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Innovations in Review 2025

Pediatrics

Pediatric specialists at Children’s Hospital of New York at NewYork-Presbyterian are among the most experienced in the nation, providing children and adolescents with access to innovative treatments and unmatched clinical expertise. In 2025, experts from Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine performed milestone surgeries to treat rare and life-threatening diseases; published research to provide clinical insights into conditions ranging from severe aplastic anemia to adolescent depression; leveraged genomics and gene therapy to address congenital disorders, and more. Our specialists are devoted to pushing the boundaries of medicine to ensure children receive the most advanced care and the best possible outcomes.

Pediatrics
Pediatrics

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Read more about our top research and key innovations from 2025:

First-Of-Its-Kind Program Dedicated To Pediatric Robotic Cardiac Surgery

Split-Root Domino Partial Heart Transplant Saves Three Pediatric Patients

Novel Treatment Method Can Address Aggressive Pediatric Brain Tumor

Dual-Specialty Approach Improves Outcomes In Pediatric Spine Cases

Extensive Multistage Spine Surgery Transforms A Severe Case Of Kyphoscoliosis

Research Highlights Critical Gaps In Treating Severe Aplastic Anemia In Children

Addictive Screen Use Linked To Suicidal Behavior In Adolescents

Study Shows Adolescent Depression Rates Spiked During COVID-19

Advancing Pediatric Cornea Care Through A Multidisciplinary Approach

Newborn Gene Sequencing Expands Early Detection Of Treatable Diseases

Landmark Surgery Saves Three Children With One Donor Heart

Gene Therapies Are Revolutionizing Care For Sickle Cell Disease

First-Of-Its-Kind Program Dedicated To Pediatric Robotic Cardiac Surgery

In the last year, NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia launched the Pediatric Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program, which aims to expand access to less invasive surgical techniques that offer minimal scarring, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays for young patients. Co-led by Arnar Geirsson, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Institute and the Surgical Heart Valve Program, and Andrew Goldstone, M.D., Ph.D., surgical director of heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support and pediatric heart valve transplantation, the program is the first in the nation to employ a dedicated pediatric surgical team to perform robotic cardiac surgeries.

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First-Of-Its-Kind Program Dedicated To Pediatric Robotic Cardiac Surgery

Split-Root Domino Partial Heart Transplant Saves Three Pediatric Patients

A multidisciplinary pediatric heart transplant team at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of Children’s Hospital of New York, led by Andrew Goldstone, M.D., Ph.D., surgical director of heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support and pediatric heart valve transplantation at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, is among the first in the nation to perform a split-root domino partial heart transplant. This series of surgeries allowed a pediatric recipient of a donor heart to donate her healthy aortic and pulmonary valves to two other children with congenital heart conditions. Physicians and surgeons see the success of the surgery as progress toward innovative solutions to treating pediatric valve disease and are exploring ways to expand opportunities for living heart valve donation.

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Split-Root Domino Partial Heart Transplant Saves Three Pediatric Patients

Novel Treatment Method Can Address Aggressive Pediatric Brain Tumor

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an aggressive and fatal pediatric brain tumor with a survival rate of less than 10% two years after diagnosis, and treatment remains difficult due to how quickly it spreads and the ongoing challenge of permeating the blood-brain barrier (BBB). A phase 1 clinical trial led by Mark Souweidane, M.D., director of pediatric neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, demonstrated the efficacy of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) in administering treatment past the BBB. CED was able to safely infuse 124I-omburtamab, a radio-labeled monoclonal antibody, directly into the brainstem, where DIPG typically starts, offering hope that long-term survival for patients may be possible.

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Novel Treatment Method Can Address Aggressive Pediatric Brain Tumor

Dual-Specialty Approach Improves Outcomes In Pediatric Spine Cases

Both orthopedic and neurological spine surgeons are essential to pediatric spinal surgery, but collaboration between these two specialties has historically been less common in pediatric cases compared with adult cases. Leaders from Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia Michael G. Vitale, M.D., chief of pediatric spine surgery, and Taemin Oh, M.D., director of pediatric neurosurgical scoliosis surgery, are pioneering an integrated model of care that unites the two specialties in the planning and execution of pediatric spine surgeries. This partnership has enabled reduced surgery times and blood loss, as well as improved overall safety for patients.

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Dual-Specialty Approach Improves Outcomes In Pediatric Spine Cases

Extensive Multistage Spine Surgery Transforms A Severe Case Of Kyphoscoliosis

An adolescent patient born with congenital kyphoscoliosis, which progressed to 140 degrees kyphosis and 56 degrees scoliosis, traveled from the Philippines to New York for surgical treatment led by Lawrence Lenke, M.D., co-director of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian and chief of spinal deformity surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. Dr. Lenke developed a treatment plan consisting of several staged procedures over six weeks, including halo gravity traction, rib resection, installation of an interbody cage, placement of rods and screws, removal of several vertebrae, placement of bone material, and irrigation and debridement to promote optimal wound healing. The surgeries successfully corrected the curvatures and fused the spine into proper position, with the patient expected to return to normal life without limitations.

