Children born with cloacal malformations face many medical challenges beyond surgery. One major concern is kidney health, which may not always be obvious at first. In a recent study published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology, experts at Children’s National Hospital found that many of these children show early signs of kidney problems, often related to abnormalities in the kidneys or urinary tract that are present from birth.
How does this work move the field forward?
In the past, doctors did not fully understand why some children with cloaca develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). Earlier studies showed that about 6% of children with complex cloaca needed a kidney transplant by around age 10, but the exact cause of their kidney problems was unclear.
“Our study shows that some kidney damage in children with cloaca actually begins before birth and is linked to problems in the kidneys or urinary tract that are present from the start,” said Briony Varda, MD, MPH, urologist in the Division of Urology and the Division of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Children’s National. “This early damage may reduce a child’s kidney reserve, but it may not show up on common blood tests like serum creatinine.”
By using newer, more accurate ways to measure kidney function, such as the CKID U25 GFR formula, researchers were able to detect hidden kidney problems that standard tests might miss. This helps doctors identify at-risk children earlier and take steps to protect their kidney health over time.
What did you find that excites you?
The study found that children with cloacal anomalies can have kidney problems from birth, even when routine tests look normal.
“These findings raise important questions for care,” Dr. Varda said. “Can careful management slow kidney damage, or is it set before birth? How will these early kidney issues affect patients as they grow?”
Understanding these answers could help doctors plan better long-term care and protect kidney health throughout childhood and beyond.
How is Children’s National leading in this space?
Children’s National has performed more primary cloaca repairs than any other hospital in the U.S. over the past five years, according to national data.
“Our team works closely in the operating room and with many specialists outside the OR,” Dr. Varda said. “For this study, our kidney expert, Melissa Meyers, MD, contributed her guidance. Since 2020, we’ve also maintained a careful database that tracks outcomes for this rare condition. This work helps us learn and improve care for every patient.”
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cloacal-malformation-feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2026-02-25 11:34:202026-02-25 11:36:26New study reveals hidden kidney dysfunction in children with cloacal malformations
Two simple ultrasound measurements can help doctors better spot kidney blockages in children and reduce the need for radiation tests.
Kidney blockages in children, often caused by ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), can be hard to diagnose. These blockages can lead to hydronephrosis, or swelling of the kidney, which can damage kidney function if not found early.
The most accurate test, called a MAG3 scan, shows how well the kidney works and drains urine. However, this test uses radiation and requires an IV. For that reason, doctors often use ultrasound first since it is safe and does not use radiation. The challenge is that reading ultrasounds to judge how serious the swelling is can be unclear and based on opinion.
Doctors use grading systems to describe the severity of hydronephrosis, or kidney swelling. These systems often depend on whether the kidney tissue appears “thin.” The problem is that there is no clear rule for what “thin” actually means. As a result, different doctors may describe the same ultrasound differently, which can make it harder to decide which children need more testing.
How does this work move the field forward?
In this study, Dr. Krill and his team found that two ultrasound measurements —the width of the kidney’s central area (renal pelvic diameter) and the thickness of the kidney tissue (renal parenchymal thickness) — were linked to signs of blockage seen on a MAG3 scan.
Researchers looked at whether different radiologists would get the same results when making these measurements. They found very strong agreement between doctors, even when they used slightly different ways to find the thinnest part of the kidney tissue.
“We’ve relied on visual grading for years,” Dr. Krill said. “We wanted to see if we could use clear measurements that are repeatable and directly connected to how the kidney is functioning.”
The results showed that these measurements are reliable and can be standardized.
How will this work benefit patients?
Using these clear measurements can help doctors better identify which children with hydronephrosis are truly at risk for blockage. This means fewer children may need a MAG3 scan if their ultrasound measurements show they are low risk. At the same time, children who are at higher risk for blockage can be identified sooner. This approach supports safer, more personalized care.
How is Children’s National leading in this space?
Children’s National is one of the first groups to connect clear ultrasound measurements with objective results from MAG3 scans. By combining these pieces, the team is helping move care away from opinion-based grading and toward more consistent, measurement-based decision-making. This work supports smarter testing and more tailored follow-up for each child.
The cover of Pediatric Colorectal Conundrums, Case Studies: From Fundamental to Advanced.
A new textbook, Pediatric Colorectal Conundrums, Case Studies: From Fundamental to Advanced, authored by Marc Levitt, MD, chief of the Division of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Children’s National Hospital, is now available. The publication marks Dr. Levitt’s sixth textbook and brings together global expertise to guide clinicians through the full spectrum of pediatric colorectal and pelvic reconstructive conditions. He is joined by co-authors Thomas Xu, a fellow in colorectal surgery at Children’s National, and Hussein Wissanji, who runs the colorectal program at the Montreal Children’s Hospital
What is it?
Through a case-based format, the book reflects the real-world experiences of contributors from around the world and emphasizes practical decision-making, functional outcomes and long-term quality of life for patients. Illustrated and complemented by online resources, the text serves as both a foundational reference and an advanced clinical guide.
The cases originated from a weekly quiz that Dr. Levitt distributed to colleagues around the world during the pandemic. Each Monday, a new case would arrive via email, inviting surgeons to submit their diagnoses and management plans, with the correct answer shared the following week.
At a time when COVID-19 halted in-person meetings and disrupted traditional academic forums, this initiative helped sustain meaningful exchange and professional connection. It was from this highly engaged, global series that the concept for the book ultimately emerged.
The first section provides guidance on the evaluation and management of core conditions, including:
Male and female anorectal malformations
Cloaca
Hirschsprung disease
Functional constipation
The second section moves into challenging and nuanced scenarios, offering alternative strategies for complex presentations and complications. Topics include:
Advanced anorectal malformation cases and surgical approaches
Cloaca case variations
Complications of Malone appendicostomy
Difficult Hirschsprung disease cases
Colonic motility disorders
Miscellaneous colorectal diseases such as atresias, duplications, prolapse, volvulus and urogenital sinus conditions
Why it matters
Children with anorectal malformations, cloaca, Hirschsprung disease, fecal incontinence and colonic motility disorders often require coordinated, lifelong care from multidisciplinary teams. This textbook underscores the collaborative nature of pediatric colorectal and pelvic reconstruction, highlighting the roles of colorectal surgery, urology, gynecology, gastroenterology motility, orthopedics, neurosurgery, physiotherapy, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, psychology, social work, nutrition and nursing.
By pairing foundational instruction with advanced case discussions, the book aims to standardize and elevate care worldwide, helping clinicians approach both common and rare scenarios with greater confidence and clarity.
A leader in pediatric colorectal surgery
Dr. Levitt is a world-renowned pediatric colorectal surgeon with expertise in treating the full spectrum of pediatric colorectal conditions. Over the course of his career, he has performed more than 15,000 surgeries – more pediatric colorectal operations than any other surgeon worldwide. In the past 25 years, his experience includes more than 2,500 posterior sagittal anorectoplasties, 1,000 cloacal reconstructions, over 1,000 Hirschsprung pull-through surgeries and more than 500 Malone appendicostomies.
