Iris Perez, MD

Director, Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome and Diaphragm Pacing Program
Attending Physician
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Iris A. Perez, MD, is Director of the Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome and Diaphragm Pacing Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Perez is board-certified in pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology and sleep medicine. She completed her pediatric residency and chief residency at the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine and her pediatric pulmonology fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Dr. Perez’s clinical and research interests center around disorders of respiratory control, particularly in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), a rare genetic disorder that affects control of breathing. She also has a special focus on ventilatory support for CCHS patients, especially diaphragm pacing.

Collaborating with other researchers, Dr. Perez investigates the physiology, phenotypes and management of patients with CCHS, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and maximizing patient potential. Other areas of interest include pediatric sleep-related breathing disorders, sleep in children with autism, and sleep and performance.

Intertwined with her research is her passion for education and mentoring of students, trainees and early-career faculty. Dr. Perez is involved in education and mentoring committees at CHLA and USC, as well as the American Thoracic Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. It is her belief that teaching and mentoring are essential pillars in promoting respiratory, sleep and overall health across the lifespan.

Clinical Interests

Pediatric Pulmonology; Pediatric Sleep Medicine

Education

Medical School

Lyceum- Northwestern Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine

Internship

Montefiore Medical Center/New York; Pediatrics

Residency

Montefiore Medical Center/New York; Pediatrics

Fellowship

Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Pediatric Pulmonology

Accomplishments

Certifications

Pediatric Pulmonology; American Board of Pediatrics; Sleep Medicine

Professional Memberships

American Pediatric Society
Society for Pediatric Research
American Thoracic Society
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Sleep Research Society
American Academy of Pediatrics

Publications

Research

Iris Perez, MD, studies the physiology, phenotypes and management of patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), with the goal of improving patient outcomes and maximizing patient potential. Other research interests include pediatric sleep-related breathing disorders, sleep in children with autism, and sleep and performance.