Alejandro Vera Garcia, MD

Professional Titles

• Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Director of Pediatric Robotic Surgery
• Surgical Director of the ECMO Program
• Co-Director of the Pediatric Surgical Colorectal Program
• Associate Director, Pediatric Burn Program
• Assistant Program Director, Halsted General Surgery Residency

Primary Academic Title

Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatric Surgery

Background

Centers and Institutes

• Pediatric Robotic Surgery Program ,Johns Hopkins Children's Center

X (Twitter)

https://twitter.com/Alex_GarciaMD

Videos

• Meet Our Expert - Dr. Alejandro Garcia

Research Interests

Health Care Disparities, Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery, Minimizing Brain Injury on ECMO

Research Summary

My research focuses on minimizing neurologic injury and optimizing outcomes for children on extracorporeal life support. As a principal investigator in the Pediatric Anesthesia and Critical Care Research Laboratory, I lead both translational and clinical studies aimed at improving care for these patients. My translational research explores neurologic injury following cardiac arrest and strategies for neuroprotection after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, using an adolescent porcine model. Clinically, I investigate techniques to optimize cannulation for extracorporeal support in pediatric patients while also exploring methods to prevent renal injury and reduce unnecessary blood transfusions. Through this work, I aim to advance critical care strategies and improve survival and long-term outcomes for children requiring extracorporeal life support.

Google Scholar

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=X8gKrCAAAAAJ&hl=en

PubMed

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1B5VTX55yhgQo/bibliography/50737413/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending

Research Gate

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alejandro_Garcia11

Selected Publications

• Garcia AV, Velez AK, Surma V, Jager LR, Bembea MM. Impact of Red Blood Cell Transfusion on Regional Cerebral Oxygen Saturation during Pediatric ECMO. Transfusion, 2023. 

• Garcia AV, Etchill E, Bembea MM, Gray BW, Rhee DS. Pediatric arterial femoral cannulations for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Does size really matter? Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2021;56(9):1643-1646. 

• Tsou P, Garcia AV, Yiu A, Battarjee W, Vaidya DM, Bembea MM. Association of cerebral oximetry with outcomes after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Neurocritical Care. 2020:1-9

• Mauney C, Florissi I, Etchill EW, Garcia AV. Laparoscopic Duodenojejunostomy for the Treatment of Pediatric Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome. Journal of Pediatric Surgery Open, 2023;100065.

Honors

• William Steward Halsted Teaching Award, Department of Surgery Director’s Award, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2024
• Society of University Surgeons George P. Yang, MD, PhD  Early-Stage Investigator Award, 2024
• Baltimore Top Doctor, 2020-2024
• Jay Grosfeld, MD Scholar Grant, American Pediatric Surgical Association, 2019
• The Frank L. Coulson HR Award for Clinical Excellence, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 2016
• Blakemore Prize for Best Body of Research in Residency, Columbia University Department of Surgery, 2014
• Circle of Excellence in Teaching, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2013
• Employee of the Month, July 2012, New-York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, 2012
• Excellence in Research Award, American College of Surgeons, 2012
• AMA Foundation Seed Grant Research Program Award, American Medical Association, 2011

Lectures & Presentations

• Improving Neurologic Outcomes After Respiratory Arrest Using a Porcine ECPR Model, Speaker, EuroElso 2022 Annual Conference, EuroELSO, London, UK, 5/5/22
• Innovations in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Speaker, Pediatric IBD Education Webinar for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, Baltimore, MD, 10/3/21
• Laser Treatment for Pediatric Hypertrophic Scars, Speaker, The Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington DC, 11/19/21
• VA or Dual-site VV ECMO in Neonates when DLVV is Not an Option?, Speaker, 39th Annual Children's National Hospital Symposium: ECMO and the Advanced Therapies for Respiratory and Cardiac Failure, Keystone, CO, 3/1/23

Memberships

• Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
• Fellow, American College of Surgeons
• Member, American Pediatric Surgical Association
• Nominations and Membership Committee, Extracorporeal Life Support Organization
• Member, Society of University Surgeons

Professional Activities

• Assistant Editor, Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2024-present
• Young Fellows Association Representative, American College of Surgeons Maryland, 2024-present
• Advanced Trauma Life Support, American College of Surgeons, Instructor, 2017
• Surgical Critical Care Committee - American Pediatric Surgical Association, Member, 2017-present