Through this sixth textbook, Dr. Levitt continues his longstanding commitment to education and global knowledge sharing, equipping surgeons and multidisciplinary care teams with practical tools and real-world insights to improve outcomes for children everywhere.
Faster diagnosis means a better chance to save the testicle.
A new multicenter study published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology used data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIPP) Testicular Torsion Collaborative across 29 hospitals. It examined which care processes help children with testicular torsion receive faster diagnosis and treatment. The study, co-authored by Hans Pohl, MD, chief of Urology at Children’s National Hospital, included 1,007 patients and focused on identifying system-level practices that could reduce delays in diagnosis for this time-sensitive emergency.
What’s been the holdup in the field?
Progress in testicular torsion care has been slow for several reasons. The condition is rare but serious, making it hard for single hospitals to study outcomes in large numbers. Care is also spread across emergency medicine, radiology, surgery and urology, which can lead to delays driven by system issues rather than clinical decisions. There has been no widely used, standardized care pathway, such as routine Testicular Workup for Ischemia and Suspected Torsion (TWIST) scoring or clear imaging rules. Until recently, the field lacked a national system to collect time-based data and link it to changeable care processes. The NSQIPP Testicular Torsion Collaborative now helps close these gaps.
How will this work benefit patients?
Faster diagnosis means a better chance to save the testicle. Standardized pathways reduce delays, uncertainty and variation in care. Over time, this can lead to fewer unnecessary orchiectomies and better physical and emotional outcomes for children, regardless of where care begins.
How does this work move the field forward?
Hospitals using standardized evaluation protocols and the TWIST score reached ultrasound significantly faster. Free-standing children’s hospitals and American College of Surgeons (ACS) Children’s Surgery–verified institutions also showed better timeliness. Nearly half of patients were transferred from another facility. The overall orchiectomy rate was 15.8% and did not differ by hospital type or care process. These findings suggest that specific protocols and hospital structures can meaningfully speed diagnosis, even when removal rates are similar.
Beyond these results, this study shifts torsion care toward data-driven improvement. By using national process measures, it identifies practical steps — like standardized pathways and TWIST scoring — that speed diagnosis and provide clear benchmarks for hospitals. The NSQIP Testicular Torsion Collaborative also creates a lasting framework to test, share, and scale improvements across institutions.
What did you find that excites you?
“What stood out to me most was how quickly children’s hospitals and ACS-verified centers were able to move once the patient arrived, even when that child was transferred from another facility. It shows how much system readiness and clear pathways matter in an emergency like testicular torsion,” said Dr. Pohl.
Additional authors from Children’s National include: Shane Battie, Tonya D. Davis and Jacqueline Saito, MD.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/boy-with-lower-abdomen-pain-feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2026-02-13 13:41:152026-02-13 13:42:39Faster care for pediatric testicular torsion
Children’s National is ranked one of the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Our faculty and staff are proud of the impact made on the lives of children and families in our community. Your participation in the U.S. News & World Report annual reputational survey validates the quality of care we provide and reflects the mutual respect and trust we share as healthcare professionals.
How to determine your voting eligibility
Voting for the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings can be done only through Doximity.
To participate, physicians must:
Be board-certified and meet the eligibility criteria for the voting categories.
For child and adolescent psychologists, your account must be up to date with your specialty and subspecialty correctly marked.
Be a credential-verified member of Doximity (you must have an active and claimed Doximity profile).
Have all certifications and board documents currently up-to-date in your Doximity profile.
You have to claim your profile on Doximity.com to participate in the online survey. If you have not yet claimed your Doximity profile, go to Doximity.com, and click “Find My Profile.”
Once your profile has been claimed, you must confirm your email address and board certifications.
Verified Doximity members will receive an email inviting them to participate in the U.S. News survey.
For more information on how to claim your profile, visit Doximity.com
How to update and verify existing Doximity account information
Your Doximity profile must have up-to-date licenses, certifications and board documents.
Once you are logged in, your profile will automatically be in “Edit Mode.” You are able to add new items or edit existing information.
Update your Doximity profile and ensure your information is current.
Once registered, users wishing to participate in the online survey should:
Watch for an email from Doximity about the annual member survey.
Even if you don’t see the email, if you are a registered Doximity user, you can still vote by logging in to Doximity.com with your username and password during the voting period.
Once logged in, look for a U.S. News graphic or button on the homepage and click on it.
The survey asks users to name the hospitals that provide the best care in your respective specialty, without consideration to location or cost. Pediatric specialists will list 10 hospitals. The order in which you list the hospitals does not matter.
Please note: Children’s National Hospital is listed as “Children’s National Hospital Washington, DC” on the survey.
Visit Doximity’s FAQs if you have issues or questions about registration or claiming your profile.
How to cast your vote
In February 2026 when voting opens, all survey-eligible physicians will receive a notification on the Doximity app for Android or iOS. If you do not use the Doximity app, you will receive an email when voting opens.
Log in to your Doximity account at doximity.com or via the mobile app.
Click the Notifications icon or tap the “Submit your Nominations” button on the homepage. You can also search for “U.S. News Best Hospitals”
Select 10 hospitals in your respective specialty that you believe provide the best care in the United States.
Submit your vote
Having technical issues?
If you have difficulty registering with Doximity or completing the survey, please visit Doximity support for assistance.
Vote
The 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals reputation voting will open in mid-February. Look for your Doximity notification to vote.
In 2025, Innovation District readers gravitated toward stories that explored how research and clinical innovation are reshaping pediatric care in real time. This year’s most popular articles highlighted advances in complex surgical care, evidence-based treatments for chronic and neuropsychiatric conditions and emerging technologies — from wearable data to artificial intelligence — that are changing how clinicians diagnose, treat and support children and families. Read on for our list of the most popular articles we published on Innovation District in 2025.
