Lori Handy, MD, MSCE, is an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases. She works with patients and families to identify and treat infections. Her goal is to minimize any complications patients may experience from medications, so they can quickly recover and go back to being kids.
The most rewarding part of Dr. Handy’s job is seeing her patients get better: “My favorite thing is to say to a patient, 'It was great to meet you, but we don't need to see you again!’”
Dr. Handy enjoys caring for kids because of their resilience and ability to recover quickly with the right treatment. She sees patients with any type of infection, which can cover the spectrum of pediatric care. In the field of infectious diseases, testing for infections is becoming more precise. This allows physicians like Dr. Handy to treat patients with certainty.
Dr. Handy is the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control. In her position, she identifies ways in which hospitals can take preventative measures to keep kids safe from infection while in a healthcare setting. These measures reduce the risk of exposure to infection and keep kids safe.
MD - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Pediatrics - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Pediatrics - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Pediatric Infectious Diseases - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Pediatric Infectious Diseases – American Board of PediatricsPediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics
MSCE in Clinical Epidemiology - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Pharmacoepidemiology Research Trainee - Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Attending Physician
Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Hamdy RF, Handy LK, Spyridakis E, Dona D, Bryan M, Collins JL, Gerber JS.: Comparative Effectiveness of Ceftriaxone plus Metronidazole versus Anti-Pseudomonal Antibiotics for Perforated Appendicitis in Children. Surgical Infections. epub., March 2019.
Diaz MCG, Werk LN, Crutchfield JH, Jr.: A Provider-Focused Intervention to Promote Optimal Care of Pediatric Patients With Suspected Elbow Fracture. Pediatric emergency care 2018.
Newland JG, Gerber JS, Kronman MP, Meredith G, Lee BR, Thurm C, Hersh AL, Sharps Collaborative: Sharing Antimicrobial Reports for Pediatric Stewardship (SHARPS): A Quality Improvement Collaborative. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2017.
Joerger T, Chan S, Swami SK, Handy LK.: Impact of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Policy to Restrict Palivizumab Use. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society 2017.
Handy LK, Bryan M, Gerber JS, Zaoutis T, Feemster, KA: Variability in and Predictors of Antibiotic Prescribing for Community-Acquired Pneumonia. Pediatrics. 139(4): e20162331, 2017.
Chang C, Feemster KA, Coffin S, Handy LK.: Treatment-Related Complications in Children Hospitalized With Disseminated Lyme Disease. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society 6(3): e152-e154, 2017.
Handy LK, Maroudi S, Powell M, Nfila B, Moser C, Japa I, Monyatsi N, Tzortzi E, Kouzeli I, Luberti A, Theodoridou M, Offit P, Steenhoff A, Shea JA, Feemster KA.: The impact of access to immunization information on vaccine acceptance in three countries. PLoS One 12(8): e0180759, Aug 3 2017.
Litvintseva AP, Kestenbaum L, Vilgalys R, Mitchell TG: Comparative analysis of environmental and clinical populations of Cryptococcus neoformans. J Clin Microbiol 43: 556-64, 2015.
Shah SS, Ebberson J, Kestenbaum LA, Hodinka RL, Zorc JJ: Age-specific reference values for cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration in neonates and young infants. J Hosp Med. 6: 22-7, 2010.
Kestenbaum LA, Ebberson J, Zorc JJ, Hodinka RL, Shah SS: Defining cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count reference values in neonates and young infants. Pediatrics 125: 257-64, 2010.
White AM, Kraus CL, Flom J, Kestenbaum L, Mitchell J, Shah, K and Swartzwelder HS: College students lack knowledge of standard drink volumes: implications for definitions of risky drinking based on survey data. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 29: 631-8, 2005.
Handy, LK: Viruses. Nelson Pediatrics Board Review Certification and Recertification. Dean T and Bell LM. (eds.). Elsevier, 2019.
Chiotos K, Handy LK, Sulieman, S, Gerber J: "Infectious Diseases." The Philadelphia Guide: Inpatient Pediatrics, 2nd Edition. McGraw Hill Ed. Samir S. Shah, Marina Catallozzi, Lisa Zaoutis and Gary Frank. (eds.). 2016.
O'Callaghan K, Erickson KA, Handy LK: Hickam's Dictum in Action: Two Simultaneous Causes of Respiratory Disease in a Single Patient. Presented at Eastern Society for Pediatric Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 16-18 (poster presentation). 2018.
Odeniyi F, Hanley S, Gianchetti L, Sharova A, Handy L, Coffin SE, Feemster K.: Promoting Healthcare Worker (HCW) Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Pediatric Ambulatory Settings. Presented at IDWeek, San Francisco, California, October 2-6 (poster presentation). 2018.
Handy LK, Bezpalko O, Hei H, Ehritz C, Townsend S, Sammons JS.: Leveraging Human Factors Engineering to Optimize Low-level Disinfection of Bedside Medical Tools. Presented at IDWeek, San Francisco, California, October 2-6 (poster presentation). 2018.
