The 20 Best Esophageal Atresia Doctors in Florida, US

Dr. Russell “Rusty” Jennings, a pioneer of pediatric surgical procedures for malformed esophageal and tracheal conditions, is a surgeon in the Esophageal and Airway Treatment (EAT) Program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, which he joined in 2022. A pediatric surgeon for more than 40 years, Dr. Jennings founded and directed the world’s first Esophageal and Airway Treatment (EAT) Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. There he led a multidisciplinary team that worked on solving unsolved problems, and developed innovative techniques for evaluation, diagnosis and successful treatment of: complex esophageal strictures esophageal atresia “long gap” esophageal atresia esophageal replacement tracheo-esophageal fistulas recurrent tracheo-esophageal fistulas laryngo-tracheo-esophageal clefts tracheomalacia bronchomalacia tracheal reconstruction aberrant subclavian artery vascular compression syndromes vascular rings pectus excavatum chest wall deformities asphyxiating thoracic dystrophies recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring during thoracic surgery Dr. Jennings has many publications on these topics including the largest series of successful treatment of complex recurrent tracheoesophageal fistulas in the literature with excellent outcomes, techniques to grow patients’ tissues to allow repair and connection of the esophagus in cases of esophageal atresia and esophageal injury, esophageal replacement with jejunum, and treatment of tracheomalacia. He has frequently taught and presented on these and numerous other related topics regionally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Jennings’ prior work includes establishing the first fetal surgery center in New England; Dr. Jennings developed the first successful fetal cardiac surgery program in the world treating HLHS before birth. Dr. Jennings earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. His general surgery residency was done at the University of California, San Francisco. He was a postdoctoral research fellow for three years in the Fetal Treatment Center and Fetal Treatment Laboratory while completing the residency. He completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at Boston Children’s/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jennings is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Esophageal Atresia, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Gastrointestinal Fistula, Double Aortic Arch, and Endoscopy.

Dr. Smithers is an associate professor of surgery and director of the Esophageal and Airway Treatment (EAT) Program in the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital since 2019. He was honored for Innovations in Clinical Care at the Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Awards for 2020. As a leader in both innovation and expertise for pediatric thoracic surgery, he and his team see patients from all over the United States and internationally. The team also makes several invited trips per year around the country and world for lectures and conferences, in addition to helping patients and teaching other surgical teams regarding complex esophageal and airway surgical techniques in the operating room. Dr. Smithers previously served as assistant professor of surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital from 2009-2019, as part of their groundbreaking EAT program. His clinical specialties are congenital and acquired conditions of the esophagus and airway, vascular rings, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), surgical critical care, and minimally invasive surgery. He earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College and completed his residency in general surgery at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. He served as fellow in pediatric surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital after completing a research fellowship and a surgical critical care fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. He also completed a global surgery clinical fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Videos Meet Jason Smithers, M.D. What is esophageal stricture and how is it treated? What is tracheomalacia and how is it treated? What is recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula (rTEF) and how is it treated? What is long gap esophageal atresia and how is it treated?. Dr. Smithers is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Esophageal Atresia, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Diaphragmatic Hernia, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy.

Dr. Shieh is a pediatric surgeon in the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the medical staff in 2021 and sees patients on our main campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and also at Tampa General Hospital and Brandon Regional Hospital. Her clinical focus includes esophageal and airway treatment (EAT). Dr. Shieh earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine — Phoenix. She completed her general surgery residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, during which she did a pediatric surgery research fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. She then completed her pediatric surgery fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Shieh speaks Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Dr. Shieh is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. Her top areas of expertise are Esophageal Atresia, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Gastrointestinal Fistula, Endoscopy, and Gastrostomy.

Dr. Wilsey specializes in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition in the Department of Medicine. He is the vice chair of the Division of Gastroenterology and served as chief of the medical staff from 2020-2021. In 2022, he was named Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Physician of the Year in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Awards. Dr. Wilsey is an advanced therapeutic endoscopist specializing in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for infants and children. He is one of a select group of gastroenterologists with this expertise internationally and across North America. At Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, he has developed and implemented multiple clinical innovations related to therapeutic endoscopy. He is an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Additionally, he is a core faculty member of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Pediatric Residency Training Program, where he serves as a faculty and research mentor for pediatric resident physicians. Dr. Wilsey has published more than 90 peer-reviewed research articles, review articles, case reports, consensus statements, and book chapters. He also serves as a peer reviewer for several medical journals, and is the associate editor of the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. He has delivered numerous talks nationally and internationally in the field of advanced therapeutic endoscopy, including the management of esophageal strictures. Dr. Wilsey joined the medical staff in 2002. He is also a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of South Florida College of Medicine and a former associate program director of the University of South Florida Pediatric Residency Training Program. He earned his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed his pediatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, followed by fellowship training in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Wilsey sees patients at the following location: Outpatient Care, St. Petersburg 601 5th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: 727-822-4300 Recent News Articles and Media Coverage Study finds possible link between long COVID and mystery hepatitis in kids, Today Show - NBC (June 17, 2022) Is COVID-19 Related to Pediatric Cases of Hepatitis? Verywell Health (June 28, 2022). Dr. Wilsey is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Esophageal Atresia, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy.

