Nicolas F. Porta, MD

Community, Population Health, and Outcomes
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Contact: n-porta@northwestern.edu

“For over two decades, I have been trying to improve the lives and outcomes of children with respiratory failure. My passion is specifically focused on children with pulmonary hypertension, and is driven by the hope that our young patients can eventually outgrow their need for my care and become happy and healthy adults.”

Research Interests

  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
  • Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
  • Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Vascular Disease
  • Mechanical Ventilation
  • Congenital Malformations

Biography

  • Attending Physician, Neonatology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago 
  • Co-Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago 
  • Associate Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 

See Lurie Children's Provider Profile

Nicolas Porta, MD, cares for critically ill neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and children of all ages with pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Porta is one of the dedicated neonatologists in the bronchopulmonary dysplasia program and a member of the pediatric pulmonary hypertension service at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. He is particularly passionate about the care of children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, including the use of advanced medical therapeutics and mechanical ventilation. Dr. Porta is an active participant in several national and international research groups, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia and congenital diaphragmatic hernia focus groups of the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Consortium, and the pulmonary hypertension working group of the Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Collaborative. 

Education and Background

  • MSCI, Northwestern University 2004-2007
  • Fellowship in Neonatology-Perinatal Medicine, University of California-San Francisco 1996-1999
  • Residency in Pediatrics, University of Chicago Hospitals 1993-1996
  • MD, University of Illinois at Chicago 1989-1993

Research Highlights

Identification of clinical characteristics that predict better (or worse) outcomes in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia or congenital diaphragmatic hernia, ultimately with the goal of finding opportunities to intervene and improve the lives of these children. Working with multidisciplinary collaborators across medical specialties throughout North America, Dr. Porta and the research team are exploring clinical databases, seeking to identify factors which could lead to the development of more specific treatment strategies. 

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