Sandra Spencer, MD
Associate Professor, Pediatrics-Emergency Medicine

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Medical School:
  • MD, Ohio State University College of Medicine (2006)
Undergraduate School:
  • BS, Boston College (MA) (2000)
Internship:
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University Program (2007)
Residency:
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University Program, Pediatrics (2009)
Fellowships:
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University Program, Pediatric Emergency Medicine (2012)
Languages: English
Department: Pediatrics-Emergency Medicine

Professional Titles

  • Associate Professor

Research Interests

My recent projects include improving patient flow in the emergency department, improving headache care for children presenting to the pediatric emergency department, and streamlining care for patients presenting with focal neurologic deficit’s.

Teaching

  • Associate Professor (2022)
    School of Medicine, Pediatrics

Publications

  • Grubenhoff JA, Bakel LA, Dominguez F, Leonard J, Widmer K, Sanders JS, Spencer SP, Stein JM, Searns JB. Clinical Pathway Adherence and Missed Diagnostic Opportunities Among Children with Musculoskeletal Infections. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2023 Oct;49(10):547-556. PubMed PMID: 37495472
  • Greene HM, Letson MM, Spencer SP, Dolan K, Foster J, Crichton KG. Recognizing Nonaccidental Trauma in a Pediatric Tertiary Hospital: A Quality Improvement Imperative. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2023 Mar-Apr;8(2):e644. PubMed PMID: 37051404
  • Crichton KG, Spencer S, Shapiro R, McPherson P, Izsak E, McDavid LM, Baker C, Thackeray JD. Timely Recognition of Abusive Injuries (TRAIN): Results from a Statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2023 Mar-Apr;8(2):e637. PubMed PMID: 37051406
  • Jones C, Mitzman J, Spencer S, Lo CB, Mahan JD, Stein D. Barriers and Facilitators to Pediatric Resident Education in the Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study. Cureus. 2023 Jun;15(6):e40142. PubMed PMID: 37425526
  • Spencer SP, Lauden S, Wilson S, Philip A, Kasick R, Mahan JD, Fernandes AK. Meeting the challenge of teaching bioethics: a successful residency curricula utilizing Team-Based Learning. Ann Med. 2022 Dec;54(1):359-368. PubMed PMID: 35114873
  • Jamieson N, Akande M, Karsies T, Smith RM, Kline D, Spencer SP. Respiratory Pathogen Detection in Pediatric Patients Intubated for Presumed Infection. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022 Jan 1;38(1):e398-e403. PubMed PMID: 33201137
  • Dunn M, Savoie K, Erdem G, Dykes MW, Buckingham D, Spencer S, Besner G, Kenney B. Quality improvement methodology can reduce hospitalisation for abscess management. Emerg Med J. 2022 Jan 11. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 35017188
  • Thackeray JD, Crichton KG, McPherson P, Izsak E, Vavul-Roediger L, Kim G, Spencer S, Baker C, Eismann EA, Shapiro RA. Identification of Initial and Subsequent Injury in Young Infants: Opportunities for Quality Improvement in the Evaluation of Child Abuse. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022 Jun 1;38(6):e1279-e1284. PubMed PMID: 35504033
  • Gable CJ, Spencer SP, Middelberg LK, Scherzer DJ, Suer M, Casavant MJ. Pediatric exploratory ingestions involving novel pill pack packaging. Am J Emerg Med. 2022 Mar;53:282.e1-282.e3. PubMed PMID: 34538528
  • Tyler A, Dempsey A, Spencer S, Freeman J, McGwire G, Marsh R, Morris MA. Do the Guidelines Apply?-A Multisite, Combined Stakeholder Qualitative Case Study to Understand Care Decisions in Bronchiolitis. Acad Pediatr. 2022 Jul;22(5):806-817. PubMed PMID: 34375754
  • Eismann EA, Shapiro RA, Thackeray J, Makoroff K, Bressler CJ, Kim GJ, Vavul-Roediger L, McPherson P, Izsak E, Spencer SP. Providers' Ability to Identify Sentinel Injuries Concerning for Physical Abuse in Infants. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2021 May 1;37(5):e230-e235. PubMed PMID: 30095596
  • Reynolds MS, Spencer SP, Dunaway A, Buckingham D, Bartman T. Scientific Approach to Assess if Change Led to Improvement-Methods for Statistical Process Control Analysis in Quality Improvement. J Emerg Nurs. 2021 Jan;47(1):198-205. PubMed PMID: 33397579
  • Bennett BL, Scherzer D, Gold D, Buckingham D, McClain A, Hill E, Andoh A, Christman J, Shonk A, Spencer SP. Optimizing Rapid Sequence Intubation for Medical and Trauma Patients in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2020 Sep-Oct;5(5):e353. PubMed PMID: 33062904