The Cervical Spine program at Children’s National Hospital is responsible for treating a range of conditions, including trauma, congenital abnormalities and tumors. These conditions can lead to instability or misalignment of the cervical spine. “There are unique challenges in pediatric cases due to anatomical differences. The cervical spines of children are more at risk for injury because of their developmental stage and structural characteristics,” says Matthew Oetgen, MD, MBA, chief of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at Children’s National. (2 min. read)
Increasing evidence-based treatment is a key component of the Addictions Program at Children’s National Hospital, created in 2022 and led by Sivabalaji Kaliamurthy, MD. “We really want to focus on intervening in an evidence-based manner in the primary care setting because that is where most of our patients are going to first access care outside of the emergency room,” explains Dr. Kaliamurthy. (3 min. read)
For many children with short stature and other rare genetic growth disorders, there have been no next steps after usual treatment options prove ineffective. Researchers at Children’s National Hospital are digging deeper to find the root genetic causes of short stature disorders and creating novel, nuanced treatment options that have the opportunity to change how the field approaches these cases. (4 min. read)
Denver D. Brown, MD, nephrologist at Children’s National, is looking at whether untreated metabolic acidosis could potentially contribute to cardiovascular outcomes in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here, she explains her motivation, findings and future directions for this critical research. (3 min. read)
A multidisciplinary therapy model developed at Children’s National shows promise for children with PANS and PANDAS, significantly reducing symptoms through structured cognitive-behavioral therapy and family-centered care. The approach could offer a new standard for treating these rare, complex neuropsychiatric disorders. (2 min. read)
A study from Children’s National reveals that common wearable devices like Fitbits may hold the key to improving how we identify Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents. By analyzing patterns in heart rate, activity levels and energy expenditure, researchers were able to predict ADHD diagnoses with striking accuracy, offering a glimpse into a future where objective, real-time data supports earlier and more personalized mental healthcare. (2 min. read)
A novel implantable pacemaker designed specifically for infants has demonstrated safety and effectiveness in stabilizing heart rhythms for at least two years. The multi-center study of 29 infants showed stable pacing, normal electrical parameters and expected battery life, offering a viable alternative to standard-size devices for the smallest children. (2 min. read)
Children who had heart surgery and come from less advantaged neighborhoods in the Washington, D.C., region are much more likely to die in the long term than those from neighborhoods with more wealth and opportunity. The finding was part of a presentation titled, Socioeconomic Disadvantage Is Associated with Higher Long-Term Mortality After Cardiac Surgery, by Jennifer Klein, MD, MPH, cardiologist at Children’s National Hospital, during the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. (2 min. read)
Experts from Children’s National traveled to Uganda to continue work on a pilot program applying artificial intelligence (AI) to the diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The team created a tool that uses AI to predict RHD by identifying leaky heart valves on handheld ultrasound devices, then prompts a referral for a full echocardiogram. (2 min. read)
Food insecurity is rising in Washington, D.C. and it’s hitting families with children the hardest. That’s why Children’s National Hospital created the Family Lifestyle Program (FLiP) – a multi-layered intervention, which offers Patient Navigation (FLiP-PN) and a Produce Prescription Intervention (FLiPRx). FLiP is a Food Is Medicine, clinical-community initiative that helps families get access to fresh food, build healthy habits and lower their risk of diet-related diseases like diabetes and obesity. (3 min. read)
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-with-lightbulb-CNRI.jpg385685Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-12-24 15:07:522025-12-24 16:43:36The best of 2025 from Innovation District
In 2025, Children’s National Hospital was featured in major national news outlets for pioneering advances in pediatric care, groundbreaking clinical research and powerful human stories of healing and hope. From gene therapy for sickle cell disease and innovative pacemakers for newborns to breakthrough transplants, cancer trials and emerging mental health concerns like AI psychosis, these stories highlight the hospital’s leadership across the full spectrum of pediatric medicine. The following ten highlights showcase the patients, families and experts behind this impact, as reported by outlets including NBC News, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, USA Today, Healio, ABC News and ESPN.
Children’s National patient Wedam, 19, begins the first steps for intensive gene therapy for sickle cell disease, discussing his skepticism while his mother expresses her joy and gratitude for the treatment. (NBC News)
Charles Berul, MD, pediatric electrophysiologist and emeritus chief of Cardiology, discusses his study highlighting the safety and efficacy of an innovative smaller pacemaker designed for newborns with critical congenital heart disease. (Healio)
Catherine Bollard, MBChB, MD, senior vice president and chief research officer, and the NexTGen team are poised to recruit patients for a new clinical trial that will take on an old, implacable foe: children’s solid tumors. (The Washington Post)
Yves d’Udekem, MD, PhD, chief of Cardiac Surgery, talked to Good Morning America about how an 11-year-old’s groundbreaking partial heart transplant will change his life and the lives of other children in need of valve replacements. (Good Morning America)
The Lilabean Foundation along with Brian Rood, MD, medical director of the Brain Tumor Institute, talked about how patients like Kasey Zachman are the motivation behind finding a cure for brain cancer. (ABC News)
USA Today Sports spoke with Gavin Brown and his parents, as well as Yi Shi, MD, a pediatric nephrologist at Children’s National Hospital, about their kidney transplant journey. (USA Today)
After Jayden Daniels visited Commanders fan Sarah Addison at Children’s National Hospital while she was being treated for myeloid leukemia, they quickly became friends. (ESPN)
A baby boy in Maryland is back home after being given a second chance at life, just before his first birthday. The boy’s mother and his surgeon, Manan Desai, MD, share the remarkable story of a moment that changed all of their lives. (NBC4)
Ashley Maxie-Moreman, PhD, clinical psychologist, spoke to ABC7 about what AI psychosis is and what parents need to know. (ABC7)
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Logo-Collage-2025-feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-12-23 13:53:592025-12-31 09:09:17Children’s National in the News: 2025
Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., was ranked as a top hospital in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings. This marks the ninth straight year Children’s National has made the Honor Roll list. The Honor Roll is a distinction awarded to only 10 children’s hospitals nationwide.
For the fifteenth straight year, Children’s National ranked in 10 specialty services and is the highest U.S. News ranked children’s hospital in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Last year, U.S. News introduced pediatric & adolescent behavioral health as a service line in its rankings. While there are no ordinal rankings for behavioral health, the Children’s National program was named one of the top 50 programs in the country for the second year in a row.
“To be named among the nation’s top children’s hospitals for nine years in a row is a reflection of the extraordinary expertise, innovation and heart that our teams bring to every child and family we serve,” said Michelle Riley-Brown, MHA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Children’s National. “Our leadership in specialties like neurology, cancer, and diabetes and endocrinology underscores the national impact of our work, and we remain focused on setting new standards in pediatric care.”
The annual rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals and recognizes the nation’s top 50 pediatric hospitals based on a scoring system developed by U.S. News.
“Being a top-ranked pediatric hospital means more than just excelling in a single specialty — it means being a pillar of outstanding care for your entire region,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “Our rankings acknowledge these hospitals for their comprehensive excellence, helping families find the very best care conveniently located within their state and community.”
The bulk of the score for each specialty service is based on quality and outcomes data. The process includes a survey of relevant specialists across the country, who are asked to list hospitals they believe provide the best care for patients with the most complex conditions.
The Children’s National specialty services that U.S. News ranked in the top 10 nationally are:
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/USNWR_CNBadges_Set2SideBySide_2025-26-CNRI.jpg385685Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-10-07 01:00:072026-01-05 17:33:17Children’s National Hospital once again ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report
A visual summary of the study’s key findings shows how switching from text reminders to personal calls reduced MCOs in patients with spina bifida, highlighting the importance of tailoring outreach methods based on diagnosis.
A prospective quality improvement study published in the Journal of Pediatrics from the Division of Urology and Spina Bifida Program at Children’s National Hospital reveals a 29% missed care opportunity (MCO) rate in pediatric urodynamics (UDS), with the highest rates seen in patients with spina bifida. Led by a multidisciplinary team, the research tracked 877 scheduled UDS appointments between 2022 and 2024, identifying key patterns that impact care access in this high-risk population.
The study found that patients with spina bifida were especially sensitive to the type of appointment reminder they received. Automated text messages were associated with significantly higher rates of missed care, while human phone calls improved attendance. In response to these findings, the team has implemented targeted reminder strategies and other quality improvement (QI) interventions to reduce MCOs.
