Message from the Chair

Marybeth Browne, MD, FAAP

AAP Section on Surgery
Chair, 2024-25

Growing up in Allentown, PA as the youngest of seven children, my siblings and I learned from our parents to work hard, advocate for our beliefs, listen to others’ opinions, and make the world a better place. Even as a child, I knew I wanted to be a physician, but it wasn’t until I was at Drexel University College of Medicine that I knew I wanted to be a surgeon. It was the surgeons at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago during my residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University who sparked my passion for Pediatric Surgery.

I was very fortunate to pursue my Pediatric Surgery fellowship at Children’s Memorial in Chicago. Early in my career at Children’s Memorial (now Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital), My mentor, Dr. Marleta Reynolds, encouraged me to feed my passion for better care by obtaining a Master’s degree in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety from Northwestern University. I used this knowledge to start Lurie Children’s Department of Surgery’s Quality and Safety committee and worked on DVT prevention, the Time Out Process, and the NSQIP program.

After 15 years, Chicago was my home. I was married, had beautiful twins, and loved my Lurie Children’s Hospital colleagues. But, as we all know, life isn’t always about work. Unfortunately, before my children were born, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Soon after their birth, I realized I needed to make a decision that would change my career and life path forever. I had to be close to my mother during her last years, so I reached out to the AAP Section on Surgery (AAP SOSu) community near Allentown, PA, to inquire about open positions. Dr. Thomas Whalen, a pediatric surgeon and Lehigh Valley Health Network’s CMO, was a kind, understanding, and wonderful mentor to me during this challenging time.

He found a neurologist for my mother and offered me the opportunity to grow a Pediatric Surgery multi-specialty division in my home community at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital (LVRCH). Although I was naïve about how difficult this challenge would be, I made a decision I have never regretted. I grew a Division of 2 clinicians to 15 specializing in Pediatric Surgery, Urology, ENT, and Plastics. Since LVRCH doesn’t have many specialists, the members of the children’s hospital have to collaborate, communicate, and dedicate themselves to the same clinical mission: what is best for the child.

As pediatric surgeons, we choose to dedicate our work to the lives of children, but we can’t do this alone. The care of children requires the collaboration and expertise of pediatricians, surgeons, and other pediatric specialists. This is why the mission of the AAP SOSu is “Together, We Heal Children.” In no other organization do we have the opportunity to collaborate, advocate, and make effective policies for the medical needs of children. As the Chair of the AAP Section on Surgery, I feel a tremendous honor and duty to make this a successful year for education, advocacy, and community building. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the AAP community. As surgeons, we educate each other and advocate for children. As a community, we support each other through difficult cases, burnout, second victimization, leadership growth, and mentorship, which results in many lasting friendships. 

Our committees will be active and inclusive throughout the year for our membership. Our Education committee will continue to sponsor scholarly Webex sessions. Our Trainee and Early Career committee will continue its mentorship program, have venues for young surgeons to connect with their more established colleagues, and host the yearly “case discussion for young surgeons” before the oral boards. Our Advocacy committee will continue to work with the AAP to endorse safety for children and encourage advocacy opportunities throughout the year for our members, including the AAP advocacy conference in Washington, DC. The Delivery of Surgery committee will continue to establish and complete projects that impact how we provide care. This year, we will establish a new task force within the Delivery of Surgery committee. This task force will be dedicated to members who work primarily in smaller hospital settings to address these surgeons’ unique needs. Lastly, our national meeting in Denver next September will be filled with diverse lectures, academic discussions, networking opportunities, and ample time to catch up with colleagues.

I never would have imagined earning the ultimate privilege of being the next Chair of the AAP Section on Surgery. As pediatric surgeons, we have the education and skills to make life better for children. Let’s seize this opportunity. Get involved. Join a committee. Advocate at your state level. Don’t assume others will do it. As my parents taught me, it is our job to make this world a better place.