Marleta Reynolds appointed surgeon-in-chief
Marleta Reynolds, MD, is no stranger to uncharted territory. Throughout her medical education, training and career, she has forged new pathways for women in pediatric surgery.
Dr. Reynolds was the first woman to complete the general surgery training program at Tulane University Affiliated Hospitals and the second woman to complete the cardiothoracic training program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The latest distinction in her trailblazing career is her prominent appointment as Children’s Memorial Hospital’s first female surgeon-in-chief. She is one of only four women in the U.S. serving in this role at a preeminent children’s hospital.
As surgeon-in-chief, Dr. Reynolds will oversee the Department of Surgery, which includes the Divisions of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery, Dentistry, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Transplant Surgery, and Urology. She will continue to serve as head of the Division of Pediatric Surgery, director of the ECMO Program, and a co-director of the Institute for Fetal Health.
“During the past 25 years at our institution, Dr. Reynolds has saved and improved the lives of countless children with her renowned surgical expertise and compassionate care,” says Patrick M. Magoon, president and CEO of Children’s Memorial Medical Center. “Her wide range of skills and her depth of experience, particularly with multi-disciplinary collaborations, make her uniquely qualified to lead our Department of Surgery.”
Dr. Reynolds discusses why she loves working at Children's Memorial.
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Dr. Reynolds holds the Lydia J. Fredrickson Professorship in Pediatric Surgery and is a professor of surgery at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Her areas of surgical expertise include developmental anomalies of the lung, diaphragm, intestines and abdominal wall; neonatal tumors; minimally invasive surgery and hernias, among others.
“My vision is to further establish Children’s Memorial as a national leader in surgical and clinical care by enhancing our existing programs and developing new areas of prominence that will attract patients from local and distant regions,” says Dr. Reynolds. “We plan to develop an even more robust surgical research program and to continue to recruit the best and the brightest. We have many national leaders already in place in our department, and our move downtown will only improve our ability to recruit faculty of the finest caliber. “
This article first appeared in the Fall 2009 issue of Heroes magazine. For a dose of inspiration sent right to your inbox, sign up to receive our Heroes Update. Or read important facts about us.