David Stitelman, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery (Pediatrics)Cards
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Surgery (Pediatrics)
Biography
David H. Stitelman, MD, is a surgeon in the Division of Pediatric Surgery within the Department of Surgery at Yale.
As a clinician, Dr. Stitelman cares for children of all ages. He is the surgical director of the Yale Fetal Care Center. Such a program allows families who are given a fetal diagnosis based on prenatal testing an opportunity to meet with surgeons, pediatric medical specialists, obstetricians and neonatologists to plan for the management of their babies before and after birth.
Dr. Stitelman also runs a basic science laboratory with a focus on prenatal therapy. The hope of this line of research is to treat and cure genetic and structural diseases before birth.
Appointments
Pediatric Surgery
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryObstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Fetal Care Center
- General Pediatric & Thoracic Surgery
- Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
- Pediatric Aerodigestive Disorders Program
- Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Surgery Program
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pediatric Trauma Surgery Program
- Radiobiology and Genome Integrity
- Surgery
- WHRY Pilot Project Program Investigators
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
- Yale Stem Cell Center
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2013)
- Residency
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (2011)
- MD
- University of Pennsylvania Medical School (2004)
Research
Publications
2024
Prenatal Therapy for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and Myelomeningocele: Advances in Particle-Based Delivery
Rivero R, Stitelman D. Prenatal Therapy for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and Myelomeningocele: Advances in Particle-Based Delivery. Current Stem Cell Reports 2024, 10: 51-57. DOI: 10.1007/s40778-024-00237-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCongenital diaphragmatic herniaDiaphragmatic herniaAnimal modelsIntra-amniotic injectionLong-term functional outcomeParticle-based deliveryFetal therapyPrenatal therapySpinal defectsTarget specific tissuesCo-morbiditiesCongenital diseaseFunctional outcomesTreatment deliveryStructural diseaseClinical translationMyelomeningoceleTherapyHerniaSpecific tissuesTissueDiseaseDeliveryPrenatallyParticle deliveryThe Technical and Ethical Framework of Fetal Therapy: Past and Current Advances
Lynn A, Glazer P, Saltzman W, Stitelman D. The Technical and Ethical Framework of Fetal Therapy: Past and Current Advances. Current Stem Cell Reports 2024, 10: 30-36. DOI: 10.1007/s40778-024-00235-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFetal drug deliverySuccess of nanomedicineDrug deliveryPharmacological drug treatmentsMinimally invasive strategyFetal therapyFetal applicationsClinical studiesCongenital diseaseInvasive strategyDrug treatmentClinical translationClinical practiceTherapyMedical interventionsDeliveryFetalNanomedicineBirthDiseaseFindingsAClinicians
2023
Ovarian Leydig Cell Tumor Associated with Recurrent Torsion and Virilization in an Adolescent Patient
Roth L, Smith A, Buza N, Coons B, Stitelman D, Vash-Margita A. Ovarian Leydig Cell Tumor Associated with Recurrent Torsion and Virilization in an Adolescent Patient. Journal Of Pediatric And Adolescent Gynecology 2023, 37: 217-219. PMID: 38110028, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2023.11.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPolycystic ovarian syndromeOvarian tumorsCell tumorsRecurrent ovarian torsionAbnormal uterine bleedingPost-menopausal womenLeydig cell tumorUterine bleedingOvarian syndromeOvarian torsionYounger patientsOvarian functionOvarian hilumAdolescent patientsNodular proliferationSecrete androgensTumor AssociatedRecurrent torsionPrimary amenorrheaCurrent recommendationsReinke crystalsTumorsLeydig cellsIncidence increasesVirilizationIn utero delivery of miRNA induces epigenetic alterations and corrects pulmonary pathology in congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Ullrich S, Yung N, Bauer-Pisani T, Maassel N, Guerra M, Freedman-Weiss M, Ahle S, Ricciardi A, Sauler M, Saltzman W, Piotrowski-Daspit A, Stitelman D. In utero delivery of miRNA induces epigenetic alterations and corrects pulmonary pathology in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids 2023, 32: 594-602. PMID: 37200861, PMCID: PMC10185702, DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.04.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCongenital diaphragmatic herniaTGF-β pathwayDiaphragmatic herniaFetal ratsPulmonary vascular remodelingLung function resultsGestational day 18Pre-clinical modelsDifferent gestational timesCritical illnessPulmonary pathologyLung growthLung sizeRat modelFetal casesLung morphologyVascular remodelingMicroRNA-200bVein injectionFetal diseaseFirst breathDay 18Lung developmentGestational timeInvasive fashion
2022
Cholecystitis and Gallstone Disease
Maassel N, Stitelman D. Cholecystitis and Gallstone Disease. 2022, 837-841. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07524-7_90.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLow gallbladder ejection fractionLimited hospital stayMost surgical candidatesPediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomyAbsence of gallstonesGallbladder ejection fractionNuclear medicine scansTreatment of childrenBiliary colicBiliary dyskinesiaHospital stayComplicated cholecystitisSurgical candidatesEjection fractionGallstone diseaseLaparoscopic cholecystectomyMotility disordersBlood testsPhysical examinationChronic hemolytic diseaseHemolytic diseaseFocused historyPediatric specialistsObesity ratesCholecystitis
