David Higgins, MD, MPH, MS

Professional Titles

• Attending Physician, Child Health Clinic
• Research Fellow/Principal Investigator, Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS)

Recognitions

• Community Teaching Award, Montana Family Medicine Residency (2020)
• Special Achievement Award, American Academy of Pediatrics District VIII (2021)
• Emerging Leader, Colorado Public Health Association (2023)
• Chapter Appreciation Award, Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2022)

Research Interests

Vaccine delivery, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine confidence

Publications

• Redente EF, Higgins DM, Dwyer-Nield LD, Orme IM, Gonzalez-Juarrero M, Malkinson AM. Differential polarization of alveolar macrophages and bone marrow-derived monocytes following chemically and pathogen-induced chronic lung inflammation. J Leukoc Biol. 2010 Jul;88(1):159-68. PubMed PMID: 20360403
• Early MA, Lishnevsky M, Gilchrist JM, Higgins DM, Orme IM, Muller WA, Gonzalez-Juarerro M, Schenkel AR. Non-invasive diagnosis of early pulmonary disease in PECAM-deficient mice using infrared pulse oximetry. Exp Mol Pathol. 2009 Oct;87(2):152-8. PubMed PMID: 19646434
• Higgins DM, Sanchez-Campillo J, Rosas-Taraco AG, Lee EJ, Orme IM, Gonzalez-Juarrero M. Lack of IL-10 alters inflammatory and immune responses during pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2009 Mar;89(2):149-57. PubMed PMID: 19213603
• Higgins DM, Basaraba RJ, Hohnbaum AC, Lee EJ, Grainger DW, Gonzalez-Juarrero M. Localized immunosuppressive environment in the foreign body response to implanted biomaterials. Am J Pathol. 2009 Jul;175(1):161-70. PubMed PMID: 19528351
• Rosas-Taraco AG, Higgins DM, Sánchez-Campillo J, Lee EJ, Orme IM, González-Juarrero M. Intrapulmonary delivery of XCL1-targeting small interfering RNA in mice chronically infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2009 Aug;41(2):136-45. PubMed PMID: 19097989
• Higgins DM, Sanchez-Campillo J, Rosas-Taraco AG, Higgins JR, Lee EJ, Orme IM, Gonzalez-Juarrero M. Relative levels of M-CSF and GM-CSF influence the specific generation of macrophage populations during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Immunol. 2008 Apr 1;180(7):4892-900. PubMed PMID: 18354213
• Ordway D, Higgins DM, Sanchez-Campillo J, Spencer JS, Henao-Tamayo M, Harton M, Orme IM, Gonzalez Juarrero M. XCL1 (lymphotactin) chemokine produced by activated CD8 T cells during the chronic stage of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis negatively affects production of IFN-gamma by CD4 T cells and participates in granuloma stability. J Leukoc Biol. 2007 Nov;82(5):1221-9. PubMed PMID: 17699612
• Higgins DM, Wischmeyer PE, Queensland KM, Sillau SH, Sufit AJ, Heyland DK. Relationship of vitamin D deficiency to clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2012 Nov;36(6):713-20. PubMed PMID: 22523178
• Chan KH, Liang C, Wilson P, Higgins D, Allen GC. Long-term safety and efficacy data on botulinum toxin type A: an injection for sialorrhea. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Feb;139(2):134-8. PubMed PMID: 23429943
• Wilson J, Higgins D, Hutting H, Serkova N, Baird C, Khailova L, Queensland K, Vu Tran Z, Weitzel L, Wischmeyer PE. Early propranolol treatment induces lung heme-oxygenase-1, attenuates metabolic dysfunction, and improves survival following experimental sepsis. Crit Care. 2013 Sep 10;17(5):R195. PubMed PMID: 24020447
• Higgins D, Otero J, Jefferis Kirk C, Pak J, Jorgensen N, Kemna M, Albers E, Hong B, Friedland-Little J, Law Y. Iron Laboratory Studies in Pediatric Patients With Heart Failure from Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 2017 Dec 1;120(11):2049-2055. PubMed PMID: 28942941
