At 34 weeks pregnant, Lauren Seiler was rushed in for an emergency C-section in Ocala, and her daughter Rory was born at just 3 pounds, 15 ounces. It was quickly determined that Rory suffered from esophageal atresia with a tracheoesophageal fistula. She needed surgery and was immediately transferred to UF Health for specialized care. Here, the Seiler family was introduced to UF Health neonatologist Dr. David Burchfield and UF Health pediatric surgeon Dr. Saleem Islam. After a successful surgery, Rory spent the next 16 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. Now she is thriving thanks to our team of experts here at UF Health.

Dr. David Burchfield is a professor of pediatrics and division chief of neonatology at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. He oversees our recently renovated 72-bed Level IV neonatal ICU, which supports nearly 3,000 deliveries and 850 admissions each year. Our NICU provides care for all surgical diagnoses for patients, including those with complex congenital heart disease, congenital diaphragmatic hernia or esophageal atresia, like Rory.

Dr. Saleem Islam is a professor of surgery and pediatrics and the director of pediatric minimally invasive surgery at UF Health. His research is focused on outcomes-based results pertinent to all aspects of pediatric surgery, and he is continuing to work toward developing models of care that will allow for improved clinical care in the future. He is a devoted physician and problem-solver and looks for solutions to help treat all of his patients.