Francis J. Hickey, MD

Medical Director, Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome, Children’s Hospital Colorado and
Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Francis HickeyDr. Francis J. Hickey joined the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome as Medical Director of its Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome in 2010. Since 2010, Dr. Hickey has organized a multi-disciplinary team of experts interested in children with Down syndrome along with a dedicated research team. He has evaluated nearly 1800 unique individuals with Down Syndrome from across the country and internationally the past 9 years.

Sie Center clinics developed include: General Clinics, Infant Clinic, Feeding Clinic, School Age Clinic, Prenatal Clinic, and 2 Sleep Clinics. Dr. Hickey was attracted to his position as director of the Sie Center because it allows him to organize the best medical and therapeutic intervention available for children with Down syndrome. Dr. Hickey and his team have developed relationships with over 15 subspecialists in pediatrics who have an interest in caring for children with Down syndrome and maximizing their potential. Simultaneously, Dr. Hickey oversees clinical research that will significantly impact evidenced-based healthcare guidelines for this often overlooked population. The Sie Center is based at the Children’s Hospital Colorado (ranked among the top 10 in the nation by News & World Report 2014).

Previously, Dr. Hickey served for 21 years as an adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine. During that time, he was a key architect of, and support to, the Jane and Richard Thomas Center for Down Syndrome at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

His research has concentrated on clinical studies involving identification and interventions for comorbidities found in children with Down syndrome. Dr. Hickey has directed over 30 research projects. He has authored or co-authored 30 articles in scholarly publications on Down syndrome. Also, he has developed an academic teaching program on Down syndrome for residents, medical students and fellows who have rotated through the Sie Center clinic. The team developed an innovative Down Syndrome Guideline Chart 1-page summary chart of AAP Guidelines Health Supervision of Down Syndrome Patients.

Recognized as one of “America’s Top Doctors” for ten years, Dr. Hickey has received numerous awards including the Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award from Exceptional Parenting Magazine, Professional of the Year award and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, The Ross Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Pediatrics, and the Senior Resident Teaching Award in Pediatrics.

Dr. Hickey earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his medical degree from the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine. He completed his pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a fellowship in Developmental Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Hickey and his wife, Kris, are the parents of four children, one of whom has Down syndrome.