Robert Adler, MD, MS

Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Medical Education

Robert Adler, M.D., is vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics and director of Medical Education at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and he is professor of pediatrics and vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.  He is board certified in pediatrics.

Dr. Adler has had a number of academic appointments at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, including service as acting head of the Division of General Pediatrics (1985), head of the Division of General Pediatrics (1991), acting head of the Division of Emergency and Transport Medicine (1995-96), acting head of the Division of Neurology (1998-99), acting head of the Division of Medical Genetics (1999-2004) and acting head of the Division of Neonatology (1999-2001).

Dr. Adler has been active in the leadership of the University Childrens Medical Group, the largest medical multi-specialty group in the United States, including service on the strategic planning steering group executive committee (1994-present); the utilization management committee and the ambulatory care work group (1996-present); the ambulatory care services advisory committee, the board of directors, the executive committee, the physician performance enhancement committee and the marketing committee (1998-99); and the legislation, nominating, associated programs for continuing medical education, government affairs, executive and ambulatory care advisory committees (2000-01) and the Physician’s Productivity Task Force (chair, 2000-01). He has been vice president of the UCMG since 1997.

Dr. Adler has been active with the American Academy of Pediatrics at the local, regional and national levels:

• American Academy of Pediatrics, Chapter 2, including service on the executive committee (1982-present); house staff committee (chair, 1982-present); treasurer (1983-87); secretary (1987-90); and president (1991-94).
• American Academy of Pediatrics, District IX, vice chair. He also has served on the health manpower, strategic planning and resident committees (1993-present).
• American Academy of Pediatrics, including service on the national nominating committee (1995-98); and executive board (1996-present); and strategic planning committee (2004-present).
• He also has been an active member of the American Board of Pediatrics (1993-present).

His major research interests include the professionalization process during internship, with special reference to formation of attitudes, and interpersonal skills during training. His clinical interests include preventative pediatric strategies, with emphasis on immunization and lead toxicity.

Dr. Adler has served as medical director of the Immunization Partnership Grant (1994-99), a $1.5 million, five-year study on immunization, funded by the California Department of Health Services; and as medical director of the California Lead Prevention Project (1999-01), a $200,000 study, funded by the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch. He was a member of the DHS science and policy advisory panel to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch for the development of statewide lead screening guidelines.

Dr. Adler is a journal reviewer for numerous publications, including Pediatrics, the Journal of Pediatrics and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

He has served on the Pfizer Pediatric Educational Advisory Committee (1996-99).

He has published more than 32 peer-reviewed publications, as well as numerous articles and abstracts.

He is a frequent speaker at local, regional and national meetings and symposia. 

Dr. Adler has been listed in "Best Doctors in America" (1996-98; 1999-2002), "Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare" (2001), "America’s Top Pediatricians" (2002) and "Who’s Who in Science and Engineering" (2003).

Dr. Adler has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the Frances Nunnally Winzer Award for "Scholarly, Effective and Sensitive Fulfillment of Professional Responsibility" (1974) and the Philip E. Rothman Award for "Outstanding Teaching, Guidance and Inspiration" (1977; 1981), from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles; and the Robert Neerhout Teaching Award (1983) from the UCLA School of Medicine.

He was the recipient of the Joseph W. St. Geme, Jr. Teaching Award from the Western Society of Pediatric Research in 1989.

Dr. Adler dedicates much of his time in the communitywith Schools Attuned at the Etta Israel Center, an organization that accommodates different learning styles, specifically those of special needs children. The organization presented him with its "Community Leadership Award in 1996.

He is a member of the medical advisory board (1999-present) for The Painted Turtle, a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses.

He was the recipient of the Morris and Mary Press Humanism Award from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in 1989.

Dr. Adler received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University California, Los Angeles in 1969, and a medical degree from UCLA in 1973.  He served an internship (1973-74) and a residency (1974-75) at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. He was chief pediatric resident at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in 1975-76.

Dr. Adler received a master’s degree in medical education from the School of Education of University of Southern California in 1986.

A resident of Los Angeles, Dr. Adler is married with three children.