Samuel Emlen Rice-Townsend, MD

Samuel Emlen Rice-Townsend, MD

General Surgery, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Program, Bowel Management Treatment Program, Reconstructive Pelvic Medicine, Fetal Care and Treatment Center, Hernia Program, Surgical Oncology

On staff since October 2019

Academic Title: Associate Professor

  • Samuel Rice-Townsend, MD, is an associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington and an attending pediatric surgeon in the Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Rice-Townsend earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine in 2007 and completed his residency in General Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.  He completed his fellowship training in pediatric surgery at Seattle Children’s Hospital.  Prior to joining the staff at Seattle Children's Hospital, Dr. Rice-Townsend practiced at Boston Children's Hospital where he was an assistant professor of surgery at Harvard University.
     
    Dr. Rice-Townsend is board certified by the American Board of Surgery in adult general surgery and pediatric surgery. He is a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, a specialty fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
     

     

    • Tina Maple Valley, WA 09.20.22

      Our daughter Olivia was critically ill with Covid-19 in the PICU. She was needing life support & Dr. Rice-Townsend completed her surgery for the ECMO machine. It was successful & because of the amazing care she received, she is alive today. We are so very thankful that our little Olivia has another shot at life. We appreciate you!

    • Melanie Boston, MA 02.19.20

      I would recommend Dr.Rice-Townsend to anyone. He is an amazing surgeon and he cares about his patients. He takes his time to speak with you and address your concerns, he explains everything in detail. If it was not for him I'm not sure my daughter would be doing as well as she is.

    • Mae Boston, MA 12.19.19

      After months of testing, we were finally told during an ultrasound to bring our daughter into Boston Children's Hospital because she needs surgery. We got to the ER, frazzled to say the least, and met with a team of doctors. We were told that first thing tomorrow, Dr. Rice-Townsend would be operating on our 12 month old. The doctor on staff let us know that we were in great hands, and that among doctors, Dr. Rice-Townsend was referred to as very "slick with the scope." From that moment on, that is how we referred to Dr. Rice-Townsend. A surgery that was expected to last 2-3 hours took 7. I was able to stay updated and did my best to stay occupied but for some reason, something in me knew that she was in the very best hands. There is not a sole on earth that could convince me that Dr. Rice-Townsend is not the singular reason why my daughter's surgery was able to be completed laparoscopically rather than open. There is not a sole on earth that could convince me my daughter's surgery would have been as successful. Overall, I want to thank Dr. "slick-with-the-scope- Rice-Townsend for everything he's done for our family and the long lasting effects he's made, likely without even thinking of us, as he's taking care of so many other families. To the terrified parents reading this as your child is in surgery with Rice-Townsend - know that you are in the absolute best hands. Know that he will do anything for your child. To Seattle Children's, as long as you are lucky enough to have Dr. Rice-Townsend, I'll be heading your way from thousands of miles away should we ever need anything surgical again. Keep a spot open for us Boston Children's patients, just in case.

