The Hand Transplant Program consists of a multidisciplinary team that combines the expertise and experience of the hospital's Pediatric Transplant Center, the Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Program and a care team that ensures your child's needs and those of your family are being met before, during and after surgery and throughout the rehabilitation process.

Directors and Surgeons

Amir Taghinia, MD
Principal Investigator
Surgical Director

 

 

 

Brian Labow, MD
Co-Investigator
Surgeon

 

 

 

Peter Waters, MD
Co-Investigator
Surgeon

 

 

 

 

Donald Bae, MD
Co-Investigator
Surgeon

 

Heung Bae Kim, MD
Co-Investigator
Surgeon

 

 

 

Specialists

Infectious Disease Specialists

Sandra K. Burchett, MD, MSc
Infectious Disease Specialist

 

 

Julia R. Koehler, MD
Infectious Disease Specialist

 

 

 

Catherine S. Lachenauer, MD
Infectious Disease Specialist

 

 

Grace M. Lee, MD, MPH
Infectious Disease Specialist

 

 

 

Ofer Levy, MD, PhD
Infectious Disease Specialist

 

 

Tanvi S. Sharma, MD
Infectious Disease Specialist

 

 

 

Lynne Lewis, RN, MS, CPNP
Infectious Disease Specialist

 

 

Birgitta Schmidt, MD
Pathologist

 

 

 

Care team

Maureen Pimentel, CPNP
Nurse Coordinator

 

 

 

Catherine D'Arpino
Social Worker

 

 

Roberta Hoffman
Social Worker

 

 

Austin Michalski, RD, LDN
Dietician

 

 

 

 

Annette Correia
Occupational Therapist

 

 

Patricia Ibeziako
Psychologist

 

 

 

 

 

Kristine McKenna, PhD
Psychologist

 

 

 

Katharine Thomson
Psychologist

 

 

Jennifer Gilarde
Pharmacist

 

 

 

Kirsten Getchell, MS, CCLS
Child Life Specialist

 

 

 

LaKeisha Garcia
Child Life Specialist

 

 

 

 

Robin Snyder
Child Life Specialist

 

 

 

Angela Perry
Financial Coordinator

 

 

 

 

Caregiver roles

Our transplant candidates and recipients benefit from the many specialties and services Boston Children's has to offer, such as:

Child Life Services

Child life specialists enhance our transplant patients’ emotional, social and cognitive growth during their hospital stay, giving special consideration to each child’s family, culture and stage of development. Our professionals are trained to work in the areas of child development, special education or recreation therapy.

Infectious diseases

Boston Children’s has an Immunocompromised Host Service (within the Division of Infectious Diseases) that focuses on infectious disease issues affecting transplant recipients. The infectious disease nurse practitioner or physician meets with each transplant candidate.

Perioperative transplant team

This group of professionals is dedicated to the care of patients having a transplant. Transplant physicians, hand surgeons, operating room nursing staff, and anesthesiologists work together to provide individualized care to each patient. We are with your child from the time you arrive in the pre-operative waiting area until your child is safely in the intensive care unit.

Pharmacy

Our pharmacists and technicians are well trained in the unique needs of young transplant patients, and they work closely with surgeons, physicians and the rest of the multidisciplinary team to develop a medication plan specific to each child.

Because medication is such an important part of life after transplant, a transplant pharmacist personally meets with each transplant candidate.

Psychiatry and psychology

Due to the drastic life changes that are part of the transplant process, many patients who have received transplants benefit from the care of a mental health professional. Long-term continuity of mental health care is critical.

Psychiatrists and psychologists at Boston Children’s work with our families right at the outset of the process and as the patient grows toward adulthood, these professionals can assist in the transition of your child’s mental health to an adult care provider.

Social work

Each transplant program has a social worker who provides a wide range of services to support the care of patients and families before, during and after the transplant.

Nutrition

The Clinical Nutrition Service at Boston Children’s provides comprehensive nutrition consultation for patients of all ages. Using innovative diagnostic and evaluation techniques, our staff develops appropriate nutrition plans for many of our patients, including transplant specific education.