Julia Grabowski is a pediatric surgeon with a special interest in the treatment of patients with intestinal and colorectal diseases, as well as those with anorectal malformations, including imperforate anus. She also treats newborns, infants and children with a range of conditions including congenital and acquired diseases of the neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis, traumatic injuries, hernias, adolescent breast disease, and she performs prenatal counseling.
Dr. Grabowski leads Lurie Children’s specialized, multidisciplinary bowel management program for patients with a variety of intestinal diseases, congenital anomalies and spinal cord disorders— one of the first programs of this kind in the United States. The program offers a multi-pronged approach to the treatment and care of children with both constipation and fecal continence problems and includes a continuity clinic and a combined clinic with a motility specialist from the Department of Gastroenterology. The bowel management program focuses on care that goes well beyond traditional medication and also addresses the social, psychological and emotional needs of patients.
As a physician-scientist, Dr. Grabowski devotes her time to the study of pediatric surgical outcomes, safety and quality of care in the hopes of illuminating factors that make pediatric surgery better, safer and more accessible.
She is a member of several academic societies including the American Pediatric Surgical Association, the American Association for Academic Surgery, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Surgical Infection Society, the Pediatric Trauma Society, and the International Pediatric Ednosurgical Group. She is also a member of the Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium.
Clinical and research expertise
Hirschsprung’s disease, inflammatory dynamics in laparoscopic surgery, pediatric kidney tumors, pneumothorax in children, appendicitis, ovarian masses, pediatric breast masses, pilonidal disease and pediatric trauma
Congenital Abnormalities
Esophageal and alimentary tract surgeries
Abdominal Tumors
Chest Surgeries
Endocrine surgery
Gynecologic surgery
Congenital neck cyst excision and drainage
Additional procedures performed
Education: Northwestern University Medical School, 2003
Postgraduate Training: Fellowship in pediatric surgery, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2010-2012; Research Fellowship, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego 2006-2008; Residency in general surgery, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, 2003-2010
Board Certifications: Pediatric Surgery, General Surgery
Professional Organizations: American Pediatric Surgical Association; International Pediatric Endosurgery Group
Research Interests: Patient outcomes; breast disease; ovarian masses; spontaneous pneumothorax; appendicitis; pediatric trauma
