Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Team

The Johns Hopkins All Children’s Center for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) provides expert care to address your child's individual needs.

Led by Dr. David Kays, director of the CDH Center at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, our team uses a comprehensive approach to bring together specialists across multiple disciplines specific to your child's needs often including:

a maternal-fetal specialist
a pediatric surgeon
a neonatologist
a pediatric cardiologist
a neuropsychologist
a pulmonologist (as needed)
a gastroenterologist (as needed)
a nutritionist
a social worker
case management

From your child’s birth through discharge, our team will be by your side, providing advanced care in a comfortable and state-of-the-art environment.

David Kays, M.D.

Pediatric Surgery

Dr. Kays is the medical director of the Center for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital and leads the first unit in the country dedicated exclusively to these patients. He also serves as director of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program and co-director of the Fetal Diagnosis/Treatment program. He joined the medical staff in 2016.

View David Kays’s Bio

Jason Smithers, M.D.

Pediatric Surgery

Dr. Smithers is a pediatric surgeon who specializes in esophageal and airway treatment (EAT) in the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. He joined the medical staff in 2019 and leads the EAT program. He sees patients on the Johns Hopkins All Children’s main campus and at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. Dr. Smithers previously served as a surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital from 2009-2019, as part of their EAT program. His clinical specialties are minimally invasive surgery, surgical critical care, esophageal atresia, airway malformations and congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

View Jason Smithers’s Bio

Stacey Stone, M.D.

Neonatology

Dr. Stone specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2002 and leads the neonatal vascular access program, and is a member of the Center for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) team. In 2017, she won the Johns Hopkins All Children's Excellence in Service & Professionalism Award. Her clinical interests include CDH and infection prevention.

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Jose Prieto, M.D.

Perinatology

Dr. Prieto is medical director of maternal-fetal medicine in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. He specializes in the care of the mother and fetus in high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Prieto is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine, where he also received a Master's in Public Health. He completed his residency in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center/Houston at L.B.J. General Hospital, where he was named Outstanding Chief Resident, followed by a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Women's Hospital. He joined Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in 1996. Dr. Prieto is the Clinical Practice Director for All Children's Perinatology Specialists.

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Karen Raimer, MD

Perinatology

Dr. Raimer is a key member of our maternal-fetal medicine team, providing care for many expectant mothers whose infants may require care in our NICU or CVICU as well as surgery after delivery. She joined All Children’s Perinatology Specialists in 1991 after completing her fellowship at University of Miami. Dr. Raimer is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans. She completed a residency in obstetrics/gynecology at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, where she served as chief resident. Following a fellowship in perinatology at the University of Miami, in 1991 Dr. Raimer joined Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in St. Petersburg, FL and is the Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center director for Maternal Fetal Medicine at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. Dr. Raimer serves as an examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Daniel Mauriello, M.D.

Pediatric Cardiology

Dr. Mauriello is a pediatric cardiologist who treats children with congenital heart disease and has expertise in fetal, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. After graduating from the University of South Florida College of Medicine, he completed a residency in pediatric and adolescent medicine and a pediatric cardiology fellowship at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, located at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. His research interests include clinical outcomes and quality improvement measures.

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Keith Thatch, M.D.

Pediatric Surgery

Dr. Thatch specializes in pediatric surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and is certified in surgery, pediatric surgery and surgical critical care. He joined the hospital staff in 2018. He serves as the Associate Program Director of the pediatric surgical critical care fellowship program, and leads the American College of Surgeons' Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Program at Tampa General Hospital.

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Melissa Crenshaw, M.D.

Genetics

Dr. Crenshaw is the medical director for the Clinical Genetics Program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and also serves as an assistant professor with Johns Hopkins Medicine. Her research interests include congenital heart defects, chromosome abnormalities and Turner Syndrome. She has additional expertise in the genetics of congenital heart disease and connective tissue disorders. Dr. Crenshaw is board certified in pediatrics and clinical genetics.

View Melissa Crenshaw’s Bio