Co-Medical Director, Fetal Medicine Program

I am a pediatric general surgeon and co-medical director of the Fetal Medicine Program at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

As a pediatric surgeon, I have a broad scope of practice and operate on most areas of the body for various reasons. The most common procedures are in line with the most common conditions, including laparoscopic appendectomies for appendicitis, laparoscopic cholecystectomies for cholecystitis or cholelithiasis and surgery to treat inguinal and umbilical hernias. I also perform surgery to address congenital lung lesions, remove cancers as well as treat congenital problems in newborns such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula and intestinal atresia.

I don’t quite remember when my desire to become a doctor began, but it has been a passion for as long as I can remember. I have always been intrigued by the way things work and love to help diagnose and figure out the problem that my patients are having and use my surgical expertise to fix them. I love working with kids and being able to help them is extremely gratifying.

My mother profoundly affected my desire to become a doctor. I always remember her saying there is nothing harder for a parent than to bury their child. Now, as a surgeon and parent, I find it an honor and privilege to care for other parents’ children. I know parents' anxiety and fear when their child is ill and promise to do my best for your child and, in turn, for you. I will take care of your child as if they were my own.

I am also helping to build and grow the Fetal Medicine Program at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, which fills a great need for families in South Florida and beyond. We provide counseling for parents with pregnancies with prenatally diagnosed issues, which can include lung lesions, abdominal wall defects such as gastroschisis and omphalocele, esophageal atresia and more. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive program including fetal interventions for fetuses with diagnosed conditions so we can offer more options for pregnant women and their families.

In addition to providing patient care, I’m also involved in clinical research and organizational committees focused on retrospective case studies, health outcomes and quality improvement. Before joining Memorial, I spent many years at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

Hospital Affiliations

• Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
• Memorial Hospital Miramar
• Memorial Hospital West
• Memorial Regional Hospital

Gender

• Male

Languages

• English
• Arabic

Education

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 2007

Internships

Univ Of Rochester Med Ctr, 2008, Surgery

Residency

Univ Of Rochester Med Ctr, 2014, Surgery

Fellowships

Univ Of Texas Health Science Ctr @ Houston, 2016, Pediatric Surgery
University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine, 2012

Certifications

American Board of Surgery-Pediatric Surgery
American Board of Surgery-Surgery

Publications

Professional Organizations

• American Pediatric Surgical Association
• American College of Surgeons
• American Academy of Pediatrics

Presentations

• Thompson T, Maya AM, Ehresmann K, Mustafa MM, Taylor JA, Larson SD, Islam S, Neal D, Petroze RT. Indications, Resource Utilization, and Outcomes of Initial Transpyloric Versus Gastric Tube Feeding in Critically-ill Pediatric Patients. American College of Surgeons. Clinical Congress (Virtual). Oct 24, 2021 - Oct 28, 2021.
  
  
• Thompson T, Maya AM, Ehresmann K, Mustafa MM, Taylor JA, Larson SD, Islam S, Neal D, Petroze RT. Indications, Resource Utilization, and Outcomes of Initial Transpyloric Versus Gastric Tube Feeding in Critically-ill Pediatric Patients. University of Florida Department of Surgery Research Day. Gainesville, FL (Virtual). Jun 18, 2021.
  
  
• Calpin JM, Latty TS, McKean JA, Holland CK, Rajderkar D, Mustafa MM, Petroze RT. Developing a Multi-disciplinary Pathway for Pediatric Appendicitis: A Comprehensive Quality Improvement Project (Part One: Diagnosis). University of Florida Department of Surgery Research Day. Gainesville, FL (Virtual). Jun 18, 2021.
  
  
• Thompson G, Blondeau-Lecomte E, Hoang V, Taylor JA, Mustafa MM, Larson SD, Islam S, Neal D, Petroze RT. Historical Trends in Post-Operative Opioid Prescribing Practices in Children. University of Florida Department of Surgery Research Day. Gainesville, FL (Virtual). Jun 18, 2021.
  
