The 20 Best Hernia Doctors near Saint Petersburg, FL

Dr. Kays is the medical director of the Center for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) at Johns Hopkins All Children’s and leads the first unit in the country exclusively dedicated to these patients. He also serves as director of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program and co-director of the Fetal Diagnosis/Treatment program. He joined the medical staff in 2016. Dr. Kays has more than two decades of clinical and research leadership in the treatment of CDH, a life-threatening birth defect that affects about one in every 3,000 pregnancies. His research has focused on defining the best treatment strategies for this challenging neonatal diagnosis and contributed to significant advances in care and outcomes. Dr. Kays was previously with UF Health and Shands Children’s Hospital for more than 20 years. He was also surgeon in chief, professor of surgery and chief of the division of pediatric surgery in the University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Surgery, where he led the ECMO and congenital diaphragmatic hernia program for over 20 years. He is the author or coauthor of more than 60 peer-reviewed original science publications and speaks nationally and internationally on CDH care and outcomes. Dr. Kays earned his medical degree from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. He completed a surgical residency at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, and then completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at Morgan-Stanley Children’s Hospital of Columbia University, New York. Dr. Kays is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Children’s Oncology Group. Videos Meet David Kays, M.D. Dr. Kays is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Diaphragmatic Hernia, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Hernia, Fryns Syndrome, and Appendectomy.

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 Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Esophageal Atresia, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Diaphragmatic Hernia, Gastrostomy, 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 Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Appendicitis, Pectus Excavatum, Omphalocele, Appendectomy, and Endoscopy.

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 Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Esophageal Atresia, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Gastrointestinal Fistula, Double Aortic Arch, 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 an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. Her top areas of expertise are Esophageal Atresia, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Gastrointestinal Fistula, Endoscopy, 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 Hernia. Her top areas of expertise are Appendicitis, Pectus Excavatum, Gangrene, Appendectomy, and Endoscopy.

Dr. Gonzalez is a pediatric and surgical critical care surgeon at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2017. She was previously the surgical critical care fellowship program director at the Detroit Medical Center and also served as a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association Surgical Critical Care Committee. Dr. Gonzalez received her medical degree from the University Of Puerto Rico School Of Medicine and trained in general surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. Dr. Gonzalez then completed a surgical critical care fellowship at University of Michigan Health Systems & CS Mott Children’s Hospital and a pediatric surgery fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. She subsequently completed a Master’s in Health Care Management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She is fluent in Spanish. Videos Meet Raquel González, M.D. Dr. Gonzalez is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. Her top areas of expertise are Omphalocele, Umbilical Hernia, VACTERL Association, Appendectomy, and Oophorectomy.

Kevin Huguet is a General Surgeon in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Huguet is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Cholecystitis, Gallbladder Disease, Hernia Surgery, and Pancreatectomy. Dr. Huguet is currently accepting new patients.

Ramona Ilie is a General Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Ilie is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. Her top areas of expertise are Ogilvie Syndrome, Hernia, Retroperitoneal Inflammation, and Cholecystitis. Dr. Ilie is currently accepting new patients.

Eugene Murphy is a Vascular Surgeon and a General Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Murphy is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Hernia Surgery, and Carotid Artery Surgery. Dr. Murphy is currently accepting new patients.

John Clarke is a General Surgeon in South Pasadena, Florida. Dr. Clarke is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Paget Disease of the Breast, Diverticular Disease, Hernia, Small Bowel Resection, and Gastrostomy.

Nebbie Walford is a Pediatric Surgeon and a General Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Walford is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. Her top areas of expertise are Van Der Woude Syndrome, Infantile Pyloric Stenosis, Umbilical Hernia, Appendicitis, and Appendectomy. Dr. Walford is currently accepting new patients.

Jill Parker is a Physician Assistant and a General Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Ms. Parker is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. Her top areas of expertise are Hernia and Umbilical Hernia. Ms. Parker is currently accepting new patients.

James Westervelt is a General Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Westervelt is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Umbilical Hernia, Cholecystitis, Ogilvie Syndrome, and Hernia Surgery. Dr. Westervelt is currently accepting new patients.

Drew Rideout is a Pediatric Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Rideout is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Duodenal Atresia, Gastroschisis, Gastric Bypass, and Endoscopy.

Christopher Bariana is a Thoracic Surgeon in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Bariana is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Collapsed Lung, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Advanced Bronchoscopy, and Endoscopy.

Paul Collins is a Vascular Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Collins is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Gangrene, Cellulitis, Stasis Dermatitis and Ulcers, Parathyroidectomy, and Carotid Artery Surgery. Dr. Collins is currently accepting new patients.

Mindi Giglio is a General Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Giglio is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. Her top areas of expertise are Cellulitis, Choledocholithiasis, Paget Disease of the Breast, Bladder Reconstruction, and Hernia Surgery. Dr. Giglio is currently accepting new patients.

Jinny Gunn is a General Surgeon in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Gunn is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Inflammatory Breast Cancer, and Cellulitis. Dr. Gunn is currently accepting new patients.

Pete Peterson is a General Surgeon in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Peterson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Cholecystitis, Gallbladder Disease, Retroperitoneal Inflammation, Hernia Surgery, and Endoscopy. Dr. Peterson is currently accepting new patients.