Search for a doctor

Stephanie F. Polites, M.D., M.P.H.

  1. Pediatric Surgeon

Dr. Polites is a pediatric surgeon and researcher who specializes in pediatric cancer surgery, vascular and lymphatic anomalies, and aerodigestive disorders. She works in multidisciplinary teams to treat children with the most complex conditions. Her clinical interests include:

  • Pediatric surgical oncology including lung, chest wall and mediastinal tumors, neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, Wilms tumor, germ cell tumors, rare tumors of the abdomen, and soft tissue sarcoma including rhabdomyosarcoma. Dr. Polites has experience in minimally invasive tumor resection, refractory or recurrent tumors, and is active nationally in pediatric oncology research.
  • Pediatric vascular malformations including venous malformations, and lymphatic malformations. She collaborates with Interventional Radiology for novel, hybrid approaches to removing malformations. She also has interest in the multidisciplinary management of lymphatic conduction anomalies.
  • Aerodigestive conditions including tracheobronchomalacia, esophageal disorders, and gastroesophageal reflux. Dr. Polites performs tracheopexy, aortopexy, external airway splinting, fundoplication, Heller myotomy, and esophagogastric disconnection, utilizing minimally invasive techniques whenever possible to help children recover faster.

Dr. Polites' research interests include multi-omic identification of blood-based markers in pediatric cancers, novel techniques for cancer and vascular malformation localization during surgery, and transfusion in pediatric surgery. She is also experienced in health services research, utilizing institutional and national databases to study patient outcomes.

  1. Achalasia
  2. Adnexal tumors
  3. Adrenal cancer
  4. Benign adrenal tumor
  5. Cancer
  6. Chest wall tumor
  7. Chylothorax
  8. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  9. Congenital lung malformation
  10. Congenital vascular malformation
  11. Diaphragmatic hernia
  12. Ewing sarcoma
  13. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  14. Germ cell tumor
  15. Hemangioma
  16. Hepatocellular carcinoma
  17. Hiatal hernia
  18. Kidney tumor
  19. Liver mass
  20. Liver tumor
  21. Lung tumor
  22. Lymphatic malformation
  23. Lymphatic obstruction
  24. Mediastinal tumor
  25. Neuroblastoma
  26. Osteosarcoma
  27. Ovarian cancer
  28. Pediatric trauma
  29. Pulmonary sequestration
  30. Recurrent cancer
  31. Rhabdomyosarcoma
  32. Sarcoma
  33. Soft tissue sarcoma
  34. Teratoma
  35. Tracheomalacia
  36. Venous malformation
  37. Wilms' tumor
  1. Abdominal surgery
  2. Adrenalectomy
  3. Chest surgery
  4. Chest wall resection
  5. Diaphragmatic hernia repair
  6. Fertility preservation
  7. Heller myotomy
  8. Hiatal hernia repair
  9. HIPEC
  10. Laparoscopic surgery
  11. Liver resection
  12. Lung surgery
  13. Minimally invasive surgery
  14. Neonatal surgery
  15. Nephrectomy
  16. Nissen fundoplication
  17. Nuss procedure
  18. Oophorectomy
  19. Pelvic tumor surgery
  20. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery
  21. Soft tissue sarcoma surgery
  22. Thoracoscopy
  23. Thoracotomy
  24. Tracheobronchoplasty
  25. Tumor resection
  26. Vascular access surgery
  • Pediatric cancer surgery
  • Surgery for recurrent or complex tumors
  • Minimally invasive surgery in children including neonates
  • Use of localization for minimally invasive tumor resection
  • Intercostal cryoablation for less pain and faster recovery after thoracic surgery
  • Minimally invasive posterior tracheopexy and aortopexy for tracheomalacia
  • External airway splinting for severe tracheobronchomalacia
  • Glue embolization and surgical resection of venous malformations
  • Management of complex lymphatic anomalies
  1. 2020
    Fellowship - Pediatric SurgeryOregon Health Sciences University
  2. 2018
    Clinical Fellowship - Vascular Anomalies and OncologyCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  3. 2017
    ResidentSurgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  4. 2017
    Resident - General SurgeryMayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  5. 2016
    MPH - Executive Public Health Administration and PolicyUniversity of Minnesota
  6. 2014
    Research Fellowship - Surgical OutcomesMayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery
  7. 2011
    MDCase Western Reserve University
  8. 2011
    MS - Applied AnatomyCase Western Reserve University

Certifications

  1. 2021
    Pediatric SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery
  2. 2018
    General SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery

Awards and honors

  1. 2017
    2nd Place Poster PresentationCanadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons
  2. 2015
    C. Robert Chambliss M.D. Best Paper AwardAmerican Academy of Pediatrics
  3. 2015
    Dr. Kaare K.. Nygaard Travel Award for Research - Department of SurgeryMayo Clinic College of Medicine
  4. 2014
    2nd Place Podium PresentationWestern Pediatric Trauma Conference
  5. 2011
    William D. Holden Award in SurgeryCase Western Reserve University
  6. 2008
    T-35 Training Grant - National Institutes of HealthCase Western Reserve University

Professional memberships

  1. 2022 - present
    International Society of Paediatric Oncology
  2. 2022 - present
    American Pediatric Surgical Association
  3. 2022 - present
    Children's Oncology Group
  4. 2022 - present
    International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology
  5. 2021 - present
    Pediatric Disease Group
  6. 2021 - present
    Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine AI Advisory Group
  7. 2021 - present
    Pediatric Trauma Society
  8. 2021 - present
    Children's Oncology Group
  9. 2021 - present
    Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma
  10. 2020 - present
    Children's Oncology Group
  11. 2020 - present
    Department of Surgery Innovation Committee
  12. 2020 - present
    Surgery Research Committee, Department of Surgery
  13. 2020 - present
    Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative
  14. 2019 - present
    Pediatric Trauma Society
  15. 2017 - 2021
    American Pediatric Surgical Association
  16. 2014 - present
    American Pediatric Surgical Association
  17. 2014 - present
    Association for Academic Surgery
  18. 2014 - present
    Surgical Outcomes Club
  19. 2014 - present
    Association of Women Surgeons
  20. 2011 - present
    American College of Surgeons

Publications