Pediatric Surgery | Fetal Treatment

Each member of our team plays an integral role in your care. The team includes those involved directly in your care as well as researchers who are developing new and safer methods of fetal surgery. Our team meets weekly to discuss your care, patient outcomes, birth results, and -- equally important -- to share recent research that ultimately may result in even more effective fetal interventions.

Our approach combines the expertise of our Pediatric Surgery Division with the knowledge of leaders from established programs in genetics, radiology, maternal-fetal medicine, anesthesia and neonatal medicine. You can expect to interact with a variety of health care specialists, including perinatologists, who specialize in high-risk pregnancies, pediatric surgeons and anesthesiologists.

Our doctors will speak with you at length about your baby's condition, the procedure, risks, possible benefits and potential complications of fetal surgery.

Our surgeons will perform your surgery and manage your postoperative care together with other members our fetal therapy team.

A perinatologist is an obstetrician who has special training in managing patients with high-risk pregnancies, or complications during pregnancy. As a member of the Fetal Treatment Center team, the perinatologist is responsible for managing all aspects of your prenatal care.

Neonatologists are pediatricians with special expertise in caring for sick or premature infants. The neonatologists at the Fetal Treatment Center are world leaders in caring for babies requiring intensive care after birth.

Our FTC radiologists specialize in obstetrical sonography and magnetic resource imaging (MRI). They will use this technology to provide specific details about your baby's birth defect. The radiologist also provides ultrasound guidance during the actual surgery. After fetal surgery, the radiologists will perform further ultrasound and echocardiography studies to monitor your baby's well-being.

An anesthesiologist will meet with you before surgery to discuss your medical history and previous anesthetic history. He will administer anesthesia during your surgery and monitor you and your baby throughout the surgical procedure. After the operation, he will be responsible for your pain management.

The UCSF Fetal Cardiovascular Program performs sophisticated imaging as early as the late first trimester to assess and manage fetal and pediatric heart disease.

Our nurse coordinators will play an important role in your care, beginning with communicating with your physician. They will coordinate your appointments for sonography, echocardiology and laboratory testing, and arrange consultations with medical team members. Feel free to contact our coordinators at any time before surgery or after you leave if you have any concerns.

Robin Bisgaard is the nurse research coordinator for the Fetal Treatment Center and for the Division of Pediatric Surgery. She earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Syracuse University in New York and has been a nurse in the Intensive Care Nursery at UCSF Children's Hospital since 1986.

Bisgaard has held positions in various areas including ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) nursing and neonatal and pediatric transport, as well as providing neonatal and high-risk pediatric home care. Most recently, she was the discharge coordinator and case manager for the Intensive Care Nursery where she was responsible for discharging infants with complex medical and surgical needs.

Jody Farrell is the nurse coordinator for the Fetal Treatment Center, which receives hundreds of referrals annually. Farrell uses her many years of neonatal experience to provide referring physicians and patients with information on the causes, effects and evaluation of fetuses with birth defects.

In addition, Farrell, a registered nurse at UCSF Medical Center for over 20 years, maintains the database on all patient referrals. Previously, she worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery, as a staff nurse and as a member of the Neonatal and Pediatric Transport team. From 1991 to 1994, Farrell was the coordinator of the Neonatal/Pediatric ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) Program.

Farrell earned her undergraduate degree and completed requirements for an advanced practice pediatric nurse practitioner master's degree at the UCSF School of Nursing.

Tamara Ryan is the clinical coordinator of the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) for the Fetal Treatment Center at UCSF Children's Hospital. She enjoys working closely with families and has a passion for research that makes a difference.

A registered nurse since 1984, Ryan uses her extensive experience to care for critically ill patients. She has worked for UCSF since 1989, primarily coordinating a number of clinical trials. Ryan received her nursing degree at Columbus Technical Institute in Ohio.

Stephanie Berman, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), is available to you throughout your stay and your baby's stay. Our social worker can help you identify ways to cope with the stress of the situation. She also will give you a tour of the intensive care nursery and other facilities, and help you prepare for what to expect after the baby is born. She also can assist you with lodging arrangements and financial or insurance questions you may have.