Department of Pediatrics

Clinical Interests

I am interested in education of trainees at all levels. I have a special interest in simulation. I started and conduct the multidisciplinary simulation boot camp for first year neonatal-perinatal fellows. The camp was started to prepare the first year fellows for their new role. This multidisciplinary camp is held at least once annually since July 2008. Twenty eight first year neonatal medicine fellows from nine universities attended the camp in July 2018. The educational activity received grant support from the American Academy of Pediatrics two consecutive years( 2016 and 2017)

I was the leader of a quality improvement project titled Reducing Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in the neonatal intensive care unit .It has resulted in a 37.5 % reduction in peripherally inserted central catheters in neonates with birth weight 1000-1500 g who had a umbilical venous catheter. It also resulted in a reduction in central line days without increasing the central line associated blood stream infections. The project was approved for part 4 Maintenance of Certification Activity by the American Board of Pediatrics.The findings were published in Journal of Perinatology and was included among the journal's top quality improvement papers.

Currently ,I am the project leader of a quality improvement project titled SLCH NICU Code Debriefing which is approved for part 4 Maintenance of Certification Activity by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Education

• MBBS, University of Bombay, 1984
• MD, University of Bombay, 1986

Training

• Clinical Fellow in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, McMaster University, Canada, 1999 - 2001
• Clinical Fellow in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Washington University, St.Louis, MO, 2001 - 2002
• Residency, St.Louis Children's Hospital, St.Louis, Missouri, 2002 - 2004
• Diversity & Inclusion 1.0 , Washington University School of Medicine , 2014 - 2014
• Leadership Development Program , Washington University in Saint Louis , 2015 - 2016
• ECMO Specialist Training Course , University of Michigan , 2015 - 2015
• Diversity & Inclusion 3.0 , Washington University School of Medicine, 2016 - 2016
• Project Management Fundamentals, BJC Learning Institute , 2016 - 2016
• Accelerating Change and Transition , BJC Learning Institute , 2016 - 2016
• Diversity & Inclusion 2.0 , Washington University School of Medicine , 2016 - 2016
• Facilitation Skills for Leaders , BJC Learning Institute, 2016 - 2016
• Women and Infants Center, BJC, 2017 - 2017
• Women and Infants Center , BJC, 2017 - 2017

Licensure and Board Certification

• Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom , 1999
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program-Instructor , 2001
• American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics) , 2004
• MO, Missouri , 2004
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support -Instructor , 2004
• American Board of Pediatrics ( Neonatal -Perinatal Medicine) , 2005
• ECMO Specialist Course -University of Michigan , 2015
• IL, Medical License , 2018

Honors

• Outstanding Teacher Award, 2010
• Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award, 2011
• Best Lecture of the Month, 2011

Recent Publications view all (64)

Publication Co-Authors

Jeffrey G. Dawson, M.D.

Barbara B. Warner, M.D.

Amit M Mathur, M.D., M.R.C.P.

Rakesh Rao, M.D.

Scott Saunders, M.D., Ph.D.

Tasnim A. Najaf, M.D.

Washington University has a long tradition of collaboration amongst colleagues.The faculty above have co-authored publications with Akshaya J. Vachharajani, M.D., M.R.C.P.