  
• Maya AM, Ehresmann KR, Mustafa MM, Taylor JA, Larson SD, Islam S, Petroze RT. Mode of initial enteral feeding: Decision making in critically-ill pediatric patients. University of Florida Department of Surgery Research Day. Gainesville, FL (Virtual). Jun 18, 2021.
  
  
• Hao KA, Fu S, Islam S, Larson SD, Petroze RT, Mustafa MM, Taylor JA. Key Factors Affecting Medical Student Career Choice in Surgery. University of Florida Department of Surgery Research Day. Gainesville, FL (Virtual). Jun 18, 2021.
  
  
• Justice M, Meschia C, Petroze P, Larson S, Taylor J, Mustafa M, Islam S. Rapid adoption of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants – Analysis of Safety and Efficacy. International Pediatric Endosurgery Group – Virtual IPEG 2021 Annual Meeting. June 14, 2021.
  
  
• Meschia C, McKean J, Islam S, Petroze R, Taylor J, Mustafa MM, Larson SD, Kays D. Maintaining Outcomes in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Using Protocolized care. 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Pediatric Surgical Association (Virtual). May 20- 23, 2021.
  
  
• Hao KA, Fu S, Islam S, Larson SD, Petroze RT, Mustafa MM, Taylor JA. Key Factors Influencing Medical Student Career Choice in Surgery. Association for Surgical Education – Virtual ASE 2021 Annual Meeting. April 29 – May 1, 2021.
  
  
• Zhang D, Mustafa MM. Quality Improvement Assessment of Current Central Line Practices and CLABSIs in Pediatric Populations. University of Florida College of Medicine Medical Student Research Symposium. Gainesville, FL (Virtual). Feb 16, 2021.
  
  
• Calpin JM, Latty TS, McKean JA, Holland CK, Rajderkar D, Mustafa MM, Petroze RT. Developing a Multi-disciplinary Pathway for Pediatric Appendicitis: A Comprehensive Quality Improvement Project (Part One: Diagnosis). University of Florida College of Medicine Medical Student Research Symposium. Gainesville, FL (Virtual). Feb 16, 2021.
  
  
• Latty TS, Calpin JM, McKean JA, Copenhaver N, Mustafa MM, Petroze RT. Developing a Peri-operative and Post-operative Clinical Guideline for the Management of Pediatric Appendicitis: Description of an Interdisciplinary SWOT Analysis. University of Florida College of Medicine Medical Student Research Symposium. Gainesville, FL (Virtual). Feb 16, 2021.
  
  
• Barq AC, Singh VN, Larson SD, Petroze R, Taylor JA, Mustafa MM, Islam S. Can we predict necrotizing enterocolitis totalis preoperatively?. Association for Academic Surgery. 16th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (Virtual). Feb 4, 2021.
  
  
• Thompson G, Blondeau-Lecomte E, Hoang V, Taylor JA, Mustafa MM, Larson SD, Islam S, Neal D, Petroze RT. Historical Trends in Post-Operative Opioid Prescribing Patterns in Children. Association for Academic Surgery. 16th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (Virtual). Feb 3, 2021.
  
  
• Polcz VE, Frayman H, Taylor JA, Petroze R, Larson SD, Mustafa MM, Islam S. Should BIRADS scores be used in adolescent patients with breast lesions?. Association for Academic Surgery. 16th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (Virtual). Feb 2, 2021.
  
  
• Filiberto A, Cooper LA, Sarosi G, Mustafa M, Taylor J, Tan S. Root cause analysis: a workshop to engage residents in quality improvement. 16th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (Virtual). February 2-4, 2021.
  
  
• Hao KA, Fu S, Islam S, Larson SD, Petroze RT, Mustafa MM, Taylor JA. Medical Student Career Choice: Who Is The Influencer?. 16th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (Virtual). February 2-4, 2021.
  
