CHOC wants its patients and families to get to know its specialists. Today, meet Dr. Maryam Gholizadeh, a pediatric surgeon. Dr. Gholizadeh attended medical school at George Washington University, and completed her residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C., and a pediatric surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She is currently the chair of pediatric surgery, and a member of the credentialing, medical executive and medical staff performance committees. She has been on staff at CHOC for 13 years.
Q: What are your special clinical interests?
A: All aspects of pediatric and neonatal surgery, surgical oncology and minimal invasive surgery.
Q: What are your most common diagnoses?
A: Appendicitis, hernias, lumps and bumps, as well as complex congenital pediatric and neonatal conditions.
Q: What would you most like community/referring providers to know about your division at CHOC?
A: As a general pediatric surgery division, we can take care of a variety of conditions such as hernias, hydroceles, gastrointestinal conditions requiring surgery, thoracic conditions, oncological problems requiring surgery such as neuroblastoma, Wilms’ tumor and teratomas.
Q: What inspires you most about the care being delivered here at CHOC?
A: We have a great group of specialists at CHOC who can deliver a high quality of care to our patients.
Q: Why did you decide to become a pediatric surgeon?
A: I decided to become a pediatric surgeon when I was a third year surgical resident on pediatric surgery rotation. Pediatric general surgery is the only field where you are able to take care of a variety of conditions. I found this field extremely rewarding, at the same time challenging.
Q: If you weren’t a physician, what would you be and why?
A: An athlete. I love the challenge, the discipline, and the fact you are always trying to do your best.
Q: What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
A: Running, cycling, skiing and playing with my dogs.
Q: What was the funniest thing a patient told you?
A: There was a young child around 8-9 years old and we were going to remove his appendix with laparoscopy. I was standing on his left side because with laparoscopy we make our incision on the left side. Just before he went to sleep he looked up at me and said, “Why are you standing on my left? My appendix is on the right.” I was amazed at how knowledgeable this kid was!
