Washington University Pediatric Colorectal Surgeons in St. Louis provide high-quality care to children with complex colorectal issues, including Hirschsprung disease, anorectal malformations, and severe chronic constipation.
Our surgeons are part of a multidisciplinary team of experts at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
We work with pediatric gastroenterologists, radiologists, and any other specialists your child needs, to provide personalized solutions for your child and your family.
Our team provides care for all types of colorectal issues. These conditions often affect more than one system, so our specialists work together to deliver the right care for each child. Washington University Pediatric Colorectal Surgeons offer a variety of surgical treatments for children with:
- Anorectal malformations: A condition present a birth where the anus and rectum do not develop properly or are abnormally located.
- Hirschsprung disease: A condition present at birth where stool does not move normally through the bowel, causing blockage, severe constipation, or other illness.
- Severe chronic constipation: Constipation that lasts for several weeks or longer and can be painful. This may require “clean-out” or disimpaction in the hospital.
- Other complex types of pediatric colorectal problems include cloaca, fecal incontinence and inflammatory bowel disease.
When you come to the Washington University Pediatric Colorectal Center, you will see a gastroenterologist and a surgeon. We will evaluate your child’s condition and work with you to choose a care plan that works best for your child and your family.
Our doctors practice at the Washington University Pediatric Colorectal Center, located at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, which is nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The Pediatric Colorectal Center takes a multidisciplinary, team-based approach to patient care. This means that your child will benefit from seeing all the experts they need to see at one of the best children’s hospitals in the country.
Washington University Physicians have the expertise, technology and judgment to provide the best care for your child.
Our goals are your goals. We seek to improve your child’s quality of life as well as that of your family. Tell us what is important to you. Together, we can strive for that goal.
We appreciate the opportunity to care for your patients. Our team of specialists includes pediatric gastroenterologists, radiologists and surgeons, as well as the multidisciplinary expertise of St. Louis Children’s Hospital and our partner providers at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. We are committed to the long-term success of your patients.
Shannon Joerger, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Dr. Joerger earned her bachelor’s degree in 2003 from Washington University in St. Louis and her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2007. She completed residency and fellowship training at Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Her clinical specialty is pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition. She specializes in motility disorders and is an expert in manometry.
Baddr Shakhsheer, MD
Pediatric Surgery
Dr. Shakhsheer is a pediatric surgeon who managed complex colorectal issues. He completed residency in general surgery at the University of Chicago and fellowship in pediatric surgery at Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He is well-versed in both traditional and minimally invasive approaches to colorectal surgery.
Elizabeth Utterson, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Dr. Utterson earned her bachelor’s degree in 1994 from the University of Notre Dame and her medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in 1998. She completed residency training at Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital and her fellowship training at the University of Colorado Denver/The Children’s Hospital of Denver and Washington University in St. Louis. Her clinical specialty is pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition and her interests are inflammatory bowel disease, endoscopy education and training, interventional endoscopy and motility disorders.
Amy Zimmerman, MD
Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Zimmerman is a board certified Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine physician at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. Dr. Zimmermann collaborates closely with a team of therapists and childlife specialists, a psychologist, a dietitian, nurses and other medical specialists at Ranken Jordan to provide rehabilitation services to children who struggle with bowel control.
Amy Fox, RN
Clinical Nurse Coordinator
Ms. Fox is the Clinical Nurse Coordinator for Pediatric General Surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Deaconess College of Nursing in St. Louis. Prior to working with surgical patients, she spent many years working with Pediatric Neurology patients and helped initiate the Rett Spectrum Clinic at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She provides compassionate care for patients with congenital anomalies and diseases of the head and neck, chest, abdomen and gastrointestinal tract. She has an interest in patient- and family-centered care and works as an advocate on behalf of all her patients.
Carrie Wilson, RN, PNP, WCC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Ms. Wilson is a nurse practitioner in the Division of Pediatric Surgery and is dual-board certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in both primary and acute care. She is also wound care certified at the national level. Ms. Wilson joined the Pediatric General Surgery team at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 2006 and specializes in both inpatient and outpatient management children with anorectal malformations, Hirschsprung Disease, other disorders of the bowel, pediatric wound, gastrostomy, and ostomy care. She has lectured nationally, is active in the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, and is a previous winner of St. Louis Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Awards.
Amy Lamb-Schnitzer, RN
Clinical Nurse Coordinator
Mrs. Lamb-Schnitzer graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Before working in Pediatric Gastroenterology since 2009, she spent 2 years as a pediatric nurse care coordinator for the Orthopedic division at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Il., 8 years as a Care Coordinator for the Pediatric Cerebral palsy and Rehab medicine division at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, Ca., as well as 2 years in the Pediatric Neurology Division at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Ca. Lamb-Schnitzer currently specializes in Inflammatory bowel disease, Pancreatic disorders, general pediatric GI conditions, and also works with Dr. Joerger to assist with complex colorectal patients. Lamb-Schnitzer enjoys educating families during the time of both health and illness.
Molly Rathert, MOT, OTR/L
Ms. Rathert graduated from St. Louis University with her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She has worked at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital since 2019 treating inpatients and outpatients with encopresis, chronic constipation, enuresis, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Therapy sessions typically consist of biofeedback training, IFC electrical stimulation, core strengthening, and pelvic floor strengthening. Holding true to Ranken Jordan’s mission of ‘Care Beyond the Bedside’ Molly is passionate about parent collaboration and home programming allowing each patient to achieve greater independence.
Claire Wallace, PhD
Dr. Wallace is a pediatric psychologist at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. She leads the hospital’s outpatient psychology service and specializes in treating children and teens with medical conditions. Dr. Wallace works with the bowel management team to support the behavioral health needs of children and families.
Lacey Bordelon, RN
Pediatric Nurse Care Coordinator
Lacey graduated from Concorde Career College with her Licensed Practical Nursing Degree in Southern California in 2018. Shortly after graduating, she moved to St. Louis, MO where she began her Registered Nursing Program. During this time, she began working in Adult Gastroenterology in 2018 with the Biliary team of Interventional Endoscopists at Washington University School of Medicine – St. Louis. Lacey graduated from her RN Program in 2020 and has since become a part of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department, as a Pediatric Nurse Care Coordinator. She enjoys learning more about the sub-specialties within Gastroenterology and educating families.
Carrie Mitchener, DPT
Carrie Mitchener graduated from the University of Missouri in 2014 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy and specializes in pediatric neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. She joined the team at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in 2020 and is passionate about helping children live their best lives. She loves the collaborative care that goes into supporting children who struggle with bowel control.
Please ask for an appointment with the Pediatric Colorectal Center Team by calling 314-454-6022 or request an appointment online.
News
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