What it means
This prospective, condition-specific QI effort aimed to pinpoint not just how often appointments are missed in pediatric urodynamics, but why. Most healthcare systems use standardized reminder systems that don’t account for condition-specific or population-specific differences. This study is one of the first to show how patients with spina bifida – who often require ongoing, multidisciplinary care – respond differently to outreach methods than other patient groups.
By moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and identifying the nuanced needs of this population, Children’s National is creating more equitable and effective models of patient engagement.
Why it matters
Missed diagnostic appointments can delay care and increase health risks, particularly in medically complex patients. For children with spina bifida, delays in urodynamic testing can lead to late identification of neurogenic bladder complications, increasing the risk of kidney damage or infection.
“What excites us most is to find that a relatively simple change, switching from automated texts to human phone calls, had a measurable impact on reducing missed care, especially in patients with spina bifida. It showed that small, thoughtful adjustments based on real data can lead to meaningful improvements in access and outcomes for vulnerable patients,” says Kaitlin Scarpaci, DNP, nurse practitioner and advanced practice clinical manager of the Division of Urology at Children’s National Hospital.
How Children’s National is leading
Children’s National is at the forefront of patient-centered quality improvement in pediatric urology. Through close collaboration among advanced practice providers (APPs), physicians and researchers, the institution is actively shaping new care models that reflect the unique needs of medically complex children.
This work builds on the strength of the nationally ranked Urology division and the nationally recognized Spina Bifida Program – both of which are dedicated to ensuring that innovation translates directly into improved care delivery. By investing in prospective data infrastructure and interdisciplinary QI methodology, Children’s National continues to lead the field in actionable, diagnosis-specific solutions.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/spina-bifida-feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-08-28 16:37:372025-08-28 16:42:06Study highlights need for targeted interventions to reduce missed care in pediatric urodynamics
Dr. Levitt mentoring surgeons from 14 African countries on a complex colorectal operation.
At the 14th Congress of the Pan-African Pediatric Surgery Association (PAPSA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Marc Levitt, MD, chief of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Children’s National Hospital, was invited to deliver one of the primary courses, a rare honor reserved for leaders in the field. Held only once every 2 years, the PAPSA meeting draws more than 300 pediatric surgeons from across Africa, making it the continent’s most significant gathering dedicated to pediatric surgery. Dr. Levitt’s role in the event highlights both his global expertise and the ongoing commitment of Children’s National to advancing pediatric surgical care and education in low- and middle-income countries.
Just prior to the congress, Dr. Levitt and his organization, Colorectal Team Overseas, led an international team of surgeons in partnership with the local surgical team to care for 17 children from Côte d’Ivoire and several neighboring countries with complex colorectal conditions. These conditions included anorectal malformations, cloaca and Hirschsprung’s disease, which can severely affect quality of life if untreated. Founded by Dr. Levitt, Colorectal Team Overseas advances global pediatric surgical care through education and hands-on training, extending the expertise of Children’s National to children around the world. Joining him on the mission were colorectal surgeon Andrea Badillo, MD, and surgical technician Guy Ozigre, both from Children’s National. The course also welcomed pediatric surgeons from 14 African nations, promoting collaboration and skill-building.
A busy clinic in preparation of the operating room days.
Among the many teaching highlights was the first-ever perineal body preserving posterior sagittal anorectoplasty performed in Western Africa, a technique pioneered at Children’s National. “These are life-changing procedures, and it was a privilege to perform them with such dedicated teams, who were so eager to learn,” said Dr. Levitt. “The hospital’s facilities were excellent, and the professionalism and warmth of the Ivorian teams made this an unforgettable experience.”
The workshops and surgeries, hosted at the Mother-Child Hospital Dominique Ouattara in Bingerville, reflected PAPSA’s core mission: to treat, train and transmit. With pediatric surgical needs continuing to outpace available expertise in many African countries, initiatives like this one are vital to training local specialists and developing sustainable care, according to the host and chief of pediatric surgery, Rouma Bankole, MD.
“Sharing knowledge and training the next generation of pediatric surgeons is the key to improving outcomes globally,” said Dr. Levitt.
Dr. Levitt and Colorectal Team Overseas with the local surgeons from Cote D’Ivoire
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Colorectal-Team-Feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-07-10 12:37:582025-07-10 12:38:28Advancing global surgical care: Children’s National colorectal team at PAPSA 2025
Members of the Division of Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstruction at Children’s National Hospital recently traveled to Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the goal of advancing surgical care for children with complex colorectal conditions. Led by Division Chief Marc Levitt, MD, the team collaborated closely with surgeons and nurses at Hospital Municipal Infantil Menino Jesus, performing multiple intricate procedures each day and giving a course to 120+ surgeons from all over Brazil and several surrounding countries. The operations performed and the education that was provided not only gave life-changing care to children in need but also served as critical teaching opportunities, equipping local surgical teams with the skills and knowledge to deliver specialized care in their own communities. In this way, the team from Children’s National is helping countless children they will never meet, as their new partners in Brazil now have the skills to care for them
This mission was organized through Colorectal Team Overseas, an organization founded and led by Dr. Levitt to advance global pediatric surgical care through education and hands-on training. Colorectal Team Overseas gives Dr. Levitt the opportunity to extend the world-class care delivered at Children’s National to children around the world.
“Every child deserves a chance at a healthy, dignified life, no matter where they are born,” says Dr. Levitt. “On these missions, doctors, nurses and volunteers from the colorectal program at Children’s National and colleagues from around the world work hand-in-hand with medical teams in Brazil — not only to provide surgical care, but to teach, learn and build a foundation for a lasting impact. We are not just performing surgeries; we are restoring futures, together.”
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CTO-in-Brazil-feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-05-16 14:17:542025-05-16 14:22:30Colorectal care across borders: expanding access through global collaboration
Children’s National Hospital hosted its fifteenth annual Research, Education and Innovation Week from March 31–April 4, 2025, bringing together clinicians, scientists, educators and innovators from across the institution to celebrate discovery and collaboration. This year’s theme, “Empowering the Future in Pediatric Research and Innovation with Equity, Technology and a Global Reach,” served as a call to action for advancing science that improves child health both locally and around the world.
Each day of the week-long event featured thought-provoking lectures — now available to watch — dynamic panel discussions, interactive workshops and vibrant poster sessions, all highlighting the diverse and interdisciplinary work taking place across Children’s National.
Centering the patient and the planet
REI Week began on Monday with a powerful keynote lecture from Lynn R. Goldman, MD, MS, MPH, Michael and Lori Milken dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. In her talk, “Children: Uniquely vulnerable to climate-related threats,” Dr. Goldman underscored the urgent need to protect children from the environmental hazards of a changing climate and to integrate climate science into pediatric care and advocacy.
At mid-morning, Mary-Anne “Annie” Hartley, MD, PhD, MPH, director of the LiGHT Laboratory at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, introduced the “MOOVE” platform — Massive Open Online Validation and Evaluation of clinical LLMs. Her talk demonstrated how artificial intelligence, when rigorously validated, has the potential to transform clinical decision-making and global health equity.
Monday’s final keynote, “Zinc and childhood diarrhea,” was presented by Christopher Duggan, MD, MPH, director of the Division of Nutrition at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Duggan highlighted the global health impact of zinc supplementation in reducing childhood mortality — a reminder that simple, evidence-based interventions can save millions of lives.