1. El Ters, N; Claassen, C; ,Lancaster, T; Barnette, A; Eldridge,W; Yazigi, F; Brar, K;Herco,M; Rogowski,L; Strand, M and Vachharajani, A. Central versus low-lying umbilical venous catheters: a multicenter study of practices and complications Am J Perinatol. 2018. 
2. Kumar D, Vachharajani A, Wertheimer F et al. Boot Camps in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Programs: A National Survey J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 2018. 
3. Daniel M. Mammel, Akshaya J. Vachharajani. Visual Diagnosis: A Newborn with an Abdominal Mass NeoReviews. 2018;19(7):e437-e443. doi:10.1542/neo.19-7-e437   
4. Rachit Chawla, Akshaya Vachharajani. Video Corner:Abnormal Movements in an Infant NeoReviews. 2018;19(6):e357-360. doi:10.1542/neo.19-6-e357   
5. Daniel M. Mammel, Akshaya J. Vachharajani. Video Corner:A Pulsating Chest NeoReviews. 2018;19(4):e254-e255. doi:10.1542/neo.19-4-e254   
6. Elizabeth Nieman, Carrie Coughlin, Akshaya Vachharajani. Visual Diagnosis: Neonate with a Hypopigmented Rash NeoReviews. 2017;18 (11):e684-e687 . doi:10.1542/neo.18-11-e684  
7. Manas Parikh, Erin Stroud, Rachel Witt, Holly Engelstad, Akshaya J. Vachharajani. A Crying Neonate NeoReviews. 2017;18(10):e629-e633. doi:10.1542/neo.18-10-e629   
8. Patrick Sloan, Brittany Blue and Akshaya Vachharajani. Video Corner: Delivery Room Management of a Neonate with Inspiratory Stridor NeoReviews. 2017;18(6):395-397. doi:10.1542/neo.18-6-e395  
9. Akshaya Vachharajani and Sharell Bindom. Visual Diagnosis: A Newborn with a Large Tongue NeoReviews. 2017;18 (3):e 190-192. doi:10.1542/neo.18-3-e190  
10. Shamik Trivedi and Akshaya J Vachharajani . Video Corner: Maximum Sterile Barrier Before A Procedure NeoReviews . 2017;18(2):134-140. doi:10.1542/neo.18-2-e134   
11. A J Vachharajani, N A Vachharajani, H Morris, A Niesen, A Elward, D A Linck and A M Mathur. Reducing peripherally inserted central catheters in the neonatal intensive care unit Journal of Perinatology . 2017. doi:10.1038/jp.2016.243  PMCID: 28079867  
12. Samuel Julian ,Shamik Trivedi and Akshaya J Vachharajani . Video Corner: Umbilical Artery Catheterization NeoReviews . 2016;17(12):e736-e738. doi:10.1542/neo.17-12-e736  
13. Samuel Julian and Akshaya J Vachharajani . Visual Diagnosis: A neonate with transilluminant head NeoReviews. 2016;17 (10):e630-e632. doi:10.1542/neo.17-10-e630  
14. Rockfeller T A,Silva NA ,Liao S ,Vachharajani AJ. Corrected QT Prolongation and Bradycardia During Therapeutic Hypothermia in a Neonate NeoReviews. 2016;17(1):40-43. doi:10.1542/neo.17-1-e40  
15. Eldridge Whitney and Vachharajani Akshaya J . A Midline Lumbosacral Mass NeoReviews. 2015. doi:10.1542/neo.16-9-e555  
16. Coplen DE and Vachharajani A J. A Male Newborn With Enlarged Scrotum and Proximal Penis Shaft NeoReviews. 2015;16:507-510. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.16-8-e507  
17. Eldridge W, Lieu J, Patel K,Grange D and Vachharajani A. A Difficult Airway in the Delivery Room NeoReviews. 2015;16(4):243-245. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.16-4-e243  
18. Vachharajani A, Vricella GJ, Najaf T, Coplen DE. Prevalence of upper urinary tract anomalies in hospitalized premature infants with urinary tract infection. J Perinatol. 2014. doi:10.1038/jp.2014.209  PMID:25474556 
19. Aimee Moore and Akshaya Vachharajani . Video Corner: Preparing For The Delivery Of A Neonate with Neural Tube Defect NeoReviews. 2014;15(10):e461. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.15-10-e461  
20. Akshaya Vachharajani and Aimee Moore . Video Corner:Pigtail Catheter Placement for Pneumothorax Evacuation NeoReviews. 2014;15:257-259. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.15-6-e257  
21. Parul Zaveri ,Adam Vogel ,Akshaya Vachharajani . Late Preterm Infant with Recurrent Respiratory Distress NeoReviews. 2014;15:199-201. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.15-5-e199  
22. Sandra Leibel and Akshaya Vachharajani . Video Corner: Needle Aspiration of Pneumothorax NeoReviews. 2014;14(4). doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.15-4-e163  
