David Higgins, MD, MPH, MS

Assistant Professor, Pediatrics-General Pediatrics

Faculty Photo
Medical School
  • MD, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine (2013)
Graduate Schools
  • MS, Colorado State University (2008)
  • MPH, Colorado School of Public Health (2023)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, Colorado State University (CO) (2006)
Internship
  • University of Washington Program (2014)
Residencies
  • University of Washington Program, Pediatrics (2016)
  • Colorado School of Public Health Program, Chief Resident, Public Health and General Preventive Medicine (2023)
Languages
English
Department
Pediatrics-General Pediatrics

Professional Titles

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

Recognitions

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

Research Interests

My research focuses on enhancing vaccine delivery and communication strategies.

Publications

  • 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, 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
  • 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. 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
  • 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
  • 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, 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 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
  • 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
  • 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
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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 Colorado Health Pavilion
860 N Potomac Cir
Aurora, CO 80111
720-777-1234

Hospital Affiliation
  • Children's Hospital Colorado

Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Pediatrics, Board Certification (2016)
  • Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, Board Certification (2023)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Primary Care
  • Child and Teen Health
Clinical Interests
General pediatrics, child and adolescent health, immunizations, preventive medicine, community health

Volunteer Activities
I am deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and their communities through volunteer nonprofit leadership and advocacy—and when I am not doing that, you can find me on the soccer field coaching youth soccer.

Public Speaking
Yes
Extensive speaking experience on physician-patient communication, vaccine communication, vaccine confidence, and public health, engaging diverse audiences, including academics, health professionals, policymakers, and public health leaders.

School of Medicine

CU Anschutz

Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

Campus Box C290

Aurora, CO 80045


303.724.5375