UR Medicine Faculty
The University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group
(URMFG) consists of over 900 specialist and primary care providers spanning 19
departments.
URMFG is certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
Accountable Health Partner
Accountable Health Partners (AHP) is a network of
over 2,000 community and UR medical faculty and a dozen leading hospitals throughout the
region. AHP offers a full range of care.
I love being a pediatric surgeon because I am able to help children through surgery. It gratifying to make a profound impact in someone's life, particularly when they are so young. There are different challenges in infants, particularly those with severe congenital diseases. I find this motivates me...
I love being a pediatric surgeon because I am able to help children through surgery. It gratifying to make a profound impact in someone's life, particularly when they are so young. There are different challenges in infants, particularly those with severe congenital diseases. I find this motivates me to do my very best. To this end, I treat all general and thoracic neonatal and pediatric surgical diseases. These include common problems like hernias and appendicitis to rarer diseases such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia, gastroschisis, omphalocele, and pediatric solid tumors. I have significant experience in minimally invasive surgical treatments for most pediatric surgical conditions. In particular, I perform minimally invasive techniques in the chest and abdomen for inguinal hernia repair, appendectomy, gastrostomy, splenectomy, thoracoscopic and laparoscopic biopsies, colectomy for inflammatory bowel disease, pull through procedures for Hirschsprung disease, and operations for malrotation, reflux (GERD), and pyloric stenosis. I am particularly interested in nutritional support for children. I co-lead a multi-disciplinary team of providers to improve care for children receiving gastrostomy (G) tubes. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/gastroenterology/g-tube-home-care.aspx. As the Medical Director of the American College of Surgeons Verified Level I Pediatric Trauma Center at Golisano Children’s Hospital, we ensure that injured children receive the best care possible. We provide support across the spectrum from injury prevention through rehabilitation. I am also particularly interested in quality improvement and patient safety. I lead multiple quality improvement projects to improve surgical care for children. We work hard to create an environment where children can have the best outcomes in the safest way possible.
Certified Specialties
Pediatric Surgery
- American Board of Surgery
Surgery (General Surgery)
- American Board of Surgery
Faculty Appointments
Associate Professor
-
Department of Surgery, Pediatric Surgery (SMD)
Associate Professor
-
Department of Pediatrics (SMD) - Joint
Credentials
Residency & Fellowship
Fellowship, Pediatric Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine. 2014 - 2016
Residency, Surgery (General Surgery), Barnes-Jewish Hospital. 2011 - 2014
Fellowship, St. Louis University Nephrology Fellowship Program. 2008 - 2011
Residency, Surgery (General Surgery), Barnes-Jewish Hospital. 2007 - 2008
Internship, Surgery (General Surgery), Barnes-Jewish Hospital. 2006 - 2007
Education
MD | Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.2006
Awards
Quality Award: Best Quality Improvement Abstract and Manuscript.2020
URMC Board Excellence Award - Service Excellence Team Award for SIMORS (Simulation for Operating Room Safety) team – team leader.2019
URMC 5th Annual Institute for Innovative Education Team Based Care Summit Award for PEPS (Pursuing Excellence in Pediatric Surge.2019
Best Trauma Abstract Winner:.2019
recognition of Pediatric Trauma Imaging Group – team leader.2018
recognition of Pediatric Surgery Quality Improvement Group- team member.2017
Gregorio A. Sicard Fellow Teaching Award.2016
Eugene Bricker Teaching Award.2014
Walter Ballinger II Administrative Chief Resident.2013 - 2014
Washington University Resident Teacher of the Year.2013
Resident Representative.2012 - 2013
Best Basic Science abstract.2011
Surgery Resident Teaching Award.2011
Administrative Lab Resident.2010 - 2011
Surgical Jeopardy Finalist.2010
Best Basic Science Quick Shot Presentation.2010
Wells Day Winner - best original resident research.2010
Surgery Resident Teaching Award.2010
Surgery Resident Teaching Award.2009
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) member.2005
Research
My primary academic focus is in quality and safety improvement. I lead several quality improvement initiatives including efforts to improve care for children after surgical procedures. We have grant funding to improve care for children and their caregivers after gastrostomy (G) tube insertion. As th...
