Hand Transplant Program | Meet our Team
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 H. Taghinia, MD
Attending Physician, Department of Plastic & Oral Surgery Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
Brian I. Labow, MD
Director, Adolescent Breast Clinic; Attending Physician, Department of Plastic & Oral Surgery Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Peter M. Waters, MD, MMSc
Orthopedic Surgeon-in-Chief, Orthopedic Center; Director, Brachial Plexus Program; Director, Hand & Orthopedic Upper Extremity Program; Director, Clinical Effectiveness Research Center John E. Hall Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Donald S. Bae, MD
Clinical Chief of Orthopedic Surgery Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Heung Bae Kim, MD
Weitzman Family Chair in Surgical Innovation; Vice-Chair of Surgery for Clinical Operations; Director, Pediatric Transplant Center; Co-Director, Midaortic & Renovascular Hypertension Center Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical SchoolSpecialists
Sandra Burchett, MD, MSc
Senior Associate Physician in Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases; Co-Director, Transplant Infectious Disease Service; Co-Director, Immunocompromised Host Service; Director, Children's Hospital AIDS Program (CHAP) Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Julia R. Koehler, MD
Associate Physician in Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Catherine Lachenauer, MD
Associate Physician in Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases; Director, Infectious Diseases Outpatient Practice Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Ofer Levy, MD, PhD
Director, Precision Vaccines Program; Senior Physician in Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Tanvi S. Sharma, MD, MPH
Clinical Director/Associate Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases; Associate Physician in Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases; Director, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program; Co-Director of Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Transplant Center; Co-Director, Immunocompromised Host Service Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Birgitta A.R. Schmidt, MD
Director of Dermatopathology, Department of Pathology; Staff Dermatopathologist, Department of Pathology Assistant Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical SchoolPsychologists
Patricia Ibeziako, MD
Associate Chief for Clinical Services, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Medical Director, Psychiatry Quality Program Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Kristine McKenna, PhD
Associate in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical SchoolDietitian
Occupational Therapist
Annette Correia, OT, BCP
Occupational Therapist, Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy ServicesNurse Practitioners
Lynne M. Lewis, RN, MS, CPNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Division of Infectious Diseases
Maureen Pimentel, RN, MSN, CPNP
Transplant Coordinator, Department of SurgeryChild Life Specialists
LaKeisha Garcia, MS, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist, Department of SurgerySocial Worker
Roberta Hoffman, MSW, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker, Division of NephrologyPharmacist
Jennifer Gilarde, PharmD
Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Pediatric Transplant CenterAdministrative
Angela Perry
Financial Coordinator, Pediatric Transplant CenterCaregiver 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.
