Meet the CCPR Team
Meet Dr. Richard Wood
Dr. Richard Wood serves as chief of our Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction, one of the first centers in the world to formally integrate all specialties involved in providing complete care of the colon and rectum in kids.
Meet Dr. Daniel DaJusta
Daniel G. DaJusta, MD, is a surgeon in the Section of Urology and the Director of Urologic Surgery for the Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Meet Dr. Ihab Halaweish
Ihab Halaweish, MD, is a pediatric surgeon in the Division of Pediatric Surgery and Center for Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.
Meet Dr. Alessandra Gasior
Dr. Alessandra Gasior is the the world’s only colorectal surgeon to be fellowship trained in both pediatric and adult colorectal surgery. She has a unique perspective to provide the best clinical options for patients of any age. As the medical director of Colorectal Transitional Care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital she helps ensure that patients with colorectal conditions have a smooth transition of care once they reach adulthood.
Watch CCPR Patient Stories
Malakai's Journey with VACTERL
374. That’s the number of days sweet Malakai called the hospital his home. He was diagnosed with VACTERL, an acronym for a series of birth defects. But his case was among the most severe due to a series of complications during surgical procedures in his home state. When he arrived at NCH, Malakai was experiencing multiple organ failure, sepsis and his bowels were bursting out of his body. Our Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction ultimately saved his life. Learn more about his amazing journey and how he’s doing one year after discharge.
VACTERL Syndrome | Lily's Story
To be diagnosed with VACTERL you only need three letters. Lily has all seven. VACTERL, which stands for Vertebral, Anorectal, Cardiac, Tracheal, Esophageal, Renal, Limb abnormalities, is a condition that occurs as the baby is developing in their mother’s womb and is present at birth. Watch Lily’s journey to reach her full potential thanks to the experienced team at Nationwide Children’s.
Tethered Cord Syndrome: Christin's Story
The Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction is one of the first centers in the world to formally integrate all specialties involved in providing complete care of the colon and rectum in kids, joining the teams for Colorectal Surgery, Gastroenterology, Gynecology and Urology. Meet one of our families that travels out of state for life-changing care here at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
From Strategy to Success | Inside Our Bowel Management Program
Two patients, two journeys. One program to help them both. Our Bowel Management Program is a week-long program for children dealing with constipation and the inability to control stool when it needs to stay inside or leave the body. This is called fecal incontinence, soiling, or having an accident.
Learn More About Cloacal Exstrophy and Treatment
Treating and Diagnosing Cloacal Exstrophy
Sit in during a casual, unscripted conversation with Drs. Wood and Jayanthi on everything you need to know about your child's cloacal exstrophy diagnosis. Our experts are here for you and your child through every step to achieve best outcomes and a better quality of life.
Q & A: Surgeons Discuss Cloacal Malformations
Richard Wood, MD, and Daniel DaJusta, MD, share how they take care of kids with cloacal malformations. They discuss the evolution of their methods over the years, highlighting their primary focus on protecting renal function, as many children with this condition have only one kidney.
CCPR Offers Transitional Care for Youth and Adults
Q & A: Our Colorectal Transitional Care Program
Alessandra Gasior, DO, noticed many adult patients were visiting the pediatric clinic. She saw a need for extra care for these adults. Watch as she and Richard Wood, MD, talk about how the Transitional Care Clinic helps improve these patients’ lives.
5 Things to Know About Our Transition Clinic
The Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction (CCPR) team is committed to providing optimal outcomes and quality of life throughout a patient’s life. As a children’s hospital, we are the ideal location for children – as well as adults of any age – with colorectal malformations and other congenital conditions to receive care. These unique conditions can continue to impact life into adulthood, but adult-focused physicians are often unfamiliar with the types of surgical and medical care they require. It is crucial for children to learn how to become active participants in their care, as well as to find adult providers who can offer appropriate care.
Prepare for Your CCPR Visit
Insurance 101
Navigating through insurance claims can be tricky for families, but we're here to help. Our insurance specialists are known for their easy-to-understand tips to make sure you're on track.
Sacral Nerve Stimulation Therapy
For patients who struggle with bowel and bladder accidents, there are many treatment options that can help. Treatment options include medications, physical therapy, behavioral training, mechanical bowel flushes, and sometimes surgery. Still, some patients struggle with accidents even after all the usual treatment options have been tried. For those patients, sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) might be an option. SNS (sometimes called sacral neuromodulation) involves a two-stage procedure.
Hirschsprung Disease Safety 101
If your child has been diagnosed with Hirschsprung Disease, we're here for you every step of the way. Our team is dedicated to best outcomes and is here to answer all your questions. For a brief introduction to Hirschsprung Disease and how to treat it, here's more.