General and Thoracic Surgery

What We Treat

Our pediatric-trained general surgeons are experienced in caring for the wide variety of medical issues children may have, from hernias to appendicitis. We work with pediatric specialists across the Children’s system any time a child needs surgery to provide comprehensive, safe, child-friendly care for infants to young adults.

Illnesses, conditions and injuries treated include:

Abdominal surgeries

  • Abdominal trauma from accidents or impact
  • Abdominal tumors, cancerous and noncancerous
  • Wilms tumor: or nephroblastoma, a cancerous tumor that starts in the kidneys
  • Anal fissure: cracks or tears in the anus or anal canal
  • Appendicitis: a painful swelling or infection of the appendix
  • Bariatric: for children with extreme weight issues, including serious health conditions caused by obesity, the Strong4Life Clinic also provides a comprehensive bariatric surgery program
  • Biliary atresia: a chronic, progressive liver problem
  • Diaphragmatic hernias: an opening in the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity)
  • Duodenal atresia: a condition that can cause blocking of the intestines
  • Duodenal stenosis: narrowing of the small intestine that can cause partial blocking
  • Gallbladder disease: a condition of the gallbladder, a sac that stores fluid from the liver (bile)
  • Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD): backing up of the stomach’s contents into the esophagus
  • Hernia (umbilical or inguinal): a section of the intestines that comes through the abdominal muscles
  • Hepatobiliary cysts: masses in the liver or bile ducts
  • Hepatobiliary tumors: cancerous or noncancerous tumors of the liver or bile ducts
  • Hirschsprung's disease: a condition of the nerve cells in the stomach that normally help move food forward 
  • Imperforate anus: a birth defect in which the anus is malformed
  • Inflammatory bowel disease: including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, inflammatory diseases of the bowels
  • Cloacal malformations: a birth defect in which the urinary tract, vagina and rectum to form a single common channel
  • Obstructions of the colon or large intestine
  • Perianal abscess: a collection of pus near the anus
  • Rectal prolapse: in which all or part of the rectum slides out of place
  • Undescended testes: when one or more of the testes have not passed down into the scrotum

Thoracic (chest) surgeries

  • Brachial cleft abnormality: a mass of abnormally formed tissue within the neck.
  • Cystic hygroma: a mass in the head or neck that results from an abnormal formation of lymphatic vessels that help carry tissue fluids to the lymph nodes and back to the bloodstream.
  • Esophageal stenosis: a narrowing of the esophagus that can cause swallowing difficulties.
  • Head and neck tumors: cancerous and noncancerous.
  • Torticollis: when an infant’s neck muscle is shortened causing the neck to twist.
  • Chest wall deformities: a structural problem of the chest.
  • Lung and mediastinum malformations: defects of the lungs or the membrane between the lungs.
  • Pectus excavatum (sunken chest or funnel chest): in which the chest has a caved-in appearance.

Other surgeries

  • Neuroblastoma: cancer that begins in nerve cells in infants and young children
  • Cellulitis: a deep bacterial infection of the skin
  • Circumcision: surgical removal of the skin covering the penis

Services We Offer

Comprehensive, advanced surgical care

Our general and thoracic surgery team department offers comprehensive, advanced surgical care to infants (including newborns), children and teens including:

  • Trauma surgery
  • Surgical critical care
  • Thoracic (chest) surgery
  • Abdominal surgery
  • Head and neck surgery
  • Hernia repair
  • Bariatric (weight loss) surgery
  • Neonatal/congenital malformations
  • Pediatric gynecology

A variety of clinics and programs

Our general surgeons also participate in the following multispecialty clinics and programs:

  • Aerodigestive Center: Provides evaluations and treatment for children with disorders involving the upper digestive tract, airway and respiratory systems.
  • Pelvic and Anorectal Care Program: Provides care for children with diseases that lead to constipation, soiling, poor motility and pain.
  • Strong4Life Clinic: Staffed by a team of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists and exercise physiologists who work with children and families to treat or prevent obesity. The clinic promotes an active lifestyle, healthy eating and other preventive measures, and also offers a surgical weight loss program.
  • Vascular Anomalies Clinic: One of the only centers in the country to offer specialized, coordinated care for children with vascular anomalies.

Our Unique Approach

Our pediatric general and thoracic surgeons have advanced training in surgery to treat a wide range of conditions on children from newborns to teens. Nearly half of all the operations performed at Children’s involve a pediatric general surgeon. Whatever your child’s needs, we will work together and with other specialists to provide safe, comprehensive surgical care.

Helpful Resources

Parent resources

Request a new patient appointment

New patient questionnaire 

Download "Five things you need to know before your child's appointment"

Pre-anesthesia history forms

When your child is scheduled for surgery, you need to fill out a pre-anesthesia history form with health questions about your child. You can fill out this form in advance at home and save time. Choose the link for the location where your child is having surgery:

Egleston hospital pre-anesthesia history form

Scottish Rite hospital pre-anesthesia history form

Children's at Satellite Boulevard pre-anesthesia history form

Children's at Meridian Mark pre-anesthesia history form

MYchart

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Meet the Team

Our general surgery team

At Children's, our team is 100 percent committed to kids. Our pediatric doctors and nurses understand that children’s medical and emotional needs are different from adults. That is why we use specialized equipment and techniques to provide the care kids need to thrive. Every member of our team has just one focus—help kids and teens get better faster. 

