From the Chief

[VCUSOM Message from the Dean] - Dean's Message

From the Chief

"Our division of pediatric surgery welcomes all patients and their families, and we invite them to learn about our comprehensive surgical programs led by dedicated pediatric surgical faculty and providers here at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. We also welcome learners at all stages as an essential part of our daily practice to grow together in delivering this care and making it the best it can be. This family-centered and team approach results in optimal and state-of-the-art pediatric surgical care with benefits for all."

-Jeffrey H. Haynes, M.D., FACS, FAAP

Welcome to Pediatric Surgery

The Division of Pediatric Surgery takes pride in an ongoing commitment to personal surgical care for children (of all ages) as central to our overall divisional mission of education, research, and service.

Headquartered at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR), our patient clinics are located throughout central Virginia. Pediatric surgery faculty extend their dedication in caring for surgical needs of children by traveling to underserved regions from Belize to Jamaica through associations with World Pediatric Society and IVUMed.

Specialists in pediatric trauma and critical care, our focus extends to training residents in surgical simulation skills and minimally invasive surgery and with our newly expanded efforts in pediatric cancer surgery.

Surgery Services at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

Research

Our ongoing research focuses on new frontiers in treatment such as weight loss surgery for adolescents, airway reconstructive surgery, and improved trauma techniques and protocols.

General Surgery Residency Program

We offer training opportunities for medical and paramedical students and residents in general surgery, pediatrics and other fields.

Residents complete pediatric surgery rotations at the PGY-2 and PGY-4 levels, and have the option to participate in international health care programs. We also offer expanded opportunities for education in surgical skills using the simulation center at McGlothlin Medical Education Center.

Additionally, we sponsor a yearly endowed Templeton Lectureship in Pediatric Surgery and Trauma.

General Surgery Residency Program

Shadowing Opportunities

The Department of Surgery at VCU consists of ten divisions that each honor a commitment to medical education and a dedication to surgery research. Students interested in shadowing will have a unique opportunity to observe a typical workday of attending physicians and gain a broader perspective of the work environment and responsibilities you may encounter in the medical profession. Please refer to the Department of Surgery homepage for shadowing opportunities within other divisions.

If you are interested in shadowing with the Division of Pediatric Surgery, please email Dorothy Thomas for student shadowing coordination: Dorothy.Thomas@vcuhealth.org

PLEASE NOTE: All students must be processed by SOM and VCUHS HR prior to shadowing. Due to volume restrictions and the popularity of this service, processing times may vary and a wait list system is currently in use for Pediatric Surgery. Students should reach out to Dorothy and apply for a shadowing block several months in advance of when they would like to shadow.