Research and Special Programs

Pediatric Surgery

The division of pediatric surgery is involved in a number of highly specialized programs at Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children's Hospital, as well as with Women & Infants' Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. In addition, physicians within the division participate in several clinical and basic research projects.

Multidisciplinary Antenatal Diagnosis And Management (M.A.D.A.M.)

M.A.D.A.M. is a program for the diagnosis and treatment of fetal anomalies, in concert with the division of maternal-fetal medicine at Women & Infants' Hospital, the department of pediatrics and its division of neonatology, and many other medical and surgical specialties. This university-wide initiative is represented at the Alpert Medical School level as the program in fetal medicine.

Management of Short Bowel Syndrome

Arlet Kurkchubasche, MD and Neil Ead, nurse practicioner, have developed a treatment program for infants and children who have either been born with only a small amount of small bowel, or who have lost the function of a significant amount of bowel due to illness. With appropriate nutritional and other therapy, and with the input of other pediatric specialists, many of these children can eventually tolerate a full diet and can be weaned off parenteral nutrition (i.e., intravenous nutrition).

Tracheal Reconstruction

Congenital and acquired malformations of the trachea (windpipe) often require complex techniques and a multidisciplinary approach. Thomas Tracy, MD has established a tracheal reconstruction program at Hasbro Children's Hospital in collaboration with Sharon Gibson, MD, pediatric otorhinolaryngologist (ENT-specialist).

Fetal Treatment Program

Surgical intervention on the unborn child is an approach for the treatment of certain fetal conditions. The Fetal Treatment Program, addresses several fetal conditions including twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, gastroschisis, omphalocele and more.

Pectus Carinatum and Pectus Excavatum

Thomas Tracy, MD and Arlet Kurkchubasche, MD have a special interest in chest wall deformities and their management. They have a specialized clinic and work closely with other physicians, such as pulmonary, cardiac and imaging specialists.

Vascular Anomalies Clinic

We also offer a multidisciplinary approach to complex vascular and lymphatic malformations (commonly known as hemangiomas, cystic hygromas, lymphangiomas, vascular malformations, venous malformations or cavernous hemangiomas). The team is composed of pediatric surgeons (Christopher Muratore, MD and Thomas Tracy, MD), a pediatric plastic surgeon (Stephen Sullivan, MD and Helena Taylor MD, PhD ) and an interventional radiologist (Gregory Soares, MD). Patients can undergo a variety of treatments, ranging from close observation (if the lesion is expected to go away over time) to radiologic, minimally invasive surgery or surgical intervention.