Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Specialties

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English

Education

Undergraduate School

St. Louis University

1980, St. Louis, MO

Graduate School

Harvard School of Public Health

2006, Boston, MA

Medical School

St. Louis University School of Medicine

1985, St. Louis, MO

Internship

Medical Center Hospital of Vermont

1986, Burlington, VT

Residency

Medical Center Hospital of Vermont

1991, Burlington, VT

Fellowship

Children's Mercy Hospital

1993, Kansas City, MO

Certifications

  • American Board of Surgery (General)
  • American Board of Surgery (Pediatric Surgery)

Professional History

David P. Mooney, MD, MPH is Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He obtained his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed a general surgical residency at the University of Vermont, where he completed research fellowship in surgical immunology. He completed a pediatric surgery fellowship at the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri and obtained his Masters in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2006.

Dr. Mooney created the Pediatric Trauma Program at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, and is currently the Director of the Trauma Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has been active on a variety of national committees including the American College of Surgeons, the American Pediatric Surgical Association, and the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. In addition, he was the Founding President of the Pediatric Trauma Society. He has served in several consultative and leadership positions for a variety of organizations, including the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Maternal Child Health Bureau’s Emergency Medical Services for Children, and the Massachusetts State Trauma Committee. He has conducted over 100 reviews of pediatric trauma centers in the United States and was instrumental in the development of pediatric trauma care systems in New Hampshire, New Mexico and Tuscany, Italy.

He is a reviewer for 16 journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Trauma. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and 12 book chapters, and has given over 300 lectures in a variety of settings. He has had continuous research funding for the past 12 years and has several active clinical research projects directed toward improving pediatric injury care. He has mentored over 35 surgical residents, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers.

He is a retired Major in the US Army Medical Reserves and a former member of the National Disaster Medical Team that was the first US team to deploy in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. He remains active in global surgical efforts. He played a pivotal role in the care of children injured after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Other active clinic efforts include the investigation and amelioration of chronic abdominal wall pain and pilonidal disease.

Personally, he is happily married and has four adult children but no grandchildren, yet. He is an avid athlete who has run 5 marathons and is a black belt in martial arts. He prides himself on doing the bulk of his own home maintenance.

Media

Caregiver Profile

Meet Dr. David P. Mooney

Publications

  1. Determinants of surgical approach to pediatric appendicitis in Brazil. Pediatr Surg Int. 2025 May 20; 41(1):141. View Abstract

  2. Multicenter external validation of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network rule to identify children at very low risk for intra-abdominal injury requiring acute intervention. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2025 Jun 01; 98(6):966-972. View Abstract

  3. Gender Differences in Adolescent Pilonidal Disease. J Pediatr Surg. 2025 May; 60(5):162267. View Abstract

  4. Unveiling patterns in pediatric appendectomy: A comparative study on healthcare resource capacity and surgical decisions in Brazil. World J Surg. 2024 11; 48(11):2678-2685. View Abstract

  5. Social determinants of gastrointestinal malformation mortality in Brazil: a national study. World J Pediatr Surg. 2024; 7(2):e000759. View Abstract

  6. Implementation of a Global Pediatric Trauma Course in an Upper Middle-Income Country: A Pilot Study. J Surg Res. 2024 Jun; 298:355-363. View Abstract

  7. Prevalence and outcomes of high versus low ratio plasma to red blood cell resuscitation in a multi-institutional cohort of severely injured children. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2024 Sep 01; 97(3):452-459. View Abstract

  8. Delivery of essential pediatric congenital surgical care within Brazil's universal health coverage system: a national survey of pediatric surgeons. World J Pediatr Surg. 2023; 6(3):e000534. View Abstract

  9. Crystalloid volume is associated with short-term morbidity in children with severe traumatic brain injury: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial post hoc analysis. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2023 07 01; 95(1):78-86. View Abstract

  10. Resolution of Mild Pilonidal Disease in Adolescents Without Resection. J Am Coll Surg. 2022 11 01; 235(5):773-776. View Abstract

  11. Association between government policy and delays in emergent and elective surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: a modeling study. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2021 Nov; 3:100056. View Abstract