    Recommend Samuel Emlen Rice-Townsend, MD

  • Other Publications

    • Ramaraj AB, Rice-Townsend SE, Foster CL, Yung D, Jackson EO, Ebanks AH, Harting MT, Stark RA, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Study Group
      Association Between Early Prostacyclin Therapy and Extracorporeal Life Support Use in Patients With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
      37036717 JAMA pediatrics, 2023 Jun 1 : 177(6)582-589 PMCID:PMC10087088
    • Kwon EG, Nehra D, Hall M, Herrera-Escobar JP, Rivara FP, Rice-Townsend SE
      The association between childhood opportunity index and pediatric hospitalization for firearm injury or motor vehicle crash.
      37211510 Surgery, 2023 May 19
    • Kwon EG, Rice-Townsend SE, Agoubi LL, Rowhani-Rahbar A, Nehra D
      Association of Community Vulnerability and State Gun Laws With Firearm Deaths in Children and Adolescents Aged 10 to 19 Years.
      37223901 JAMA network open, 2023 May 1 : 6(5)e2314863 PMCID:PMC10209744
    • Rice-Townsend SE, Nicassio L, Glazer D, Avansino J, Durham MM, Frischer J, Calkins C, Rentea RM, Ralls M, Fuller M, Wood RJ, Rollins M, Lee J, Lewis KE, Reeder RW, Smith CA, Pediatric Colorectal, Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC)
      Fecal continence outcomes and potential disparities for patients with anorectal malformations treated at referral institutions for pediatric colorectal surgery.
      36952009 Pediatric surgery international, 2023 Mar 23 : 39(1)157
    • Smithers CJ, Zalieckas JM, Rice-Townsend SE, Kamran A, Zurakowski D, Buchmiller TL
      The timing of congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation impacts surgical bleeding risk.
      36709093 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2023 Jan 3
    • Smith CA, Kwon EG, Nicassio L, Glazer D, Avansino J, Durham MM, Frischer J, Calkins C, Rentea RM, Ralls M, Saadai P, Badillo A, Fuller M, Wood RJ, Rollins MD, Van Leeuwen K, Reeder RW, Lewis KE, Rice-Townsend SE, Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC)
      Fecal continence disparities in patients with idiopathic constipation treated at referral institutions for pediatric colorectal surgery.
      36283846 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2023 Jan. : 58(1)56-63
    • Kwon EG, Wang BK, Iverson KR, O'Connell KM, Nehra D, Rice-Townsend SE
      Interpersonal violence affecting the pediatric population: Patterns of injury and recidivism.
      36273921 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2023 Jan. : 58(1)136-141
    • Rice-Townsend SE, Brogan TV, DiGeronimo RJ, Riehle KJ, Stark RA, Yalon L, Rothstein DH
      Characteristics of pediatric non-cardiac eCPR programs in United States and Canadian hospitals: A cross-sectional survey.
      35618493 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2022 Dec. : 57(12)892-895
    • Farr BJ, Bechard LJ, Rice-Townsend SE, Mehta NM
      Bio-impedance spectroscopy for total body water assessment in pediatric surgical patients: A single center pilot cohort study.
      35940939 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2022 Dec. : 57(12)962-966
    • Ramaraj A, Jensen G, Rice-Townsend S, DiGeronimo R, Yalon L, Stark R
      Similar frequency of atrial perforation between atrial and bicaval dual lumen veno-venous ECMO cannulas in a pediatric population.
      34264146 Perfusion, 2022 Oct. : 37(7)752-756
    • Ramaraj AB, Rice-Townsend SE, Foster CL, Yung D, Jackson EO, Ebanks AH, Stark RA, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Study Group
      Trends in use of prostacyclin analogs for management of CDH-associated pulmonary hypertension.
      35841395 Pediatric surgery international, 2022 Sept. : 38(9)1241-1247
    • Rentea RM, Rice-Townsend SE, Smith CA, Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC)
      Annual Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC) Scientific Meeting.
      35597675 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2022 Aug. : 57(8)1671
    • Farr BJ, Evans AM, Rush TM, Grabill CM, Ricca RL, Rice-Townsend SE
      New mental health diagnoses in parents of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit-a retrospective review of the Military Health System database.
      35361885 Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association, 2022 June : 42(6)738-744
    • Rice-Townsend SE, Nicassio L, Glazer D, Avansino J, Durham MM, Calkins CM, Rentea RM, Ralls MW, Wood RJ, Rollins MD, Garvey EM, Lewis KE, Reeder R, Smith CA, Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC)
      Characterizing the use of botulinum toxin in patients with Hirschsprung disease treated at referral institutions for pediatric colorectal surgery.
      35292167 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2022 June : 57(6)1033-1039
    • Farr BJ, Castillo-Angeles M, Okafor B, Patel N, Ramsis R, Aldweib N, Opotowsky AR, Nehra D, Rice-Townsend SE
      Adult survivors of moderate and great complexity congenital heart disease undergoing general surgery procedures: How do they fare?