  
• Ferguson DM, Bartz-Kurycki MA, Alder AC, Aranda A, Bucher BT, Cina RA, Dassinger III MS, Fialkowski EA, Gander JW, Guner YS, Hill JA, Jen HC, Mustafa MM, Rothstein DH, Rothstein WB, Russell RT, Williams R, Tsao KJ, Longshore SW. Infection Prevention Practices and Surgical Site Infection Rates Vary Significantly Between Centers: A Multi-Center Cohort Study of Infants Undergoing Gastrointestinal Surgery. American Pediatric Surgical Association 2020 Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL. May 14 - May 16, 2020.
  
  
• Al Qaysi N, Kissoon T, Mustafa MM, Lagmay JP, Shenoy A. Primary Mediastinal Infantile Fibrosarcoma: An unusual presentation involving the thymus. University of Florida College of Medicine Research Poster Session. Gainesville, FL. February 25, 2020.
  
  
• McKean J, Ayub S, Rajderkar D, Mustafa M, Taylor J, Larson S, Islam S. “I Don’t See It” Significance of the Non-Visualized Appendix on Ultrasound in Children with Abdominal Pain. University of Florida College of Medicine Research Poster Session. Gainesville, FL. February 25, 2020.
  
  
• Djabali E, Sousa J, Mustafa M, Taylor J, Petroze R, Larson S, Islam S. Which works best in managing pediatric abscesses: Vessel loop or packing? University of Florida College of Medicine Research Poster Session. Gainesville, FL. February 25, 2020.
  
  
• Sousa J, Shenoy A, Larson S, Taylor J, Mustafa M, Islam S. A Case Series of Enterobius vermicularis Appendicitis. University of Florida College of Medicine Research Poster Session. Gainesville, FL. February 25, 2020.
  
  
• Ilstad-Minnihan A, Mclauglhin M, Petroze R, Taylor J, Mustafa M, Larson S, Islam S. Does the Type of Central Line for Induction Therapy Impact Outcomes for Children with Cancer? University of Florida College of Medicine Research Poster Session. Gainesville, FL. February 25, 2020.
  
  
• Maya A, Ehresmann K, Mustafa M, Taylor J, Larson S, Islam S, Petroze R. Mode of Initial Enteral Feeding: Decision Making in Critically-Ill Pediatric Patients. University of Florida College of Medicine Research Poster Session. Gainesville, FL. February 25, 2020.
  
  
• Dalton C, Ehresmann K, Taylor J, Larson S, Mustafa M, Islam S. Can We Do Less? Review of Imaging Practices for Evaluating Cervical Spine Injury in Pediatric Trauma Patients. University of Florida College of Medicine Research Poster Session. Gainesville, FL. February 25, 2020.
  
  
• Rodhouse C, Taylor JA, Jolley CE, Mustafa MM, Beasley G, Larson SD, and Islam S. The Role of Dilation in Children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. University of Florida Department of Surgery Annual Research Day. Gainesville, FL. April 19, 2019.
  
  
• Al Qaysi N, Kissoon T, Mustafa MM, Lagmay JP, Shenoy A. Primary Mediastinal Infantile Fibrosarcoma: An unusual presentation involving the thymus. Florida Society of Pathologists 2019 Annual Pathology Conference. Orlando, FL. February 22-24, 2019.
  
  
• Rodhouse C, Taylor JA, Jolley CE, Mustafa MM, Beasley G, Larson SD, Islam S. The Role of Dilation in Children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Academic Surgical Congress. Houston, TX. February 5-7, 2019.
  
  
• Hawkins RB, Raymond SL, Hamann HC, Mustafa MM, Taylor JA, Islam S, Larson SD. Intubation Outside a Pediatric Trauma Center Associated with Worse Outcomes in a Non-Urban Setting. Academic Surgical Congress. Houston, TX. February 5-7, 2019.