Rodrigo Romao

Dr. Rodrigo Romao obtained his MD and completed his residency in General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He subsequently completed dual fellowships at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in General Surgery and Urology. After completion, Dr. Romao moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he practiced for eleven years as a Pediatric General Surgeon and Pediatric Urologist at IWK Health, Dalhousie University. Dr. Romao comes to Sickkids as a cross-appointed surgeon between General Surgery and Urology. He holds the position of Associate Professor for the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. Dr. Romao will develop a specialized program focused on offering multidisciplinary care to children born with congenital malformations of the pelvis.

Education and experience

• 2021–2023: Division Head, Division of Pediatric Urology, IWK Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• 2013–2020: Program Director, Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery training program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• 2012–2023: Staff Surgeon, Divisions of Pediatric General Surgery and Pediatric Urology, IWK Health, Halifax, NS.
• 2019–2023: Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery and Urology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• 2018: M.Sc. Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• 2013–2019: Assistant Professor, Departments of Surgery and Urology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• 2010–2012: Pediatric Urology Fellowship, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto
• 2009–2010: Neonatal Surgery Fellowship, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto
• 2006–2009: Preceptor (Junior staff) of Paediatric General Surgery, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
• 2003–2006: Pediatric General Surgery residency, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
• 2001–2003: General Surgery residency, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Research

Dr. Romao's research is focused on the treatment of congenital anomalies of the pelvis, such as colorectal issues (anorectal malformations, Hirschsprung’s disease), bladder exstrophy, cloacal anomalies, differences of sex development and other malformations of the external genitalia. He is also interested in the treatment of solid abdominal tumors, such as Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

Achievements

• 2022–2024: President, Pediatric Urologists of Canada 
• 2023: Service Recognition Award, Department of Urology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS 
• 2023: Nominated for Family Leadership Council Award for Excellence in People Centred Care, IWK Health, Halifax, NS 
• 2022–2023: Robert Schwarz Teaching Award, Department of Urology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS 
• 2022: Excellence in Professionalism Award, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS 
• 2019–present: Academic Editor, PLOS One 
• 2018: Nominated for Governor General’s Gold Medal Award for masters’ graduates, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS 

1. Seemann NM, Erker C, Irwin MS, Lopushinsky SR, Kulkarni K, Fernandez CV, Romao RLP. Survival effect of complete surgical resection of the primary tumor in patients with metastatic, high-risk neuroblastoma in a large Canadian cohort. Pediatric Blood and Cancer 2023 Mar 28;e30286 doi: 10.1002/pbc.30286. Online ahead of print.
   
2. Romao RLP, van der Steeg AFW, Malek M, Irtan S, Gow K, Ghandour K, Biasoni D, Davidoff A, Pachl M. Technical advances in the surgical management of Wilms tumors in children. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 Feb 23: e30267. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30267. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36815577.
3. Bednarek OL, Seemann N, Brzezinski J, Lorenzo A, Fernandez CV, Romao RLP. Outcomes according to treatment using an established protocol in patients with bilateral Wilms' tumor: A national Canadian population-based study.J Pediatr Surg. 2023 Jan 18:S0022-3468(23)00035-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.01.016. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36797114.
4. Brophy S, Brennan K, Woodgate E, Pinaud B, McLaughlin E, Gillespie J, Grover Z, Blackmore C, Romao RL. (2022). Comparing quality of life improvement after antegrade continence enema (ACE) therapy for patients with organic and functional constipation / encopresis. J Pediatr Surg. 57(5): 855-860. May 2022. 
5. Morgan C, Lees MC, MacLellan DL, Blackmore C, Romao RL. (2022). A survey of management preferences for bladder exstrophy and cloacal anomalies among Canadian pediatric surgeons and urologists. J Pediatr Surg. May 2022. 57(5): 816-823