In that first day, the first poster session of the week showcased projects in adolescent medicine, global health, infectious diseases, oncology and more. The session reflected the full breadth of research taking place across Children’s National.
Ambroise Wonkam, MD, PhD, professor of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins University, then delivered Tuesday’s Global Health Keynote Lecture, “Harnessing our common African genomes to improve health and equity globally.” His work affirmed that inclusive genomics is key to building a healthier world.
Later, the Global Health Initiative event and GCAF Faculty Seminar encouraged attendees to pursue collaborative opportunities at home and abroad, reflecting the growing global footprint of Children’s National research programs.
Transforming education and care delivery
On Wednesday, Larrie Greenberg, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics, kicked off the day with a Grand Rounds keynote on educational transformation: “Shouldn’t teachers be more collaborative with their learners?” He followed with a CAPE workshop exploring the effectiveness of case-based learning.
In the Jill Joseph Grand Rounds Lecture, Deena J. Chisolm, PhD, director of the Center for Child Health Equity at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, challenged attendees to move beyond dialogue into action in her talk, “Health equity: A scream to a whisper?,” reminding researchers and clinicians that advocacy and equity must be foundational to care.
The day continued with a poster session spotlighting medical education, neonatology, urology and neuroscience, among other fields.
Posters and pathways to progress
Throughout the week, poster sessions highlighted cutting-edge work across dozens of pediatric disciplines. These sessions gave attendees the opportunity to engage directly with investigators and reflect on the shared mission of discovery across multiple disciplines, including:
The REI Week 2025 Awards Ceremony celebrated outstanding contributions in research, mentorship, education and innovation. The winners in each category were:
POSTER SESSION AWARDS
Basic & Translational Research
Faculty: Benjamin Liu, PhD
“Genetic Conservation and Diversity of SARS-CoV-2 Envelope Gene Across Variants of Concern”
Faculty: Steve Hui, PhD
“Brain Metabolites in Neonates of Mothers with COVID-19 Infection During Pregnancy”
Faculty: Raj Shekhar, PhD
“StrepApp: Deep Learning-Based Identification of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Pharyngitis”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Dae-young Kim, PhD
“mhGPT: A Lightweight Domain-Specific Language Model for Mental Health Analysis”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Leandros Boukas, MD, PhD
“De Novo Variant Identification From Duo Long-Read Sequencing: Improving Equitable Variant Interpretation for Diverse Family Structures”
Staff: Naseem Maghzian
“Adoptive T Lymphocyte Administration for Chronic Norovirus Treatment in Immunocompromised Hosts (ATLANTIC)”
Graduate Students: Abigail Haffey
“Synergistic Integration of TCR and CAR T Cell Platforms for Enhanced Adoptive Immunotherapy in Brain Tumors”
High School/Undergraduate Students: Medha Pappula
“An ADHD Diagnostic Interface Based on EEG Spectrograms and Deep Learning Techniques”
Clinical Research
Faculty: Folasade Ogunlesi, MD
“Poor Air Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa is Associated with Increase Health Care Utilization for Pain in Sickle Cell Disease Patients”
Faculty: Ayman Saleh, MD
“Growth Parameters and Treatment Approaches in Pediatric ADHD: Examining Differences Across Race”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Nicholas Dimenstein, MD, MPH
“Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Eligibility in the Pediatric Emergency Department”
Staff: Tayla Smith, MPH
“The Public Health Impact of State-Level Abortion and Firearm Laws on Health Outcomes”
Graduate Students: Natalie Ewing
“Patterns of Bacteriuria and Antimicrobial Resistance in Patients Presenting for Primary Cloacal Repair: Is Assisted Bladder Emptying Associated with Bacteriuria?”
Graduate Students: Manuela Iglesias, MS
“Exploring the Relationship Between Child Opportunity Index and Bayley-III Scores in Young Children”
High School/Undergraduate Students: Nicholas Lohman
“Preliminary Findings: The Efficacy, Feasibility and Acceptability of Group Videoconference Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention for Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Among Children and Young People”
Community-Based Research
Faculty: Sharon Shih, PhD “Assessing Pediatric Behavioral Health Access in DC using Secret Shopper Methodology”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Georgios Sanidas, MD “Arrested Neuronal Maturation and Development in the Cerebellum of Preterm Infants”
Staff: Sanam Parwani
“Intersectionality of Gender and Sexuality Diversity in Autistic and Non-Autistic Individuals”
Graduate Student: Margaret Dearey “Assessing the Burden of Period Poverty for Youth and Adolescents in Washington, DC: A Pilot Study”
Quality and Performance Improvement
Faculty: Nichole L. McCollum, MD
“A Quality Improvement Study to Increase Nurse Initiated Care from Triage and Improve Timeliness to Care”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Hannah Rodriguez, MD
“Reducing Unnecessary Antibiotic Use in a Level IV NICU”
Staff: Amber K. Shojaie, OTD, OTR/L
“Implementing Dynamic Axilla Splints in a Large Burn Patient”
Meleah Boyle, PhD, MPH
“Understanding and Addressing Environmental Sustainability to Protect the Health of the Children’s National and Global Communities”
Eiman Abdulrahman, MD
“Research Capacity Building to Improve Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care in Ethiopia”
Pilot Awards
Alexander Andrews, MD
“EEG as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker in Severe Pediatric Malaria, Blantyre Malawi”
Daniel Donoho, MD & Timothy Singer, MD
“Feasibility Study of a Novel Artificial Intelligence-Based Educational Platform to Improve Neurosurgical Operative Skills in Tanzania”
Hasan Syed, MD
“Bridging the Gap an Educational Needs Assessment for Pediatric Neurosurgery Training in Pakistan”
Sofia Perazzo, MD & Lamia Soghier, MD, MEd, MBA
“QI Mentorship to Improve Pediatric Screening and Follow-up in Rural Argentina”
Benjamin Liu, PhD
“AI-Empowered Real-Time Sequencing Assay for Rapid Detection of Schistosomiasis in Senegal”
Rae Mittal, MD
“Assessment and Enhancement of Proficiency in Emergency Child Neurology Topics for Post-Graduate Emergency Medicine Trainees in India”
Innovation Day ignites bold thinking
Thursday, REI Week shifted to the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus for Innovation Day, a celebration of how bold ideas and collaborative culture can accelerate progress in pediatric medicine.
REI Week 2025 reaffirmed the values that define Children’s National: a commitment to excellence, collaboration and equity in pediatric research and care. As discoveries continue to emerge from our hospital and our research campuses, the connections built and ideas sparked during this week will help shape the future of pediatric health — locally and globally.
By elevating voices from the bedside to the bench, with the support of the executive sponsors Nathan Kuppermann, MD, MBChB, Catherine Bollard, MBChB, MD, Kerstin Hildebrandt, MSHS, Linda Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC and David Wessel, MD, REI Week demonstrated that we must embrace the community in all aspects of our work. Because we know that there are answers we can only get from the patients that we serve—and we need to be their voice.
Research, Education & Innovation Week will be back next year on April 13-17, 2026.
