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When I was growing up, I was always trying to fix things. As a middle schooler, I disassembled my family’s electric pencil sharpener when it did not work because I wanted to understand how it functioned. In high school, I was drawn to architecture and auto-shop classes so I could keep fixing things, but I soon became captivated by the machinery of the human body. I decided to go to medical school and initially wanted to pursue pediatrics, because I always enjoyed being around children. However, surgery appealed to my inner mechanic, and I realized pediatric surgery would be a natural fit.

I am director of children’s surgical services at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at �ٺ���Ƶ. I work closely with all surgeons treating children at �ٺ���Ƶ to ensure that the care they provide pediatric patients and their families is exceptional, family-centered, and focused on their needs. I treat children who have appendicitis, inguinal and umbilical hernias, chest wall deformities, solid tumors, feeding problems, and anorectal malformations that cause fecal incontinence. I also manage birth defects, such as diaphragmatic hernia and esophageal atresia

I use laparoscopic surgical techniques, which are minimally invasive, to repair hernias and remove tumors, the appendix, and the spleen. Laparoscopic procedures result in minimal scarring, less pain, and a faster recovery for patients.

I am the surgical director of �ٺ���Ƶ’s Pediatric ECMO Program. ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is a treatment in which a life support machine performs the function of the heart and lungs. This therapy is used for children who have life-threatening cardiac and respiratory conditions, such as diaphragmatic hernia or pulmonary hypertension, and in infants who have aspirated meconium during childbirth. At �ٺ���Ƶ, our outcomes exceed national benchmarks, and our program has received the Gold Level Center of Excellence award from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.

I also co-direct the Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Program, in which maternal–fetal medicine specialists collaborate with pediatric, neonatal, and surgical subspecialists to manage prenatal conditions.

I am a fierce advocate for patient safety and family-centered care. When creating a treatment plan, I make sure parents’ preferences and concerns are taken into account. I collaborate with a team of surgeons and intensive care doctors to provide the personalized attention one would expect from a trusted family pediatrician while offering leading-edge treatments in the setting of a world-class medical center.

I conduct clinical research focused on congenital diaphragmatic hernia and pediatric ECMO. In addition, I am a physician informaticist, meaning I am a liaison between doctors and �ٺ���Ƶ’s information technology analysts. We use advanced methods of clinical data analysis to help develop better treatment pathways. Our goals are to reduce complications and improve safety.