My primary academic focus is in quality and safety improvement. I lead several quality improvement initiatives including efforts to improve care for children after surgical procedures. We have grant funding to improve care for children and their caregivers after gastrostomy (G) tube insertion. As the Pediatric Trauma Medical Director at Golisano Children’s Hospital, I lead quality improvement efforts in injury prevention and minimizing unnecessary imaging and radiation. Furthermore, I have a leadership role in a departmental initiative to improve value-based care. We have initiated projects to de-implement unnecessary post-operative testing and reduce waste in the operating room. I co-lead the New York State Pediatric Trauma Research Consortium. I am the surgeon representative for Golisano Children’s Hospital for a national pediatric surgery quality improvement collaborative. I am a member of another collaborative researching the effects of social determinants of health on children’s surgical care and outcomes.
Wilson NA, Ruffolo L, Juviler P, Fabiano T, Kelly W, Lillvis D, Edwards M, Vu N, Chiou R, Wallenstein K, Craven A, Klein-Cloud R, Bullaro F, Philipose J, Salik I, Fisher J, Wakeman DS
The journal of trauma and acute care surgery.. 2025 February 6 Epub 02/06/2025.
Kelley-Quon LI, Acker SN, St Peter S, Goldin A, Yousef Y, Ricca RL, Mansfield SA, Sulkowski JP, Huerta CT, Lucas DJ, Rialon KL, Christison-Lagay E, Ham PB, Rentea RM, Beres AL, Kulaylat AN, Chang HL, Polites SF, Diesen DL, Gonzalez KW, Wakeman D, Baird R
Journal of pediatric surgery.. 2024 October 59 (10):161585. Epub 06/14/2024.
Hegde B, Garcia E, Hu A, Raval M, Takirambudde S, Wakeman D, Lewit R, Gosain A, Parrado RH, Cina RA, Stephenson K, Dassinger MS, Zhang D, Mustafa MM, Koo D, Lipskar AM, Scheidler K, Van Arendonk KJ, Berg P, Gonzalez R, Scheese D, Haynes J, Mina A, Zamora IJ, Lopez ME, Mehl SC, Gilliam E, Lofberg K, Spencer B, Kulaylat AN, Gulack BC, Johnson M, Laskovy M, Brahmamdam P, Shimomura A, Blanch T, Tsao K, Slater BJ
Journal of pediatric surgery.. 2023 July 58 (7):1375-1382. Epub 08/13/2022.
Pediatric and developmental pathology : the official journal of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Paediatric Pathology Society.. 2022 25 (4):474-478. Epub 03/28/2022.
Lu J, Garcia AM, Geisman T, Wakeman D, Warner BW, Swietlicki EA, Levin MS, Rubin DC
Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology.. 2016 38 (4):1532-43. Epub 04/07/2016.
Leinicke JA, Longshore S, Wakeman D, Guo J, Warner BW
Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.. 2012 January 16 (1):148-55; discussion 155. Epub 11/01/2011.
Succeeding in Paediatric Surgery Examinations
(2012)
Chapter: Short bowel syndrome
Authors: Leinicke JA; Wakeman DS; Warner BW
Publisher:
Radcliffe Medical Press Ltd, London UK 2012
Succeeding in Paediatreic Surgery Examinations
(2012)
Chapter: Short bowel syndrome
Authors: Wakeman DS; Leinicke JA; Warmer BW
Publisher:
Radcliffe Medical Press Ltd, London UK 2012
The Washington Manual of Sugery, 6th ed
(2011)
Chapter: Burns
Authors: Wakeman D and Southard RE
Publisher:
Lipincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelpha, PA 2011
Ratings & Comments
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Ratings
Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries
4.9 stars
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care
4.9 stars
Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition
4.9 stars
Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others
4.9 stars
Care provider's discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)
4.9 stars
Patient Comments
5.0 stars
Dr. Wakeman has always made my son feel important and his brother who isn't even his patient. Dr. Wakeman always listens and asks for our (the parents) input. Always been completely on top of his care from day one 5 years ago. I already recommended him to someone.
Mar 15, 2022
5.0 stars
He was very thorough and friendly/courteous to my son which lessened his anxiety.