Department of Surgery
The Department of Surgery at Lurie Children’s, led by Thomas H. Inge, MD, PhD, provides surgical services that range from routine appendectomies, tonsillectomies, and fractures, to complex organ transplantations and surgeries for congenital heart defects. The Department is also the pediatric surgery training partner for Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and other local and regional hospitals, providing extraordinary resident and fellow training in each of its 10 divisions.
Lurie Children’s is the first children’s hospital in Illinois to be designated as a Level 1 children’s surgery center by the American College of Surgeons, a recognition only achieved by meeting the highest standards for training, staffing, quality improvement and care. Lurie Children’s is also a designated Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, meaning it is equipped to handle the most severely injured children.
Our experienced team, comprised of approximately 80 surgeons in 10 sub-specialty divisions, is ready to serve your child’s every surgical need.
Nationally-Ranked Care
Lurie Children’s continues to be the #1 children's hospital in Illinois and is ranked in 11 specialties by U.S. News & World Report.
Leadership Team
Thomas H. Inge, MD, PhD
Surgeon-in-Chief and Chair
Kaila Mitchell
Executive Director of Department Operations
Michael G. DeCuypere, MD, PhD
Vice Chair of Finance
Jeffrey S. Raskin, MS, MD
Vice Chair of Quality and Safety
Timothy B. Lautz, MD
Vice Chair of Clinical Operations
Vineeta T. Swaroop, MD
Vice Chair of Medical Education
Justin Ryder, PhD
Vice Chair of Research
Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery
David S. Winlaw, MBBS, MD, FRACS
Division Head, Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery
Genevieve M. Frey MSN, RN, CPN
Executive Director, Heart Center Service Line
Dentistry
Ashlee L. Cosantino, DDS
Interim Division Head, Dentistry
Melissa Pena
Division Administrator, Dentistry
Neurosurgery
Sandi K. Lam, MD, MBA
Division Head, Neurosurgery
Benjamin Gunhus
Division Administrator, Neurosurgery
Ophthalmology
Brenda L. Bohnsack, MD, PhD
Division Head, Ophthalmology
Adrian Anderson
Division Administrator, Ophthalmology
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Dana M. Thompson, MD, MS, MBA, FACS
Division Head, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Ryan Cyzman
Division Administrator, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Erik C. King, MD, MS
Division Head, Orthopedic Surgery
Poonam Jambhekar
Division Administrator, Orthopedic Surgery
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Shannon Haymond, PhD
Senior Vice President and Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Demetra Callas
Executive Director, Pathology
Pediatric Surgery
Mehul V. Raval, MD, MS, FACS
Divison Head, Pediatric Surgery
Rachel Wankel
Division Administrator, Pediatric Surgery
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Arun K. Gosain, MD
Division Head, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Rachel Wankel
Division Administrator, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Transplant and Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgery
Juan C. Caicedo, MD, FACS
Division Head, Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery
Johanna Mishra
Executive Director, Destination Medicine - Transplant Center, Gene Therapy, International & Destination Patient Services
Urology
Elizabeth B. Yerkes, MD
Interim Division Head, Urology
Brian Hayes
Division Administrator, Urology
Department of Surgery News
Early Access to a Cardiac Surgical Hospital Linked to Shorter Hospitalization for Newborns with Heart Defects
A new study found that newborns with severe heart defects who reach a cardiac surgery hospital sooner may have shorter hospital stays.
Program Dramatically Improves Safety of Surgery for Children
A new study shows how simple safety changes helped Lurie Children's complete nearly 40,000 surgeries without a single serious safety event.
Study Makes Economic Case for Teen Weight-Loss Surgery
A new study found that metabolic and bariatric surgery provides long-term health benefits and strong economic value for adolescents with severe obesity, supporting broader access to this evidence-based treatment.
New Noninvasive Tool May Allow Early Detection of Dangerous Intestinal Disease in Preemies
A first-in-human study found that a new handheld, noninvasive device may enable earlier detection of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life-threatening intestinal disease in premature infants.
Applying Bundles of Best Practices Improves Outcomes of Pediatric Surgery, Clinical Trial Finds
A first-of-its-kind multicenter clinical trial found that enhanced recovery protocols for pediatric gastrointestinal surgery helped children recover faster, reduced opioid use by more than 50% and improved overall surgical outcomes.
Finding Hope for Hirschsprung’s, Far From Home
From high-risk pregnancy to rare disease diagnosis, discover how Lurie Children's Hospital helped one family navigate Hirschsprung's disease. Now thriving, baby Dawood is home and pain-free.