Sameer Mittal, MD, MSc, FAAP, is an attending pediatric urologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He grew up in a suburb of New York City. Dr. Mittal approaches medicine with a focus on what is important to the patient and their family. “I will always strive to work with families to understand the problem so that we can come to a solution together,” he says. This Q-and-A delves deeper into his passion for pediatric urologic oncology, his current research, and what makes CHOP so special.
What was your pathway into pediatric urology?
My journey into pediatric urology began during my time at New-York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medical Center as a trainee in urology. The skills acquired while at Cornell in both adult and pediatric urology built the foundation to my approach in delivering care here at CHOP. I received extensive training and experience in urologic oncology at Cornell and Memorial Sloan Kettering, which only furthered my passion for delivering cancer care in this unique patient population.
Why did you stay at CHOP after completing your fellowship here?
While I was completing one of the nation's most rigorous fellowships in pediatric urology here at CHOP, I quickly realized what made this division and institution so special. The dedication to the mission, the collaborative environment across disciplines, the support for innovation, the impact the enterprise has on the local community, and its global outreach — all of these were factors that solidified my desire to stay at CHOP. My late mentor and previous chief of pediatric urology at CHOP, Douglas A. Canning, MD, would refer to it as the “special sauce” that made this place so unique.
What is the Division of Urology’s approach to patient care when it comes to oncology?
Led by our Division Chief, Thomas F. Kolon, MD, our approach to cancer care focuses on personalized medicine for both the patient and the family. Understanding that a cancer diagnosis is one of the most traumatic situations that a family can experience, our mission is to unite specialists across multiple divisions, including oncology, radiology, general surgery, child life and social work, to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that is specific to that patient. Our goal is to give patients and families the security in knowing that our group is providing the world's best cancer care tailored to the need of the patient. We utilize all available technology, including advanced imaging with 3D reconstructions, microscopic and minimally invasive surgery, to improve recovery and decrease the impact to normal tissue.
What cancer research are you currently involved in?
Our research in pediatric urologic oncology focuses on clinical improvement at all stages of care delivery. Most recently, we are investigating the radiographic response that neoadjuvant chemotherapy can have on Wilms tumor and the ability to complete a partial nephrectomy rather than radical nephrectomy. We continue to explore the risk of gonadoblastoma development in streak gonads, to study the utility of testis-sparing surgery for testicular tumors, and to collaborate on the role of fertility-preservation in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
Outside of work, I find my joy spending time with my family — my wife and two children, ages 6 and 2. I love watching my children develop and grow and sharing experiences with them in the greater Philadelphia area. I am also an avid cook and griller, always looking for the newest food cooking technology to master my craft.