  • Reynolds MS, Dunaway A, Stevens C, Shoemaker D, Buckingham D, Spencer SP. Triage Standing Orders Decrease Time to Antibiotics in Neonates in Pediatric Emergency Department. J Emerg Nurs. 2020 Nov;46(6):768-778. PubMed PMID: 32981747
  • Fernandes AK, Wilson S, Kasick R, Humphrey L, Mahan J, Spencer S. Team-Based Learning in Bioethics Education: Creating a Successful Curriculum for Residents in an Era of "Curricular Squeeze". Med Sci Educ. 2020 Mar;30(1):649-658. PubMed PMID: 34457718
  • Balch Samora J, Spencer SP, Valleru J, Bartman T, Brilli RJ, Davis M, Davis JT, McClead R, Crandall W. Writing Group Increases Quality Improvement Writing Competency. Am J Med Qual. 2020 Jul Aug;35(4):349-354. PubMed PMID: 31718231
  • Miller BS, Spencer SP, Geffner ME, Gourgari E, Lahoti A, Kamboj MK, Stanley TL, Uli NK, Wicklow BA, Sarafoglou K. Emergency management of adrenal insufficiency in children: advocating for treatment options in outpatient and field settings. J Investig Med. 2020 Jan;68(1):16-25. PubMed PMID: 30819831
  • Wagner TL, Dunn MW, Iyer MS, Buckingham D, Spencer SP. A Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase the Number of Pediatric Resident Laceration Repairs. J Grad Med Educ. 2020 Feb;12(1):51-57. PubMed PMID: 32089794
  • Pittsenbarger Z, Thurm C, Neuman M, Spencer S, Simon H, Gosdin C, Shah S, McClead R Jr, Stack A, Alpern E. Hospital-Level Factors Associated with Pediatric Emergency Department Return Visits. J Hosp Med. 2017 Jul;12(7):536-543. PubMed PMID: 28699942
  • Spencer S, Nypaver M, Hebert K, Benner C, Stanley R, Cohen D, Rogers A, Goldstick J, Mahajan P. Successful emergency department interventions that reduce time to antibiotics in febrile pediatric cancer patients. BMJ Qual Improv Rep. 2017;6(1). PubMed PMID: 28321299
  • Spencer SP, Stoner MJ, Kelleher K, Cohen DM. Using a Multimedia Presentation to Enhance Informed Consent in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2015 Aug;31(8):572-6. PubMed PMID: 26221786
  • Spencer SP, Brock TD, Matthews RR, Stevens WK. Three unique presentations of atraumatic spinal cord infarction in the pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2014 May;30(5):354-7. PubMed PMID: 24786993
  • Akenroye AT, Thurm CW, Neuman MI, Alpern ER, Srivastava G, Spencer SP, Simon HK, Tejedor-Sojo J, Gosdin CH, Brennan E, Gottlieb LM, Gay JC, McClead RE, Shah SS, Stack AM. Prevalence and predictors of return visits to pediatric emergency departments. J Hosp Med. 2014 Dec;9(12):779-87. PubMed PMID: 25338705
  • Spencer SP, Shields BJ, Smith GA. Childhood bathtub-related injuries: slip and fall prevalence and prevention. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2005 May;44(4):311-8. PubMed PMID: 15864363
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Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Fellow

Practice Locations

Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
13123 East 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-777-1234

Hospital Affiliation
  • Children's Hospital Colorado

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Pediatrics, Board Certification (2009)
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Board Certification (2013)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Emergency Care
Clinical Interests
I'm interested in all aspects of emergency Pediatric care, but specifically take interest in trauma and sudden neurologic changes..

Care Philosophy
I believe all children and their care givers deserve high quality, efficient, and respectful care when they present to the emergency department.

Personal Interests
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outside with family, reading good books, and watching movies.

Public Speaking
Yes
I recently spoke about using reliability science to elevate quality improvement projects.

General Information

Medical Schools:
  • MD, Ohio State University College of Medicine (2006)
Undergraduate Schools:
  • BS, Boston College (MA) (2000)
Internships:
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University Program (2007)
Residency Programs:
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University Program, Pediatrics (2009)
Fellowships:
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University Program, Pediatric Emergency Medicine (2012)
Languages: English
Department: Pediatrics-Emergency Medicine
Contact Us
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place
Campus Box C290
Aurora, CO 80045

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