Collection
Innovation, Education & Digital Transformation in Pediatric Surgery
Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Always talk to your child's care team about your child's situation.
Content of this collection
Virtual & Remote Learning3 items
Virtual curriculum delivery in the COVID-19 era: the pediatric surgery boot camp v2.0
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We evaluated the impact of a virtual Pediatric Surgery Bootcamp curriculum on resource utilization, learner engagement, knowledge retention, and stakeholder satisfaction. A virtual curriculum was developed around Pediatric Surgery Milestone
article · Oct 2026
Virtual Education in Pediatric Surgery during the COVID-19 Era: Facing and Overcoming Current Challenges
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The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted our way of living in an unprecedented manner. Medical professionals at all levels have been forced to adapt to the novel virus. The delivery of surgical services and the su
article · Jun 2026
Emerging technology and their application to paediatric surgical training
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article · Jun 2026
Bootcamps & Structured Curricula1 item
Top 10 key takeaways from the 2021 pediatric surgery update course
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Top 10 key takeaways from the 2021 pediatric surgery update course
article · Jun 2026
Educational Implications & Guidelines3 items
Educational implications for surgical telementoring: a current review with recommendations for future practice, policy, and research
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Background: Surgical telementoring (ST) was introduced in the sixties, promoting videoconferencing to enhance surgical education across large distances. Widespread use of ST in the surgical community is lacking. Despite numerous surveys ass
article · Jun 2026
Barriers to the implementation of new guidelines among pediatric surgeons: online survey
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Purpose: To identify barriers that prevent pediatric surgeons from implementing updated practice guidelines. Methods: An online survey targeting pediatric surgeons was conducted on the StayCurrent MD Application (SCMA) and Pediatric Surgery
article · Jun 2026
Storytelling for pediatric surgical education and beyond
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Storytelling for pediatric surgical education and beyond
article · Jun 2026
Future of Surgical Education1 item
The Future of Surgical Education: A King, an Ox, & Elon Musk
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This is the presidential address from the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group 2021 Annual meeting. The exponential growth of information, the failure of j
podcast · Jun 2026
Telementoring Technology & Applications4 items
White paper: technology for surgical telementoring-SAGES Project 6 Technology Working Group
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Background: Recent advances in telecommunication technology and video conferencing systems have opened a new avenue for surgical instruction called "surgical telementoring." This report from the Technology Working Group of the SAGES Project
article · Jun 2026
Trans-Atlantic Telementoring with Pediatric Surgeons: Technical Considerations and Lessons Learned
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Purpose: Although surgical residency training is a structured, regulated system for surgical skill acquisition, after residency or fellowship, no good method exists for practicing surgeons to learn new, developing techniques. Because 1-2-da
article · Jun 2026
Transcontinental telementoring with pediatric surgeons: proof of concept and technical considerations
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Purpose: To evaluate different technologies that can facilitate telementoring in a variety of pediatric surgical procedures. Materials And Methods: Two different telementoring technologies were used to provide two-way audio and visual commu
article · Jun 2026
Telementoring: the surgical tool of the future
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With decreased resident experience during training and the constant evolution of new surgical techniques, surgeons are at risk for complications during the early part of the learning curve. Mentorship by experienced surgeons may mitigate th
article · Jun 2026
Telemedicine in Practice2 items
Telemedicine in pediatric surgery
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Importance: Telemedicine is an emerging strategy for healthcare delivery that has the potential to expand access, optimize efficiency, minimize cost, and enhance patient satisfaction. Objective: To review the current spectrum, potential str
article · Jun 2026
What is "telemedicine" and what does it mean for a pediatric surgeon?
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Telemedicine is a broad term and has recently become a household term in the medical field. However, there are many interpretations as to what the term "telemedicine" means. There are many facets to telemedicine and here we describe all of
article · Jun 2026
Public Perception & Acceptance1 item
Public Perception of Telemedicine and Surgical Telementoring in the Pediatric Population: Results of a Parental Survey
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Overall, surgical telementoring was only supported by about half of the respondents. We predict that with increased education about surgical telementoring, this technology will have increased public support in the pediatric population.