23. Vesoulis ZA, Vachharajani AJ . Late Preterm With Difficult Intubation NeoReviews. 2014;15(3):99-102. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.15-3-e99  
24. Moeckel D ,Julian S and Vachharajani Akshaya. Video Corner: Double Volume Exchange Transfusion NeoReviews. 2013;14:536-538. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.14-10-e536  
25. Moore A,Farrell K,Leibel S and Vachharajani A J. Video Corner : Optimizing temperature during resuscitation NeoReviews. 2013;14:329 -331. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.14-6-e329  
26. Moeckel D ,Cresalia N and Vachharajani AJ. Video Corner: Umbilical vein catheterization NeoReviews. 2013;14:416-418. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.14-8-e416  
27. Herman TE, Siegel MJ, Mathur A, Vachharajani A. Neonatal marfan syndrome with hiatus hernia and intrathoracic stomach. J Perinatol. 2013;33(8):652-3. doi:10.1038/jp.2013.15  PMID:23897310 
28. Vachharajani AJ. Late Preterm Neonate With Hypernatremia NeoReviews. 2013;14(5). doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.14-5-e259  
29. T A Najaf, A J Vachharajani, B W Warner. Follow Up Of Children With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia And Development Of A Multidisciplinary Care Program Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology . 2013;16(1). 
30. Herman TE, Siegel MJ, Vachharajani A. Klippel Feil syndrome with occipital encephalocele, duodenal web, left pelvic kidney, ASD, anorectal malformation fetal and postnatal imaging. J Perinatol. 2013;33(3):245-7. doi:10.1038/jp.2012.155  PMID:23443296 
31. Vachharajani A, Moore A . Stickler Syndrome NeoReviews. 2012. doi:doi: 10.1542/neo.13-8-e491  
32. Vachharajani A, Chaudhry S, Sanchez-Flores P, Molter D. Difficult Endotracheal Intubation in the Delivery Room NeoReviews. 2011;e397-e401. doi:doi: 10.1542/neo.12-7-e397  
33. Chaudhari B, Vachharajani A. Recurrent Pneumothoraces in a Newborn NeoReviews. 2011;12:e223-e227. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.12-4-e223  
34. Al-Samkari HT, Kane AA, Molter DW, Vachharajani A. Neonatal outcomes of Pierre Robin sequence: an institutional experience. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2010;49(12):1117-22. doi:10.1177/0009922810379040  PMID:20837617 
35. Najaf TA, Vachharajani NA, Warner BW, Vachharajani AJ. Interval between clinical presentation of necrotizing enterocolitis and bowel perforation in neonates. Pediatr Surg Int. 2010;26(6):607-9. doi:10.1007/s00383-010-2597-2  PMID:20414662 
36. Odibo AO, Najaf T, Vachharajani A, Warner B, Mathur A, Warner BW. Predictors of the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a center's 10-year experience. Prenat Diagn. 2010;30(6):518-21. doi:10.1002/pd.2508  PMID:20509150 
37. Farrell K, Boykin M, Vachharajani A. Abnormal Facies in a Newborn NeoReviews. 2010;11:e520-e524. doi:doi: 10.1542/neo.11-9-e520  
38. Vachharajani A. Index of Suspicion in the Nursery: Prolonged Jaundice in Twins NeoReviews. 2010;11:e33-e35. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.11-1-e33  
39. Vachharajani AJ, Vachharajani NA, Dawson JG. Comparison of short-term outcomes of late preterm singletons and multiple births: an institutional experience. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2009;48(9):922-5. doi:10.1177/0009922809336359  PMID:19483134 
40. Smith H, Vachharajani A. Cri Du Chat Syndrome Index of Suspicion in the Nursery NeoReviews . 2009;10:e510-e511. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.10-10-e510  
41. Vachharajani A, Keswani S, and Warner B. Visual Diagnosis: Elevated Right Hemi-diaphragm in a Newborn NeoReviews. 2009;10:e423. doi:doi: 10.1542/neo.10-8-e423  
42. Vachharajani AJ, Dawson JG. Short-term outcomes of late preterms: an institutional experience. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2009;48(4):383-8. doi:10.1177/0009922808324951  PMID:18832549 
43. Herman TE, Vachharajani A, Siegel MJ. Massive congenital orbital teratoma. J Perinatol. 2009;29(5):396-7. doi:10.1038/jp.2008.205  PMID:19399001 
44. Vachharajani AJ, Rao R, Keswani S, Mathur AM. Outcomes of exomphalos: an institutional experience. Pediatr Surg Int. 2009;25(2):139-44. doi:10.1007/s00383-008-2301-y  PMID:19066916 
