The pediatric surgery fellowship has a structured didactic curriculum for pediatric surgery training. Faculty are all American Board of Surgery certified in pediatric surgery and general surgery. Fellows are involved in multiple robust multidisciplinary collaborative programs, including an American College of Surgeons (ACS)-accredited level 1 pediatric trauma program, ECMO, children’s intestinal rehab center, the fetal center, healthy lifestyles clinic, vascular anomalies clinic and the multidisciplinary aerodigestive clinic. Fellows will also have opportunities to partner with our teaching hospitals – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Regional One Health.
Research Interests
- Chest wall anomalies and deformities
- Colorectal conditions
- Bariatric surgery
- Trauma and burns
- Vascular anomalies
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia and ECMO
- Intestinal rehabilitation and adaptation
- Health disparities research
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- Mucosal immune development
- Minimally-invasive surgery
Program Staff: Surgery
Program Director
Dr. Weatherall, a pediatric surgeon, is the surgical director of Le Bonheur’s Healthy Lifestyle Clinic. She completed her general surgery training at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, and her pediatric surgery fellowship training at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Her clinical focus includes adolescent bariatric surgery, robotic surgery, and other complex pediatric and neonatal surgical processes.
Associate Program Director
Dr. Saunders Lin is a board-certified pediatric surgeon and Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. He completed his pediatric surgery fellowship at the University of Chicago and holds a Master of Public Administration in Health Policy Analysis from New York University.
With expertise spanning clinical surgery, healthcare research, and public policy, Dr. Lin has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading medical journals, including JAMA Surgery, Annals of Surgery, and Health Affairs. His background includes healthcare policy research, legislative experience, and advocacy through the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Lin's main clinical focus is chest wall surgery and minimally invasive surgical procedures, with a commitment to improving surgical care and healthcare outcomes for children.
Fellowship Manager
Shannae Staten
sstaten@uthsc.edu
901.287.6300