Steve Rothenberg is a Pediatric Surgeon in Orange Park, Florida. Dr. Rothenberg is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Sequestration, Esophageal Atresia, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Endoscopy, and Appendectomy.

Dr. Harrington specializes in pediatric surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She sees patients at the hospital’s main campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and at Tampa General Hospital and HCA Florida Brandon Hospital as part of a collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children’s. She joined the hospital staff in 2023. She earned her medical degree from New York University Grossman School of Medicine in New York. She completed a surgery residency and served as chief resident at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. She then completed a surgical critical care fellowship and research fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, followed by a pediatric surgery fellowship at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. Dr. Harrington’s research interests include nutrition and growth outcomes, and clinical interests include intestinal rehabilitation. Dr. Harrington is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. Her top area of expertise is Esophageal Atresia.

Dr. McClenathan is chief of the division of the pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. He earned his medical degree at Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed his pediatric internship and residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and his pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition clinical and research fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Mcclenathan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Lactose Intolerance, Morning Sickness, Dubin-Johnson Syndrome, Rotor Syndrome, and Gastrostomy.

Dr. Chandler is chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery and the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program Director at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the medical staff in 2008, became interim chief in 2020 and was named full-time chief in 2021. She also is an associate professor of Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Chandler’s clinical and research areas of interest are minimally invasive surgery including pectus excavatum, and pediatric cancer surgery. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Chandler was named Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital physician of the year in the 2017 Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Excellence Awards. Dr. Chandler earned her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, where she completed her general surgical residency. She completed a research fellowship in surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and was principal investigator for a grant that focused on overcoming chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. She also completed a fellowship in pediatric surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, with training in laparoscopic and advanced miniature access surgery. Dr. Chandler is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. Her top areas of expertise are Appendicitis, Pectus Excavatum, Gangrene, Appendectomy, and Endoscopy.

Dr. Danielson is associate dean of clinical affairs at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Dr. Danielson also began serving as president of All Children’s Specialty Physicians (ACSP) in 2023, first on an interim basis and then permanently. A clinical professor of surgery, he has chaired the Johns Hopkins All Children's Department of Surgery since 2020 and was interim chair from 2018 to 2020. He specializes in general surgery and was an early adopter of minimally invasive surgical techniques, developing expertise in treating chest wall deformities. Dr. Danielson founded the first fellowship sponsored by Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in pediatric surgery and was also instrumental in bringing the National Quality Improvement in Surgery Program to the institution. He was named Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital physician of the year in the 2015 Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Awards. He joined the hospital staff in 2008. He retired as a colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve in 2017 after serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Danielson earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester where he also completed the residency program in general surgery through Strong Memorial Hospital. He completed a research fellowship in pediatric surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard University and a clinical fellowship in pediatric surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Before joining Johns Hopkins All Children’s, he served as director of pediatric surgical oncology at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Danielson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Appendicitis, Pectus Excavatum, Omphalocele, Appendectomy, and Endoscopy.

Ruchi Amin is a Pediatric Surgeon in Plantation, Florida. Dr. Amin is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. Her top areas of expertise are Gastroschisis, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Infantile Pyloric Stenosis, and Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Joshua Parreco is a General Surgeon in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Parreco is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Infantile Pneumothorax, Hernia, Pectus Excavatum, Appendectomy, and Gastrostomy.

Paul Kuo is a General Surgeon in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Kuo is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Gallbladder Disease, Umbilical Hernia, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, and Gallbladder Removal.

Manuel Lopez is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Lopez is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Pectus Excavatum, Pectus Carinatum, Esophageal Atresia, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy.

Lori Gurien is a Pediatric Surgeon in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Gurien has been practicing medicine for over 3 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. Her top areas of expertise are Infantile Pyloric Stenosis, Retroperitoneal Inflammation, Appendicitis, Appendectomy, and Gallbladder Removal.

Robert Dorman is a Pediatric Surgeon in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Dorman is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Total Intestinal Aganglionosis, Hirschsprung Disease, Omphalomesenteric Cyst, Gastrostomy, and Knee Replacement.

Vanessa Valente is a Pediatric Surgeon in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Valente has been practicing medicine for over 16 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. Her top areas of expertise are Infantile Pyloric Stenosis, Duodenal Atresia, Atresia of Small Intestine, and Hirschsprung Disease.

Robert Letton is a Pediatric Surgeon in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Letton has been practicing medicine for over 4 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Pectus Excavatum, Infantile Pyloric Stenosis, Pilonidal Sinus Disease, Pectus Carinatum, and Splenectomy.

Sean Skinner is a Pediatric Surgeon in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Skinner is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Duodenal Atresia, Retroperitoneal Inflammation, Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Atresia of Small Intestine, and Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Gustavo Villalona is a Pediatric Surgeon in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Villalona is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Appendicitis, Retroperitoneal Inflammation, Pilonidal Sinus Disease, Gastrostomy, and Small Bowel Resection.

Henri Ford is a Pediatric Surgeon in Miami, Florida. Dr. Ford is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Esophageal Atresia. His top areas of expertise are Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Necrosis, Diaphragmatic Hernia, and Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.