John J Meehan, MD

Hernia Program, Fetal Care and Treatment Center, Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, General Surgery

On staff since January 2008

Academic Title: Associate Professor, Surgery

"Taking the surgery of today into the future. I work closely to make robotic surgery more compatible with our small pediatric surgical patients and help in the development of instrumentation that is more suitable for pediatrics."

• Biography

  John Meehan, MD, is an attending surgeon in the Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery at Seattle Children's Hospital and an associate professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

  He also attends at Seattle Children's Bellevue Clinic and Surgery Center, and is co-director of the Seattle Children's Robotic Surgery Center. His clinical and research focus is on minimally invasive robotic surgery and new technologies. He is an internationally recognized expert in the field and has been one of the leaders in advancing the use robotic surgery. Dr. Meehan received his medical degree from the University of Iowa, College of Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his fellowship at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

• Patient Testimonials

  • Alan Peoria, IL 06.04.19

    Dr. Meehan (when he was at the University of Iowa) cared for our daughter, Victoria in August 2003 after she was involved in a serious car accident. He used his robotic surgical skills to repair a small bowel injury which I don't believe was common at the time. My daughter is now 26 and married and doing well. We are still grateful for his superb care and compassionate bedside manner some 16 years ago. He helped us out at a time of great need and we will never forget this. Thank you Dr. Meehan!

  • Amy Fort Madison Iowa 03.04.15

    Dr. Meehan recognized right away that our son had intestinal malrotation with a midgut volvulus despite that diagnosis going untreated until he was 2 years old. He made quick and tough decisions that saved my son's life. Our son is now 13 years old and is healthy and we are thankful every day for Dr. Meehan.

  • Linda Gardena, CA 08.13.12

    In October 2001, Dr. Meehan was part of the surgical team at CHLA who saved our son's life after his midgut volvulus at the age of 2. Dr. Meehan and Dr. Shaul, along with their dedicated team of doctors and nurses beat the odds and despite the loss of 99% of his small intestine our son has gone on to live a "normal" life full of eating, sports and all the activities of a a typical 13 year old. Thank you Dr. Meehan! Without you and the team, none of this would be possible.

  • Danielle Washburn, Iowa 01.03.11

    My daughter was a patient of Dr. Meehan's when he was practicing at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic, Children's Speciality Clinic. My daughter was born with an Imperforate Anus and other female genital issues. My husband and I were very impressed with Dr. Meehan's skills and knowledge. Unfortunately, he left the UIHC and we have tremendously missed him and having him as our daughter's physician!!! He is a wonderful docotor and I would love to have him be able to see my daughter again and attend to her care. We miss his tenderness and compassion towards his patients. I would recommend Dr. Meehan to anyone that was dealing with colorectal issues in children. You have a prized possession. Danielle and Derek Ackley, parents of Gabriella Ackley age 4 now.

  Recommend John J Meehan, MD

• Awards and Honors

  Award Name	Award Description	Awarded By	Award Date
  Above and Beyond Recognition Award		University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics	Sept. 2003
  Best Poster Award Winner	Outcome Following Recannulation and a Second ECMO Course. Chicago, Illinois	American Academy of Pediatrics: Section on Surgery	Oct. 2000