  12. Implementation of a checklist to improve pediatric trauma assessment quality in a Brazilian hospital. Pediatr Surg Int. 2021 Oct; 37(10):1339-1348. View Abstract

  13. Potentially Avertable Child Mortality Associated with Surgical Workforce Scale-up in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Global Study. World J Surg. 2021 09; 45(9):2643-2652. View Abstract

  14. Contemporary management of pediatric open skull fractures: a multicenter pediatric trauma center study. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021 05 01; 27(5):533-537. View Abstract

  15. A minimally invasive pilonidal protocol improves quality of life in adolescents. J Pediatr Surg. 2021 Oct; 56(10):1861-1864. View Abstract

  16. When to take it out? Optimal timing of interval appendectomy in 500 consecutive children. J Pediatr Surg. 2021 Oct; 56(10):1822-1825. View Abstract

  17. Perspectives on perioperative management of children's surgical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in low-income and middle-income countries: a global survey. World J Pediatr Surg. 2020; 3(3):e000187. View Abstract

  18. Comparison of regional analgesia techniques for pleurodesis pain in pediatric patients. Paediatr Anaesth. 2020 10; 30(10):1102-1108. View Abstract

  19. Unintentional Window Falls in Children and Adolescents. Acad Pediatr. 2021 04; 21(3):497-503. View Abstract

  20. Variation in management of pediatric post-traumatic urine leaks. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2022 Feb; 48(1):173-178. View Abstract

  21. Timing and volume of crystalloid and blood products in pediatric trauma: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter prospective observational study. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2020 07; 89(1):36-42. View Abstract

  22. Eliminating Opiate Prescribing for Children after Non-Perforated Appendectomy. J Am Coll Surg. 2020 06; 230(6):944-946. View Abstract

  23. The technique of cutaneous neurectomy for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome. J Pediatr Surg. 2020 Jun; 55(6):1142-1144. View Abstract

  24. Pediatric sternal fractures: A single center retrospective review. J Pediatr Surg. 2020 Jul; 55(7):1224-1227. View Abstract

  25. Improving Resource Utilization and Outcomes Using a Minimally Invasive Pilonidal Protocol. J Pediatr Surg. 2020 Jan; 55(1):182-186. View Abstract

  26. Diagnosis and Treatment of Slipping Rib Syndrome. Clin J Sport Med. 2019 01; 29(1):18-23. View Abstract

  27. Does the incidence of thoracic aortic injury warrant the routine use of chest computed tomography in children? J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2019 01; 86(1):97-100. View Abstract

  28. Pit-picking resolves pilonidal disease in adolescents. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Jan; 54(1):174-176. View Abstract

  29. Pediatric renal injury: which injury grades warrant close follow-up. Pediatr Surg Int. 2018 Nov; 34(11):1183-1187. View Abstract

  30. Neurectomy for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome in children. J Pediatr Surg. 2018 Aug; 53(8):1547-1549. View Abstract

  31. Acute procedural interventions after pediatric blunt abdominal trauma: A prospective multicenter evaluation. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017 10; 83(4):597-602. View Abstract

  32. Pneumatoceles in pediatric blunt trauma: Common and benign. J Pediatr Surg. 2018 Jul; 53(7):1310-1312. View Abstract

  33. Focused assessment with sonography for trauma in children after blunt abdominal trauma: A multi-institutional analysis. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017 08; 83(2):218-224. View Abstract

  34. The prevalence of incidental findings on computed tomography of the abdomen/pelvis in pediatric trauma patients. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2018 Feb; 44(1):15-18. View Abstract

  35. Acute Procedural Interventions Following Pediatric Blunt Abdominal Trauma: A Prospective Multicenter Evaluation. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017 Apr 27. View Abstract

  36. Contrast enhanced ultrasound for the evaluation of blunt pediatric abdominal trauma. J Pediatr Surg. 2018 Mar; 53(3):548-552. View Abstract

