We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Ahmad Chatila to the Alzein Pediatrics staff.

Dr. Chatila earned his medical degree at American University in Beirut, Lebanon in 1988 and completed his General Pediatrics residency at State University of New York in 1991. He has completed multiple fellowships including Pediatric Pulmonary at State University in 1994, Pediatric Intensive Care at New England Medical Center in Boston in 1995, and Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 1995. Dr. Chatila is double board certified, in Pediatrics and in Pediatric Pulmonology. He is also certified in Pediatric Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy.

Dr. Chatila was in private practice in Beirut until 2020, when he joined a pediatric practice in Watertown, New York.

Dr. Alzein says, “Dr. Chatila has lots of experience and is a responsive physician. He has a great personality, very kind, that is a perfect fit with our Alzein Pediatrics staff.”

“I entered the pediatric field because it gives me great satisfaction to welcome newborns into the world, provide preventative care and see them grow,” says Dr. Chatila. “I focus on pulmonary pediatric care because I realized during my residency that the majority of kids’ illnesses are related to the lungs and upper airways. About 65% of sick patients have their lungs affected by illness. Children with asthma tend to be sicker more often, and it tends to take longer for them to recover and clear their airways.”

Dr. Chatila says that when he became a parent, his approach as a physician shifted. “My perspective changed, and I started looking at things more as a patient and parent, than as just a physician. I remind myself to look at things from the child’s perspective, to use facial expressions carefully and to speak not just to the parent but also to the child.” Dr. Chatila is mindful to address the patient child personally, smile and maintain eye contact, and to listen carefully as the child answers his questions.

“I’m also a proponent of having adolescents and teens have a moment alone with their physician, asking parents to step out of a minute so these children can have private discussions.”

Dr. Chatila works diligently to help parents understand that almost anything “will turn out good, with effort and hope. Parents can be overwhelmed by the arrival of their newborn and deprived of the joy of raising children by worrying. I want parents to enjoy their baby and think about positive outcomes overall.

Dr. Chatila speaks English, Arabic and French. He has lectured at many medical conventions and universities and obtained 8 medical publications. He is a member of:

• American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American College of Chest Physicians
  • American Thoracic Society
  • Society of Critical Care Medicine
  • Lebanese Asthma Board

Dr. Chatila has 5 children, three of whom are triplets. Triplets, he says, are three times the joy. He is looking forward to coming to Chicago not only to join Alzein Pediatrics, but to be near his children; four of them are currently attending University of Chicago.

Dr. Alzein says, “We are excited to have Dr. Chatila come to Chicago and to make him feel welcome and at home – and to show him our beautiful city.”

Dr. Chatila says moving to Chicago is exciting for him too. “We love that Chicagoland has a diverse population, that there are welcoming and livable suburbs, right outside this big city.” He looks forward to enjoying the wide variety of ethnic foods available in Chicago, along with the theaters and museums. Dr. Chatila enjoys hiking and walking in nature, spending most of his free time outdoors, and is expecting to enjoy the lake front for some of these excursions.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Ahmad Chatila to Alzein Pediatrics! To make an appointment with Dr. Chatila, call 708-424-7600.