Our team of pediatric-trained general surgeons includes:

  • Samiksha B Bansal, MD

    Samiksha B Bansal, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Samiksha B Bansal, MD

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    Samiksha B Bansal, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Research Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    • Medical School: Jawarharlal Nehru Medical College
    • Residency: Jawarharlal Nehru Medical College
    • Residency: State University of NY Upstate Medical University
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital Colorado
    • Fellowship: Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children
    • Fellowship: Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital St Louis University

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Amina M Bhatia, MD

    Amina M Bhatia, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Amina M Bhatia, MD

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    Amina M Bhatia, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Research Fellowship: Childrens Mercy Hospital
    • Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
    • Residency: University of New Mexico School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Emory University
    • Fellowship: Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    John C Bleacher, MD

    John C Bleacher, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    John C Bleacher, MD

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    John C Bleacher, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Wright State University School of Medicine
    • Internship: Penn State Hershey Medical Center
    • Residency: Penn State Hershey Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Childrens National Medical Center

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Joseph G Bussey, III, MD

    Joseph G Bussey, III, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Joseph G Bussey, III, MD

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    Joseph G Bussey, III, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Research Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical Center
    • Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
    • Residency: John Straumanis
    • Fellowship: Hasbro Children's Hospital-Life Span Health System

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Matthew S Clifton, MD

    Matthew S Clifton, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Matthew S Clifton, MD

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    Matthew S Clifton, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Georgetown University School Of Medicine
    • Residency: University of California, San Francisco Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Megan M Durham, MD

    Megan M Durham, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Megan M Durham, MD

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    Megan M Durham, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Julie R Glasson, MD

    Julie R Glasson, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Julie R Glasson, MD

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    Julie R Glasson, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Harvard Medical School
    • Residency: Stanford University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital of Michigan
    • Fellowship: Stanford University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital of Michigan

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Kurt F Heiss, MD

    Kurt F Heiss, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Kurt F Heiss, MD

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    Kurt F Heiss, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School
    • Internship: University of Michigan Hospitals
    • Residency: University of Michigan Hospitals
    • Fellowship: Hospital for Sick Children

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Jonathan A Meisel, MD

    Jonathan A Meisel, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Jonathan A Meisel, MD

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    Jonathan A Meisel, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
    • Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Rona Norelius, MD

    Rona Norelius, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Rona Norelius, MD

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    Rona Norelius, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
    • Residency: University of Rochester - Surgical Residency
    • Fellowship: University of Texas Health Science at Houston

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Paul M Parker, MD

    Paul M Parker, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Paul M Parker, MD

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    Paul M Parker, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
    • Internship: University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
    • Residency: University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
    • Fellowship: St Christophers Hospital for Children

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    George R Raschbaum, MD

    George R Raschbaum, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    George R Raschbaum, MD

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    George R Raschbaum, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
    • Residency: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
    • Fellowship: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Mehul V Raval, MD

    Mehul V Raval, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Mehul V Raval, MD

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    Mehul V Raval, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
    • Residency: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University
    • Fellowship: Nationwide Children's Hospital - Ohio State University

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Matthew Thomas Santore, MD

    Matthew Thomas Santore, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Matthew Thomas Santore, MD

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    Matthew Thomas Santore, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago
    • Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
    • Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Alexis Deana Smith, MD

    Alexis Deana Smith, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Alexis Deana Smith, MD

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    Alexis Deana Smith, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
    • Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Brown University Program

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Mark L Wulkan, MD

    Mark L Wulkan, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Mark L Wulkan, MD

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    Mark L Wulkan, MD

    Pediatric Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Jackson Memorial Hospital
    • Residency: Childrens Hospital of Alabama
    • Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital of Alabama

    Children's
    Physician Group

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart

Locations

We're moving

Century Blvd. office is moving In July, our practice, along with our doctors, nurses and staff, will be moving from our Century Blvd. office to a new location in the Center for Advanced Pediatrics. This facility is located at 1400 Tullie Road NE in Atlanta. We are scheduled to open in the new building July 24. All other offices will remain open.

Learn more
Children's at Forsyth

410 Peachtree Parkway, The Collection at Forsyth

Cumming, GA 30041-7407

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Children's at Satellite Boulevard

2660 Satellite Blvd.

Duluth, GA 30096-5803

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Athens Clinic

1000 Hawthorne Avenue

Athens, GA 30606

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Children's Medical Office Building at Scottish Rite hospital

5461 Meridian Mark Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30342-1654

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Children's at Century Boulevard

1975 Century Boulevard

Atlanta, GA 30345

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Children's at Fayette

1265 Highway 54 West, Suite 200

Fayetteville, GA 30214-4526

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Children's at Old Milton Parkway

3300 Old Milton Parkway

Alpharetta, GA 30005

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Children's at Town Center Outpatient Care Center

605 Big Shanty Road NW

Kennesaw, GA 30144-6812

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Children’s at East Cobb

1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 2

Marietta, GA 30068

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Regional Pediatric Center

705 17th Street, Suite 406

Columbus, GA 31901

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View all general surgery locations