Posters at the REI Week 2025 Monday, March 31 poster session.
Panelists discuss innovation during REI Week 2025.
Global Health Initiative community engagement event during REI Week 2025.
Chris Rees presents his REI Week 2025 lecture.
Nathan Kuppermann listens to a presenter during the REI Week 2025 Tuesday, April 1, poster session.
Michelle Riley-Brown, Nathan Kuppermann, Catherine Bollard and Naomi Luban on stage during the REI Week 2025 awards ceremony.
Brandy Salmon presents on innovation programs at Virginia Tech during the REI Week 2025 Innovation Day.
Catherine Bollard listens to a presenter during the REI Week 2025 Monday, March 21 poster session.
Ambroise Wonkman poses for a picture with Children’s National staff.
Tanzeem Choudhury presenting during REI Week 2025.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/REI-Week-2025-Monday-Poster-Session-CNRI.jpg385685Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-04-22 10:31:052026-01-12 12:00:03REI Week 2025 empowers the future in pediatric research and innovation
A recent study from the Division of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Children’s National Hospital, led by Chief Marc Levitt, MD, explores the prevalence of additional abnormalities in children born with anorectal malformations (ARM). While many of these abnormalities co-occur, including vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula or esophageal atresia, renal defects and limb defects, known as the VACTERL association, the study reveals that some critical anomalies, particularly spinal cord and gynecologic malformations, are often missed, an oversight that can significantly affect patient outcomes.
What it means
This multi-institutional retrospective study aimed to assess the effectiveness of current diagnostic criteria for VACTERL screening in ARM patients and to identify anomalies that are at risk of being overlooked. The researchers utilized data from the Pediatric Health Information Systems database, which includes over 100 children’s hospitals, to analyze a wide range of associated abnormalities in ARM across the United States.
The findings highlight that the most common anomalies in ARM patients include cardiac, vertebral/spinal, renal and gynecologic (in females). While many of these anomalies are diagnosed at birth, the study suggests that some are identified only later in a patient’s care, pointing to a gap in early screening, particularly for spinal cord and gynecologic issues.
Based on the study’s results, the authors propose an expansion of the VACTERL acronym to VACTE(G)RLS to stress the importance of gynecologic (G) and spinal cord anomalies (S) in ARM patients.
Based on the study’s results, the authors propose an expansion of the VACTERL acronym to VACTE(G)RLS to stress the importance of gynecologic (G) and spinal cord anomalies (S) in ARM patients. This expanded acronym would help ensure that both surgical and non-surgical providers are aware of these often-missed malformations, improving early diagnosis and intervention.
Why it matters
Although other studies have examined the prevalence of VACTERL anomalies in ARM patients, this is the first to compare diagnosis rates at birth with diagnoses made later during subsequent hospital admissions. Timely identification of these associated malformations is crucial for early intervention in females, as untreated gynecologic anomalies can lead to reproductive issues later in life and for patients with spinal conditions that require intervention.
The proposed change to the standard usage VACTERL acronym underscores the significance and frequency of these malformations happening in combination, potentially leading to improved screening protocols and, ultimately, better patient outcomes. By emphasizing the importance of comprehensive screening at birth, the study advocates for a more thorough approach to diagnosing ARM-associated anomalies, which can significantly enhance long-term care for these patients.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Young-Girl-Hematology-Patient-1.png300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-03-12 15:55:342025-03-20 11:34:47Study highlights need for improved screening in anorectal malformation patients
Before this study, little has been documented about how anorectal malformation type, sacral ratio, age and bowel regimen affect continence and quality of life.
A large, multi-institutional study including patient-reported outcomes for children who have anorectal malformations found that the type of malformation and whether a child is clean/continent and not soiling can have a significant impact on the assessment of a patient’s quality-of-life. The study also highlights that patients and their families seem to benefit from access to a specialized center offering multi-disciplinary care in a single location.
What it means
The study is one of the first to collect input from patients and their families at two multi-disciplinary centers for colorectal care. The authors, including Marc Levitt, MD, chief of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Children’s National Hospital, who collaborated with colleagues at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus and Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne Australia, sought to understand the impact of the anorectal malformation type and the development of the sacrum bone on continence outcomes in children. Additionally, the team aimed to compare continence outcomes by age group and determine the quality of life with different bowel regimens, including medications like laxatives or the use of enemas.
The researchers found that continence in patients taking laxatives to manage their bowels varied depending on the type of malformation, but that sacral ratio or a measure of the growth of a key pelvic bone correlating with pelvic floor development, did not seem to play a role in continence.
Additionally, patients (and patient families) had similar perceptions of their overall quality of life, as long as the child was clean/continent. Quality-of-life scores were lower, however, if a child was managed using enemas but continued to experience soiling/incontinence. This vital component was a measure of patient reported outcomes, or how the patient perceives their care is going.
Why it matters
Before this study, little has been documented about how anorectal malformation type, sacral ratio, age and bowel regimen affect continence and quality of life. For the first time, these reports are coming from the patient and family point of view. In their conclusion, the authors note that the study’s findings provide important discussion points for counseling patients on long term management strategies for children with anorectal malformations. The findings also identify new areas for research driven by what patients and their families report are most important.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Rectoperineal-fistula-feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-02-25 13:24:552025-02-25 13:26:50Patient-reported outcomes for children with anorectal malformation
Dr. Asa Yancey’s pioneering operation went unrecognized for over half a century due to discriminatory publishing practices in academic medicine.
A group of international pediatric colorectal surgery leaders called for the renaming of a surgical procedure for Hirschsprung disease after finding evidence that an African American surgeon, Asa Yancey, M.D., had pioneered the procedure 12 years before its’ current namesake, Franco Soave, M.D. Dr. Yancey was not recognized previously due to discriminatory practices in academic medical publishing.
What it means
A literature review published in the Journal of Surgical Research conducted by the American Pediatric Surgical Association Hirschsprung disease interest group, including Marc Levitt, M.D., chief of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Children’s National Hospital, identified that Dr. Yancey’s work describing pull-through of normal colon through a cuff of aganglionic colon as a treatment for Hirschsprung disease was published in 1952. The paper by Soave was published in 1962 and from that work, the “Soave” procedure bore his name.
The authors point out that Dr. Yancey’s pioneering operation went unrecognized for over half a century because of the discriminatory segregation in the publishing practices of academic medicine dating back to the 1950s.
Moving the field forward
Dr. Levitt and his colleagues in the interest group suggested active changes to give posthumous credit to Dr. Yancey, including renaming the procedure to the Yancey-Soave pull-through technique.
Together with Dr. Yancey’s family, including his children, three of whom are physicians, the interest group and other surgeons have started using the procedure’s new name in presentations, operative notes, articles and book chapters.
At the end of their literature review recommending the update, the authors wrote, “Posthumous acknowledgment of Yancey was long overdue but signifies improvements in the inclusion of underrepresented groups in academic medicine while simultaneously reminding physicians that there is still much work to be done.”
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Asa-Yancy-feature.jpg349284Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-01-06 16:18:252025-01-06 16:22:14Colorectal surgeons ensure recognition for surgical innovation of Dr. Asa Yancey
The Division of Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstruction team from Children’s National Hospital at the 2024 PLPLC Conference.
