Pediatric Surgery Research

Katherine Ballard, D.N.P., CPNP-AC/PC

Katherine Ballard, DNP, CPNP-AC/PC

Title: Instructor of Surgery

Research Focus: I am particularly interested in research related to pediatric trauma.

Current projects:

  • Western Pediatric Cervical Spine Study

Select publications:

  1. Ballard, K. & Bone, C. (2021). Exploring spatially varying relationships between Lyme disease and land cover with geographically weighted regression. Applied Geography, 127. 

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Benjamin Carr, M.D.

Benjamin Carr, M.D.

Title: Assistant Professor of Surgery

Research Focus: I am interested in surgical critical care for neonates and children, and in thoracic anomalies and malformations such as esophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, congenital lung lesions, chylothorax, and tracheomalacia.

Select publications:

  1. Kohne JG, MacLaren G, Rider E, Carr BD, Mallory P, Gebremariam A, Friedman ML, Barbaro RP. Tracheostomy Practices and Outcomes in Children During Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2022 Apr 1;23(4):268-276.
  2. Carr BD, Sampang L, Church JT, Mon RA, Gadepalli SK, Attar MA, Perrone EE. Fetal intervention for congenital chylothorax is associated with improved outcomes in early life. J Surg Res. 2018 Nov;231:361-365. 
  3. Carr BD, Gadepalli SK. Does Surgical Management Alter Outcome in Necrotizing Enterocolitis? Clin Perinatol. 2019 Mar;46(1):89-100. 
  4. Carr BD, Grant CN, Overman RE, Gadepalli SK, Geiger JD. Retroperitoneal exploration with Vicryl mesh and fibrin tissue sealant for refractory chylous ascites. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Mar;54(3):604-607.

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Elizabeth Fialkowski, M.D.

Dr. Elizabeth Fialkowski

Title: Associate Professor of Surgery

Research Focus: Clinical research in pediatric general surgery, with a specific interest in pediatric surgical oncology

Current projects:

  • Multiple retrospective and prospective studies, both institutional and multi-institutional, regarding outcomes in pediatric general surgery

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Lucas McDuffie, M.D.

Lucas McDuffie, M.D.

Title: Assistant Professor of Surgery

Research Focus: Clinical research related to 1) Oncology 2) Trauma 3) Chest Wall Deformities 4) general Pediatric Surgical issues

Current projects:

  • Multiple single institutional studies and multiple consortium studies

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Alicia McIntire, R.N., CPNP

Alicia McIntire, RN, CPNP

Title: Instructor of Surgery

Research Focus: I am interested in pediatric surgical research to better understand childhood disease processes in an attempt to improve care and outcomes for pediatric surgical patients.

Current projects:

  • Diaphragmatic Hernia Research & Exploration, Advancing Molecular Sciences (DHREAMS)
  • Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Study Group (CDHSG) Registry
  • Prospective Longitudinal Trial Evaluating Operative vs Non-Operative Management of Pancreatic Injuries in the Pediatric Population
  • Perianal Abscess Observational Database -Various pediatric trauma studies

Select publications:

  1. Downie K, McIntire A, Tobias J, Krishnaswami S, Jafri M. Application of a Thoracic CT Decision Rule in the Evaluation of Injured Children: A Quality Improvement Initiative. J Trauma Nurs. 2023 Jan-Feb 01;30(1):48-54. 
  2. Hanson HR, Formica M, Laraque-Arena D, Zonfrillo MR, Desai P, O'Neil JO, Unni P, Johnson EL, Cobb P, Agarwal M, Beckworth K, Schroter S, Strotmeyer S, Donnelly KA, Middelberg LK, Morse AM, Dodington J, Latuska RF, Anderson B, Lawson KA, Valente M, Levas MN, Kiragu AW, Monroe K, Ruest SM, Lee LK, Charyk Stewart T, Attridge MM, Haasz M, Jafri M, McIntire A, Rogers SC, Uspal NG, Blanchard A, Hazeltine MD, Riech T, Jennissen C, Model L, Fu Q, Clukies LD, Juang D, Ruda MT, Prince JM, Chao S, Yorkgitis BK, Pomerantz WJ. A multicenter evaluation of pediatric emergency department injury visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inj Epidemiol. 2023 Dec 13;10(1):66. 

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Julie McKee, R.N., M.S., CPNP-AC/PC

Julie McKee

Title: Instructor of Surgery

Research Focus: I am focused on quality and process improvement in the surgical care of pediatric patients.

Current projects:

  • Hospital Unit Variation in Pediatric Postoperative Opioid Administration
  • Evaluating current opioid use in pediatric patients following laparoscopic gastrostomy surgery in NICU and pediatric ward

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Raphael Sun, M.D.

Raphael Sun, M.D.

Title: Assistant Professor of Surgery; Fetal Surgery Program Co-Director

Research Focus: I am interested in fetal anomalies related to fetal and pediatric surgery that can be intervened on and focused on improving clinical outcomes both prenatally and postnatally.

