Meet Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Pancreatologist Michelle Saad, MD, MS

Michelle Saad, MD, MS, is an assistant professor of pediatrics and member of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Saad joined the team in August. She devotes part of her time to the Pancreas Care Center, treating pediatric patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis and helping guide treatment recommendations, including advanced endoscopy or surgical procedures like total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT).

Saad chose the field of pancreatology because of the interventions it offers patients who qualify. “We’ve seen patients who have been dancers or runners, and pancreatitis stopped them from being able to do the activity they love,” she says. “We really can change their lives and get them back on track and have them resume the things they’re passionate about. The ability to help these patients is what keeps me going.”

This fall, Saad will receive the Amin Tjota Award for Excellence in Pancreatic Research Prize from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (NASPGHAN) for her research on diabetes mellitus in patients with acute pancreatitis. She also received a 2023 Young Investigator travel grant from the American Pancreatic Association (APA). Saad will present a poster of distinction at the annual APA meeting on imaging biomarkers of pancreas fibrosis in patients undergoing total pancreatectomy and TPIAT.

Saad completed a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Cincinnati Children’s in August. Prior to her fellowship, she completed her residency at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, TX. She earned her medical degree from the University of Balamand in Lebanon.

Meet Pediatric Transplant Hepatologist Monique Goldschmidt, MD

Monique Goldschmidt, MD, is a pediatric transplant hepatologist specializing in pediatric hepatology and liver transplantation. She joined our team in September as an associate professor of pediatrics and associate medical director of intestinal transplant.

In her role, Goldschmidt cares for patients with intestinal failure and those who need small bowel transplantation. She also treats patients with isolated liver transplant and pursues clinical research on small bowel transplant.

“My passion for high-quality, complex clinical care has led to my interest in navigating and leading complex clinical care teams, which undoubtedly requires interdisciplinary collaboration, care coordination, mitigation of barriers, effective communication, a knowledge of operations, and trust among team members,” she says. “My overarching goal—my life mission—is to ensure the best possible outcome for children with both liver and small bowel disease.”

Goldschmidt completed two fellowships at Cincinnati Children’s: in gastroenterology and in advanced/transplant hepatology. She also completed her residency at Cincinnati Children’s. She earned her medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine. Most recently, Goldschmidt worked as a pediatric transplant hepatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for more than six years.

“We’re very happy that Dr. Goldschmidt is back at Cincinnati Children’s,” says Samuel Kocoshis, MD, medical director of the Intestinal Transplant Program. “She is an excellent clinician, and we think she’s a very good fit for our program.”

(Published October 2023)

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