Michael Bell, M.D.

Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Chair in Pediatric Research

Pediatrics - Critical Care
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Pediatric Brain Injuries

Biography

Michael Bell, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He holds the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research. He is an international expert in pediatric brain injuries and clinical trials.

Dr. Bell earned his medical degree at the State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn. He completed a residency in pediatrics at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia and gained advanced training through a pediatric critical care fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.

Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2025.

Dr. Bell joins UT Southwestern and Children’s Health from Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he served as the division chief of critical care medicine, led the department of respiratory care services and the department of transport medicine and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and served as the director of the Clinical Translational Science Institute. He was also a professor of pediatrics at George Washington University.

With 30 years of experience in academic pediatrics, Dr. Bell is a distinguished physician leader, scientist, clinician, and educator, renowned both nationally and internationally for his contributions to pediatric critical care medicine. He is also experienced with artificial intelligence and data analytics.

He is a member of a number of professional societies, including the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the National Neurotrauma Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, and the Neurocritical Care Society. An ad hoc reviewer for numerous scholarly journals, Dr. Bell is also an Associate Editor for Neurocritical Care and sits on the editorial boards of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and Neurocritical Care.

Dr. Bell has delivered international and national invited lectures, contributed to numerous books, including Pediatric Critical Care, Nelson’s Pediatrics, and Pediatric Neurosurgery, and published more than 200 peer-reviewed academic articles.

Education & Training

Medical School - SUNY Downstate Medical Center (1987-1991)
Residency - St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (1991-1994), Pediatrics
Fellowship - UPMC Medical/Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (1994-1997), Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

Professional Associations & Affiliations

National Neurotrauma Society
Neurocritical Care Society
Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group
Society for Pediatric Research
Society of Critical Care Medicine