  37. Can we safely decrease intensive care unit admissions for children with high grade isolated solid organ injuries? Using the shock index, pediatric age-adjusted and hematocrit to modify APSA admission guidelines. J Pediatr Surg. 2017 Jun; 52(6):989-992. View Abstract

  38. Head and Cervical Spine Evaluation for the Pediatric Surgeon. Surg Clin North Am. 2017 Feb; 97(1):35-58. View Abstract

  39. Letter to the Editor: "Post-traumatic liver and splenic pseudoaneurysms in children: Diagnosis, management, and follow-up screening using contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)" by Durkin et al J Pediatr Surg 51 (2016) 289-292. J Pediatr Surg. 2017 02; 52(2):367-368. View Abstract

  40. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of a pediatric cervical spine clearance algorithm that minimizes computerized tomography. J Pediatr Surg. 2017 Jan; 52(1):130-135. View Abstract

  41. Outcomes of pediatric patients with persistent midline cervical spine tenderness and negative imaging result after trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2015 Nov; 79(5):822-7. View Abstract

  42. The value of official reinterpretation of trauma computed tomography scans from referring hospitals. J Pediatr Surg. 2016 Mar; 51(3):486-9. View Abstract

  43. Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome in Children. J Pediatr Surg. 2015 Jul; 50(7):1177-9. View Abstract

  44. Twenty-years of splenic preservation at a level 1 pediatric trauma center. J Pediatr Surg. 2015 May; 50(5):864-8. View Abstract

  45. Simple formulas to determine optimal subclavian central venous catheter tip placement in infants and children. J Pediatr Surg. 2014 Jul; 49(7):1109-12. View Abstract

  46. Pediatric blunt abdominal aortic injury and the use of intra-operative aortic ultrasound for surgical decision making. J Pediatr Surg. 2013 Jul; 48(7):1584-7. View Abstract

  47. Pediatric thoracic and abdominal trauma. Minerva Chir. 2013 Jun; 68(3):263-74. View Abstract

  48. Impact of trauma system development on pediatric injury care. Pediatr Surg Int. 2013 Mar; 29(3):263-8. View Abstract

  49. Transarterial embolization in children with blunt splenic injury results in postembolization syndrome: a matched case-control study. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012 Dec; 73(6):1558-63. View Abstract

  50. Operative blunt duodenal injury in children: a multi-institutional review. J Pediatr Surg. 2012 Oct; 47(10):1833-6. View Abstract

  51. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) reduce costs in the management of isolated splenic injuries at pediatric trauma centers. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2013 Feb; 398(2):313-5. View Abstract

  52. Home safety practices in an urban low-income population: level of agreement between parental self-report and observed behaviors. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2012 Dec; 51(12):1119-24. View Abstract

  53. Periampullary duodenal duplication cyst masquerading as a choledochocele. Pediatr Surg Int. 2012 Oct; 28(10):1035-9. View Abstract

  54. Variation in computed tomography radiation dose in community hospitals. J Pediatr Surg. 2012 Jun; 47(6):1167-9. View Abstract

  55. Delayed presentation of traumatic infrapopliteal arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneursym in a 10-year-old boy managed by coil embolization. J Pediatr Surg. 2012 Feb; 47(2):e7-10. View Abstract

  56. The management of pancreatic injuries in children: operate or observe. J Pediatr Surg. 2011 Jun; 46(6):1140-3. View Abstract

  57. Pediatric appendicitis in New England: epidemiology and outcomes. J Pediatr Surg. 2011 Jun; 46(6):1106-14. View Abstract

  58. Utility of amylase and lipase as predictors of grade of injury or outcomes in pediatric patients with pancreatic trauma. J Pediatr Surg. 2011 May; 46(5):923-6. View Abstract

  59. The modern paediatric injury pyramid: injuries in Massachusetts children and adolescents. Inj Prev. 2010 Apr; 16(2):123-6. View Abstract

  60. Impact of surgical approach on outcome in 622 consecutive pyloromyotomies at a pediatric teaching institution. J Pediatr Surg. 2009 Nov; 44(11):2119-25. View Abstract