• Publications

  Manuscripts in Refereed Journals

  • Chesley PM, Ledbetter DJ, Meehan JJ, Oron AP, Javid PJ
    Contemporary trends in the use of primary repair for gastroschisis in surgical infants.
    25776902 American journal of surgery, 2015 Feb 24
  • Meehan JJ, Sandler A
    Pediatric robotic surgery: A single-institutional review of the first 100 consecutive cases.
    17522913 Surgical Endoscopy, 2008 Jan. : 177-82
  • Meehan JJ, Elliott S, Sandler A
    The robotic approach to complex hepatobiliary anomalies in children: preliminary report.
    18082719 Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2007 Dec. : 2110-4
  • Meehan JJ, Sandler A
    Robotic repair of a Bochdalek congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a small neonate: robotic advantages and limitations.
    17923210 Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2007 Oct. : 1757-60
  • Meehan JJ
    Robotic repair of congenital duodenal atresia: a case report.
    17618869 Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2007 July : E31-3
  • Elliott S, Sandler AD, Meehan JJ, Lawrence JP
    Surgical treatment of a gastric diverticulum in an adolescent.
    16863856 Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2006 Aug. : 1467-9
  • Rakheja D, Meehan JJ, Gomez AM
    Pathologic quiz case: sphenoid sinus mass in a 12-year-old girl. Infrasellar adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.
    15737054 Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, 2005 March : e73-4
  • Rakheja D, Wilson KS, Meehan JJ, Schultz RA, Maale GE, Timmons CF
    Extrapleural benign solitary fibrous tumor in the shoulder of a 9-year-old girl: case report and review of the literature.
    15630539 Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, 2004 Nov. : 653-60
  • Borup LH, Meehan JJ, Severson JM, Kaufman K
    Terminal spine of agave plant extracted from patient's spinal cord.
    14500248 AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology, 2003 Oct. : 1155-6
  • Meehan JJ, Haney BM, Snyder CL, Sharp RJ, Acosta JM, Holcomb GW 3rd
    Outcome after recannulation and a second course of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
    12037747 Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2002 June : 845-50

  Published Books, Videos, Software, etc.

  • Meehan JJ (Producer, Editor, Narrator, Director)
    The Video Library on Pediatric Robotic Surgery.
    Surgical technique video library, 2012
  • Meehan JJ (Producer, Editor, Narrator, Director)
    Pediatric Robotic Surgery: A selection of cases
    A narrated DVD of 16 pediatric cases. Medical DVD, 2007
  • Meehan JJ (Website designer)
    Pediatric Robotic Surgeons: Educational website on pediatric robotic surgery for physicians and families
    www.PediatricRoboticSurgeons.org ., 2005 - 2011
  • Meehan JJ
    Pediatric Robotic Surgery: Technical Manual (In Preparation)
    