Medical professionals from across the world gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, for the 2024 Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction Conference. This esteemed course, hosted by the Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC), provided comprehensive educational experiences to those caring for children with colorectal and pelvic disorders.
Children’s National Hospital staff showcased their expertise by leading in-depth discussions, presenting accepted abstracts and designing course programming across multiple specialty areas while highlighting the program’s focus on collaborative care. Led by Chief Marc Levitt, M.D., the division of Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction is the first in the mid-Atlantic region to fully integrate surgery, urology, gynecology and gastroenterology into one cohesive program for children.
Andrea Badillo, M.D., Documentation Committee member, Education Committee member
Julie Choueiki, M.S.N., R.N., Allied Health Care Professionals Conference (AHCP) co-chair
Dr. Marc Levitt leads a hands-on simulation lab using validated surgical models for treating Anorectal Malformations and Hirschsprung Disease.
Invited speakers and topics:
Marc Levitt, M.D., Cloaca Advanced; Anorectal Malformations/Hirschsprung Disease Hands-On Course; Hirschsprung disease and Constipation
Briony Varda, M.D., M.P.H., Genitourinary Complications & Creative Solutions: A Case Based Discussion of Patients with ARM; Cloaca Basics; Challenging Case Presentations in Colorectal Care
Katherine Worst, N.P., CPNP-AC, Functional Constipation, Motility, Bowel Management Basics; Bowel Management of the Colorectal Patient Including Psychosocial Care and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy; Cloaca Review Session for Allied Health Care Professionals
Allison Mayhew, M.D., Genitourinary Complications & Creative Solutions: A Case Based Discussion of Patients with ARM; Advanced Cloaca; Cloaca Exstrophy, Gynecologic Evaluation and Follow Up
Andrea Badillo, M.D., Functional Constipation, Motility, Bowel Management Basics; Genitourinary Complications & Creative Solutions: A Case Based Discussion of Patients with ARM; Pediatric Colorectal Knowledge Competition at Course Conclusion
Christina Ho, M.D., Urological Care for the Colorectal Patient for Allied Health Care Professionals
Meghan Mesa, B.S.N., R.N., C.P.N., Performing Colorectal Clinic Skills for Allied Health Care Professionals
Justine Gagnon, B.S.N., R.N., Performing Colorectal Clinic Skills for Allied Health Care Professionals
Oral Plenary Scientific Session:
Thomas Xu, Hospital Volume and Region Associated with Variation in Vacterl Screening Among Newborns with Anorectal Malformation An Opportunity to Optimize Screening Practices
Kirsten Das, Gynecologic Anomalies in Patients with Anorectal Malformations and Associated Anomalies: A National Retrospective Cohort from 2016-2023
Eugénie Lehembre-Shiah, Cloacal Malformation And Mullerian Agenesis: Management Of The Gynecologic Reconstruction For This Rare Situation
Dr. Andrea Badillo on the panel for Functional Constipation, Motility, Bowel Management Basics.
Thomas Xu, Frequency of Vacte(G)Rls Associated Anomalies in Newborns with Anorectal Malformations Across Hospitals within the Pediatric Health Information Systems Database: Neonatal Diagnoses and Beyond; Malone Antegrade Continence Enema (Mace) – Reassessment of Complications with Advancements in Technique; Antegrade Continence Enemas for Patients with Spina Bifida to Treat Fecal Incontinence, a Comparison with Patients with Non-Neurogenic Causes
Kirsten Das, Predicting The Need For Vaginal Augmentation In Patients Undergoing Cloacal Reconstruction
As a globally recognized expert in enhancing care of children with colorectal and pelvic reconstructive needs, Dr. Levitt, , along with Alejandra Vilanova-Sanchez, M.D., edited the textbook Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. As part of his commitment to advancing education about colorectal surgery, Dr. Levitt provided a copy of the textbook to every conference attendee.
In 2024, Children’s National Hospital continued to make remarkable strides across diverse areas of pediatric medicine, from groundbreaking technological innovations to critical health advocacy. The following compilation showcases ten significant stories that demonstrate the breadth and depth of the hospital’s impact, as featured in major national news outlets including NBC Nightly News, CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, The Today Show, Healio, and POLITICO. Delve into our 2024 news highlights for more.
Charles Berul, M.D., and a patient family talk about the pill-sized pacemaker that saved the life of Abby, an infant born with deadly heart defects. (NBC Nightly News)
Sivabalaji Kaliamurthy, M.D., addiction psychiatrist and director of the Addictions Program, spoke to CNN about the impact of drug addiction on teen health and the lack of resources available to treat opioid use disorder. (CNN)
Susma Vaidya, M.D., M.P.H., associate medical director of the IDEAL Clinic, shared her concerns about childhood obesity treatment recommendations issued today by a leading panel of independent U.S. health experts. (The Washington Post)
Shideh Majidi, M.D., M.S.C.S., and Emily Frymark, clinical dietitian, spoke about how the food pharmacy, created in partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank, benefits patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions. (The Washington Post)
Kendric Cromer, a 12-year-old boy being treated at Children’s National Hospital, became the first person in the world with sickle cell disease to begin a commercially approved gene therapy that may cure the condition. “This is a big effort,” says David Jacobsohn, M.D., ScM, M.B.A. (The New York Times)
Mikael Petrosyan, M.D., associate chief of General and Thoracic Surgery, discusses the stress medical staff face when treating young victims of gun violence. (NPR)
Landon, an 11-year-old patient, rang the bell at Children’s National Hospital with family, friends, doctors and nurses cheering after finishing his final round of chemotherapy. (The Today Show)
Monika Goyal, M.D., M.S.C.E., pediatric emergency medicine specialist and co-director of the Center for Translational Research, emphasized the need for awareness in addressing period poverty in teenagers and young adults. (Healio)
Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., M.B.A., P.M.P., vice president and chief innovation officer, participates in a panel discussion covering AI data collection, associated risks, reliance and other topics related to artificial intelligence. (POLITICO)
Children’s National patient Kendric Cromer, 12, became one of the first children ever to be treated with a newly approved gene therapy that will free him from the sickle cell disease that has stolen his childhood. (The New York Times)
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-News-Logo-Collage-feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2024-12-26 11:34:102024-12-26 11:49:26Children’s National in the News: 2024
2024 marked another groundbreaking year for Children’s National Hospital, showcasing remarkable advances across the spectrum of pediatric medicine, research and healthcare innovation. From pioneering surgical procedures to breakthrough artificial intelligence applications, the institution continued to push the boundaries of what’s possible in children’s healthcare. Read on for our list of the most popular articles we published on Innovation District in 2024.