      34474916 American journal of surgery, 2022 May : 223(5)841-845
    • Smith CA, Nicassio LN, Rice-Townsend SE, Avansino JR, Hauptman J
      Detection and Management of Tethered Cord in Anorectal Malformation: A Survey of Pediatric Neurosurgeons in the United States.
      36257293 Pediatric neurosurgery, 2022 : 57(6)434-440
    • Ahn JJ, Rice-Townsend SE, Nicassio L, Glazer D, Avansino JR, Lewis KE, Durham MM, Frischer J, Calkins CM, Rentea RM, Ralls M, Fuller M, Wood RJ, Rollins MD, Lee J, Reeder RW, Dickie BH, Saadai P, Cain MP, Merguerian P, Smith CA, Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC)
      Urinary continence disparities in patients with anorectal malformations.
      34688492 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2022 Jan. : 57(1)74-79
    • Cheng JW, Ahn JJ, Cain MP, Anderson JE, Smith CA, Rice-Townsend SE
      Misdiagnosis of Congenital Posterior Urethroperineal Fistula and Comparison With Urethral Duplications and Rectourethral Fistula.
      34606879 Urology, 2021 Dec. : 158193-196
    • Farr BJ, McEvoy LTCS, Ross-Li D, Rice-Townsend SE, Ricca RL
      Geographic Distance to Extracorporeal Life Support Centers for Pediatric Patients Within the Continental United States.
      34259455 Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies, 2021 Nov 1 : 22(11)e594-e598
    • Anderson JE, Campbell JA, Durowoju L, Greenberg SLM, Rice-Townsend SE, Gow KW, Avansino J
      COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) presenting as appendicitis with shock.
      34026490 Journal of pediatric surgery case reports, 2021 Aug. : 71101913 PMCID:PMC8132508
    • Marenco CW, Rice-Townsend S, Rollins M, Wood RJ, Calkins C, Smith C, Durham MM, Rentea RM, Ralls M, Van Leeuwen K, Reeder RW, Avansino J, PCPLC
      30-day postoperative outcomes of neonatal versus delayed anoplasty for perineal and vestibular fistulas.
      34052003 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2021 Aug. : 56(8)1454-1458
    • Ramaraj AB, Rice-Townsend SE
      Inaccurate nasopharyngeal testing in a patient with gastrointestinal COVID19: A case report.
      33785206 American journal of surgery, 2021 June : 221(6)1293-1294 PMCID:PMC7983359
    • Utria AF, Javid PJ, Chen J, Rice-Townsend SE
      Impact of COVID-19 on procedure volume at a tertiary pediatric hospital.
      33707079 American journal of surgery, 2021 June : 221(6)1259-1261 PMCID:PMC7933785
    • Wolf LL, Sonderman KA, Kwon NK, Armstrong LB, Weil BR, Koehlmoos TP, Losina E, Ricca RL, Weldon CB, Haider AH, Rice-Townsend SE
      Epidemiology of abdominal wall and groin hernia repairs in children.
      33386445 Pediatric surgery international, 2021 May : 37(5)587-595
    • Sonderman KA, Wolf LL, Madenci AL, Kwon NK, Armstrong LB, Wanis KN, Taylor K, Uribe-Leitz T, Koehlmoos TP, Ricca RL Jr, Weil BR, Weldon CB, Haider AH, Rice-Townsend SE
      Opioid Prescription Patterns for Children Following Laparoscopic Appendectomy.
      30601262 Annals of surgery, 2020 Dec. : 272(6)1149-1157
    • Dao DT, Kamran A, Wilson JM, Sheils CA, Kharasch VS, Mullen MP, Rice-Townsend SE, Zalieckas JM, Morash D, Studley M, Staffa SJ, Zurakowski D, Becker RE, Smithers CJ, Buchmiller TL
      Longitudinal Analysis of Ventilation Perfusion Mismatch in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Survivors.
      31704054 The Journal of pediatrics, 2020 April : 219160-166.e2
    • Yu PT, Jen HC, Rice-Townsend S, Guner YS
      The role of ECMO in the management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
      31472951 Seminars in perinatology, 2020 Feb. : 44(1)151166
    • Dao DT, Hayden LP, Buchmiller TL, Kharasch VS, Kamran A, Smithers CJ, Rice-Townsend SE, Zalieckas JM, Becker R, Morash D, Studley M, Wilson JM, Sheils CA
      Longitudinal Analysis of Pulmonary Function in Survivors of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
      31704056 The Journal of pediatrics, 2020 Jan. : 216158-164.e2 PMCID:PMC6917899
    • Madenci AL, Madsen CK, Kwon NK, Wolf LL, Sonderman KA, Zalieckas JM, Rice-Townsend SE, Haider AH, Ricca RL, Weil BR, Weldon CB, Koehlmoos TP
      Comparison of Military Health System Data Repository and American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric.
      31703566 BMC pediatrics, 2019 Nov 8 : 19(1)419 PMCID:PMC6839070
    • Sonderman KA, Taylor KK, Rice-Townsend SE
      Reply to Letter to the Editor.
      30782442 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2019 June : 54(6)1265
    • McEvoy CS, Ross-Li D, Held JM, Jones DA, Rice-Townsend S, Weldon CB, Ricca RL
      Geographic distance to pediatric surgical care within the continental United States.
      30922686 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2019 June : 54(6)1112-1117
    • Rice-Townsend SE, Aldrink JH
      Controversies of enteral nutrition in select critically-ill surgical patients: Traumatic brain injury, extracorporeal life support, and sepsis.
      30824134 Seminars in pediatric surgery, 2019 Feb. : 28(1)47-52