2021
The parental journey of fetal care: a systematic review and metasynthesis
Wilpers A, Bahtiyar MO, Stitelman D, Batten J, Calix RX, Chase V, Yung N, Maassel N, Novick G. The parental journey of fetal care: a systematic review and metasynthesis. American Journal Of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM 2021, 3: 100320. PMID: 33493706, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2021.100320.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNanoparticles for delivery of agents to fetal lungs
Ullrich SJ, Freedman-Weiss M, Ahle S, Mandl HK, Piotrowski-Daspit AS, Roberts K, Yung N, Maassel N, Bauer-Pisani T, Ricciardi AS, Egan ME, Glazer PM, Saltzman WM, Stitelman DH. Nanoparticles for delivery of agents to fetal lungs. Acta Biomaterialia 2021, 123: 346-353. PMID: 33484911, PMCID: PMC7962939, DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.01.024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFetal lungCellular uptakeIntra-amniotic routeRoute of deliveryCongenital lung diseaseDelivery of agentsIntra-amniotic deliveryRelative cellular uptakeNanoparticlesFetal treatmentDiaphragmatic herniaLung diseaseFetal therapyLung tissueFetal miceIntravenous deliveryCystic fibrosisLungLung therapyInterventional technologiesTherapeutic agentsEndothelial cellsCell populationsEffective targetingTherapy
2020
Anomalies of the Gastrointestinal Tract
Rubinstein J, Farrelly J, Stitelman D, Christison-Lagay E. Anomalies of the Gastrointestinal Tract. 2020, 179-204. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-55660-0_9.ChaptersMinimally Invasive Fetal Therapy for Myelomeningocele
Freedman-Weiss M, Stitelman D. Minimally Invasive Fetal Therapy for Myelomeningocele. Current Stem Cell Reports 2020, 6: 1-5. DOI: 10.1007/s40778-020-00167-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-invasive therapeutic approachInvasive fetal therapyPostnatal surgical repairDevastating clinical manifestationsTissue engineeringScaffold-based tissue engineeringMedical managementSurgical repairCell-based therapiesClinical manifestationsFetal stem cellsCurrent therapiesPatient outcomesSpinal cordFetal therapyFetal surgeryTherapeutic approachesTherapyInvasive wayTranslational scienceStem cellsReview detailsParticle deliveryNovel scientific researchParticle injection
2019
An Evidence-Based Guideline Supporting Restricted Opioid Prescription after Pediatric Appendectomy
Freedman-Weiss MR, Chiu AS, Worhunsky D, Manchisi A, Torres-Maldonado I, Sagnella L, Caty MG, Cowles RA, Ozgediz DE, Christison-Lagay ER, Solomon DG, Stitelman DH. An Evidence-Based Guideline Supporting Restricted Opioid Prescription after Pediatric Appendectomy. Journal Of Pediatric Surgery 2019, 55: 106-111. PMID: 31699433, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.09.063.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLaparoscopic appendectomyOpioid prescriptionsPostoperative opioid needsPostoperative telephone interviewsQuantity of opioidsPresence of painYoung adult patientsEvidence-based guidelinesMain outcome measuresOpioid needsAnalgesic useModifiable contributorPain reliefAdequate analgesiaAdult patientsChart reviewHospital dischargeMost patientsPatients 5Pediatric appendectomyYounger patientsPain concernsAverage MMEOpioid epidemicOutcome measures
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
David H. Stitelman, MD, says he considers it an honor to work to improve the lives and health of children. As a pediatric surgeon who treats children of all ages, Dr. Stitelman is often able to make an impact on a child’s life soon after he or she is born.
Dr. Stitelman is the surgical director of the Fetal Care Center, a joint program of Yale Medicine and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. At the Fetal Care Center, a multidisciplinary team of pediatric specialists, obstetricians and neonatologists work with families whose child has been diagnosed before birth with a condition that requires treatment.
“We spend a great deal of time explaining to families the medical and surgical issues their child faces,” Dr. Stitelman says. “We want them to understand, and we follow our patients long term to assure they are thriving after they go home.”
Dr. Stitelman is also an assistant professor of pediatric surgery at Yale School of Medicine. His research is focused on prenatal therapy, with the hope of treating and curing genetic and structural diseases before a child is born.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Pediatric Crohn's Disease
Learn More on Yale MedicineEsophageal Atresia
Learn More on Yale MedicinePediatric Congenital Heart Surgery
Learn More on Yale MedicinePediatric Ulcerative Colitis
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Pediatric Surgery
- Certification Organization
- AB of Surgery
- Original Certification Date
- 2015
Yale Medicine News
Links & Media
Media
- Green particles were injected into the amniotic space and can be appreciated binding to the exposed spinal cord in a pre-clinical rat model of spina bifida.
News
- July 23, 2024
Advancements in Women’s Health Research
- May 15, 2024
Educators in academic surgery on balancing education with other responsibilities
- May 15, 2024
Educators in academic surgery on giving and receiving feedback
- May 15, 2024
Educators in academic surgery on managing expectations for surgery clerkship