CURRICULUM VITAE
Rachel Ashworth MD
Rachel Ashworth MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Pediatrics Critical Care
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Pediatrics Critical Care
OFFICE ADDRESS: |
9000 West Wisconsin Avenue |
Milwaukee, WI 53226 |
EDUCATION: |
2004 - 2008 BA, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS |
2008 - 2012 MD, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS |
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND FELLOWSHIP APPOINTMENTS: |
2012 - 2015 Resident, Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO |
2015 - 2016 Chief Resident, Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO |
2016 - 2019 Pediatric Critical Care Fellow, Pediatrics, Critical Care, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO |
2018 - 2019 Pediatric Critical Care Chief Fellow, Pediatrics, Critical Care, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO |
2019 - 2020 Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellow, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO |
01/2023 Pediatric Point of Care Ultrasound Workshop, Applied and was chosen for grant from Herma Heart Institute and
Love for Logan Foundation, Society for Critical Care Medicine Conference, San Francisco, CA |
06/2023 - 08/2023 Mobilizing Character Course and Book Club, 12 total sessions which focused on integrating character strength
development for trainees into daily bedside teaching, Kern National Network, Milwaukee, WI |
11/2023 Micro-aggressions Facilitator Training, Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
04/2024 Health Equity Micro-credential Course and Certificate, Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS: |
2015 - 2016 Pediatric Hospitalist, St. Louis Children's Hospital |
2020 - Present Attending Physician, Pediatrics, Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin |
2021 - Present Assistant Professor of Pediatrics-Palliative Care, Pediatrics, Palliative Care, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS: |
2023 - Present Co-chair; Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Committee, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
2024 - Present Chair; Professional Review Committee, Leader of peer review committee evaluating concerns about members of the medical staff, partner
with identified providers and CW leadership to develop
performance improvement plans, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS: |
2022 - Present Co-director, Palliative Care Educational Curriculum, Co-developed and implemented a twice monthly didactic
curriculum including traditional lecture-style didactics, case
reports, and journal clubs, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
2023 - Present Learning Community Navigator, Faculty lead for eight medical students for the duration of medical
school, includes group meetings and discussions and individual
coaching, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
11/2025 - Present Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Assistant Program Director, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
2025 - Present Academic Standing and Professionalism Appeals Committee, One of five faculty who will hear and investigate student appeals
regarding decisions made by the Standing and Professionalism
Committee; committee reports directly to the dean, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
HOSPITAL AND CLINICAL ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS: |
2020 - Present Attending Physician, Pediatrics, Critical Care & Palliative Care, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
HOSPITAL STAFF PRIVILEGES: |
2015 - 2016 Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital, One Children’s Place, St. Louis, MO |
2020 - Present Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Pediatric Critical Care and Palliative Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
SPECIALTY BOARDS AND CERTIFICATION: |
Board Certified | Issue Date | Expiration |
Pediatric Board Certification | 2015 | None |
Pediatric Critical Care | 2020 | None |
Hospice and Palliative Medicine | 2020 | None |
Certificates | Issued By | Issue Date | Expiration |
Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts | 2015 | None | |
ATLS | 2017 | 2017 | |
ACLS | 2018 | 2018 | |
PALS/BLS | 02/2021 | 02/2027 | |
Licensure | Number | Issue Date | Expiration |
WI Medical License | 2020 | 10/31/2027 | |
AWARDS AND HONORS: |
2008 - 2012 Harry F. and Christine H. Lose Scholarship |
2010 Service to the Kansas City Community and Beyond Award, University of Kansas Academic Societies |
2011 Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society |
2012 Chief Resident Award, St. Louis Children’s Hospital |
2015 Partner in Caring, St. Louis Children’s Hospital |
2021 Outstanding Teacher of Full-Time Faculty, Residents High Five, Medical College of Wisconsin |
2023 Outstanding Teacher of Full-Time Faculty, Residents High Five, Medical College of Wisconsin |
