The multidisciplinary Pediatric Colorectal Center at Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s Hospital provides high-quality care to children with complex colorectal conditions. The center is the first of its kind in the St. Louis area to bring together experts from pediatric surgery, gastroenterology, radiology, rehabilitation and nursing in a comprehensive, patient-focused program.
The Pediatric Colorectal Center is led by Baddr Shakhsheer, MD, a Washington University pediatric surgeon specializing in colorectal and neonatal surgery, and pediatric gastroenterologists Elizabeth Utterson, MD, and Shannon Joerger, MD.
“We provide personalized care at the Pediatric Colorectal Center,” says Shakhsheer. “Each child is unique, and each family is unique. Patient-centered and family-centered care are at the heart of everything we do. What is best for the patient and what is best for the family are the same thing. By working with the family and bringing together our expertise, we are able to provide the best care for children with complex issues.”
The center provides diagnosis and treatment for colorectal conditions in infants, children and adolescents, including:
- Anorectal malformations
- Hirschsprung disease
- Severe chronic constipation
- Motility disorders
- Cloaca
- Fecal incontinence
These conditions often affect more than one system, so the multidisciplinary team of specialists at St. Louis Children’s Hospital work together to deliver the right care for each child. The Pediatric Colorectal Center makes finding the right solution convenient by providing comprehensive care in a single clinical location.
“Our team-based approach allows us to attend to all aspects of a patient’s needs,” says Utterson. “We provide all of the care that our patients need—from diagnostic tests to medical and surgical treatment—under one roof.”
For more than 140 years, St. Louis Children’s Hospital has provided exceptional care for children in all 50 states and 80 countries around the world. St. Louis Children’s Hospital has been ranked in the top 10% of children’s hospitals nationwide by U.S. News & World Report 13 years in a row.
“We have top notch surgeons and gastroenterologists working together for every patient,” says Joerger. “Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital are leaders in pediatric patient care, and our patients have access to the most advanced treatments and technologies, as well as a compassionate team of specialists.”
Goal-setting is an important part of delivering top care in an environment focused on the patient and family, Shakhsheer explains.
“When we meet a child and their family, the first thing we do is have a conversation,” Shakhsheer says. “What is important to you? What are your family’s needs? How can we provide the best care to meet those needs? Our team-based approach to allows us to have these conversations and deliver personalized care to achieve your goals. After treatment, we follow our patients and stay involved. We want to ensure that every child and family has their best outcome.”
To schedule an appointment with the Pediatric Colorectal Center, please call 314-454-6022 or request an appointment online. To learn more about the center and team, please visit the Washington University Pediatric Colorectal Center website.
