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 a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. 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 a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. 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 Tracheoesophageal Fistula. 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 an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Esophageal Atresia, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy.

Akash Pandey is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and a Pediatrics provider in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Pandey is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, Delayed Growth, Lactose Intolerance, and Viral Gastroenteritis. Dr. Pandey is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Irizarry is a pediatric gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. She sees patients in the gastroenterology office in Temple Terrace and the Outpatient Care Center in Brandon. Her clinical interests include inflammatory bowel disease and eosinophilic esophagitis. She earned her medical degree from Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She completed a pediatric residency at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. Dr. Irizarry is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Her top areas of expertise are Morning Sickness, Trichohepatoenteric Syndrome, Diarrhea, and Gilbert Syndrome.

Dr. Beltroy specializes in pediatric gastroenterology for the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Department of Medicine. He primarily sees patients in Tampa and Lakeland. His clinical interests include eosinophilic esophagitis, inflammatory bowel disease, constipation and abdominal pain. Dr. Beltroy earned his medical degree from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. He trained in pediatrics and served as pediatric chief resident at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Beltroy then completed a pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas in Texas. He is fluent in Spanish. Dr. Cornejo is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Delayed Growth, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Encopresis, and Hirschsprung Disease.

Dr. Woods is a cardiothoracic surgeon in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Heart Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. He joined the hospital staff in 2024. He was previously the surgical director of cardiac transplantation at Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and a professor of surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Woods has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, books and chapters; given many talks regionally, nationally and internationally; and has served as a peer reviewer for many medical journals. He earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed a surgical residency at University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals in Seattle, followed by a pediatric surgery fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He then completed a thoracic surgery fellowship at University of Washington, followed by a specialty registrar in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London. He also earned his doctoral degree from the University of Illinois. Dr. Woods is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Coarctation of the Aorta, Double Discordia, Transposition of the Great Arteries, Heart Transplant, and Thymectomy.

Robert Dorman is an Intensive Care Medicine provider in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Dorman is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Hirschsprung Disease, Total Intestinal Aganglionosis, Omphalomesenteric Cyst, Gastrostomy, and Knee Replacement.

Giosue Feola is a Pediatric Radiologist and an Interventional Radiologist in St Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Feola is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Retropharyngeal Abscess, Esophageal Atresia Coloboma Talipes, Tracheoesophageal Fistula, and Pulmonary Atresia.

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

Joshua Parreco is a General Surgeon in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Parreco is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Infantile Pneumothorax, Hernia, Chronic Subdural Hematoma, Appendectomy, and Gastrostomy.

Ruchi Amin is a Pediatric Surgeon in Plantation, Florida. Dr. Amin is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Her top area of expertise is Tracheoesophageal Fistula.

Bhavesh Shah is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Sarasota, Florida. Dr. Shah is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Hypertension, Familial Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism. Dr. Shah is currently accepting new patients.

Juan Sola is a Pediatric Surgeon and a Pediatrics provider in Miami, Florida. Dr. Sola is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Infantile Pneumothorax, Hirschsprung Disease, Childhood Volvulus, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Sola is currently accepting new patients.

Romaine Nichols is a Radiation Oncologist in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Nichols is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Prostate Cancer, Familial Prostate Cancer, Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, and Prostatectomy. Dr. Nichols is currently accepting new patients.

Henri Ford is a General Surgeon and a Pediatric Surgeon in Miami, Florida. Dr. Ford is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. His top areas of expertise are Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Necrosis, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, and Diaphragmatic Hernia. Dr. Ford is currently accepting new patients.

Kathleen Schenker is a Pediatric Radiologist and a Radiologist in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Schenker has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Her top areas of expertise are Osteoporosis-Pseudoglioma Syndrome, Spondylocarpotarsal Synostosis Syndrome, Caudal Regression Syndrome, Short Stature (Growth Disorders), and Gastrostomy.

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

Lori Gurien is a Pediatric Surgeon and a General Surgeon in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Gurien is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Her top areas of expertise are Infantile Pyloric Stenosis, Retroperitoneal Inflammation, Appendicitis, Appendectomy, and Gallbladder Removal. Dr. Gurien is currently accepting new patients.