Department of
Medical Education

Patrick Bonasso, MD

Name: Patrick Bonasso, MD 

Board Certification: General Surgery, Pediatric Surgery

Medical School: West Virginia School of Medicine 

Residency:  West Virginia University

Fellowship: Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatric Surgery 

Faculty Rank: Assistant Professor

 

Special Clinical/Research Interests:

Neonatal surgery, trauma, pediatric bariatric surgery, pilonidal sinus/disease, inguinal hernia, and pediatric malignancies.  We perform a variety of operations all over the body on a weekly basis.

Is there a particular population of students (e.g., ethnicity, spiritual, sexual orientation) that you would particularly like to advise?

No particular population.

What does a typical day in the life of a Pediatric Surgeon include? 

Each day can be different as we work as neonatal surgeons, trauma surgeons, acute care surgeons, and also running a clinic.   Our week is always changing.  We generally operate two times per week with one day of clinic per week. 

What is the biggest challenge of being a Pediatric Surgeon? 

Creating a trusting environment for families to understand that I will take the best care of their child in the operating room.

How do you foresee pediatric surgery changing over the next 20 years?

There will continue to be an increase in regionalization of care with the increase in the role of the rural pediatric surgeon to take care of complex diseases. 

What advice would you give a student who is considering a pediatric surgery residency?

Enjoy the process of determining if this is the life work you would want to do.  You will need to find a mentor who can help you navigate the process of general surgery and then a surgical subspecialty.