Christopher Gitzelmann, MD, Medical Director of Pediatric Surgery, RWJBH Northern Region; Chief of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of New Jersey NBI & Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Christopher Gitzelmann, MD, is a board certified, fellowship-trained pediatric surgeon with RWJBarnabas Health. After earning his medical degree from the University of Zurich Medical School in 1991, Dr. Gitzelmann completed his residency in general surgery at the University Hospital of Zurich. Following this training, Dr. Gitzelmann pursued a post-doctoral pediatric surgery research-fellowship at John’s Hopkins in Baltimore, MD, where he focused on the benefits of laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery. He then went on to complete his pediatric surgery fellowship at the University Children's Hospital of Zurich.
Dr. Gitzelmann later held the faculty positions of Attending Pediatric Surgeon; Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery; and Co-Director of Neonatal, Abdominal and Thoracic Surgery at the University Children’s Hospital of Zurich. He later was recruited to the Golisano Children’s Hospital and the University of Rochester where he enjoyed a successful tenure of ten years before being recruited to RWJBarnabas Health to transform Pediatric Surgery in 2019.
As an expert in highly specialized neonatal and pediatric laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Gitzelmann tailors each surgery to each child and family as no two congenital defects are exactly the same. He specializes in the reconstruction of congenital malformations of the newborn, minimally invasive laparoscopic treatment of anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung’s disease. In addition to these subspecialized procedures, Dr. Gitzelmann treats all pediatric general surgery diseases.
Committed to quality outcomes, clinical excellence, and academic integrity, as the Medical Director of Pediatric Surgery for RWJBarnabas northern region, Dr. Gitzelmann leads a group of clinicians and ensures clinical care is evidence based and administered to the highest standard. This ensures all patients receive the same care, regardless of which institution they present to. He has served as the Surgeon Champion for the American College of Surgeon’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for both pediatric and adult surgery and co-chaired the Pediatric Surgical Services Quality council. He educates and mentors medical students and surgical residents, receiving the annual resident teaching award multiple years in a row.
He has published many articles, abstracts and book chapters as well as given oral presentations and guest lectures. Dr. Gitzelmann is a member of numerous professional societies including: American College of Surgeons, American Pediatric Surgical Association, The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, The Swiss Society of Pediatric Surgeons, International Pediatric Endosurgery Group, and European Union Pediatric Surgery Association.
In addition to English, Dr. Gitzelmann speaks German, Swiss-German and Swedish fluently.
Philosophy of Care:
Dr. Gitzelmann is dedicated to treating all pediatric general surgery conditions with a patient-first philosophy. As a fierce advocate for doing what is best each time, he ensures that every patient receives a thorough evaluation and necessary work-up before proceeding to surgery. Dr. Gitzelmann is an expert in neonatal and pediatric laparoscopic surgery, tailoring each procedure to the individual needs of each child and family, recognizing that no two congenital defects are exactly the same. He specializes in the reconstruction of congenital malformations of the newborn, minimally invasive laparoscopic treatment of anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung’s disease.
Procedures:
Telehealth Available Appendicitis Anorectal malformations, including imperforate anus Atresia Feeding tube placement Gastroschisis Hernias Hirschsprung disease Intestinal obstruction Intestinal malrotation Intussusception Minimally invasive surgery Midgut volvulus Omphalocele Tracheaoesophageal fistula (TEF) Surgery to remove tumors/masses such as Wims tumors, teratomas, cysts and neuroblastomas Port placement for chemotherapy Sarcomas such as rhabdomyosarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas Congenital diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) repair Biliary atresia Choledochal cysts Cholelithiasis and gallbladder dysfunction Liver tumors and masses Pancreatic disorders CCAM and lobar emphysema EmpyemaTelehealth Available Appendicitis Anorectal malformations, including imperforate anus Atresia Feeding tube placement Gastroschisis Hernias Hirschsprung disease Intestinal obstruction Intestinal malrotation Intussusception Minimally invasive surgery Midgut volvulus Omphalocele Tracheaoesophageal fistula (TEF) Surgery to remove tumors/masses such as Wims tumors, teratomas, cysts and neuroblastomas Port placement for chemotherapy Sarcomas such as rhabdomyosarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas Congenital diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) repair Biliary atresia Choledochal cysts Cholelithiasis and gallbladder dysfunction Liver tumors and masses Pancreatic disorders CCAM and lobar emphysema Empyema
Conditions:
Acute Abdomen Abdominal Mass Abdominal Pain Abscess-Site Anal Fistula Anorectal malformations Appendicitis Congenital malformations of the newborn Constipation Cyst (Dermoid, Pilomatrixoma, Sebaceous) Foreign Body Gall Bladder Disease Gastrostomy Gastroesophageal Reflux Hemangioma Hernia (Epigastric,Hiatal,Inguinal,Umbilical) Hirschsprung's Disease Illness of NICU babies Inflammatory Bowel Disease Lipoma Lung Mass/Lesion Lymphadenopathy Lymphangioma Nevus Evaluation Neck Lesion (Branchial Cleft, Dermoid, Lymph Node) Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Thyroid Mass Ovarian Cyst/Mass Pectus Deformity Polydactyly Precocious puberty Rib/Chest Wall Mass Skin Tags-Congenital