  Other Publications

  • Pet GE, Stark RA, Meehan JJ, Javid PJ
    Outcomes of bedside sutureless umbilical closure without endotracheal intubation for gastroschisis repair in surgical infants.
    28385380 American journal of surgery, 2017 May : 213(5)958-962
  • Meehan JJ, Ostlie DJ
    25(th) Anniversary State-of-the-Art Expert Discussion With John J. Meehan, MD, FACS, on Robotics.
    26258266 Journal of laparoendoscopic and advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2015 Aug. : 25(8)613-6
  • Meehan JJ, Ostlie DJ
    25(th) Anniversary State-of-the-Art Expert Discussion With John J. Meehan, MD, FACS, on Robotics.
    26258266 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2015 Aug. : 25(8)613-6
  • Meehan JJ
    Robotic surgery for pediatric tumors.
    23528728 Cancer journal (Sudbury, Mass.), 2013 March : 19(2)183-8
  • John J. Meehan, MD
    Robotic Pediatric Procedures
    Robotic Surgery for the General Surgeon, 2013
  • Meehan JJ
    Robotic Surgery in Children
    Robotics in General Surgery, 2013
  • John J. Meehan, MD
    Surgical Robotics - Systems, Applications, and Visions
    Applications of Robotics in Pediatric General Surgery, 2012
  • John J. Meehan, MD
    Robotic Pediatric and Reconstructive Urology: A Comprehensive Guide
    Neonatal Robotic Procedures, 2012
  • Meehan JJ, Sawin R
    Robotic lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (Puestow).
    21683190 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2011 June : 46(6)e5-8
  • Meehan JJ
    Pediatric Thoracoscopy
    The SAGES Manual: Fundamentals of Laparoscopy, Thoracoscopy and GI Endoscopy, 3/e, 2011
  • Meehan JJ
    Pediatric MIS Complications
    The SAGES Manual: Fundamentals of Laparoscopy, Thoracoscopy and GI Endoscopy, 3/e, 2011
  • Meehan JJ
    Pediatric Laparoscopy
    The SAGES Manual: Fundamentals of Laparoscopy, Thoracoscopy and GI Endoscopy, 3/e, 2011
  • Meehan JJ
    Surgical Emergencies
    Textbook of Pediatric Gastroenterology, 2010
  • Meehan JJ
    Robotic surgery in small children: is there room for this?
    19694560 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2009 Oct. : 707-12
  • Meehan JJ
    Robotic surgery in small children: is there room for this?
    19694560 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2009 Oct. : 19(5)707-12
  • Slater BJ, Meehan JJ
    Robotic repair of congenital diaphragmatic anomalies.
    19260792 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2009 April : S123-7
  • Slater BJ, Meehan JJ
    Robotic repair of congenital diaphragmatic anomalies.
    19260792 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2009 April : 19 Suppl 1S123-7
  • Meehan JJ, Torres JE
    Robotic repair of Morgagni congenital diaphragmatic hernia in an infant.
    27637510 Journal of robotic surgery, 2008 July : 2(2)97-9
  • Bottsford J, Meehan JJ
    Common bile duct perforation resulting from a gastric duplication cyst.
    17646997 Pediatric surgery international, 2008 April : 459-61
  • Bottsford J, Meehan JJ
    Common bile duct perforation resulting from a gastric duplication cyst.
    17646997 Pediatric surgery international, 2008 April : 24(4)459-61
  • Meehan JJ, Phearman L, Sandler A
    Robotic pulmonary resections in children: series report and introduction of a new robotic instrument.
    18373461 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2008 April : 293-5
  • Meehan JJ, Phearman L, Sandler A
    Robotic pulmonary resections in children: series report and introduction of a new robotic instrument.
    18373461 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2008 April : 18(2)293-5
  • Meehan JJ
    The robotic Gyrus PK: a new articulating thermal sealing device and a preliminary series report.
    18266601 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2008 Feb. : 18(1)183-5
  • Meehan JJ, Sandler AD
    Robotic resection of mediastinal masses in children.
    18266588 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2008 Feb. : 114-9
  • Meehan JJ
    The robotic Gyrus PK: a new articulating thermal sealing device and a preliminary series report.
    18266601 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2008 Feb. : 183-5
  • Adam LA, Meehan JJ
    Erosion of the Nuss bar into the internal mammary artery 4 months after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum.
    18280298 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2008 Feb. : 394-7
  • Meehan JJ, Sandler AD
    Robotic resection of mediastinal masses in children.
    18266588 Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A, 2008 Feb. : 18(1)114-9
  • Adam LA, Meehan JJ
    Erosion of the Nuss bar into the internal mammary artery 4 months after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum.
    18280298 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2008 Feb. : 43(2)394-7
  • Meehan JJ, Meehan TD, Sandler A
    Robotic fundoplication in children: resident teaching and a single institutional review of our first 50 patients.
    18082700 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2007 Dec. : 2022-5