  61. Multiple level injuries in pediatric spinal trauma. J Trauma. 2009 Sep; 67(3):537-42. View Abstract

  62. Clinical policy: critical issues in the sedation of pediatric patients in the emergency department. J Emerg Nurs. 2008 Jun; 34(3):e33-107. View Abstract

  63. Clinical policy: Critical issues in the sedation of pediatric patients in the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. 2008 Apr; 51(4):378-99, 399.e1-57. View Abstract

  64. Pediatric blunt abdominal injury: age is irrelevant and delayed operation is not detrimental. J Trauma. 2007 Sep; 63(3):608-14. View Abstract

  65. Long-term outcome of nonoperative pediatric splenic injury management. J Pediatr Surg. 2007 Jun; 42(6):1038-41; discussion 1041-2. View Abstract

  66. Pediatric trauma care: a profitable enterprise? J Pediatr Surg. 2007 Jun; 42(6):1043-5; discussion 1045-6. View Abstract

  67. Pediatric pancreatic trauma: predictors of nonoperative management failure and associated outcomes. J Pediatr Surg. 2007 Feb; 42(2):340-4. View Abstract

  68. Variation in the management of pediatric splenic injuries in the United States. J Trauma. 2006 Aug; 61(2):330-3; discussion 333. View Abstract

  69. Rate and prediction of traumatic injuries detected by abdominal computed tomography scan in intubated children. J Trauma. 2006 Aug; 61(2):340-5. View Abstract

  70. The use of routine laboratory studies as screening tools in pediatric abdominal trauma. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2006 Jul; 22(7):480-4. View Abstract

  71. Building a trauma center and system in Tuscany, Italy. Intern Emerg Med. 2006; 1(4):302-4. View Abstract

  72. The failure of nonoperative management in pediatric solid organ injury: a multi-institutional experience. J Trauma. 2005 Dec; 59(6):1309-13. View Abstract

  73. A randomized clinical trial of the management of esophageal coins in children. Pediatrics. 2005 Sep; 116(3):614-9. View Abstract

  74. Physiology after pediatric splenic injury. J Trauma. 2005 Jan; 58(1):108-11. View Abstract

  75. Trends in inpatient pediatric trauma care in new England. J Trauma. 2004 Dec; 57(6):1241-5. View Abstract

  76. Congenital adrenocortical adenoma: case report and review of literature. Pediatr Radiol. 2004 Dec; 34(12):991-4. View Abstract

  77. A case of human botfly infestation in a child who had recently returned from Central America. J Pediatr Surg. 2004 Sep; 39(9):1446; author reply 1446. View Abstract

  78. Application of the APSA evidence-based guidelines for isolated liver or spleen injuries: a single institution experience. J Pediatr Surg. 2004 Mar; 39(3):487-90; discussion 487-90. View Abstract

  79. Variation in the management of pediatric splenic injuries in New England. J Trauma. 2004 Feb; 56(2):328-33. View Abstract

  80. Tissue-engineered neomucosa: morphology, enterocyte dynamics, and SGLT1 expression topography. Transplantation. 2003 Jan 27; 75(2):181-5. View Abstract

  81. Hypokalemia in acutely injured children: a benign laboratory abnormality. J Trauma. 2003 Jan; 54(1):197-8. View Abstract

  82. Multiple trauma: liver and spleen injury. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2002 Aug; 14(4):482-5. View Abstract

  83. Hepatic exstrophy complicating Poland's anomaly. J Pediatr Surg. 2002 Aug; 37(8):1203-4. View Abstract

  84. Tissue-engineered colon exhibits function in vivo. Surgery. 2002 Aug; 132(2):200-4. View Abstract

  85. Hydrostatic balloon dilation of congenital esophageal stenoses associated with esophageal atresia. J Pediatr Surg. 2000 Dec; 35(12):1742-5. View Abstract

  86. Long-term follow-up of tissue-engineered intestine after anastomosis to native small bowel. Transplantation. 2000 May 15; 69(9):1927-32. View Abstract

  87. Soft-tissue augmentation with injectable alginate and syngeneic fibroblasts. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000 May; 105(6):2049-58. View Abstract

