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Ways the job splits

• Neonatal surgery

  Operating on babies born with defects of the gut, lung or diaphragm, sometimes within hours of birth.

• Pediatric surgical oncology

  Childhood tumors, done alongside chemotherapy teams. Long relationships with families.

• Fetal surgery

  Operating before birth. A handful of American centers do it, and getting in is extremely competitive.

• Trauma and burns

  Children's hospitals are the regional trauma centers, and the surgeon on call takes whatever arrives.