Derek Wakeman, M.D.

I love being a pediatric surgeon because I am able to help children through surgery. It gratifying to make a profound impact in someone's life, particularly when they are so young. There are different challenges in infants, particularly those with severe congenital diseases. I find this motivates me to do my very best.
To this end, I treat all general and thoracic neonatal and pediatric surgical diseases. These include common problems like hernias and appendicitis to rarer diseases such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia, gastroschisis, omphalocele, and pediatric solid tumors. I have significant experience in minimally invasive surgical treatments for most pediatric surgical conditions. In particular, I perform minimally invasive techniques in the chest and abdomen for inguinal hernia repair, appendectomy, gastrostomy, splenectomy, thoracoscopic and laparoscopic biopsies, colectomy for inflammatory bowel disease, pull through procedures for Hirschsprung disease, and operations for malrotation, reflux (GERD), and pyloric stenosis. I am particularly interested in nutritional support for children. I co-lead a multi-disciplinary team of providers to improve care for children receiving gastrostomy (G) tubes.
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/gastroenterology/g-tube-home-care.aspx.
As the Medical Director of the American College of Surgeons Verified Level I Pediatric Trauma Center at Golisano Children’s Hospital, we ensure that injured children receive the best care possible. We provide support across the spectrum from injury prevention through rehabilitation.
I am also particularly interested in quality improvement and patient safety. I lead multiple quality improvement projects to improve surgical care for children. We work hard to create an environment where children can have the best outcomes in the safest way possible.

Professional Background

I attended medical school at The College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. I completed my General Surgery residency and Pediatric Surgery fellowship training at Washington University in Saint Louis. I am American Board of Surgery certified in General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery. I have been on faculty as a Pediatric General Surgeon at URMC since 2016. I am a member of several national professional societies including the American College of Surgeons, American Pediatric Surgical Association, Pediatric Trauma Society, and the Association of Academic Surgeons. I am a member of several national committees within these organizations. Further, I co-lead the Pediatric Trauma subcommittee for the New York State Trauma Advisory Council. I also help create and advise content for the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project – Pediatric. I am the Surgeon Champion for NSQIP-Pediatric at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Research