The addition of a new CHOC pediatric surgeon with a unique expertise lays the groundwork for an expansion of CHOC’s surgical services for the smallest of patients.
While specializing in the full spectrum of pediatric surgery, Dr. Peter Yu has special expertise in the surgical treatment of babies before birth, and is working with hospital leadership to develop a multi-disciplinary fetal surgery program at CHOC in the near future.
“I’m extremely happy to be at CHOC,” Dr. Yu says. “There is so much talent and potential here, as well as a pioneering spirit and willingness to undertake big things.”
Fetal surgery was uncharted territory about 30 years ago, Dr. Yu says. The following years, however, have seen many advances, including new techniques that allow surgeons to treat babies while in utero for conditions that are life-threatening or potentially debilitating.
With special training from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a pioneering institution in fetal surgery, Dr. Yu is determined to bring that level of expert care to CHOC and augment his team’s scope of services.
Also specializing in neonatal, thoracic and hernia surgery, Dr. Yu is board certified in general surgery, pediatric surgery and surgical critical care. Among his other goals are enhancing CHOC’s trauma program, advancing its minimally invasive surgery program, and furthering CHOC’s national reputation through quality patient care and innovative research.
As a medical student at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Dr. Yu fell in love with the culture and technical aspects of surgery, as well as the potential to make sick patients better quickly.
“I realized that the best surgeons were kind, dedicated, hard-working and team players – traits that I really value,” he says. “When I discovered pediatric surgery, I felt it was a perfect fit for me.”
Dr. Yu completed his general surgery residency at UC San Diego, followed by a surgical critical care fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and a pediatric surgery fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is currently working on a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
In his spare time, Dr. Yu enjoys spending time with his three children and his wife, an intensive care nurse. He also enjoys surfing, basketball and competitive swimming on a local U.S. Masters swim team.
Call 714-364-4050 to schedule a consultation with a CHOC pediatric surgeon.
