At Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Dr. Suken A. Shah, The Shands/MacEwen Endowed Chair of Orthopedics and Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, leads with expertise and unwavering dedication to improve the lives of patients.
His professional journey is rooted in a commitment to medicine and determination to solve complex cases. Reflecting on his early career decisions, Dr. Shah notes, “I was drawn to surgery early on, particularly during my medical school years.” Exposure to orthopedic surgery and guidance from esteemed mentors set him on the path to becoming a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Shah’s decision to specialize in orthopedics stemmed from a desire to restore function and mobility, particularly in pediatric patients, setting the stage for his impactful career.
Critical thinking and collaboration are essential components of patient care for Dr. Shah. “The most rewarding aspects of our work are when we can help a child with a complex problem,” he says. “We work together to take the child from the office, through traction, through a complicated surgery, and then recovery.” Through a multi-disciplinary approach, Dr. Shah and his team navigate intricate treatment. “The patients come back to the office like this never happened,” he says, “It’s really the most rewarding thing we do.”
At Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, innovation and education are a cornerstone of practice. “We have this pursuit of excellence every day,” says Dr. Shah. “We’re not necessarily satisfied with the status quo, and we attempt to innovate both in surgical technique, care pathways, pain management, but also in research.” His commitment to education is deeply ingrained in his approach to patient care. “We educate families, we educate patients, we educate residents and fellows, and even our peers when we go to meetings and present our research,” says Dr. Shah. “I think coming away from an interaction where someone really understood what you were trying to explain, especially a complex problem, is very rewarding to us.” This dedication to education not only enhances patient outcomes but also cultivates a culture of continuous learning and improvement at Nemours Children’s.
For Dr. Shah, the significance of pediatric spine treatment extends beyond clinical outcomes. It’s about empowering young patients and enabling them to embrace life to the fullest. “If we can restore function and mobility to a patient with a spinal deformity, by taking them safely through a complex operation, we can restore them to everything they like to do as a kid,” he explains. “Children also have an innocence, or naivete, and resilience that’s quite inspiring. You can do a complicated, multi-hour operation and they recover in a way that you would never expect. Sometimes, they don’t even know what’s headed their way, but they’re willing to trust you, and come out on the other side even better than ever.”
Dr. Suken A. Shah’s contributions to pediatric orthopedics are characterized by expertise, compassion, and innovation. As The Shands/MacEwen Endowed Chair of Orthopedics and Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, he continues to elevate standards of care, redefine possibilities, and transform the lives of patients and their families.
