Aseem Shukla, a leading Indian American pediatric urologist, has joined Northwell Health as the new head of its pediatric urology division at Cohen Children’s Medical Center.
Aseem Shukla, a distinguished Indian American pediatric urologist, has been appointed as the new system vice president of pediatric urology at Northwell Health, the largest health care provider in New York. He will also serve as the head of pediatric urology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and as the director of Pediatric Global Services.
Dr. Shukla joins Northwell after a notable 17-year tenure at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he held the position of endowed chair and director of minimally invasive surgery. He also co-directed the bladder exstrophy program at the hospital.
In addition to his clinical roles, Dr. Shukla was a professor of surgery in urology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His previous experience includes serving as the chief of pediatric urology at the University of Minnesota, where he also directed the urology residency program.
Dr. Shukla completed his residency in general surgery and urology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in pediatric urology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Dr. Shukla stated, “I’m thrilled to be joining Northwell Health and to expand the pediatric urology program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and ensure it remains a destination for world-class pediatric urology care.”
He shared that his inspiration to pursue a career in medicine came from his grandfather, who emphasized the profound impact that the profession can have on people’s lives. “That is even more true for children, who will carry that impact forward for the rest of their lives,” Dr. Shukla added.
Recognized as one of the foremost experts in pediatric urology, Dr. Shukla has specialized in robotically assisted laparoscopic surgery. He was among the first pediatric urologists trained in this technology in 2004, and since then, he has led one of the busiest pediatric robotic surgery programs in the United States. Dr. Shukla has performed over 1,500 robot-assisted procedures for children and has introduced innovative surgical techniques utilizing robotic platforms.
Dr. Shukla is also highly experienced in the complex reconstruction of bladder exstrophy, a rare condition in which a baby is born with the bladder outside the body, often accompanied by deformities of the genitals and pubic bones. He has successfully completed more than 250 operations to correct this condition as part of multidisciplinary teams across two continents.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Shukla has been actively involved in addressing complex pediatric urological issues in India. Since 2009, he has led a surgical workshop at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, which focuses on these challenges.
The annual Bladder Exstrophy-Epispadias consortium, which Dr. Shukla has been instrumental in developing, has become a model of Indo-U.S. academic collaboration. This initiative includes academic surgeons, local hospitals, American support groups, and research staff, and has led to the establishment of an international Center of Excellence in Ahmedabad. This center has become a referral destination for patients from South Asia and Africa.
Dr. Shukla will continue to lead the conference with support from Northwell Health, further solidifying his commitment to advancing pediatric urology both in the United States and internationally.
According to a media release, Dr. Shukla’s extensive experience and dedication to pediatric urology will significantly enhance the services offered at Cohen Children’s Medical Center.