Bezpalko O, Alizabeth Drennan, Ehritz C, Handy L, Hei H, Hlela H, Hoegg C, Townsend S, Sammons JS.: Low-level disinfection: Standardizing Access to Prevent the Spread of Infection. Presented at CHOP Safety Day, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 15 (poster presentation). 2018.
Tribble A, Lee B, Handy LK, Gerber JS, Hersh AL, Kronman M, Terrill C, Newland J: Appropriateness of Antibiotic Prescribing in U.S. Children's Hospitals: A National Point Prevalence Survey. Presented at IDWeek, San Diego, California, October 4-8 (poster presentation). 2017.
Shenoy A, Chidekel H, Handy L, Geiser D, and Chidekel A: Vaccine Adherence and Hesitancy Among Parents and Children with Cystic Fibrosis. Presented at American Thoracic Society International Conference, Washington, DC, May 19-24 (poster presentation). 2017.
Mills TA, Joerger T, Chan S, and Handy LK. Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Restrictions for Palivizumab Administration on Hospital-Associated Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections. Thomas Jefferson University Sigma Xi Research Day, Philadelphia PA, February 28, 2017 (poster presentation).
Diaz MG, Ingraham L, Werk LN, Crutchfield JH, Franciosi JP, Handy LK, Dent J, and Wysocki T. A Randomized Trial of Interventions to Promote Optimal Care: Suspected Elbow Fracture Intervention Research Study. Presented at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, Orlando FL, January 28-February 1, 2017 (podium presentation).
Diaz MG, Ingraham L, Werk LN, Crutchfield JH, Franciosi JP, Handy LK, Dent J, and Wysocki T. Computer Based Simulation 3D Games to Improve Physicians’ Knowledge Retention. Presented at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, Orlando FL, January 28-February 1, 2017 (poster presentation).
Handy LK. "After Hurricane Maria: Managing Evaporation of the Intravenous Fluid Supply." Quality and Safety in Children's Health Conference, Atlanta, Georgia. Mar, 2019.
Handy LK. "Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship." Christiana Care Health System Pediatric Grand Rounds, Newark, Delaware. Nov, 2017.
Handy LK. "Vaccine Hesitancy: Responding to Parental Concerns." Virtua Pediatric Fall Symposium, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Oct, 2017.Handy LK, Gerber JS, Bryan M, Zaoutis TE and Feemster KA. Comparative Effectiveness of Beta-lactams Versus Azithromycin for Treatment of Outpatient Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia. Presented at IDWeek, San Diego, California (platform presentation). Oct, 2017.
Handy LK. "Vaccine Update." Pediatric Perspectives 2017: Issues in Pulmonology, Infectious Diseases and Newborn Care, Rehoboth, Delaware. Sep, 2017.
Handy LK. "Common Referrals to the ID Clinic." Pediatric Perspectives 2017: Issues in Pulmonology, Infectious Diseases and Newborn Care, Rehoboth, Delaware. Sep, 2017
Handy LK. "Pediatric Immunization Update." Temple University Spring Family Medicine Review Course, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Mar, 2017.
Handy LK. "Immunization Workshop." Temple University Spring Family Medicine Review Course, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Mar, 2017.
2015, Fellow’s Travel Grant Awardee, Infectious Disease Society of America Annual Meeting
2014, Fellow’s Travel Grant Awardee, Infectious Disease Society of America Annual Meeting
2014, European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases Walter Marget Workshop Fellow
2009, Certificate in Clinical Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine
2009, Pediatric Research Prize, Perelman School of Medicine
2008, School of Medicine Global Health Travel Grant, La Paz, Bolivia
2006, School of Medicine Global Health Travel Grant, Gaborone, Botswana
2006-2009, Walter Lewis Croll Scholarship: Merit-Based Scholarship
2005-2006, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Scholarship: Merit-Based Scholarship
2004, Certificate in Neuroscience
2004, Graduation with Distinction in Psychology
2004, Howard Hughes Fellow in the Neural Sciences
2019-present, Reviewer, British Medical Journal-Quality & Safety
2015-present, Reviewer, Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
2014-present, Reviewer, Vaccine
2018-present, Physician Liaison, High-level Disinfection/Sterilization Committee
2018-present, Surgical Site Infections Committee
2018-present, Infectious Diseases Quality Improvement Committee
2017-present, CLABSI Steering Committee
2017-present, Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee
2017-present, Co-lead, Healthcare-acquired Viral Infection Committee
2017-present, Drug Use Evaluation Committee
2017-present, Infection Prevention and Control Committee
2016-present, Vaccine Education Center
2017-present, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
2012-present, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
- 2014-present, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Training Programs Committee
2012-present, Infectious Diseases Society of America
2009-present, American Academy of Pediatrics