An International Leader in Treating Complex Colorectal Conditions
The Colorectal Center at Cincinnati Children’s is the first and only comprehensive, multidisciplinary pediatric colorectal center in the world. Led by internationally renowned surgeons Alberto Peña, MD, founding director, and Marc Levitt, MD, director, the Colorectal Center is an international leader in pediatric care, research and education related to complex colorectal conditions. Peña and Levitt have worked together since 1992, and established the Colorectal Center in 2005.
In 1980, Peña pioneered a complex reconstructive surgery called posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP), also known as the pull-through procedure, to treat anorectal malformations. Since then, this procedure has been applied to Hirschsprung’s disease, pelvic tumors, gynecologic and urologic conditions, and many other colorectal disorders.
Together, Peña and Levitt have performed more than 5,000 of these procedures around the world for treatments of colorectal conditions. The multidisciplinary Colorectal Center at Cincinnati Children’s performs more than 400 complex colorectal procedures each year – more than any other center in the world.
In addition to Peña and Levitt, Jason Frischer, MD, Belinda Hsi Dickie, MD, PhD, Andrea Bischoff, MD, Michael Helmrath, MD, Richard Falcone, MD, and Dan von Allmen, MD, are actively engaged in the care of children with colorectal problems. Frischer, Falcone and von Allmen are specifically expert in the care of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.
In addition, the center collaborates very closely with the Urology and Gynecology Divisions as many children with anorectal malformations have associated problems in these areas. Shumyle Alam, MD, of urology, and Lesley Breech, MD, of gynecology, are active participants in the day-to-day care of patients in the Colorectal Center and are engaged in scientific pursuits in these associated areas.
And, the center works regularly with colleagues in a variety of associated specialities including anesthesia, nephrology, gastroenterology / motility, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, transplantation, fetal surgery, psychology, radiology, pathology, nutrition and child life.
A Commitment to Lifelong Care
At the Colorectal Center, our goal is to repair congenital malformations and to achieve the best possible functional outcome for patients and their families to enjoy an exceptional quality of life. Doing so sometimes requires lifelong followup, from the time of a patient's first appointment through childhood and even into adulthood. We help children and parents prepare for the possible challenges of puberty, sexual function and childbearing as they relate to colorectal issues.
Contact Us
For more information or to request an appointment for the Colorectal Center at Cincinnati Children's, contact us.
