We are monitoring the path of Hurricane Milton.
Oliver B Lao, MD with patient and therapy dog

Pediatric Surgery

Our pediatric surgeons perform general, breast, cancer, gynecological, head and neck, thoracic, trauma, and urologic surgeries for children.

Explore Our General Surgery Services

When your child needs surgery, you want a medical team you can trust to provide the most comprehensive, specialized care. For three decades, thousands of families in South Florida and beyond have turned to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Our pediatric surgery team has the skills, experience and compassion to treat your child’s health condition and support your family.

To schedule an appointment with one of our pediatric general surgeons, call:

954-265-0072

Pediatric Surgery Services at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

With our network of surgery locations in Broward and Palm Beach, we offer care close to home. When possible, we perform outpatient surgery to get your child home and back to their normal routine.

A Patient- and Family-Centered Approach

Our team is committed to clear, ongoing communication between care team members and with your family.

Learn More About Patient- and Family-Centered Care
Comprehensive Care

Our team provides a full spectrum of emergency and elective procedures, from minor treatments to complex surgeries.

Learn More About General Surgery
A home away from home

Our on-site Conine Clubhouse offers families somewhere to stay with home-like amenities such as laundry facilities, all free of charge.

Learn More About Conine Clubhouse

As a comprehensive, free-standing children’s hospital, we’re dedicated to caring for the unique needs of patients through age 21 and their families

Designated Level I Children’s Surgery Verification: One of three children's hospitals in Florida to be designated by the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification (CSV) Program – the highest designation provided to a surgical center for its excellence in delivering care and continuous improvement to enhancing the structure, process and patient outcomes. The CSV program is based on other nationally recognized American College of Surgeons quality improvement programs that have measurably improved surgical quality and have prevented complications, reduced costs and saved lives. As part of this designation, the hospital also participates in a national surgery registry where best practices are shared with other programs.

Expert Surgeons Help at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s

Expert Surgeons Help at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s

Experienced specialists: We perform thousands of procedures each year — treating the entire spectrum of children’s health needs, from common conditions to rare cases. Our patients travel here from throughout the Southeastern United States and Caribbean.

A diverse team of problem-solvers: Caring for your child is a team effort that requires the skills, knowledge and compassion of many people. Our specialists work closely together to create the most effective treatment plan for each child.

Emergency surgery: We’re here for your family when every second matters. If your child has an emergency, we have dedicated pediatric surgeons available 24/7. Our surgeons are on call for trauma, cancer, neonatal and pediatric emergencies solely at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, so a member of our team is in the area when needed. As part of the Pediatric Trauma Center at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, our surgeons deliver highly specialized care around the clock. Learn more about our pediatric trauma services.

A place where kids can be kids: We know surgery can be stressful; so, our team works to make sure your child’s routine feels as “normal” as possible. Our Child Life Program includes certified and compassionate specialists, a dedicated teacher, and even a resident clown named Lotsy Dotsy. We also offer service dogs, “teddy bear tours,” and several play areas.

Leadership in our field: Our team conducts clinical outcome-based research, sharing valuable findings with colleagues worldwide. As an academic medical institution, we provide training to general surgery residents and medical students. Our surgeons also advance our field through leadership roles in national pediatric surgical associations.

Awards and Recognitions

American College of Surgeons Children's Surgery Verification seal

Level I Children's Surgery Verification

To schedule an appointment with one of our pediatric general surgeons, call:

954-265-0072
Meet Dr. Oliver Lao: General Surgeon

Meet Dr. Oliver Lao: General Surgeon

Oliver Lao, MD, is a pediatric general surgeon at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.

"My goal as a pediatric surgeon is to partner with children and their families to understand what's going on, provide information, answer questions and help make an informed decision about the next steps.

When I do recommend a procedure, I prefer to use minimally invasive techniques (either laparoscopic or thoracoscopic), if possible, which usually allows for faster healing and recovery"
Moments that Count – Grace’s Abdominal Surgery Story

Moments that Count – Grace’s Abdominal Surgery Story

After spending the first four weeks of her life in intensive care, see how we were there in the moments that count for Grace and her family when she was diagnosed and had major abdominal surgery for a rare condition, microgastria with limb reduction syndrome, and how we continue to be there for her as she continues to grow.
Meet Jill Whitehouse, MD - Pediatric General Surgeon, Vice-Chief Pediatric General Surgery Program

Meet Jill Whitehouse, MD - Pediatric General Surgeon, Vice-Chief Pediatric General Surgery Program

I am a pediatric general surgeon at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. I perform a wide variety of procedures but also specialize in minimally invasive surgery, thoracoscopic lung surgery to treat congenital lung diseases, neonatal surgery and procedures to treat ovarian disease.

Each surgical case is as unique as the child we are treating. I devote a lot of time to getting to know my patients and their families. Then, together, we explore all of the possible treatment options for your child.

At Joe DiMaggio, you will be treated like family. We are driven not by numbers, but by the satisfaction of healing and helping the patients we have devoted our lives to caring for.

In addition to providing patient care, I participate in surgical research projects and serve on the National American Pediatric Surgery Association Education Committee. I am also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Moiz Mustafa, MD - Pediatric General Surgeon, Co-Medical Director of the Fetal Medicine Program

Moiz Mustafa, MD - Pediatric General Surgeon, Co-Medical Director of the Fetal Medicine Program

I am a pediatric general surgeon and co-medical director of the Fetal Medicine Program at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

As a pediatric surgeon, I have a broad scope of practice and operate on most areas of the body for various reasons. The most common procedures are in line with the most common conditions, including laparoscopic appendectomies for appendicitis, laparoscopic cholecystectomies for cholecystitis or cholelithiasis and surgery to treat inguinal and umbilical hernias. I also perform surgery to address congenital lung lesions, remove cancers as well as treat congenital problems in newborns such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula and intestinal atresia.

I am also helping to build and grow the Fetal Medicine Program at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, which fills a great need for families in South Florida and beyond. We provide counseling for parents with pregnancies with prenatally diagnosed issues, which can include lung lesions, abdominal wall defects such as gastroschisis and omphalocele, esophageal atresia and more. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive program including fetal interventions for fetuses with diagnosed conditions so we can offer more options for pregnant women and their families.

In addition to providing patient care, I’m also involved in clinical research and organizational committees focused on retrospective case studies, health outcomes and quality improvement.

Child Life Program

Our therapy dogs lend a helping paw.

It matters to you. It matters to us.

Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Quality and Safety

See our hospital's patient satisfaction numbers, number of patients and more.

View Quality and Safety
You have a Right to Know About Prices

We want to give you the information you need to make important healthcare decisions, including the costs of our services.

View Pricing
MyChart Portal

View test results, schedule follow-up appointments, request prescription refills and more.

Login or Sign-up to MyChart