Dwight Merritt Bailey, DO

“The opportunity and ability to treat neonates, children and adolescents with life-threatening diseases, as well as the families that love and care for them, is an honor and a privilege.” 

Dr. Bailey is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine. He is the specialty medical director for the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital. 

He specializes in septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), traumatic brain injury, acute respiratory failure, extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), pediatric flexible bronchoscopy, pediatric solid organ transplantation, pediatric enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), acute kidney injury, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), international medical outreach and global health. 

Dr. Bailey has won several awards, including Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital Physician of the Quarter, Levine Children's Hospital Touchstone Quality and Patient Experience Award and the JC Parke Outstanding Teacher Award. He was also named a Top Doctor by Charlotte Magazine. 

He received his degree in osteopathic medicine at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Illinois. He completed a fellowship at Northwestern University. 

He is the site chair, site principal investigator or site co-principal investigator for multiple studies within the Atrium Health Trauma Care and for national consortiums, such as the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) and the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group (PNCRG). Additionally, he is the national principal investigator for refractory vasodilatory shock novel therapy and the first physician in the word to treat a pediatric patient with the novel therapy. Dr. Bailey speaks nationally and internationally on multiple topics, including septic shock. 

He cherishes spending time with his wife and daughters. He enjoys being outdoors, boating, hiking, camping, live music, sports and traveling.