- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Royal College of Physicians
- Society for Pediatric Research
- Southern Society for Pediatric Research
Venkatakrishna Kakkilaya, M.D.
- Pediatrics - Neonatal-Perinatal
- Neonatal Ventilation
- Clinical Quality Improvement
Biography
Venkatakrishna Kakkilaya, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine, including neonatal ventilation.
Dr. Kakkilaya earned his medical degree at Karnatak University in India. He completed residency programs in pediatrics at Dr. V.M. Government Medical College in India and at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport. He received advanced training in neonatal-perinatal medicine through a fellowship at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport.
Board-certified in both pediatrics and neonatology, Dr. Kakkilaya is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Royal College of Physicians.
He joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2011 and currently serves as Director of Quality Improvement for the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.
Dr. Kakkilaya has delivered national and regional invited lectures and published numerous academic articles related to his areas of expertise. He serves as a reviewer for Pediatrics, The Journal of Pediatrics, Neonatology, and PLOS One.
In 2019, he earned the John Haven Emerson Award from the 36th Annual Advances in Therapeutics and Technology Conference.
Personal Note
When he’s not at work, Dr. Kakkilaya enjoys Indian classical music and travel.
Education & Training
- Medical School - Karnatak University (1989-1990)
- Residency - VM Medical College, India (1992-1993), Pediatrics
- Residency - LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport (2004-2007), Pediatrics
- Fellowship - LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport (2007-2010), Neonatal-perinatal Medicine
Professional Associations & Affiliations
Honors & Awards
- John Haven Emerson Award 2019, 36th Annual Advances in Therapeutics and Technology Conference
- Young Investigator Award Finalist 2009, Southern Society for Pediatric Research
- Travel Award 2008, Southern Society for Pediatric Research
- Outstanding Resident 2004-2005, LSU Health Sciences Center
Books & Publications
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Publications
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Agreement Between Telemedicine and In-Person Examination for Neonatal Hypothermia Decisions
Jagarapu J, Angelis D, Mir IN, Kakkilaya V, Brown SL, Chalak LF Pediatrics 2026 Mar 157 -
Prophylactic surfactant therapy in the era of less invasive surfactant delivery
Kaluarachchi DC, Katheria A, Peebles PJ, Guthrie SO, Kakkilaya V, Dargaville PA Journal of Perinatology 2026 Jan 46 1-5 -
Effects of a respiratory care protocol incorporating less invasive surfactant administration in infants born at 30–34 weeks’ gestation
Ariyapadi S, Bautista L, David L, Mazioniene K, Chiu M, Harville S, Burchfield P, Brown LS, Weydig H, Kakkilaya V Journal of Perinatology 2026 -
Early Oxygenation and Mortality in Infants Treated with Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) for Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
Oren MS, Babata K, Hu J, Kakkilaya V, Burchfield PJ, Hagans M, Brown LS, Lakshminrusimha S, Kapadia V Journal of Pediatrics: Clinical Practice 2025 Dec 18 -
Effectiveness of A Respiratory Care Protocol Including Less Invasive Surfactant Administration in ≥ 35 Weeks Gestational Age Infants
Chotzoglou E, Prasath A, Desai R, David L, Ornelas N, Burchfield P, Brown LS, Nelson DB, Kakkilaya V Pediatric pulmonology 2025 Aug 60 -
Less invasive surfactant administration for meconium aspiration syndrome
Prasath A, Chotzoglou E, Ahmad A, Diaz E, Burchfield P, Brown LS, Nelson DB, Stumpf K, Kakkilaya V BMJ Paediatrics Open 2025 May 9 -
Post-extubation using high nCPAP: are we ready for the change?
Kakkilaya V, Rosenfeld CR Translational Pediatrics 2024 Nov 13 1906-1908 -
A journey towards safe and effective neonatal resuscitation
Kakkilaya V Resuscitation 2024 Oct 203 -
Evaluation of a respiratory care protocol including less invasive surfactant administration in preterm infants
Chan CS, Chiu M, Ariyapadi S, Brown LS, Burchfield P, Simcik V, Garcia K, Mazioniene K, Jaleel MA, Wyckoff MH, Kapadia VS, Kakkilaya V Pediatric Research 2024 May 95 1603-1610 -
Risk Factors for Admission Hyperthermia and Associated Outcomes in Infants Born Preterm
Chiu M, Mir I, Adhikari E, Heyne RJ, Ornelas N, Tolentino-Plata K, Thomas A, Burchfield P, Simcik V, Ramon E, Brown LS, Nelson DB, Wyckoff MH, Kakkilaya V Journal of Pediatrics 2024 Feb 265 -
TeleNICU: Extending the reach of level IV care and optimizing the triage of patient transfers
Jagarapu J, Kapadia V, Mir I, Kakkilaya V, Carlton K, Fokken M, Brown S, Hall-Barrow J, Savani RC Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 2024 Jan 30 165-172 -
RDS-NExT workshop: consensus statements for the use of surfactant in preterm neonates with RDS
Bhandari V, Black R, Gandhi B, Hogue S, Kakkilaya V, Mikhael M, Moya F, Pezzano C, Read P, Roberts KD, Ryan RM, Stanford RH, Wright CJ Journal of Perinatology 2023 Aug 43 982-990 -
Should less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) become routine practice in US neonatal units?