MEMBERSHIPS IN HONORARY AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES: |
2011 - Present Alpha Omega Alpha (Member) |
2012 - 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics (Member) |
2016 - Present Society of Critical Care Medicine (Member) |
2019 - Present American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Member) |
LOCAL/REGIONAL APPOINTED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS: |
2009 - 2010 Director of Physician and Community Relations,, Jay Doc Free Clinic, Kansas City, KS |
2015 - 2016 Chief Resident, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO |
2015 Member, Evidence Based Practice Workshop, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada |
2016 Member, Difficult Conversations Workshop, Institute for Professionalism and Ethical Practice, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA |
2023 - Present Co-chair, Hospital Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Committee, Children’s Wisconsin |
2024 - Present Chair, Professional Review Committee, Children’s Wisconsin |
NATIONAL ELECTED/APPOINTED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS: |
2024 - Present Vice Chair, Pediatric Palliative Care Subcommittee, Society for Critical Care Medicine |
RESEARCH GRANTS/AWARDS/CONTRACTS/PROJECTS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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INVITED LECTURES/WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS: |
International |
Evidence Based Practice Workshop, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada, 2015 |
Ashworth R, Sorce L, Fragen P, Martinez E, Victorson DE, Alvarado V, Derrington S, Michelson K., Decisions faced and decision regret in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU): parents’ perspectives, 9th Congress of the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive & Critical Care Societies, Singapore, 06/2018 |
National |
Difficult Conversations Workshop, Institute for Professionalism and Ethical Practice, Boston, MA, 2016 |
Ashworth, Rachel MD, Decision Regret in the Pediatric ICU, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, 04/2019 |
Ashworth R., Congenital Airway Obstruction: Helping Families Navigate the Complex Decisions Surrounding EXIT Procedures., American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Annual Assembly., Canceled due to COVID, 03/2020 |
Ashworth R, Character on the Catwalk, Kern National Network Mobilizing Character Course, 10/23/2023 |
Ashworth R, Ran simulations, debriefs, and communication workshops, Critical Care Fellowship Bootcamp, Washington University of St. Louis, 07/2024 |
Ashworth R, Invited Grand Rounds Speaker, The Primary Intensivist, Pediatric Critical Care Grand Rounds, Wake Forest University, 11/19/2024 |
Ashworth R, Sharp Skills, Soft Edges—Professionalism and Collaboration in
the Pediatric Setting, Pediatric Surgery Fellowship National Boot Camp, Medical College of Wisconsin, 07/24/2025 |
Local |
ABC’s of Pediatric Advocacy, Pediatric Interest Group, Medical College of Wisconsin, 03/22/2023 |
Difficult Conversations, Coping with Death Retreat, Pediatric Residency, Medical College of Wisconsin, 09/17/2024 - Present |
Delivering Bad News, Surgery/Critical Care Joint Conference, Medical College of Wisconsin, 10/16/2025 - Present |
PEER REVIEWED WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS: |
National |
Ashworth R, Sorce L, Fragen P, Martinez E, Victorson DE, Alvarado V, Derrington S,
Michelson K, “Decisions faced and decision regret in the pediatric intensive care unit
(PICU): parents’ perspectives”, 9th Congress of the World Federation of Pediatric
Intensive & Critical Care Societies, Singapore, 06/2018 |
Ashworth R, Michelson K., “Decision Regret in the Pediatric ICU”, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Baltimore, 04/2019 |
Ashworth R., Congenital Airway Obstruction: Helping Families Navigate the Complex Decisions Surrounding EXIT Procedures., American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Annual Assembly, Canceled Due to Covid, 03/2020 |
Local |
Ranucci A, Steuart R, Maddox K, Friedrich A, Ashworth R, “The role of social factors
in healthcare providers’ recommendations for pediatric tracheostomy placement”., Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics Fellow and Resident Poster
Session, Milwaukee, WI, 03/2025 |
COMMITTEE SERVICE: |
Medical College of Wisconsin |
2021 - Present Member, Intern Selection Committee, Pediatric Residency Program, Medical College of Wisconsin |
2022 - Present Member, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Medical College of Wisconsin |
Hospital |
2020 - Present Member, Schwartz Rounds Planning Committee, Medical College of Wisconsin |
2022 - Present Member, Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee, Children’s Wisconsin |
2022 - 2024 Physician representative, PICU Culture and Engagement Committee, Children's Wisconsin |
2022 - Present Member, Professional Review Committee, Children's Wisconsin |