45. Akshaya Vachharajani . Successful Treatment of Congenital Chylous Ascites withTotal Parenteral Nutirtion The Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology. 2008;9(1). 
46. Herman TE, Vachharajani A, Siegel MJ. Neonatal necrotizing gastritis; hypoplastic left heart. J Perinatol. 2008;28(12):843-5. doi:10.1038/jp.2008.86  PMID:19034293 
47. Vachharajani A, Baer J. Immune Neutropenia. Index of Suspicion in the Nursery NeoReviews. 2007;8:e551-e553. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.9-8-e353  
48. Thomas Lancaster ,A.J.Vachharajani. Successful resuscitation of an extremely low birth weight neonate with massive, indomethacin induced gastrointestinal hemorrhage Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology . 2007;7(1). 
49. Vachharajani A. A case of early onset GBS Index of Suspicion NeoReviews. 2007;8:e551-e553. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.8-12-e551  
50. Nunley K, Crone K, Bayliss S, Vachharajani A . Visual Diagnosis: Newborn Who Has a Diffuse Rash NeoReviews. 2007;8:e448. doi:doi: 10.1542/neo.8-10-e448  
51. Vachharajani AJ, Dillon PA, Mathur AM. Outcomes in neonatal gastroschisis: an institutional experience. Am J Perinatol. 2007;24(8):461-5. PMID:17992713 
52. Herman TE, Siegel MJ, Vachharajani A, Masand P, Cross D. Cerebral arteriovenous fistula to pulmonary artery onyx embolization. J Perinatol. 2007;27(4):238-40. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211680  PMID:17377605 
53. Vachharajani A, Kuhlman S ,Hackett B . Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome Index of Suspicion in the Nursery NeoReviews . 2007;8:e445-e447. doi:DOI: 10.1542/neo.8-10-e445  
54. Lancaster T, Vachharajani A. Successful resuscitation of an extremely low birth weight infant with massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage The Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology. 2007;7(1). 
55. Halverstam CP, Vachharajani A, Mallory SB. Cushing syndrome from percutaneous absorption of 1% hydrocortisone ointment in Netherton syndrome. Pediatr Dermatol. 2007;24(1):42-5. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1470.2007.00331.x  PMID:17300648 
56. Vachharajani A, Bethin K, Mouillet JF, Sadovsky Y, Saunders S. The rare occurrence of absent adrenals in a term infant: a case report and review of the literature. Am J Perinatol. 2006;23(2):111-4. doi:10.1055/s-2006-931911  PMID:16506117 
57. Vachharajani A, Uong EC. The role of polysomnography in the diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder. J Clin Sleep Med. 2005;1(4):398-9. PMID:17564409 
58. Vachharajani A, Saunders S. Allelic variation in the serotonin transporter (5HTT) gene contributes to idiopathic pulmonary hypertension in children. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005;334(2):376-9. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.06.107  PMID:16009349 
59. Vachharajani A, Mathur A. Ultrasound-guided needle aspiration of cranial epidural hematoma in a neonate: treating a rare complication of vacuum extraction. Am J Perinatol. 2002;19(8):401-4. doi:10.1055/s-2002-36837  PMID:12541211 
60. Vachharajani AJ, Shah JK, Paes BA. Late-onset left diaphragmatic hernia after group B streptococcal sepsis: An unusual presentation. J Pediatr Surg. 2002;37(6):932-3. PMID:12037770 
61. Vachharajani A, Paes B. Orbital lymphangioma with non-contiguous cerebral arteriovenous malformation, manifesting with thrombocytopenia (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome) and intracerebral hemorrhage. Acta Paediatr. 2002;91(1):98-9. PMID:11883828 
62. Vachharajani AJ, Shah JK, Paes BA. Ovarian cyst in a premature infant treated with spironolactone. Am J Perinatol. 2001;18(6):353-6. doi:10.1055/s-2001-17859  PMID:11607853 
63. Vachharajani A, Paes B. Spontaneous rupture of the liver presenting as scrotal bruising. Am J Perinatol. 2001;18(3):147-9. doi:10.1055/s-2001-14523  PMID:11414525 
64. Sharma S, Vaccharajani A, Mandke J. Severe pulmonary hypertension in rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Cardiol. 1990;26(2):220-2. PMID:2303301