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• Presentations

  Presentations Title	Event	Location	Date
  Innovations in Newborn and Fetal Surgery (invited professor lecture)	Pediatric Robotic Surgery Innovation	San Antonio, Texas	Sep 18, 2013 - Sep 20, 2013
  Robotic Surgery in Children: Its a Small World (invited professor lecture)		Stockholm, Sweden	Aug 21, 2013
  Basic Pediatric Robotic Surgery (invited professor lecture)	IPEG Simulator Laboratory Hands On Course	Beijing, China	Jun 18, 2013 - Jun 22, 2013
  Robotic Resection of a Large Splenic Cyst and Introduction of a New Robotic Thermal Sealer (poster presentation)	International Pediatric Endoscopic Group Scientific Meeting	Beijing, China	Jun 17, 2013 - Jun 22, 2013
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery Pediatric Robotic Surgery: To Infinity and Beyond. (keynote lecture)	Chinese College of Surgeons	Beijing, China	Jun 15, 2013 - Jun 16, 2013
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery: The sky is the limit. (invited professor lecture)	Royal Belgian Society of Surgeons	Oostende, Belgium	May 1, 2013 - May 3, 2013
  Robotic resection of mediastinal masses, 10 year review	Pacific Association of Paediatric Surgeons Annual Meeting	Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia	Apr 7, 2013 - Apr 12, 2013
  Robotic Surgery Tips and Tricks (keynote lecture)	Groupe dEtude de Coeliochirugie Infantile (GECI)	Lugano-Marcote, Switzerland	Oct 12, 2012 - Oct 13, 2012
  Building a Robotic Surgery Program: Round Table Discussion (invited professor lecture)	Groupe dEtude de Coeliochirugie Infantile (GECI),	Lugano-Marcote, Switzerland	Oct 12, 2012 - Oct 13, 2012
  The Future of Pediatric Robotic Surgery (keynote lecture)	Clinical Robotic Surgical Association Annual Surgical Symposium	Chicago, IL	Sep 28, 2012 - Sep 29, 2012
  Robotic CDH repair using pledgets (video presentation)	Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons	Victoria, B.C, Canada	Sep 20, 2012 - Sep 22, 2012
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery: State of the Art (invited professor lecture)	Joint annual meeting of the Minimally Invasive Robotic Association, Society of Robotic Surgeons, and the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons	Boston, MA	Sep 5, 2012 - Sep 8, 2012
  Robotic thymectomy series report (poster presentation: Ricca R, Stephenson J, Ledbetter D, Meehan JJ)	International Pediatric Endoscopic Group Scientific Meeting	San Diego, CA	Mar 6, 2012 - Mar 10, 2012
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery in Oncology, (invited professor lecture)	XXIX Nacional Symposia Oncologia	Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico	Oct 26, 2011 - Oct 29, 2011
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery and the Future (invited professor lecture)	XXIX Nacional Symposia Chiurgie Oncologia	Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico	Oct 26, 2011 - Oct 29, 2011
  The Future of Pediatric Robotic Surgery (keynote lecture)	Groupe dEtude de Coeliochirugie Infantile (GECI)	Tours, France	Oct 14, 2011 - Oct 15, 2011
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery: Plenary Session World-Wide Update (invited professor lecture)	World Robotic Symposium	Miami, Florida	Jun 27, 2011 - Jun 29, 2011
  Pediatric Robotic Thoracic Surgery (invited professor lecture)	World Robotic Symposium	Miami, Florida	Jun 27, 2011 - Jun 29, 2011
  Pediatric Robotic GI Surgery (invited professor lecture)	World Robotic Symposium	Miami, Florida	Jun 27, 2011 - Jun 29, 2011
  Pediatric Robotic Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery (invited professor lecture)	World Robotic Symposium	Miami, Florida	Jun 27, 2011 - Jun 29, 2011
  Pediatric Robotic Adrenal Surgery (invited professor lecture)	World Robotic Symposium	Miami, Florida	Jun 27, 2011 - Jun 29, 2011
  Robotic vs. Laparoscopic Surgery in Kids: Point/Counterpoint (invited professor lecture)	World Robotic Symposium	Miami, Florida	Jun 27, 2011 - Jun 29, 2011
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery, the Ultimate Diversity	Minimally Invasive Robotic Association Annual Meeting	Athens, Greece	May 11, 2011 - May 13, 2011
  Advances in Pediatric Robotic Surgery: MIRA Plenary Session (invited professor lecture)	Minimally Invasive Robotic Association Annual Congress	Athens, Greece	May 11, 2011 - May 13, 2011
  Robotic Thymectomy techniques and pitfalls in Children	Minimally Invasive Robotic Association Annual Meeting	Athens, Greece	May 11, 2011 - May 13, 2011
