Research

The research supporting advancements in pediatric surgery serves as the foundation of the program at Children’s Mercy. The division of pediatric general and thoracic surgery is renowned for its evidence-based surgical care and standardized protocols. Dr. Shawn St. Peter, Director of the Center for Prospective Studies, monitors patients over time, meticulously observing how various factors influence their long-term outcomes. Dr. Tolu Oyetunji, Director of Health Outcomes Research, also leads the Quality Improvement and Surgical Equity Research (QISER) Center, which studies opportunities for evidence-driven protocols to improve quality of care with equity across all patient demographics. In his capacity as the Director of the Surgical Scholars Program, he coordinates, with dedicated surgery research coordinators, biweekly surgery research meetings that serve as pivotal hubs for research within the division. These meetings provide an opportunity for residents and fellows to actively participate and explore research avenues. These endeavors have consistently resulted in presentations at both national and international scientific conferences. Each Pediatric Surgery Fellow is encouraged to seek a faculty mentor in a surgical research area and publish at least one paper or chapter annually as a consequence of this mentoring process.