article · Jun 2026
Children do excellent with both intracorporeal and extracorporeal appendectomy techniques, and outcomes are ultimately similar. — Alex, Journal of Pediatric Surgery Article Review: May 2019 · 5:35
Social Media & Digital Platforms3 items
Journal of Pediatric Surgery: Effects of an automated social media strategy for knowledge dissemination
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Background/Purpose: With increasing publications, it's hard to keep up with surgical literature. Social media is a valuable educational resource with global reach. We sought to analyze the impact of an automated social media strategy for th
article · Oct 2026
Role of New Media for the Young Pediatric Surgeon: Fighting Exponential Knowledge Growth with Moore's Law
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Role of New Media for the Young Pediatric Surgeon: Fighting Exponential Knowledge Growth with Moore's Law
article · Jun 2026
Online Resources & Information3 items
New multimedia advances in surgical information
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When discussing new trends in pediatric surgery, the tendency is to focus on novel surgical technology and techniques. However, it is equally important to examine how the practicing surgeon stays abreast in an ever-changing field. This arti
article · Jun 2026
Modern, multi-media, advances in surgical information
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The need for education does not end with residency. Practicing surgeons must find ways to stay current. The boom in new technologic developments may significantly enhance our methods of teaching through the use of new mutli-media. Here we w
article · Jun 2026
Online resources in pediatric surgery: the new era of medical information
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Tele-education has the potential to facilitate rapid sharing and dissemination of current research and knowledge among pediatric surgeons around the world. Classically, the exchange of surgical research occurred via national surgical confer
article · Jun 2026
Journal Reviews & Literature2 items
Journal of Pediatric Surgery Article Review: May 2019
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video9:22 · Jun 2026
Commentary on shifting paradigms: The top 100 most disruptive papers in core pediatric surgery journals
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This is a commentary on the manuscript by Sullivan G, Skertich N, Gulack B, et al., titled "Shifting Paradigms: The Top Most Disruptive Papers in Core Pediatric Surgery Journals".
article · Jun 2026
Quality improvement and innovation traditionally sit far apart in organizations, but mirroring them allows complication conferences to identify unmet needs where no existing solution exists. — Todd Ponsky, Building Sustainable Innovation Programs in Academic Pediatric Healthcare · 6:52
Building Innovation Programs2 items
Building Sustainable Innovation Programs in Academic Pediatric Healthcare
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Cincinnati Children’s has turned its complication conferences into an innovation pipeline, generating six provisional patents within months by adding one step to a process every hospital already runs: after reviewing what went wrong, ask wh
podcast38:14 · Jun 2026
Morbidity, mortality,... and innovation: Turning complications into patents
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Morbidity, mortality,... and innovation: Turning complications into patents
article · Jun 2026
Leadership Perspectives2 items
Episode 197 | Todd Ponsky, Chief Innovation Officer at Cincinnati Children
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In this episode, Todd Ponsky at Cincinnati Children
podcast · Jun 2026
Pediatric Surgery: Todd Ponsky
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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
video · Oct 2026
Editorial & Professional Development5 items
Unfortunately, We Must Say Goodbye… But Also say Hello…
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Unfortunately, We Must Say Goodbye… But Also say Hello…
article · Jun 2026
High-powered magnets still require high-powered vigilance
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High-powered magnets still require high-powered vigilance
article · Jun 2026
Important information for our authors and readers
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Important information for our authors and readers
article · Jun 2026
Changing Practice Patterns1 item
Pediatric surgery - a changing field: national trends in pediatric surgical practice
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Background: Over the last decade, our institution has experienced a relative increase in the number of mundane cases, such as appendectomy and incision and drainage of abscess, versus index (complex) cases. We sought to determine if this tr
article · Jun 2026
Diversity & Unconscious Bias1 item
Unconscious Bias
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This episode is an interactive discussion about Unconscious Bias between Dr. Todd Ponsky, Dr. Julie Freischlag, Dr. Mary Brandt, Dr. Quinn Capers IV, Dr. Alejan
podcast · Jun 2026
History Of Pediatric Surgery
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An interactive discussion between Todd Ponsky, MD and Don Nakayama, MD about the history of pediatric surgery, specifically the evolution of the management of p
podcast · Jun 2026
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Journal of Pediatric Surgery Article Review: May 2019
Guyan and Yonker from Alberta Children's Hospital studied optimizing post-operative follow-up by examining why patients show up, clinical relevance, and costs.
Host summaryRay summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position0:27 ↗
More complex cases were associated with higher likelihood of post-operative follow-up attendance.
Host summaryRay summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position0:43 ↗
Orchidopexy was one of the most common reasons why patients wanted to follow up post-operatively.
Host summaryRay summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position0:49 ↗
Follow-up visits were more clinically relevant if the patient had a more complex operation or something happened requiring earlier-than-expected follow-up.
Host summaryRay summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position0:54 ↗
D'Antonio and Lanning at Children's Hospital Richmond used iPads for telemedicine post-operative follow-up and found patients and families were happy with it.
