The Penn State Health Children’s Hospital approach to pediatric surgery
Whether a child is born with a condition requiring surgery or develops one later, the experience can be overwhelming – but expert, compassionate care makes all the difference. The board-certified pediatric surgeons at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital use the latest techniques to treat a wide range of conditions – from routine to very complex – in a family-centered environment that helps children heal and thrive.
Why choose Penn State Health Children's Hospital for care?
When a pediatric patient needs surgery, it’s crucial to have a nationally recognized team skilled in addressing the unique surgical needs of young patients – from anesthesia through recovery.
- Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center: Only children’s hospital in Pennsylvania to earn national designation from the American College of Surgeons for excellent surgical care.
- Only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in the region: Available 24/7, our pediatric specialists offer emergency treatment for sudden, serious pediatric injuries that range from broken bones to life-threatening problems.
- Only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): As the highest-level NICU between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, our NICU provides lifesaving care to the most complex and critically ill newborns and serves as a regional referral center.
- Advanced surgical cancer care: Working closely with Pediatric Oncology, we provide children with cancer the most advanced, evidence-based surgical treatments, tailoring them to each child’s unique needs, integrating the latest medical discoveries, and supporting their health, growth and quality of life.
- Specialized gastrointestinal surgery: We strive to deliver the best possible outcomes for children with complex gastrointestinal conditions, such as appendicitis, hernias and intestinal failure.
- Outstanding surgical outcomes and low infection rates
- Dedicated injury prevention education and resources that help children and families stay safe at home, at play and on the go.
Beating the odds through expert care
Cameron’s life was changed after a tragic car accident, but thanks to the expert surgical care provided at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and powered by Penn State College of Medicine, he is back to playing the sports he loves.
Team-based care
Your child will be supported by a compassionate, expert team before, during and after surgery. We take an interdisciplinary approach, partnering closely with specialists across many areas of care, including:
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) – expert care managing high-risk pregnancies
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – specialized care for newborns with complex needs
- Pediatric Oncology – cancer care tailored to children
- Anesthesiologists – doctors who ensure your child is safe and pain-free during surgery
- Nurses – experienced caregivers who provide essential, hands-on support
- Nurse Practitioners – advanced practice nurses who help manage care and can prescribe medication
- Dietitians – nutrition experts who support healing and growth
Together, our team works closely with your family to deliver seamless, personalized care at every step.
Specialized surgical care for children
Our expert surgeons treat many common and complex pediatric conditions.
Abdominal and digestive conditions
- Appendicitis – infected or swollen appendix
- Gallbladder problems – including gallstones or poor function
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) – severe reflux needing surgery
- Hernias – bulges in the belly, groin or near the belly button
- Intestinal blockages or malformations – including twisted intestines, Meckel’s diverticulum, atresia and duplication cysts
- Pyloric stenosis – thickened stomach muscle that blocks food
- Hirschsprung disease – missing nerves in part of the intestine
- Necrotizing enterocolitis – serious intestinal infection in premature babies
- Meconium ileus – blockage in a newborn’s intestine
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Severe constipation and anorectal malformations
Liver and biliary conditions
- Liver tumors – both benign and cancerous
- Biliary atresia and choledochal cysts – bile duct problems in infants
- Biliary dyskinesia – gallbladder doesn’t empty properly
Head, neck and chest conditions
- Neck lumps – such as brachial cleft cysts and thyroglossal duct cysts
- Chest wall differences – including sunken or protruding chest
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia – organs in the chest instead of belly
- Lung malformations – abnormal lung development before birth
- Empyema – fluid or infection around the lungs
- Thoracic conditions – requiring chest surgery between the neck and abdomen
Cancer and tumors
- Neuroblastoma – a tumor that usually starts in the belly
- Wilms tumor – kidney cancer in children
- Sarcomas – cancers in soft tissue like muscle or fat
- Teratomas – tumors made of several kinds of tissue
- Liver tumors – benign and malignant
- Other childhood solid tumors – requiring surgical treatment
Conditions in newborns (neonatal surgery)
- Omphalocele and gastroschisis – when intestines or organs develop outside the body
- Intestinal atresia and malrotation – improperly formed or twisted intestines
- Esophageal atresia – missing part of the food pipe
- Congenital anomalies – surgery for birth differences or complications
- Serious or life-threatening conditions in newborns – requiring surgery soon after birth
- Prenatal diagnosis and coordination of care after delivery
Skin, lumps and infections
- Cysts, skin tags and lumps – removal of unusual growths
- Abscesses – infections that need to be drained
- Pilonidal disease – painful infection near the tailbone
Reproductive and urologic conditions
- Undescended testicles – testicles that haven’t moved down into the scrotum
- Labial fusion – when the folds of skin around the vagina stick together
- Tethered tongue (tongue-tie) – can affect feeding or speech
Special surgeries
- Feeding tube placement (G-tube)
- Vascular access – ports or catheters for long-term treatment
- Foreign body removal – for objects swallowed or inhaled
- Intestinal rehabilitation – for children with short bowel syndrome who need long-term Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), which means they get their nutrition through an IV instead of eating and digesting food normally.
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) – advanced life support for critically ill newborns
Pediatric trauma and injury prevention
- Pediatric trauma care – for life-threatening injuries
- Injury prevention – helping families avoid accidents and serious injuries
Surgical techniques and Innovation
- Minimally invasive surgery – using smaller incisions and faster recovery times
- Pediatric surgical innovation – developing new tools and techniques
- Global surgery initiatives – improving surgical care for children worldwide
Our convenient locations
We offer pre- and postoperative surgical appointments at offices throughout the region, including Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading, State College and York. Surgeries are performed at the Children’s Hospital, Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center and soon at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center.
Meet our team
The experts at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital are committed to providing our pediatric patients with comprehensive and multidisciplinary care.
Pediatric surgeons
Robert L. Ricca, MD
Robert W. Crum, MD
Bryanna M. Emr, MD
Afif N. Kulaylat, MD
Mary C. Santos, MD
Anthony Y. Tsai, MD
Aodhnait S. Fahy, MBChB, PhD
Advanced practice providers
Stepfanie J. Kern, PA-C
Jessica T. Vu, PA-C
Collette R. McGruder, CRNP, CPNPPC
Support staff
Shauna Dowdrick, BSN, RN
Clinical Case Manager
Support Resources
abc27 Special: Hope, Trust and Healing
At Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, our expert team performs life-changing and lifesaving surgeries for children from newborns to teens. In this abc27 segment, families share stories of hope, trust and healing alongside the surgeons whose diagnoses and treatments transformed their children’s lives.