Saint Barnabas Medical Center is excited to welcome Christopher A. Gitzelmann, MD, to its Pediatric Specialty Center. As a pediatric surgeon, he has expertise in highly specialized pediatric laparoscopic surgical cases as well as pediatric general surgery.
Dr. Gitzelmann was awarded his medical degree from the University of Zurich Medical School in 1991. From there, he successfully 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 Johns 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’s commitment to excellence and quality in surgery led him to the position of Director of Quality, Safety and Outcomes for the Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center. There, he 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.
Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Gitzelmann, built and maintains the only Upstate NY Bowel Management clinic. This clinic serves children with chronic constipation from surgical and non-surgical diseases and assists with rehabilitation after surgery. He has published many articles and abstracts 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, European Club for Pediatric Burns, Swiss Society of Pediatric Surgeons, International Pediatric Endosurgery Group, and European Union Pediatric Surgery Association. In addition to English, Dr. Gitzelmann speaks German, Swedish, French and Italian.
To make an appointment with Dr. Gitzelmann, please call 973.322.6900.