Benjamin E. Padilla, MD
- Division Director, Pediatric Surgery
- Professor, UC Department of Surgery
- benjamin.padilla@cchmc.org
- Board Certified
About
Biography
I am a pediatric surgeon and researcher focused on improving surgical outcomes for children through clinical innovation, quality improvement and collaborative multicenter research. My work examines novel approaches to pediatric surgical care, with an emphasis on enhancing recovery, reducing postoperative pain and advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques. I am particularly interested in developing and evaluating innovative pain management strategies, including the use of cryoablation to improve recovery and reduce opioid use after surgery.
My research has explored surgical outcomes associated with new operative approaches, including advances in chest wall reconstruction, pediatric hernia repair and other minimally invasive procedures. I have also contributed to quality improvement initiatives and multicenter clinical studies designed to improve outcomes and standardize care for children undergoing surgery. This work has helped advance evidence-based surgical practice and has been supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Another of my key areas of interest is pancreatic disease in children, including the surgical management of congenital hyperinsulinism and other complex pancreatic disorders. Through research, collaboration and innovation, I strive to develop safer, more effective surgical treatments that improve the lives of children and their families while advancing the future of pediatric surgery.
When I’m not caring for patients or conducting research, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, staying active, spending time outdoors, woodworking, building furniture and gardening.
Medical School: University of California, San Francisco, CA
Residency: University of California, San Francisco, CA
Fellowship: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Interests
Chest wall deformities (pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum); congenital hyperinsulinism; pediatric pancreatic disease; pediatric general surgery; pediatric thoracic surgery; minimally invasive surgery; advanced and innovative surgical techniques
Services and Specialties
Interests
Improving surgical outcomes for children through clinical innovation, quality improvement and collaborative multicenter research; novel approaches to pediatric surgical care, with particular emphasis on enhancing recovery, reducing postoperative pain and advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques; development and evaluation of innovative pain management strategies in children, including the application of cryoablation techniques to improve postoperative recovery and decrease opioid use; surgical outcomes associated with novel operative approaches, including advances in chest wall reconstruction and pediatric hernia repair; quality improvement initiatives in pediatric surgery; multicenter clinical studies aimed at improving outcomes and standardizing care for children undergoing surgery; pancreatic disease in children, including the surgical management of congenital hyperinsulinism; optimizing outcomes for patients with complex pancreatic disorders
Research Areas
Additional Languages
SpanishLocations (2)
Insurance Information
Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.
Publications
Impact of timing of intercostal nerve cryoablation on postoperative opioid use and outcomes in MIRPE. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2026; 163457.
Postoperative complications after laparoscopic gastrostomy tube placement: Does gastropexy suture technique matter? Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2026; 163454.
Timing of inguinal hernia repair does not influence recurrence in premature infants. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2026; 61(12):163442.
Time to spare: 1-Minute vs 2-minute intercostal nerve cryoablation during minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2026; 61(9):163264.
Transanastomotic Tube Use and Anastomotic Stricture: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Trial in Neonates Undergoing Repair of Type C Esophageal Atresia With Distal Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Annals of Surgery. 2026; 284(3):658-664.
Multicenter Evaluation of Opioid Prescribing After Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum Before The 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics Guideline: Room to Improve. Journal of Surgical Research. 2026; 326:1003-1009.
Defining pediatric cervical spine clearance with computed tomography: A prospective observational study by the Western Pediatric Surgery Research Consortium and Western Trauma Association. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. 2026.
Surgeon annual volume impacts recurrence rates of pediatric inguinal hernia repairs: A multi-institutional study. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2026; 61(8):162890.
Does Surgical Technique Play a Role in Postoperative Hydrocele Formation in Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair? Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2026; 243(2):368-374.
Surgical approach to the management of biliary atresia in the United States. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2026; 61(8):163179.
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