• Higgins DM, Moore M, Alderton L, et al. Evaluation of a Statewide Online, At-Home Sexually Transmitted Infection and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening Program. Clin Infect Dis. 2023;76(12):2148-2153. doi:10.1093/cid/ciad071
• Higgins DM, O'Leary ST. Prevention of Perinatal Hepatitis B Transmission. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2023 Jun;50(2):349-361. PubMed PMID: 37149315
• Higgins DM, Haynes AL, Jensen JC, O'Leary ST, Moss A, Calonge N. Planned Out-of-Hospital Birth as a Risk Factor for Nonreceipt of Hepatitis B Immunization. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2023 Sep 1;42(9):819-823. PubMed PMID: 37310892
• David M. Higgins, Angela Moss, Sarah Blackwell, Sean T. O’Leary; The COVID-19 Pandemic and Parental Attitudes Toward Routine Childhood Vaccines. Pediatrics 2023; e2023062927. 10.1542/peds.2023-062927
• Higgins DM, O'Leary ST. Letter to the Editor Regarding "Gaps in Prenatal Hepatitis B Screening and Management of HBsAg Positive Pregnant Persons in the U.S., 2015-2020". Am J Prev Med. 2023 Nov;65(5):950-951. PubMed PMID: 37863526
• Higgins DM, O'Leary ST. The Risks of Normalizing Parental Vaccine Hesitancy. N Engl J Med. 2024 Feb 8;390(6):485-487. PubMed PMID: 38314909
• Higgins DM, Riba A, Alderton L, Wendel KA, Scanlon J, Weise J, Gibson N, Obafemi O. Evaluation of the Impact and Outcomes of a Rapid Transition to Telehealth PrEP Delivery at a Sexual Health Clinic During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sex Transm Dis. 2023 Dec 1;50(12):816-820. PubMed PMID: 37820240
• Higgins DM, Moore M, Alderton L, Weinberg L, Hickok AM, Yale A, Wendel KA. Evaluation of a Statewide Online, At-Home Sexually Transmitted Infection and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening Program. Clin Infect Dis. 2023 Jun 16;76(12):2148-2153. PubMed PMID: 36757359
• Lishnevsky M, Young LC, Woods SJ, Groshong SD, Basaraba RJ, Gilchrist JM, Higgins DM, Gonzalez-Juarrero M, Bass TA, Muller WA, Schenkel AR. Microhemorrhage is an early event in the pulmonary fibrotic disease of PECAM-1 deficient FVB/n mice. Exp Mol Pathol. 2014 Aug;97(1):128-36. PubMed PMID: 24972347
• Rosas-Taraco AG, Higgins DM, Sánchez-Campillo J, Lee EJ, Orme IM, González-Juarrero M. Local pulmonary immunotherapy with siRNA targeting TGFß1 enhances antimicrobial capacity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected mice. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2011 Jan;91(1):98-106. PubMed PMID: 21195670
• Higgins DM, O’Leary ST. A World without Measles and Rubella: Addressing the Challenge of Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccines. 2024; 12(6):694. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12060694
• Higgins DM, O'Leary ST. The Dire Need for Surveillance of Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2024 Oct;114(10):983-985. PubMed PMID: 39231401

Professional Memberships

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Vice President-CO chapter; Immunization Representative; Spokesperson
• Society for Pediatric Research (SPR), Member
• Academic Pediatric Association, Co-Chair Immunization SIG
• Alpha Omega Alpha, Elected Member
• Delta Omega Honor Society in Public Health, Elected Member
• Immunize Colorado, Member, Board of Directors

Practice Locations

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

Children's Hospital Colorado Child Health Clinic
860 N Potomac Cir
Aurora, CO 80011
720-777-2740

Hospital Affiliation

• Children's Hospital Colorado

Center Affiliations

• ACCORDS (COHO)

Specialty Information

Specialties

• Pediatrics, Board Certification (2016)
• Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, Board Certification (2023)

Conditions & Treatments

• Primary Care
• Child and Teen Health