Dr. Valeria Cohran, a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Medical Director at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, received the 2025 Margaret Stallings NASPGHAN Distinguished Service Award for her groundbreaking leadership in pediatric gastroenterology, intestinal rehabilitation, and equitable care for medically complex children.
Dr. Valeria Cohran Honored with Prestigious 2025 NASPGHAN Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Valeria Cohran’s career is a blueprint for clinical excellence, dedicated mentorship, and high-impact advocacy in pediatric medicine. In November 2025, the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) honored Dr. Cohran with the Margaret Stallings Distinguished Service Award in Chicago, Illinois.
Her trajectory reflects steady leadership built on perseverance, clinical rigor, and a commitment to lifting others as she climbed.
Roots and Foundational Education
Raised across Memphis, Tennessee, and Senatobia, Mississippi, Dr. Cohran built her resilience early. She navigated early barriers by refusing to let external biases dictate her potential, establishing a lifelong standard of excellence and service.
- Undergraduate Studies: Dr. Cohran attended Tougaloo College, a historic HBCU in Jackson, Mississippi, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. During her time at Tougaloo, she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
- Medical Training: She earned her medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, building the research and diagnostic foundation for her academic career.
Advanced Clinical Training and Mentorship
Dr. Cohran completed her pediatric residency, pediatric gastroenterology fellowship, and an advanced clinical fellowship in intestinal rehabilitation and nutrition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
During her time in Cincinnati, she trained alongside leaders in pediatric gastroenterology, including:
- Dr. James Heubi
- Dr. William Balistreri
- Dr. Mitchell Cohen
- Dr. Mike Farrell
- Dr. Sam Kocoshis
Leadership and Advocacy at Northwestern and Lurie Children’s
In 2004, Dr. Cohran joined Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. Concurrently, she became the Medical Director of the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital).
Over two decades, she advanced to full Professor of Pediatrics at Feinberg, gaining national and international recognition for her work with medically complex pediatric patients suffering from intestinal failure and gut nutritional deficiencies.
Dr. Cohran continues to center equity and inclusion across every stage of her practice, ensuring that children from every background receive world-class, specialized care.
References
- NASPGHAN (2025). 2025 Award Winners. North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
- Tougaloo College (2026). Institutional Overview. Tougaloo, Mississippi.
- Washington University School of Medicine (2026). Alumni & Clinical Profiles. St. Louis, Missouri.
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