Purpose
Hackensack University Medical Center is a team committed to providing an exceptional patient experience through quality patient-centered care, education, research, and community outreach.
Collaboration
The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center have collaborated with the NYU Langone Medical Center’s Division of Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Howard B. Ginsburg and his team of exceptional pediatric surgeons join us with outstanding credentials and experience. We are committed to offering the highest quality of surgical care available to your patients and families at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack UMC.
We strive to:
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Provide a compassionate, child-friendly, parent-friendly environment, that promotes the highest quality patient care
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Perform minimally invasive and conventional pediatric surgeries using state-of-the-art technology and the latest techniques
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Pursue research to help determine what particular conditions may be better treated, and to provide non-surgical options for childhood diseases that currently respond only to surgery
We don't just treat disease. We treat your child.
Each child comes to us with a unique personality. We value that person and understand that your child is the best person to answer important questions. During treatment our pediatric surgical team works to build trust and help your child communicate with us, verbally or nonverbally. From your first office visit to your final follow-up appointment, we care about your child's experience.
Your child is our priority.
Every family we meet is different. We know that facing surgery with your child can be a frightening experience no matter how minor the procedure. Our team works with you and your family to minimize those fears and help you and your child prepare for surgery.
Each and every member of our staff is committed to making your experience with us as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Our surgeons plan for recovery prior to operating.
Our individual, patient-centered approach allows our surgical team to plan your child's course of treatment based on what is needed at that particular time.
Our surgeons think about factors such as:
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the origin of your child's disease and how it may progress
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your child's condition and other health issues that he or she may have
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what surgical procedure will result in the safest, quickest recovery
We incorporate research and education into our practice.
The fact that we perform clinical research directly benefits our patients and the care they receive. By tracking the outcomes of our procedures and reviewing them periodically, we are able to determine areas for improvement and implement better standards of care.
This method includes evaluating the operative technique that we choose. Whether we perform a minimally invasive procedure or use a standard open approach, treatment is discussed with the family and among our staff to ensure that we choose the technique that we feel will be safest and most effective for your child.
During the course of your child's treatment, you may interact with surgeons, nurses, child life specialists and doctors-in-training that assist our staff. This is another way we optimize the care that we give. Our mandate to train the surgeons and physicians of the future helps ensure that we are always current with surgical innovations and new treatments that help enhance the care of children.
Surgical residents play a critical role in the fact-finding process and serve as integral members of our team, providing our surgeons with the detailed evaluations necessary to make the best clinical decision and enhancing the quality of care you and your child receive.
The Pediatric Surgery practice is located on the third floor of the Don IMUS-WFAN Pediatric Center in the Joseph M Sanzari Children’s Hospital and they can be reached by calling 551-996-2921. The group is available for 24/7 surgical consultation and will provide compassionate, state-of-the-art, quality patient and family centered care for your patients.They will be participating in most insurance plans and their office staff is available to accommodate your patient/family’s appointment and consultative needs and can assist them with the insurance process.
Staff
Howard B. Ginsburg MD, FACS, FAAP, the Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the NYU Langone Medical Center, founded the division in 1980 and is an Associate Professor of Surgery at NYU. He is a nationally renowned pediatric surgeon and has published extensively in his field. Dr. Ginsburg attended NYU School of Medicine, did his surgical residency at NYU and his fellowship in pediatric surgery at Babies' Hospital at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center (now known as the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital). He also did a pediatric urology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Ginsburg is board-certified in pediatric surgery and is a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, British Pediatric Surgical Association and Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Keith A. Kuenzler M.D., FACS, FAAP, the newly appointed Surgeon -in-Chief at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at HackensackUMC is also an Assistant Professor of Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. He received both his medical degree and general surgery training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr Kuenzler completed a fellowship in pediatric surgery at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian and continued as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Surgery. In 2009, he joined the Department of Surgery at NYU, and was appointed Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery in the Division of Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Kuenzler has special interest and expertise in minimally invasive pediatric surgery in the Division of Pediatric Surgery. His practice covers all aspects of general pediatric surgery, including abdominal and thoracic surgery for premature infants, neonates, children and adolescents and has performed numerous thoracoscopic operations for newborns and children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, tracheoesophageal fistula, and congenital lung lesions. Dr. Kuenzler is board-certified in pediatric surgery and is a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group and Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sandra Tomita M.D., FACS, FAAP is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the NYU School of Medicine. She received her medical degree at Northwestern University in Chicago and did her surgery residency at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She completed her pediatric surgery fellowship at St. Louis University and after a military career in the U.S. Navy, joined the Division of Pediatric Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center in 2009. Dr. Tomita is board certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Surgeons, and the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons.
Victor Valda M.D., a highly regarded and respected board certified pediatric surgeon is also affiliated with HackensackUMC.
Luciana D. Roman RN, MSN, APN, CCRN is the Advanced Practice Nurse with the Pediatric Surgery practice. Lu’s clinical experience at HackensackUMC since 1999 has included: staff nurse, acting nurse manager for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and nurse practitioner for the Pediatric Intensive Care Faculty Practice.
Colleen Kearney, RN, MSN, APN, CCRN
Administrative Director
EMAIL: CKearney@HackensackUMC.org
Renee Brady, Operations Manager
EMAIL: RBrady@HackensackUMC.org
Phone: 551-996-2951
Katarzyna "Kathy" Kordel, Billing Coordinator
EMAIL: KKordel@HackensackUMC.org
Phone: 551-996-2921
The Pediatric Surgery practice is located on the third floor of the Don IMUS-WFAN Pediatric Center in the Joseph M Sanzari Children’s Hospital and can be reached by calling 551-996-2921.