Meet the Experts
Meet the Pancreas Care Experts at Nationwide Children’s
Our team of Pancreas Care medical specialists and surgeons is one of the most experienced in the country. We have established a well-rounded and robust approach to care for infants, children and teens suffering from pancreatic conditions. Our multidisciplinary team addresses the complex and interconnected circumstances that contribute to the health of our patients, so they can achieve the best possible outcomes and quality of life.
A. Jay Freeman, MD, MSc
Medical Director, Pancreas Care
Dr. Freeman is a leader in the care of children with pancreatic disorders as well as the GI and liver complications of cystic fibrosis. He is the lead author on the first comprehensive pediatric guidelines for the management of chronic pancreatitis, published in 2021, and has authored numerous manuscripts and participated in international position papers and the development of guidelines. Areas of leadership include acute and chronic pancreatitis, nutritional management of pancreatitis, constipation, and liver transplantation in cystic fibrosis. His emphasis on diverse, patient-specific management techniques for diseases of the pancreas and liver has fostered a program-wide focus on comprehensive, individualized plans for pain management, nutrition and patient well-being. Patient education and family involvement are at the root of Dr. Freeman’s much-admired approach to skillful and intuitive clinical care.
Jaimie D. Nathan, MD
Surgical Director, Pancreas and Liver Care Center
Chief, Abdominal Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery
Dr. Nathan is the most experienced board-certified pediatric surgeon in the United States performing the complex TPIAT procedure. He has performed more than 100 TPIAT operations and has more than 10 years of dedicated experience in pediatric pancreatic surgery, and more than 15 years of experience in liver transplantation. He is the lead author on the first position paper on the role of surgery in the management of chronic pancreatitis in children, published in 2022, in addition to an extensive list of publications in the field of pancreatic and liver diseases in children, numerous invited presentations and seminars nationally and internationally. His growing surgical team offers the field’s most advanced procedures, with the insight and input of leading experts in medical management, imaging, endoscopy and pain control.
Meet Dr. Nathan
Balamurugan N. Appakalai, PhD
Director, Islet Cell Transplantation and Beta Cell Biology
Dr. Appakalai leads the Islet Cell Isolation Program, an essential component of TPIAT procedures. A long-time collaborator with Dr. Nathan, Dr. Appakalai is among the world’s most experienced in processing human pancreases for clinical islet autotransplantation and allotransplantation. He has processed more than 1,500 pancreases for clinical transplant and islet biology research. Dr. Appakalai’s research is focused on improving the islet yield and making islet transplantation more effective. His lab is dedicated to preserving and improving blood circulation to isolated islets after transplantation to maximize the potential for insulin independence.
Meet Dr. Appakalai
Speak With Our Team
When your child needs specialized treatment, you want the best. The Pancreas and Liver Care Center team at Nationwide Children’s reviews every child’s case to ensure they receive the right therapy for their needs. TPIAT is one of many treatments offered here. Our team includes the most experienced board-certified pediatric TPIAT surgeon in the country and one of the most experienced islet isolation scientists in the world. Fill out the form below to be contacted by our experts to find out if TPIAT is right for your child.