University of Florida Health Shands Children’s Hospital has been verified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level 1 pediatric trauma center, one of fewer than 20 in the nation to earn the distinction. The verification means that the hospital meets the ACS’s highest standards for staff, resources and equipment to optimally handle a child’s life-threatening injuries. Learn how this verification affects your child’s care.
Pediatric Surgery
Compassionate care
Our first and highest priority is the comfort and safety of each patient. Whether your child is in need of a common, minor procedure or a complex surgery, our team has the experience, expertise and training to take care of just about anything.
Our team is dedicated to ensuring children and their families feel comfortable, well-informed and as confident as possible before, during and after surgical procedures, no matter how minor or complex. We offer special programs, excellent outcomes and are rewarded by the amazing long-term relationships we develop with our patients and their families.
Expert care
Each of our surgeons is board-certified in pediatric surgery. This means your child’s care team is specially trained to perform both minor and complicated surgeries specifically on babies, children and teens. Each surgeon is trained and board-certified in general surgery first, then spent an additional two training in children’s surgery to become exports in diagnosing and treating pediatric conditions. Each surgeon passed rigorous tests to obtain board certification specifically in pediatric surgery. Our pediatric surgery team cares for critically injured children as part of a comprehensive state of Florida designated Level 1 trauma center. Our surgeons also provide complex burn wound care for patients throughout the region.
Our team works together with faculty and staff from UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, and a variety of UF departments and centers including the UF Department of Pediatrics, the UF Health Congenital Heart Center, the UF Health Craniofacial Center and other divisions within the UF Department of Surgery to provide complete, high quality care for pediatric patients.
Leading-edge technology
We are excited to provide pediatric minimally invasive robotic surgery, which for some patients, could mean smaller scars and faster recovery. During robotic surgery, your child’s procedure will be performed by a skilled UF Health pediatric surgeon assisted by the use of leading-edge robotic surgical technology.
Minimally invasive robotic surgery is generally associated with smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, minimal scarring, less postoperative pain and faster recovery than traditional open surgery. Additionally, robotic surgery may also greatly reduce the time your child spends under anesthesia. Robotic surgery is ideal for patients diagnosed with a variety of conditions like those involving the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, spleen, and ovaries. Please contact our offices to learn if robotic surgery is right for your child.
Conditions we treat
Learn about the conditions we treat and the specialized programs we offer to our patients.
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernias
- Congenital malformations
- Fetal care
- Fetal Program
- Pediatric abdominal wall defects
- Pediatric gastroschisis
- Pediatric bowel management
- Pediatric burns
- Pediatric enterocolitis
- Pediatric esophageal atresia
- Pediatric gastrostomy tube program
- Pediatric global surgery
- Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease
- Pediatric intestinal rehabilitation program
- Pediatric omphalocele
- Pediatric surgical oncology
- Pediatric trauma
- Pilonidal care program
- Thyroid diseases
- Thyroid program
Learn more about us
Our locations
Outpatient care
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Specialty Care Practice UF Health Children's Surgical Center
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Specialty Care Practice UF Health Pediatric Metabolic & Obesity Program
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Specialty Care Practice UF Health Pediatric Specialties – Medical Plaza
Phone number:
(352) 265-8250Address:
1549 Gale Lemerand Drive
Second floor
Gainesville, Florida 32610 -
Specialty Care Practice UF Health Pediatric Specialties – Oakhurst
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Specialty Care Practice UF Health Pediatric Surgery – Medical Plaza
Phone number:
(352) 265-8800Address:
1549 Gale Lemerand Drive, Second Floor
Gainesville, Florida 32610 -
Specialty Care Practice UF Health Pediatric Surgery – Oakhurst
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Specialty Care Practice UF Health Pediatric Surgery – Tallahassee
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Specialty Care Practice UF Health Shands Burn Center
Rory's story
Rory faced a problem at birth that could have taken her life. Learn how UF Health problem-solvers in pediatric surgery and neonatology worked together to save her:
Our experts
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Shawn D Larson, MD, FACSPediatric Surgeon
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Steven L Raymond, MDPediatric Surgeon
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Janice A Taylor, MD, MEdPediatric Surgeon
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