Host summaryRay summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position1:22 ↗
There was no difference in diagnosis between telemedicine and in-person follow-up in the Richmond study's small cohort.
Host summaryRay summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position1:29 ↗
Telemedicine follow-up allows surgeons to fit more new patients into clinic and get more cases.
opinionGibbons1:47 ↗
Telemedicine follow-up feasibility depends on patient population resources and education level.
opinionAlex2:22 ↗
Al Bahiri and Merritt from Western University in London, Ontario conducted a retrospective review of appendectomy techniques for simple appendicitis with over 200 patients in the intracorporeal 3-port group and about 70 in the extracorporeal group.
Host summaryGibbons summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:00 ↗
There was no difference in wound infection rates between intracorporeal and extracorporeal appendectomy methods.
Host summaryGibbons summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
Extracorporeal appendectomy was shorter than intracorporeal by about 17 minutes.
Host summaryGibbons summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:46 ↗
Extracorporeal appendectomy was cheaper than intracorporeal by about 30%.
Host summaryGibbons summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:46 ↗
In the Western University study, about 80% of intracorporeal appendectomies used a retrieval bag and 20% pulled the appendix out through the port.
Host summaryGibbons summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position5:07 ↗
Only one of four surgeons in the Western University study performed extracorporeal appendectomy; the other three did exclusively intracorporeal, which is a study limitation.
Host summaryGibbons summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position5:19 ↗
Children do excellent with both intracorporeal and extracorporeal appendectomy techniques, and outcomes are ultimately similar.
opinionAlex5:35 ↗
A study calculated shock index pediatric adjusted (SIPPA) using EMS pre-hospital information and tracked short and longer-term outcomes.
Host summaryAlex summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position7:14 ↗
Pre-hospital SIPPA and the delta change between pre-hospital and ED SIPPA were statistically and clinically significant for predicting need for ICU, intubation, ventilation, and transfusions.
Host summaryAlex summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position7:35 ↗
The SIPPA study was limited to patients with injury severity score (ISS) of 16 or greater.
Host summaryAlex summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position8:38 ↗
At Todd Ponsky's hospital, a certain SIPPA number triggers immediate patient evaluation rather than using trauma score classification.
clinicalTodd Ponsky8:56 ↗
Building Sustainable Innovation Programs in Academic Pediatric Healthcare
Cincinnati Children's Hospital received a philanthropic gift from William Proctor many years ago that has grown to support a healthy research foundation, enabling the institution to excel equally in clinical care and research.
clinicalTodd Ponsky1:24 ↗
Most traditional technology transfer programs at academic medical centers are not financially sustainable; they function more as academic support for researchers rather than profitable enterprises.
opinionTodd Ponsky2:42 ↗
The Frontline Innovation program was created because most innovation was coming from full-time researchers, while busy clinicians lacked the bandwidth and experience to innovate despite having valuable insights.
clinicalTodd Ponsky3:37 ↗
The Morbidity, Mortality and Innovation conference model produced six provisional patents in a few months by converting surgical complications into innovation opportunities.
clinicalTodd Ponsky4:29 ↗
External partnerships allow companies to collaborate with Cincinnati Children's for pilots and testing, creating joint ventures or shared upside arrangements that involve clinicians and researchers.
clinicalTodd Ponsky4:48 ↗
Health Service Ventures examines daily hospital operations (service lines, pharmacy, pathology, sterile processing) for optimization opportunities that could be scaled into for-profit entities through partnerships with other hospitals, capital partners, or industry.
clinicalTodd Ponsky5:22 ↗
Quality improvement and innovation traditionally sit far apart in organizations, but mirroring them allows complication conferences to identify unmet needs where no existing solution exists.
opinionTodd Ponsky6:52 ↗
When an unmet need is identified through M&M conferences, the team first searches to see if a solution already exists (often it does but was unknown), and if not, consults external partners to validate the problem's significance before creating a solution.
clinicalTodd Ponsky7:34 ↗
Engaging frontline staff in innovation is harder than initially expected; busy clinicians and especially nurses lack time despite being most aware of problems and having creative solutions.
opinionTodd Ponsky9:07 ↗
Active embedded pursuit—sitting where frontline staff already work rather than waiting for them to come to innovation offices—is necessary to engage busy clinicians.
opinionTodd Ponsky9:30 ↗
Aligned incentives (financial, academic, or other benefits) are necessary to motivate frontline staff to participate in innovation, as innovation is not currently celebrated in academic promotion processes.
opinionTodd Ponsky9:46 ↗
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