A study led by researchers at Children’s National Hospital showed that babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic have differences in the size of certain structures in the brain, compared to infants born before the pandemic. The findings suggest that exposure to the coronavirus and being pregnant during the pandemic could play a role in shaping infant brain development. (3 min. read)
Children’s National Hospital was ranked as a top hospital in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings. This marks the eighth straight year Children’s National has made the Honor Roll list. The Honor Roll is a distinction awarded to only 10 children’s hospitals nationwide. (2 min. read)
In January 2023, a team of multidisciplinary doctors performed the first case in the world of using bilateral high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) pallidotomy on Jesus, a 22-year-old patient with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. The procedure is part of a clinical trial led by Chima Oluigbo, M.D., pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s National Hospital. (3 min. read)
A novel ultrasound device developed by Bloom Standard received the Food and Drug Administration’s valued breakthrough device designation with the help of Children’s National Hospital. The device that enables autonomous, hands-free ultrasound scans to be performed anywhere, by any user. (2 min. read)
Understanding the effects of Lyme disease on the developing fetal brain is essential to ensure timely prenatal and postnatal treatments to protect the fetus and newborn. In response to this need, Children’s National Hospital is leading a pilot study to establish the groundwork needed for a larger study to determine the effect of in utero exposure to Lyme disease on pregnancy and early childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes. (3 min. read)
Five years ago, Cayden was born 6 weeks early weighing less than four pounds and at risk of dying from her critical congenital heart disease. Today, she’s a happy five-year-old. Early diagnosis of her hypoplastic right ventricle, double inlet left ventricle and critical coarctation of the aorta allowed for the team at Children’s National Hospital to create a careful plan for safe delivery and to offer an innovative hybrid HLHS surgical approach at the hospital within 24 hours after she was born. (1 min. read)
Children’s National Hospital appointed Wayne J. Franklin, M.D., F.A.C.C., as the new senior vice president (SVP) of the Children’s National Heart Center. In this role, Dr. Franklin oversees the full spectrum of heart care services including cardiac imaging and diagnostics, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiac anesthesia, cardiac surgery and cardiac intensive care. (2 min. read)
By pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) innovation programs at Children’s National Hospital, Marius George Linguraru, D.Phil., M.A., M.Sc., and the AI experts he leads are ensuring patients and families benefit from a coming wave of technological advances. The team is teaching AI to interpret complex data that could otherwise overwhelm clinicians. (4 min. read)
Painting a sobering picture, a research team led by Children’s National Hospital culled years of data demonstrating that maternal mental illness is an under-recognized contributor to the death of new mothers. They called for urgent action to address this public health crisis. (3 min. read)
Children’s National Hospital appointed Nathan Kuppermann, M.D., M.P.H., as its new executive vice president, chief academic officer and chair of Pediatrics. In this role, Dr. Kuppermann oversees research, education and innovation for the Children’s National Research Institute as well as academic and administrative leadership in the Department of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Services. (2 min. read)
Researchers from Children’s National Hospital presented findings from the first clinical trial of the medication vosoritide for children with hypochondroplasia – a rare genetic growth disorder. During the phase 2 trial, researchers found vosoritide increased the growth rate in children with hypochondroplasia, allowing them to grow on average an extra 1.8 cm per year. (2 min. read)
Since its establishment in July 2023, the Center for Prenatal, Neonatal & Maternal Health Research at Children’s National Hospital has gained recognition through high-impact scientific publications, featuring noteworthy studies exploring the early phases of human development. (3 min. read)
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-with-lightbulb-CNRI.jpg385685Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2024-12-19 13:29:592024-12-19 13:33:52The best of 2024 from Innovation District
Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., was ranked as a top hospital in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings. This marks the eighth straight year Children’s National has made the Honor Roll list. The Honor Roll is a distinction awarded to only 10 children’s hospitals nationwide.
This year, U.S. News ended ordinal rankings on its Honor Roll. Instead of assigning a numerical rank from 1 to 10, all hospitals on the Honor Roll will be recognized as having attained the highest standards of care in the nation.
In addition, Children’s National tied for #1 pediatric hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, West Virginia and Virginia. It’s also best in the Mid-Atlantic in Neonatology.
For the fourteenth straight year, Children’s National ranked in 10 specialty services. New this year, U.S. News included behavioral health as a service line in the rankings. Since it’s the first year, there are no ordinal rankings for behavioral health, but the Children’s National program was named one of the top 50 programs in the country.
“In my first year here, I witnessed what makes Children’s National so special — our commitment to collaboration, empowering one another, and charting a bold path forward for pediatric care,” said Michelle Riley-Brown, MHA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Children’s National. “I’m proud U.S. News again recognized Children’s National as one of the top in the nation and the highest-ranked pediatric hospital in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Together, we’ll continue to push the boundaries of care, research and innovation to make a difference for those who matter most — the kids.”
The annual rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals and recognizes the nation’s top 50 pediatric hospitals based on a scoring system developed by U.S. News.
“For nearly two decades, U.S. News has published Best Children’s Hospitals to empower the parents and caregivers of children with complex medical needs,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “Children’s hospitals appearing on the U.S. News Honor Roll have a track record of delivering unparalleled specialized care.”
The bulk of the score for each specialty service is based on quality and outcomes data. The process includes a survey of relevant specialists across the country, who are asked to list hospitals they believe provide the best care for patients with the most complex conditions.
The Children’s National specialty services that U.S. News ranked in the top 10 nationally are:
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/US-News-Badges-2024-25-CNRI.jpg385685Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2024-10-08 01:00:002024-10-08 15:01:23Children’s National again ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
Children born with cloacal malformations face many medical challenges beyond surgery. One major concern is kidney health, which may not always be obvious at first. In a recent study published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology, experts at Children’s National Hospital found that many of these children show early signs of kidney problems, often related to abnormalities in the kidneys or urinary tract that are present from birth.
Children’s National is ranked one of the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Our faculty and staff are proud of the impact made on the lives of children and families in our community. Your participation in the U.S. News & World Report annual reputational survey validates the quality of care we provide and reflects the mutual respect and trust we share as healthcare professionals.
In 2025, Children’s National Hospital was featured in major national news outlets for pioneering advances in pediatric care, groundbreaking clinical research and powerful human stories of healing and hope. From gene therapy for sickle cell disease and innovative pacemakers for newborns to breakthrough transplants, cancer trials and emerging mental health concerns like AI psychosis, these stories highlight the hospital’s leadership across the full spectrum of pediatric medicine. The following ten highlights showcase the patients, families and experts behind this impact, as reported by outlets including NBC News, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, USA Today, Healio, ABC News and ESPN.
Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., was ranked as a top hospital in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings. This marks the ninth straight year Children’s National has made the Honor Roll list. The Honor Roll is a distinction awarded to only 10 children’s hospitals nationwide.
In 2024, Children’s National Hospital continued to make remarkable strides across diverse areas of pediatric medicine, from groundbreaking technological innovations to critical health advocacy. The following compilation showcases ten significant stories that demonstrate the breadth and depth of the hospital’s impact, as featured in major national news outlets including NBC Nightly News, CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, The Today Show, Healio, and POLITICO. Delve into our 2024 news highlights for more.
2024 marked another groundbreaking year for Children’s National Hospital, showcasing remarkable advances across the spectrum of pediatric medicine, research and healthcare innovation. From pioneering surgical procedures to breakthrough artificial intelligence applications, the institution continued to push the boundaries of what’s possible in children’s healthcare. Read on for our list of the most popular articles we published on Innovation District in 2024.
Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., was ranked as a top hospital in the nation by the 