2024 - Present Member, Co-chair, Hospital Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Committee, Children’s Wisconsin |
MCW TEACHING ACTIVITIES: |
Medical Student Education |
07/2023 - Present The Good Doctor Course |
2023 - 2024 Reviewer, CLIMB early clinical learning course |
01/09/2024 Foundational Capstone Course: Spiritual Issues and Physician-Assisted Death |
Resident and Fellow Education |
08/2022 Pediatric Hospitalist Fellowship -Facilitator, Procedural Simulation/Evaluation |
2022 - Present Pediatric Residency - Simulation Communication Workshop |
2022 Pediatric Residency Program - Co-Leader, Palliative Care Retreat |
05/2023 - Present Pediatric Resident Board Review Series, Palliative Care topics |
EXTRAMURAL TEACHING: |
Medical Student Education |
2015 - 2016 St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, Lecturer, 3rd Year Medical Student Pediatric Rotation Curriculum |
2020 - Present Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Small Group Facilitator, M3 Winter Ethics Session |
2021 - 2022 Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Lecturer, End of Life Care in the Pediatric ICU, Critical Care Conference Series |
Resident and Fellow Education |
2015 - 2016 St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Instructor, Pediatric Simulation Lab |
2016 - 2019 Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, Lecturer, Resident's Critical Care Medicine Lecture Series |
04/25/2025 Medical College of
Wisconsin, Ethical Issues in Pediatric End-of-Life Care
Palliative Care Fellowship Didactic Series |
Community/Lay Public |
2015 - 2016 St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Facilitator, Communication Skills Lab |
PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENTS: |
Educational Programs |
Fellow |
2023 - Present ational Work Group within Pediatric Palliative Care Subcommittee of Society of Critical Care Medicine, modifying
Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Competencies to include
primary palliative care competencies |
Resident |
2015 - 2016 Developed and ran “Delivering Bad News”, Communication
Simulation Workshop for Pediatric Residents, St. Louis Children’s
Hospital
|
2022 - Present Co-director and developer, Palliative Care Educational
Curriculum, includes didactics, case series, journal clubs, and
structured debriefs, Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s
Wisconsin |
Faculty |
2023 - Present Critical Care and Oncology Combined Lecture Series
Quarterly case-based lectures
1 of 3 founding members from Critical Care Division |
Research Programs |
2023 - Present Founding member of Social Determinants of Health Workgroup in
Division of Pediatric Critical Care |
Clinical Programs |
2008 - 2010 Director of Physician Recruitment and Community
Relations for Jay Doc Free Clinic
Kansas City, KS |
2024 - Present Member of workgroup for development of Point of Care
Ultrasound clinical and educational program in PICU |
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES: |
2008 - 2010 Cristo Rey High School, Kansas City
Provided physician physical exams and clearance for sports participation for high school students. Organized booths with information about healthy living and available community services. |
2008 - 2012 JayDoc Free Clinic, Kansas City, KS
Provided urgent care, screening tests, and well visits for the uninsured population under attending physician supervision, frequently using Spanish to communicate with the majority Hispanic patient population. |
01/2025 - Present Volunteer facilitator for Poverty Simulation
10
Recurring commitment 3-4x/yr, provided for members of
Children’s Wisconsin or Children’s Medical Group
|
BIBLIOGRAPHY |
Refereed Journal Publications/Original Papers |
1. Sisk BA, Mack JW, Ashworth R, DuBois J. Communication in pediatric oncology: State of the field and research agenda. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018 Jan;65(1). PMCID: PMC6902431 |
2. Ashworth RC, Malone JR, Franklin D, Sorce LR, Clayman ML, Frader J, White DB, Michelson KN. Associations of Patient and Parent Characteristics With Parental Decision Regret in the PICU: A Secondary Analysis of the 2015-2017 Navigate Randomized Comparative Trial. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2024 Sep 01;25(9):795-803. PMCID: PMC12230857 |
3. Johnson M, Butts RIR, Ashworth R, Smith J, Marik P, Davies WH, Rothschild C. Navigating Critical Moments: The Importance of Spiritual and Psychosocial Collaboration in Addressing Coping in the Pediatric ICU. Clin Pract Pediatr Psychol. 2025 Apr 09. PMCID: PMC12338377 |
4. Rissman L, Ashworth R. The Let-Down Reflex: New Motherhood, One Drop at a Time. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2025 Nov 01;26(11):e1392-e1393. |
5. Lyons KA, Ashworth R, Rissman L, Henderson N, Certo M, Palumbo K, Dickerman M, Cohn M, Alladin A, DeCourcey D. Pediatric Palliative Care Subcompetencies for Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Trainees. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2025 Aug 01;26(8):e1063-e1069. |
