Get to Know Me
Dr. Stephen P. Dunn is chief of the Division of Solid Organ Transplantation. He's also a professor of surgery and pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University, an international presenter, and an author of more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and abstracts.
Why I Treat Children
When I was young, the physicians I first heard about were missionaries and I always thought that what they were doing was really important. It seemed to me that helping other people who were sick was one of the best things I could do with my life. I made that decision early — while in middle school. Over time, I knew I wanted to help children. I've always loved being around kids. Their innocence is amazing. It's a privilege to care for them and to earn the trust of their parents.I see life as a service. And the best service I can provide is to use the things I know to give children a second chance. Nothing is more rewarding than knowing we helped someone to have a normal childhood and grow up to live a happy, productive life as a result of our solid organ transplantation program.
What I'm Passionate About
I'm passionate about taking solid organ transplant programs to the next level — introducing what we've learned to societies that haven't been able to take advantage of these medical techniques before. So I devote a lot of energy to discussing and critiquing work that's going on in transplantation programs for children around the world.I'm very fortunate to have a family that supports me in this. My wife and kids have always acted like they were part of the team that sent me to work every day. I owe them everything.
How I Try to Make A Difference
I really want to help heal children through my work. We've found a better way to treat a specific liver-related form of high blood pressure and I'm working toward more children being treated using this technique.I’ve also tried to use what I've learned to help children in need in other countries. The missionary physicians I had heard of when I was young inspired me to do something similar. I've set up viable solid organ transplant programs in Bolivia and India and established a live-donor liver transplant program in Philadelphia.This work has attracted numerous like-minded physicians and health professionals, and I'm especially proud that many of them have followed me to ¿ì²¥³ÉÈËÍø.
