Sybill Naidoo, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, received the Excellence in Nursing Award for the category Pediatrics: Non-neonatal. She was recognized in St. Louis Magazine’s 2025 Excellence in Nursing Awards publication.
The 2025 edition of the awards was revealed on June 4, marking 16 years of this regional award by St. Louis Magazine.
Naidoo specializes in conditions such as plagiocephaly, pre- and post-operative care for patients with craniosynostosis, cleft palate and treatment of other craniofacial anomalies.
In 2002, Naidoo joined the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to provide pediatric nursing care to children as a specialist in craniofacial deformities.
Naidoo earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Saint Louis University in 1996. She went on to earn her master’s in nursing from Saint Louis University in 2000 and her doctorate in nursing at University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2013.
Naidoo was nominated by professor of surgery, Kamlesh Patel, MD, MSc, the Joseph B. Kimbrough Chair for Pediatric Dentistry.
“Dr. Sybill Naidoo has been independently operating the Deformational Plagiocephaly Clinic since 2002, providing high-level care for over 18,000 children with deformational plagiocephaly and skull anomalies,” said Patel.
“Dr. Naidoo offers comprehensive pre- and post-operative education to families of children diagnosed with craniosynostosis, coordinates post-operative orthotic care, and serves as the primary contact for communication with orthotists for minimally invasive craniosynostosis surgery.”
Naidoo has played a pivotal role in standardizing postoperative helmet therapy following craniosynostosis surgery, a protocol that has been published and adopted by other craniofacial centers nationwide. Additionally, Naidoo conducts pre-operative consultations for a wide range of patients in pediatric plastic surgery.
A recognized national leader, Dr. Naidoo has authored over 80 published articles in the specialization and serves as a section editor for the Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal. She is an active member of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and was part of the planning committee for the 2025 annual conference.
“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, pediatrics, I could never do that,’” said Naidoo. “But there’s always the rewarding part of seeing kids get better. And they are different from adults. While adults may have a negative attitude, kids always want to get better. We feel good that we’ve made a difference for them.”
“It’s so rewarding knowing that my service makes a difference in people’s lives,” said Naidoo, regarding the impact of her work with pediatric patients. “It is incredibly heartwarming to be approached by parents after their child’s procedure and hearing their gratitude simply for sitting with them for the duration of the procedure.”
Among the honorees, three other nurses affiliated with the Department of Surgery were recognized as finalists in their respective categories:
- Mary Sullivan, RN, MSN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, nominated for the Cardiovascular category
- Corinne Merrill, BSN, RN, CCRN, nominated for the Research category
- Danielle Grasso, MBA, BSN, RN, nominated for the Oncology category
Congratulations to the finalists, and congratulations to Sybill Naidoo who won in her category.
In addition to winning in her category, Naidoo was one of four recipients to be recognized with the 2025 Perfect Score Award, which is presented to nominees who receive perfect scores in each area of their evaluation from all members of the selection committee.
To honor the winners of the Excellence in Nursing Awards, St. Louis Magazine hosted the 16th annual Excellence in Nursing Awards ceremony on Wednesday, June 4 at the Missouri Botanical Garden.