New chief takes over UMHS surgical slot

Dr. Ronald Hirschl has been appointed head of the Section of Pediatric Surgery at the Medical School and surgeon-in-chief at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Hirschl, a 15-year surgical veteran, succeeded his colleague and mentor, Dr. Arnold Coran, who served since 1974.

(Photo courtesy Department Of Surgery)

For Hirschl, the appointment will broaden his role and responsibilities at a time when Mott Hospital plans to expand its pediatric surgery programs and build a state-of the-art children's and women's facility.

"We have the opportunity to generate a premier site for caring for children with surgical and medical problems. It will be a chance for us to create a hospital with incredible amenities for children and their families to optimize their care," says Hirschl, who also serves as professor of pediatric surgery, the medical director of clinical information systems, and associate director of the Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS/ECMO) program.

Hirschl's research is focused on improving treatment of pediatric respiratory failure through the application of liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbons, extracorporeal life support (ECMO), and the implantable artificial lung.

Hirschl's academic and professional career at U-M spans nearly three decades, beginning with his enrollment in the undergraduate program in 1976. He earned his medical degree from the Medical School in 1983, and a master's degree in science, clinical research design and biostatistics in 1995.

In 1983, Hirschl began a surgery internship at the U-M Hospitals, which he followed with a residency in general surgery. He became the pediatric surgical assistant chief resident at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia in 1989, and moved to pediatric surgical chief resident in 1990. He returned to U-M in 1991.