Current projects:

  • Impact of Structural Determinants of Health on Morbidity and Mortality of Infants with Surgically Intervenable Congenital Anomalies
  • Health disparities in prenatal care and its effect on postnatal neonatal outcomes
  • Congenital lung lesion prenatal ultrasound, diagnosis and management
  • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia 

Select publications:

  1. Creden SP, Portuondo J, Cheng LS, Halaweish I, Keswani SG, King AL, Lee TC, Sun RC. Approach and Technique for Cesarean Section to Immediate Resection for High-Risk Sacrococcygeal Teratomas. J Surg Res. 2023 Dec;292:38-43.
  2. Seaman RD, Salmanian B, Shamshirsaz AA, Espinoza J, Sanz-Cortes M, Donepudi R, Johnson R, Krispin E, Sun R, Belfort MA, Nassr AA. Pregnancy outcomes following early fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome at 16 weeks' gestation. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2023 Jan;5(1):100771. 
  3. Sun RC, Hessami K, Krispin E, Pammi M, Mostafaei S, Joyeux L, Deprest J, Keswani S, Lee TC, King A, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA. Prenatal ultrasonographic markers for prediction of complex gastroschisis and adverse perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2022 Jul;107(4):371-379.
  4. Sun RC, Mehl SC, Anbarasu CR, Portuondo JI, Espinoza AF, Whitlock R, Mazziotti MV. Intercostal cryoablation during Nuss procedure: A large volume single surgeon's experience and outcomes. J Pediatr Surg. 2021 Dec;56(12):2229-2234.
  5. Espinoza J, Shamshirsaz AA, Sanz Cortes M, Pammi M, Nassr AA, Donepudi R, Whitehead WE, Castillo J, Johnson R, Meshinchi N, Sun R, Krispin E, Corroenne R, Lee TC, Keswani SG, King A, Belfort MA. Two-port, exteriorized uterus, fetoscopic meningomyelocele closure has fewer adverse neonatal outcomes than open hysterotomy closure. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Sep;225(3):327.e1-327.e9. 
  6. Mehl SC, Short WD, Kinley A, Lee TC, Sun RC, Belfort MA, Shamshirsaz AA, Espinoza J, Donepudi R, Sanz-Cortes M, Nassr AA, Mehollin-Ray AR, Keswani SG, King A. Delivery planning for congenital lung malformations: A CVR based perinatal care algorithm. J Pediatr Surg. 2022 May;57(5):833-839.
  7. Sun RC, Cheng LS, Shah RH, Lohmann P, Cortes-Santiago N, Ketwaroo PD, Keswani SG, King A, Lee TC. Case Report: The Medical and Surgical Management of an Infant With Extreme Prematurity and Fetus-In-Fetu. Front Surg. 2022 Mar 4;9:856837.
  8. Mehl SC, Short WD, Flanagan MM, Keswani SG, Lee TC, Sun RC, Vogel AM, Austin PF, King A. Correlation of continence with long-term patient centered outcomes in children with sacrococcygeal teratoma. J Pediatr Surg. 2022 May;57(5):871-876.

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Rachel Wilson, P.A.-C., M.S.

Rachel Wilson, PA-C

Title: Assistant Professor of Surgery

Research Focus: I aim to contribute to ongoing Pediatric Surgery research in order to gain a better understanding, improved or standardized care across various surgical and disease processes.

Current projects:

  • Minimizing variance in pediatric surgery - various studies to standardize different aspects of care
  • VTE prophylaxis - looking at utility of screening duplex US in pediatric surgery patients
  • Various multi-institutional studies

Select publications:

  1. Wilson RE, Rao PK, Cunningham AJ, Dewey EN, Krishnaswami S, Hamilton NA. A Natural History of Gastrojejunostomy Tubes in Children. J Surg Res. 2020 Jan;245:461-466. 
  2. Sunstrom R, Hamilton N, Fialkowski E, Lofberg K, McKee J, Sims T, Krishnaswami S, Azarow K. Minimizing variance in pediatric gastrostomy: does standardized perioperative feeding plan decrease cost and improve outcomes? Am J Surg. 2016 May;211(5):948-53.
  3. Tobias J, Saunders L, Wilson R, Vu K, Spurrier R, Fialkowski E. A novel gastrografin challenge protocol in pediatric adhesive small bowel obstruction. North Pacific Surgical Association, virtual conference, Sept 2020.
  4. Tobias J, Labuz DF, Cunningham A, Dixon A, Selesner L, Moss L, Dewey E, Haley KM, Burns E, Schreiber M, Wilson R, Hamilton NA, Jafri MA. Venous thromboembolic screening in pediatric trauma: A prospective cohort study of risk-stratified ultrasonography. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2023 Jan 1;94(1):107-112.

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