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Extensive Multistage Spine Surgery Transforms A Severe Case Of Kyphoscoliosis

Research Highlights Critical Gaps In Treating Severe Aplastic Anemia In Children

Matched sibling donor stem cell transplants are the first-line treatment for pediatric patients with severe aplastic anemia. Without a matched sibling donor, long-term outcomes for these children can be limited and alternative treatments may carry risks. Catherine McGuinn, M.D., a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, was among a team of experts who developed graded recommendations, along with a treatment algorithm, for newly diagnosed severe aplastic anemia cases. When a matched sibling donor is not available, the best treatment option that current evidence supports is immunosuppressive therapy. As advancements are made in matching donors and decreasing morbidity associated with transplantation, a matched unrelated donor stem cell transplant may become a more viable treatment option. These recommendations highlight the necessity for more clinical trials specific to children to better inform decision-making and address existing evidence gaps.

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Research Highlights Critical Gaps In Treating Severe Aplastic Anemia In Children

Addictive Screen Use Linked To Suicidal Behavior In Adolescents

Recent years have seen a decline in youth mental health, leading to increased scrutiny of screen time as a risk factor. A study led by NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia psychiatrist J. John Mann, M.D., Ph.D., and Weill Cornell Medicine researcher Yunyu Xiao, Ph.D., revealed that patterns of addictive screen use are a more significant predictor of suicidal behaviors and ideation. The research also concluded that total screen time at baseline was not associated with any of the suicide-related or mental health outcomes measured. These findings could shift the paradigm and focus of negative mental health outcomes in adolescents from screen time alone to the signs of addiction.

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Addictive Screen Use Linked To Suicidal Behavior In Adolescents

Study Shows Adolescent Depression Rates Spiked During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine pediatric hospitalist Deanna Hano, M.D., MSc, and pediatrician Cori Green, M.D., MSc, noticed anecdotally an increase in adolescent patients coming in for mental health concerns. As a result of this observation, they conducted a retrospective study to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients screened in primary care before and during the pandemic. The research revealed that in addition to a spike in positive screens for depressive symptoms (16.4%, vs. 9.9% pre-pandemic), there was also an increase in diagnoses for depression and anxiety, as well as patients having suicidal ideations. The results highlight the increased need for youth screening and access to resources.

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Study Shows Adolescent Depression Rates Spiked During COVID-19

Advancing Pediatric Cornea Care Through A Multidisciplinary Approach

The pediatric cornea program at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia is among the first centers in the United States focused on treating corneal diseases in children. Led by Danielle Trief, M.D., a pediatric cornea and cataract specialist, the multidisciplinary clinic brings together ophthalmic subspecialists, geneticists, imaging experts, and state-of-the-art technology. This model of care enables more precise diagnostics to better treat complex pediatric eye conditions and improve and restore sight for patients.

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Advancing Pediatric Cornea Care Through A Multidisciplinary Approach

Newborn Gene Sequencing Expands Early Detection Of Treatable Diseases

On the Advances in Care podcast, a team of pediatric specialists from NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia discussed the GUARDIAN study, an initiative that uses gene sequencing to screen newborns for rare diseases not included in standard panels. While conventional newborn screening can detect between 30 to 80 different diseases at birth, the GUARDIAN program utilizes genome sequencing to test for more than 450 diseases that can be diagnosed early, many of which benefit from timely intervention. The physicians also explained how the program is enhancing health equity in underserved communities and shared stories of rare conditions identified through GUARDIAN.

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Newborn Gene Sequencing Expands Early Detection Of Treatable Diseases

Landmark Surgery Saves Three Children With One Donor Heart

On the Advances in Care podcast, Andrew Goldstone, M.D., Ph.D., surgical director of heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support and pediatric heart valve transplantation at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, recounted how a multidisciplinary team performed a complex pediatric split-root domino partial heart transplant. The procedure involved a series of surgeries that enabled a pediatric recipient of a deceased donor heart to donate their healthy aortic and pulmonary valves to two other children with congenital heart conditions. Dr. Goldstone also discussed how this milestone achievement and other advancements in pediatric cardiac surgery are facilitating innovative living valve transplants that can help more patients in need.

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Landmark Surgery Saves Three Children With One Donor Heart

Gene Therapies Are Revolutionizing Care For Sickle Cell Disease

On the Advances in Care podcast, Markus Mapara, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, discussed the recent approval of two groundbreaking gene-editing therapies that have transformed the treatment landscape for sickle cell disease: One that uses CRISPR technology to help the body create fetal hemoglobin and a second that uses a lentiviral vector to edit stem cells. He outlines similarities and differences between the two therapies as well as the research he led that contributed to their approvals. Dr. Mapara also detailed ongoing efforts to advance CAR T-cell therapies to treat both malignant and nonmalignant conditions.

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Gene Therapies Are Revolutionizing Care For Sickle Cell Disease