Nelson G. Rosen, MD

I’m a general and pediatric surgeon who specializes in both pediatric anorectal and urogenital malformations and associated disorders, as well as congenital and acquired chest wall anomalies. I work hard to stay on the cutting edge of what's happening in surgery so that I can offer my patients the best options and techniques. The idea is to give our patients the best chance for the best outcome with the least amount of discomfort. At both Cincinnati Children's Colorectal Center and Chest Wall Center, we evaluate, manage and repair structural conditions with some of the most extensive multidisciplinary experience in the nation.

I was inspired to become a physician from an early age. My brother was born with a congenital cardiac malformation at a time when that specialty was in its infancy. This dramatically affected our whole family. My parents valued doctors who kept their son alive, and that seemed something very special to me.

My father was a baker and as a bakery owner he did all the repairs himself – plumbing, electrical work, large machinery repair. He taught his sons to help him, and so fixing things is in my DNA. That led me to surgery, which brings it all together. There are many ways to help people, but this is the way I think I can do the most good.

I had the good fortune to train in complex anorectal and urogenital reconstruction from both a colorectal and urogenital approach. I work closely with urologists and gynecologists, and we synergize a great deal rather than each doing our part in isolation. I think this makes a difference, and we see our success in patient satisfaction and outcomes.

As associate director of the Colorectal Center at Cincinnati Children’s and as a surgeon, I approach care by putting myself in the patient’s and parents’ situation and conducting myself as I would want my child’s doctor to behave. I also try to be a nice person, since at the end of the day, this can make all the difference.

I've had the honor to serve in the United States Army Reserve since I graduated medical school. My time in the Army has brought me all around the world, and fortunately many exceptional experiences and awards. My most prized award is not my highest, rather it is the Meritorious Unit Commendation that was awarded to the 1st Forward Surgical team which I led as commander in 2008-2009 in Iraq. That award was earned by the unit, and not any one individual, and it’s the team performance I'm most proud of. In 2019, I was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and I still have the honor of serving in that capacity as a division deputy commanding general.

I also have many research interests that are all related to issues we encounter in caring for children and adults with complex colorectal and urogenital disorders. My colleagues and I are currently coordinating a pilonidal disease management project, as well as a study on enterocolitis in Hirschsprung's disease. The pediatric general surgeon in me is overseeing a project where we have taught our entire surgical faculty a new technique that uses a single-incision laparoscopic process for appendicitis. We're assessing how trained surgeons adopt a new technique.

In my spare time, I love being with my wife and children and exploring the great things there are to do in the Cincinnati and tri-state area. I'm an avid reader and skier, and the entire winter I am looking forward to getting out on the slopes and enjoying nature. I'm also a car guy and enjoy keeping my 1966 Morgan running and on the road.