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Related Research Units

Emergency Medicine Research

Research Overview

Dr. Sonal Shah's research centers on systematic reviews and meta-analyses, with a particular emphasis on diagnostic accuracy. She has authored two publications in the JAMA Rational Clinical Examination series, which applies rigorous methodology to assess the diagnostic value of medical history, physical exams, laboratory tests, and imaging for common conditions.

Her expertise in evidence synthesis has led to collaborations with national experts on a wide range of topics, from child abuse to pneumonia. Currently, Dr. Shah is working with multiple teams on systematic reviews and meta-analyses in areas including point-of-care ultrasound, pediatric concussion, and fatal poisonings in children.

Research Background

Sonal Shah graduated with an both MD and MPH from Tufts University School of Medicine in 2001. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital. Additionally, she completed a one year research fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. She returned to the faculty of the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children’s Hospital in 2012.

Education

Medical School

Tufts University School of Medicine
2001 Boston MA

Internship

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2002 Philadelphia PA

Residency

Pediatrics Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2004 Philadelphia PA

Fellowship

Emergency Medicine Boston Children's Hospital
2008 Boston MA

Publications

  1. Has This Child Experienced Physical Abuse?: The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review. JAMA. 2025 Apr 21. View Abstract
  2. Developing Consensus on Clinical Outcomes for Children with Mild Pneumonia: A Delphi Study. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2023 Feb 27; 12(2):83-88. View Abstract
  3. Scoping Reviews and Their Utility in Medical Toxicology. J Med Toxicol. 2022 10; 18(4):265-266. View Abstract
  4. Does This Child Have Pneumonia?: The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review. JAMA. 2017 Aug 01; 318(5):462-471. View Abstract
  5. Childhood Pneumonia. JAMA. 2017 08 01; 318(5):490. View Abstract
  6. Emergency Department Management of Febrile Respiratory Illness in Children. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2016 Jul; 32(7):429-34. View Abstract
  7. Physician assessment of the likelihood of pneumonia in a pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2010 Nov; 26(11):817-22. View Abstract
  8. Detection of occult pneumonia in a pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2010 Sep; 26(9):615-21. View Abstract
  9. Lack of predictive value of tachypnea in the diagnosis of pneumonia in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010 May; 29(5):406-9. View Abstract
  10. Clinical predictors of pneumonia among children with wheezing. Pediatrics. 2009 Jul; 124(1):e29-36. View Abstract
  11. Breastfeeding knowledge among health workers in rural South Africa. J Trop Pediatr. 2005 Feb; 51(1):33-8. View Abstract

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