    • Farr BJ, Rice-Townsend SE, Mehta NM
      Nutrition Support During Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
      30325533 Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 2018 Dec. : 33(6)747-753
    • Taylor K, Sonderman KA, Wolf LL, Jiang W, Armstrong LB, Koehlmoos TP, Weil BR, Ricca RL Jr, Weldon CB, Haider AH, Rice-Townsend SE
      Hernia recurrence following inguinal hernia repair in children.
      29685492 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2018 Nov. : 53(11)2214-2218
    • Cairo SB, Arbuthnot M, Boomer L, Dingeldein MW, Feliz A, Gadepalli S, Newton CR, Puligandla P, Ricca R Jr, Rycus P, Vogel AM, Yu G, Chen Z, Rothstein DH, American Pediatric Surgical Association Critical Care Committee
      Comparing Percutaneous to Open Access for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Pediatric Respiratory Failure.
      30080776 Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies, 2018 Oct. : 19(10)981-991 PMCID:PMC6173194
    • Sonderman KA, Wolf LL, Armstrong LB, Taylor K, Jiang W, Weil BR, Koehlmoos TP, Ricca RL, Weldon CB, Haider AH, Rice-Townsend SE
      Testicular atrophy following inguinal hernia repair in children.
      29594470 Pediatric surgery international, 2018 May : 34(5)553-560
    • Riggle KM, Rice-Townsend SE, Waldhausen JHT
      Thoracoscopic division of vascular rings.
      28213995 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2017 July : 52(7)1113-1116
    • Rice-Townsend S, Barnes JN, Hall M, Baxter JL, Rangel SJ
      Variation in practice and resource utilization associated with the diagnosis and management of appendicitis at freestanding children's hospitals: implications for value-based comparative analysis.
      24096770 Annals of surgery, 2014 June : 259(6)1228-34
    • Rice-Townsend S, Gawande A, Lipsitz S, Rangel SJ
      Relationship between unplanned readmission and total treatment-related hospital days following management of complicated appendicitis at 31 children's hospitals.
      23845635 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2013 June : 48(6)1389-94
    • Rice-Townsend S, Hall M, Barnes JN, Lipsitz S, Rangel SJ
      Variation in risk-adjusted hospital readmission after treatment of appendicitis at 38 children's hospitals: an opportunity for collaborative quality improvement.
      22964725 Annals of surgery, 2013 April : 257(4)758-65
    • Rice-Townsend S, Chen C, Barnes JN, Rangel SJ
      Variation in practice patterns and resource utilization surrounding management of intussusception at freestanding Children's Hospitals.
      23331801 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2013 Jan. : 48(1)104-10
    • Rice-Townsend S, Hall M, Barnes JN, Baxter JK, Rangel SJ
      Hospital readmission after management of appendicitis at freestanding children's hospitals: contemporary trends and financial implications.
      22703789 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2012 June : 47(6)1170-6
    • Yu PT, Rice-Townsend S, Naheedy J, Almodavar H, Mooney DP
      Delayed presentation of traumatic infrapopliteal arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneursym in a 10-year-old boy managed by coil embolization.
      22325419 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2012 Feb. : 47(2)e7-10
    • Rice-Townsend S, Hall M, Jenkins KJ, Roberson DW, Rangel SJ
      Analysis of adverse events in pediatric surgery using criteria validated from the adult population: justifying the need for pediatric-focused outcome measures.
      20620307 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2010 June : 45(6)1126-36
    • Rice-Townsend S, Ramamoorthy C, Dutta S
      Thoracoscopic repair of a type D esophageal atresia in a newborn with complex congenital heart disease.
      17848260 Journal of pediatric surgery, 2007 Sept. : 42(9)1616-9

    Show More Hide

Overview

Board Certification(s)

Surgery (General Surgery)
Surgical Critical Care
Pediatric Surgery

Medical/Professional School

Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

Residency

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

Fellowship

Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
University of Washington School of Medicine GME, Seattle, WA

Clinical Interests

Dr. Rice-Townsend's clinical interests include anorectal malformations, Hirschsprung disease, cloaca, as well as multiple aspects of neonatal and pediatric critical care. He is actively involved in the multidisciplinary Reconstructive Pelvic Medicine (RPM) program.  This represents one of the few multidisciplinary colorectal and reconstructive pelvic surgery programs in the United States. This program involves a comprehensive approach to patients with issues of the pelvic floor and urinary, reproductive, and intestinal systems in a team effort to improve their quality of life.

Research Description

Dr. Rice-Townsend participates in the Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC) that studies various outcome measures in anorectal malforations and related patient populations.