  88. The posterior approach to pyloric sonography. Pediatr Radiol. 2000 Apr; 30(4):256-7. View Abstract

  89. Prolonged intestinal exposure to amniotic fluid does not result in peel formation in gastroschisis. J Pediatr Surg. 1999 Jun; 34(6):975-6. View Abstract

  90. Snowboarding injuries in children and adolescents. Am J Emerg Med. 1999 May; 17(3):261-3. View Abstract

  91. Indomethacin-associated bowel perforations: a study of possible risk factors. J Pediatr Surg. 1999 Mar; 34(3):442-4. View Abstract

  92. Anastomosis between tissue-engineered intestine and native small bowel. Transplant Proc. 1999 Feb-Mar; 31(1-2):661-2. View Abstract

  93. Successful anastomosis between tissue-engineered intestine and native small bowel. Transplantation. 1999 Jan 27; 67(2):241-5. View Abstract

  94. Childhood sledding injuries. Am J Emerg Med. 1999 Jan; 17(1):32-4. View Abstract

  95. Studies of brush border enzymes, basement membrane components, and electrophysiology of tissue-engineered neointestine. J Pediatr Surg. 1998 Jul; 33(7):991-6; discussion 996-7. View Abstract

  96. Variation in the management of pediatric splenic injuries in New Hampshire. J Pediatr Surg. 1998 Jul; 33(7):1076-8; discussion 1079-80. View Abstract

  97. Teenage driving fatalities. J Pediatr Surg. 1998 Jul; 33(7):1084-8; discussion 1088-9. View Abstract

  98. Surgical aspects of an outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitis. Pediatr Surg Int. 1998 Jan; 13(1):2-5. View Abstract

  99. Furuncular cuterebrid myiasis. J Pediatr Surg. 1997 Oct; 32(10):1511-3. View Abstract

  100. Slipping rib syndrome in childhood. J Pediatr Surg. 1997 Jul; 32(7):1081-2. View Abstract

  101. Modifications of Bishop's method for pediatric gastrostomy closure. Am Surg. 1997 Jun; 63(6):559-60. View Abstract

  102. Skiing injuries in children and adolescents. J Trauma. 1996 Jun; 40(6):997-1001. View Abstract

  103. Perinatal intussusception in premature infants. J Pediatr Surg. 1996 May; 31(5):695-7. View Abstract

  104. An unusual cause of penetrating cardiac injury in a child. J Pediatr Surg. 1996 May; 31(5):707-8. View Abstract

  105. Spiral CT: use in the evaluation of chest masses in the critically ill neonate. Pediatr Radiol. 1996; 26(1):15-8. View Abstract

  106. Functional Viability of Chondrocytes Stored at 4 degrees C. Tissue Eng. 1996; 2(1):75-81. View Abstract

  107. At 18 weeks' gestation, a normal boy was found, through routine ultrasonography, to have an abdominal cystic mass. J Pediatr Surg. 1995 Nov; 30(11):1632-3. View Abstract

  108. The efficacy of periosteal cells compared to chondrocytes in the tissue engineered repair of bone defects. Tissue Eng. 1995; 1(3):301-8. View Abstract

  109. The proximal mesenteric flap: a method for closing large mesenteric defects in jejunal atresia. J Pediatr Surg. 1994 Dec; 29(12):1607-8. View Abstract

  110. Tissue-engineered growth of cartilage: the effect of varying the concentration of chondrocytes seeded onto synthetic polymer matrices. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1994 Feb; 23(1):49-53. View Abstract

  111. An absent right and persistent left superior vena cava in an infant requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy. J Pediatr Surg. 1993 Dec; 28(12):1633-4. View Abstract

  112. Congenital duodenal obstruction: a 32-year review. J Pediatr Surg. 1993 Jan; 28(1):92-5. View Abstract

  113. Studies in rat liver perfusion for optimal harvest of hepatocytes. J Pediatr Surg. 1990 Jan; 25(1):140-4; discussion 144-5. View Abstract

We all have medical problems and I try to speak to families and care for their children in the ways that I want to be spoken to and have my children treated.
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