Steven Stylianos, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital/NewYork-Presbyterian (MSCH), will be leaving Columbia University Irving Medical Center to lead the Division of Pediatric Surgery at Rutgers Health New Jersey Medical School. He will also assume the roles of Surgeon-in-Chief of Bristol-Myer's Squibb Children's Hospital and System Director of Pediatric Surgery for the RWJBarnabas Health System.
Since becoming division chief in 2013, Dr. Stylianos has played a major role in several high-profile surgical cases and the creation or expansion of key clinical programs. He leaves behind a legacy of leadership, procedural excellence, and technological progress that has helped MSCH cement its position as the premier children's hospital in New York City.
"Dr. Stylianos helped guide the Division of Pediatric Surgery to a prominent position of respect locally, nationally, and across the world," said Dr. Craig Smith, Chair of the Department of Surgery. "Dr. Stylianos is an outstanding surgeon and extremely effective leader, and his steady hand will be missed. I would like to thank him for his contributions and wish him all the best in his new role."
A graduate of Rutgers University and the New York University School of Medicine, Dr. Stylianos began his general surgical residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (now NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center) and completed his formal pediatric surgery training at Boston Children's Hospital. He spent two years as the Trauma Fellow at the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute in Boston.
Dr. Stylianos joined the faculty of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Children's Hospital of New York (now Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital) in 1992. He held a number of titles at CUIMC, including the Rudolph N. Schullinger Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Pediatric Trauma Center.
“The division has a rich history of cutting-edge innovation while maintaining a family feel for our faculty, trainees, and support staff,” said Dr. Stylianos. “I felt that was probably one of my highest callings and responsibilities: to be sure that I nurtured and maintained that standard over my time as chief. It's a journey that I'm very proud of. ”
As a surgeon, his areas of expertise include biliary atresia, endoscopic surgery, neonatal surgery, and pectus excavatum. He organized and directed the multi-disciplinary teams of physicians and nurses who separated five sets of conjoined twins. These conjoined twins separations attracted the attention of the national media, including Dateline NBC, CBS 48 Hours and Fox News.
An advocate for physician mental health, Dr. Stylianos created a peer support program across multiple surgical departments. The program provided much-needed training for faculty and residents and encouraged proactive peer-to-peer connections to promote better emotional health among the CUIMC community.
As Medical Director of the Pediatric Trauma Center, Dr. Stylianos developed a standard of excellence that helped MSCH become verified as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons. MSCH is the first and only hospital in Manhattan to receive this distinction.
During his tenure, the pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program gained recognition as an ECMO Platinum Center of Excellence by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), one of only a handful of such programs in the nation.
He also oversaw the introduction and expansion of programs for robotic pediatric cardiac surgery, fetal surgery for congenital diaphragmatic hernia and spina bifida, pediatric transplants, and minimally invasive procedures for pediatric surgery.
His many leadership roles have included Chairman of the Trauma Committee for the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA), treasurer for the American Pediatric Surgical Association Foundation's Board of Directors, founding Executive Board member of the Pediatric Trauma Society, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Pediatric Surgery. He is an elected member of the Board of Governors of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and serves as a site verification officer of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.
Dr. Stylianos is the recipient of the prestigious American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association's 2016 Champions Award and the American Trauma Society's 2016 NY State Trauma Medical Director of Distinction. He was recognized as one of New York Magazine's Top Doctors from 2012–2022.
About the Division of Pediatric Surgery
The Division of Pediatric Surgery at Columbia has a long and storied history, beginning with Dr. Tom Santulli, considered the Father of Pediatric Surgery in New York. Subsequently, Drs. Peter Altman, Charles Stolar, and Steven Stylianos have led and expanded the influence of the Division. The Division boasts a range and depth of services, with recognized expertise in fetal surgery, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, biliary atresia, ECMO, esophageal atresia, vascular malformations, chest wall anomalies, and many other conditions. The Division provides leadership for our American College of Surgeons Verified Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and Children’s Surgical Programs, as well as our ELSO-certified Platinum ECMO Center of Excellence and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.
Click here to learn more about pediatric diseases and treatments. To schedule an appointment at one of the Centers in the section of Pediatric Surgery please call (212) 342-8585.