Books & Publications

Books
- Severe traumatic brain injury in infants and children in Pediatric Critical Care
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ, Simon DW, Bayir H, Wallisch JS, Forbes ML, Ruppel R, Adelson PD, Clark RSB (2019), Philadelphia, PA, Mosby Elsevier
- Neurological emergencies and stabilization in Nelson’s Pediatrics
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ (2017), Philadelphia, PA, Elsevier Saunders
- Accidental traumatic brain injury in Pediatric Neurosurgery
  Wallisch J, Bell MJ, Foster K (2016), Springer Publishing
- Pediatric severe traumatic brain injury management in Neurotrauma: A Comprehensive Book on Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury
  Woods K, Bell MJ (2016), New York, NY, Oxford University Press
- Key issues in pediatric neurointensive care in Textbook of Critical Care (7th ed.)
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ, Hickey RW, Bayır H, Fink EL, Ruppel RA, Clark RSB (2015), Philadelphia, PA, Elsevier
- Hypothermia in New Therapeutics for Traumatic Brain Injury
  Mtaweh H, Simon D, Bell MJ (2015), San Diego, CA, Elsevier
- Traumatic brain injury 2016 in Pediatric Multi-Professional Critical Care Review
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ (2015), Des Plaines, IL, Society for Critical Care Medicine
- Severe traumatic brain injury in Pediatric Critical Care
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ, Bayir H, Jackson TC, Wallisch JS, Forbes ML, Ruppel R, Adelson PD, Clark RSB (2015), Philadelphia, PA, Mosby Elsevier
- Inflammatory brain disorders in Pediatric Multi-Professional Critical Care Review
  Newell EA, Bell MJ (2015), Des Plaines, IL, Society for Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatric neurocritical care in Pediatric Critical Care
  Bell MJ, Wainwright MS (2015), Philadelphia, PA, Mosby Elsevier
- Neuroprotection of the non-trauma patient in Pediatric Multi-Professional Critical Care Review
  Buttram S, Bell MJ (2014), Des Plaines, IL, Society for Critical Care Medicine
- Cerebrovascular responses in children after brain trauma in Vascular Mechanisms in CNS Trauma
  Shein S, Ferguson N, Bell MJ (2014), London, UK, Springer-Verlag
- Neurological emergencies and stabilization in Nelson’s Pediatrics
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ (2014), Philadelphia, PA, Elsevier Saunders
- Abusive head trauma in Rogers Textbook of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  Berger RP, Simon D, Wolford JE, Bell MJ (2013), New York, NY, Elsevier Publishers
- Traumatic brain injury in children: critical care management in Principles and Practice of Pediatric Neurosurgery
  Bell MJ, Forbes ML, Kochanek PM, Adelson PD (2013), New York, NY, Thieme Publishers
- Pediatric neurocritical care in Pediatric Critical Care
  Bell MJ (2012), Philadelphia, PA, Mosby Elsevier Publishing
- Severe traumatic brain injury in infants and children in Pediatric Critical Care
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ, Bayir H, Forbes ML, Ruppel R, Adelson PD, Clark RSB (2012), Philadelphia, PA, Mosby Elsevier
- Neurological disorders in the intensive care unit in Pediatric Critical Care Study Guide: Text and Review
  Bell MJ, Sharangpani A (2012), London, UK, Springer-Verlag
- Abusive head trauma in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine: Basic Science and Clinical Evidence
  Berger RP, Bell MJ (2012), London, UK, Springer-Verlag
- Neurological monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine: Basic Science and Clinical Evidence
  Newell E, Abdul-Kohary M, Bell MJ (2012), London, UK, Springer-Verlag
- Neurological emergencies and stabilization in Nelson’s Pediatrics
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ (2011), Philadelphia, PA, Elsevier Saunders
- Serum biomarkers in pediatric traumatic brain injury in Current Concepts in Pediatric Critical Care
  Berger R, Bell MJ (2010), Des Plaines, IL, Society for Critical Care Medicine
- Infections and the fetus in Children with Disabilities
  Bell MJ (2007), Baltimore, MD, Paul H. Brooks Publishing
- Neurological monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine: Basic Science and Clinical Evidence
  Bell MJ, Chang T (2007), London, UK, Springer-Verlag
- The pediatric neurological examination in Pediatric Multi-Professional Critical Care Review
  Harrison R, Bell MJ (2006), Des Plaines, IL, Society for Critical Care Medicine
- Physiology of the nervous system in Pediatric Multi-Professional Critical Care Review
  Bell MJ, Harrison R (2006), Des Plaines, IL, Society for Critical Care Medicine
- Neurological evaluation in Pediatric Multi-Professional Critical Care Review
  Bell MJ (2005), Des Plaines, IL, Society for Critical Care Medicine
- Neuromuscular diseases in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  Natale J, Bell MJ (2005), Philadelphia, PA, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Brain trauma in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  Bell MJ, Natale J (2005), Philadelphia, PA, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Neurology and neurosciences in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  Natale J, Bell MJ (2005), Philadelphia, PA, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Neuroscience section in Pediatric Critical Care Board Review Questions
  Bell MJ (2005), Redondo Beach, CA, Medtext Publishing Company
- Preconditioning in Brain Injury: Molecular and Cellular Biology of Critical Care Medicine
  Bell MJ, Hallenbeck JM (2001), Norwell, MA, Kluwer Academic Publishers
- Frontiers in cerebral resuscitation: lessons learned from human head injury in Proceedings from the 12th Annual Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Meeting
  Kochanek PM, Clark RSB, Whalen MJ, Bell MJ, Ruppel R, Robertson C, Adelson PD (1998), Orlando, FL
- Severe traumatic brain injury in children: epidemiology, pathophysiology, monitoring, and management in Current Concepts in Pediatric Critical Care
  Kochanek PM, Clark RSB, Bell MJ, Forbes ML, Whalen MJ, Adelson PD (1998), Anaheim, CA, Society of Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatric brain injuries: pathophysiology in Traumatic Brain Injury
  Kochanek PM, Bell MJ, Forbes ML, Adelson PD, Clark RSB (1997), New York, NY, Thieme Medical Publishers
- Role of inflammation after severe head injury in Critical Care State of the Art
  Kochanek PM, Clark RSB, Carlos TM, Carcillo JA, Whalen MJ, Bell MJ, Adelson PD, Marion DW, Dekosky ST (1997), Anaheim, CA, Society of Critical Care Medicine

Research

Pediatric brain injuries
Pediatric neurocritical care
Pediatric sedation and delirium
Pediatric critical care clinical trials

Clinical Focus

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Pediatric Brain Injuries

New Patient Appointment