061  PMID:23055868 
63. Gura K, Strijbosch R, Arnold S, McPherson C, Puder M. The role of an intravenous fat emulsion composed of fish oil in a parenteral nutrition-dependent patient with hypertriglyceridemia. Nutr Clin Pract. 2007;22(6):664-72. PMID:18042955