New Pediatric Surgeon Joins Department of Orthopaedics

With a sterling pedigree that included a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and an additional time at Oxford University Hospitals in the United Kingdom, Susan Nelson, M.D., had several career options in front of her. 

After speaking with one of her mentors in Philadelphia, she chose to come to Rochester.

“I really liked the feel of the community,” said Nelson. “And it’s a growing practice, which is appealing to any new surgeon coming in. There’s definitely opportunity to build something here.”

Nelson is the newest faculty member in Pediatric Orthopaedics, having joined Golisano Children’s Hospital earlier this year. A native of Canada, she earned her medical degree at Queen’s University in Ontario, and holds a Master’s in Public Health from Harvard University. She went on to complete her orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Saskatchewan and is a fellow of  The Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. 

Though she’s adept treating a variety of pediatric orthopaedic conditions, including spine and hip problems as well as fractures, Nelson has taken a particular interest in cerebral palsy – management of the disease was the primary focus of her fellowship in Oxford. 

She’ll be exploring the feasibility of a comprehensive cerebral palsy program in Rochester. Patients with cerebral palsy often need treatment from multiple providers including orthopaedists, neurologists, developmental and behavioral pediatricians, rehabilitation medicine, physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, and more.  These complex patients could benefit from a multidisciplinary one-stop approach. 

“We have the people here and they’re all doing fantastic work, but we need to look at opportunities to better coordinate all of our efforts,” she said.