Kakkilaya V, Gautham KS Pediatric Research 2023 Apr 93 1188-1198 -
Decreasing delivery room CPAP-associated pneumothorax at ≥35-week gestational age
Stocks EF, Jaleel M, Smithhart W, Burchfield PJ, Thomas A, Mangona KL, Kapadia V, Wyckoff M, Kakkilaya V, Brenan S, Brown LS, Clark C, Nelson DB, Brion LP Journal of Perinatology 2022 Jun 42 761-768 -
Decreasing continuous positive airway pressure failure in preterm infants
Kakkilaya VB, Weydig HM, Smithhart WE, Renfro SD, Garcia KM, Brown CM, He H, Wagner SA, Metoyer GC, Brown LS, Kapadia VS, Savani RC, Jaleel MA Pediatrics 2021 Oct 148 -
Discontinuing Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Infants ≤32 Weeks of Gestational Age: A Randomized Control Trial
Kakkilaya V, Tang A, Wagner S, Ridpath J, Ibrahim J, Brown LS, Rosenfeld CR Journal of Pediatrics 2021 Mar 230 93-99.e3 -
Early predictors of continuous positive airway pressure failure in preterm neonates
Kakkilaya V, Wagner S, Mangona KL, Steven Brown L, Jubran I, He H, Savani RC, Kapadia VS Journal of Perinatology 2019 Aug 39 1081-1088 -
The use of less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) in the United States with review of the literature
Kurepa D, Perveen S, Lipener Y, Kakkilaya V Journal of Perinatology 2019 Mar 39 426-432 -
Quality improvement project to decrease delivery room intubations in preterm infants
Kakkilaya V, Jubran I, Mashruwala V, Ramon E, Simcik VN, Marshall M, Brown LS, Jaleel MA, Kapadia VS Pediatrics 2019 Feb 143 -
Noninvasive ventilation in the delivery room for the preterm infant
Weydig H, Ali N, Kakkilaya V Pediatrics in Review 2019 20 e489-e499 -
Delivery room continuous positive airway pressure and pneumothorax
Smithhart W, Wyckoff MH, Kapadia V, Jaleel M, Kakkilaya V, Brown LS, Nelson DB, Brion LP Pediatrics 2019 144 -
Impact of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program–Recommended Low Oxygen Strategy on Outcomes of Infants Born Preterm
Kapadia VS, Lal CV, Kakkilaya V, Heyne R, Savani RC, Wyckoff MH Journal of Pediatrics 2017 Dec 191 35-41 -
Case 1: Progressive lethargy in a 4-Day-Old term infant
Weydig HM, Veltkamp D, Kakkilaya V, Stumpf K, Waber LJ, Brion LP Pediatrics in Review 2015 Nov 16 e642-e644 -
Otopalatodigital syndrome type 2 in a male infant: A case report with a novel sequence variation
Sankararaman S, Kurepa D, Shen Y, Kakkilaya V, Ursin S, Chen H Journal of Pediatric Genetics 2013 2 33-36 -
Another case of genitopatellar syndrome: A case report with additional rare coexistences
Sankararaman S, Kurepa D, Velayuthan S, Kakkilaya V, Gates T, Ursin S, Chen H Clinical Dysmorphology 2012 Oct 21 226-228 -
Pleural effusion: An extremely uncommon complication of correctly placed umbilical venous catheter
Sankararaman S, Kurepa D, Kakkilaya V, Patra K, Gates T Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine 2012 Oct 5 269-273 -
Elevated acetoacetate and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in cord blood of infants of diabetic mothers
Kurepa D, Pramanik AK, Kakkilaya V, Caldito G, Groome LJ, Bocchini JA, Jain SK Neonatology 2012 Sep 102 163-168 -
Use of a visual aid to improve counseling at the threshold of viability
Kakkilaya V, Groome LJ, Platt D, Kurepa D, Pramanik A, Caldito G, Conrad L, Bocchini JA, Davis TC Pediatrics 2011 Dec 128 e1511-e1519 -
Effect of Placental Transfusion on the Blood Volume and Clinical Outcome of Infants Born by Cesarean Section
Kakkilaya V, Pramanik AK, Ibrahim H, Hussein S Clinics in Perinatology 2008 Sep 35 561-570
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Agreement Between Telemedicine and In-Person Examination for Neonatal Hypothermia Decisions
Research
- Less invasive surfactant administration
- Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): optimal delivery symptoms and weaning strategies in extremely low birth weight infants
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome
- New tools in improving informed decision making in the neonatal intensive care unit
- Noninvasive respiratory support in preterm infants
Clinical Focus
- Neonatal Ventilation
- Clinical Quality Improvement