  Kids say the darndest thingsand what they eat is pretty weird too (video presentation)	Minimally Invasive Robotic Association, Annual Meeting	Athens, Greece	May 11, 2011 - May 13, 2011
  Robotic Choledochal Cyst Resection and extracorporeal Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy in a 2 year Old Patient With a Long Common Channel	International Pediatric Endoscopic Group Annual Scientific Meeting	Prague, Czech Republic	May 4, 2011 - May 7, 2011
  Robotic Thymectomy (video presentation)	International Pediatric Endoscopic Group Annual Scientific Meeting	Prague, Czech Republic	May 4, 2011 - May 7, 2011
  New Frontiers in Pediatric Robotic Surgery. State of The Art Lecture Series (invited professor lecture)	World Congress on Pediatric Surgery	Delhi, India	Oct 21, 2010 - Oct 24, 2010
  Robotic resection of a mediastinal mass at an International Symposium on Pediatric Surgery (video presentation)	World Congress on Pediatric Surgery	New Delhi, India	Oct 21, 2010 - Oct 24, 2010
  Role of Robotics in Pediatric Surgery (invited professor lecture)	World Congress on Pediatric Surgery	Delhi, India	Oct 21, 2010 - Oct 24, 2010
  Robotic repair of a L-Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in a 5 day old Neonate (video presentation)	World Congress on Pediatric Surgery	New Delhi, India	Oct 21, 2010 - Oct 24, 2010
  Robotic retrieval of an ingested foreign body (video presentation)	International Pediatric Endoscopic Group	Waikaloa, Hawaii	Jun 8, 2010 - Jun 12, 2010
  Thoracic Robotic Surgery in Children (invited professor lecture)	World Robotic Symposium	Orlando, Florida	Apr 11, 2010 - Apr 14, 2010
  Complex Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Surgery in Children	World Robotic Symposium	Orlando, Florida	Apr 11, 2010 - Apr 14, 2010
  Neonatal Robotic Surgery (invited professor lecture)	World Robotic Symposium	Orlando, Florida	Apr 11, 2010 - Apr 14, 2010
  Robotic Surgery for Children in the 21st Century (invited professor lecture)	Duchess of Kent Hospital	Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia	Feb 27, 2010
  Robotic Seminar in Surgery for Children in the 21st Century (invited professor lecture)	Sabah Women and Children Hospital, Hospital Likas	Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia	Feb 25, 2010
  The Future of Robotics in Pediatric Surgery (invited professor lecture)	The 22nd Annual Congress of the Asian Association of Paediatric Surgeons	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Feb 20, 2010 - Feb 24, 2010
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery: Abdominal Applications	The 22nd Annual Congress of the Asian Association of Paediatric Surgeons	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Feb 20, 2010 - Feb 24, 2010
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery: Thoracic Applications	The 22nd Annual Congress of the Asian Association of Paediatric Surgeons	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Feb 20, 2010 - Feb 24, 2010
  Principles of Robotic Surgery in Children	The 22nd Annual Congress of the Asian Association of Paediatric Surgeons	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Feb 2, 2010 - Feb 24, 2010
  Robotic resection of mediastinal neuroblastoma in children	Minimally Invasive Robotic Association	San Diego, CA	Jan 27, 2010 - Jan 30, 2010
  Pediatric Robotic Surgery: the endless applications (invited professor lecture)	Minimally Invasive Robotic Association Annual Meeting	San Diego, CA	Jan 27, 2010 - Jan 30, 2010
  Robotic treatment of chronic pancreatitis	Minimally Invasive Robotic Association	San Diego, CA	Jan 27, 2010 - Jan 30, 2010
  Health Ministry Visiting Expert (invited professor lecture)	National University Hospital	Singapore	Nov 9, 2009 - Nov 13, 2009
  Robotic Program Development (poster presentation)	Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons	Jackson Hole, Wyoming	Jun 29, 2008 - Jul 3, 2008
  Robotic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: series report (poster presentation: Meehan JJ, Slater BA)	International Pediatric Endoscopic Group Scientific Meeting	Cannes, France	Jun 12, 2008 - Jun 15, 2008
  Robotic splenectomy in children: A single institutional series report (poster presentation: Slater BA, Meehan JJ)	Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons	Philadelphia, PA	Apr 9, 2008 - Apr 12, 2008

• Research Funding

  Grant Title	Grantor	Amount	Award Date
  Robotic equipment and program development	Childrens Miracle Network	$10,000.00	Feb. 2007
  Robotic equipment and program development	Childrens Miracle Network	$40,000.00	Feb. 2004