Research Overview

Dr. Langer is focused on clinical research addressing surgical access and outcomes for pediatric surgical patients in low-resource settings throughout the world. In particular she is interested in clinical research to improve diagnostic and treatment capacity for congenital and acquired surgical problems in Tanzania and Uganda. She has a particular interest in treatment of abdominal wall defects in a low-resource setting, and pediatric surgical oncology access and care in Africa.

Research Background

Dr. Langer studied medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and trained in general surgery and pediatric surgery at the University of British Columbia. She pursued a research fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital during her residency and then obtained a Masters in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her research is focused on problems identified during her clinical experience working part-time as a pediatric surgeon in East Africa. She is affiliated with the Program for Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School, and collaborates with many colleagues around the world on public health research and clinical studies.

Selected Publications

  1. Nimanya S, Kisa P, Abdullah F, Langer M. “Surgical Neonates in a Low-Resource Setting: Baseline Nutrition and Outcome Assessment.” Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 58 (5), 981-985, 2023
  2. Bouchard, M.E., Tian, Y., Justiniano, J., Linton, S., DeBoer, C., Abdullah, F. and Langer, M. A critical threshold for global pediatric surgical workforce density. Pediatric Surgery International, Jun 2021, pp.1-7.
  3. Wright NJ, Langer M, Norman ICF, Akhbari M, Wafford QE, Ade-Ajayi N, Davies J, Poenaru D, Sevdalis N, Leather A. Improving outcomes for neonates with gastroschisis in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol BMJ Paediatrics Open Dec 2018, 2 (1) e000392
  4. Badrinath, R, Kakembo, N, Kisa, P, Langer, M, Ozgediz, D, Sekabira, J. Outcomes and unmet need for neonatal surgery in a resource-limited environment: estimates of global health disparities from Kampala, Uganda. Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2014
  5. Ozgediz D, Langer M, Kisa P, Poenaru D. Pediatric surgery as an essential component of global child health. In Seminars in Pediatric Surgery 2015 Sep 15. WB Saunders
  6. Poles GC, Clark DE, Mayo SW, Beierle EA, Doski J, Goldfarb M, Gow K, Nuchtern J, Vasudevan SV, Goldin A, Langer M. Colorectal carcinoma in pediatric patients: A comparison with adult tumors, treatment and outcomes from the National Cancer Database. Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2016 51 1061-1066.
  7. Agus MS, Steil GM, Wypij D, Costello JM, Laussen PC, Langer M, Alexander JL, Scoppettuolo LA, Pigula FA, Charpie JR, Ohye RG, Gaies MG; SPECS Study Investigators. Tight glycemic control versus standard care after pediatric cardiac surgery. New England Journal of Medicine. 2012 Sep 27;367(13):1208-19.

Education

Graduate School

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
2016 London England

Medical School

University of Saskatchewan
2003 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

Residency

General Surgery University of British Columbia
2009 Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

Fellowship

Research Fellowship, Pediatric Surgery and Critical Care Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard University
2006 Boston MA

Residency

Pediatric General Surgery University of British Columbia
2011 Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

Publications

  1. Treatment abandonment in children with Wilms tumor at a national referral hospital in Uganda. Pediatr Surg Int. 2024 Jun 27; 40(1):162. View Abstract
  2. Surgical neonates in a low-resource setting: Baseline nutrition and outcome assessment. J Pediatr Surg. 2023 May; 58(5):981-985. View Abstract
  3. Access to pediatric surgery delivered by general surgeons and anesthesia providers in Uganda: Results from 2 rural regional hospitals. Surgery. 2021 11; 170(5):1397-1404. View Abstract
  4. A critical threshold for global pediatric surgical workforce density. Pediatr Surg Int. 2021 Sep; 37(9):1303-1309. View Abstract
  5. Pancreatic islet cell tumors in adolescents and young adults. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Oct; 54(10):2103-2106. View Abstract
  6. Pediatric gastric adenocarcinoma: A National Cancer Data Base review. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 May; 54(5):1029-1034. View Abstract
  7. Pediatric Patients with Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary Have Similar Survival to Adults: A Review of the National Cancer Database. Am Surg. 2018 Sep 01; 84(9):e362-e365. View Abstract
  8. Regarding global pediatric surgery training opportunities. J Pediatr Surg. 2018 06; 53(6):1256-1258. View Abstract
  9. Partial Nephrectomy for Nephroblastoma: A National Cancer Data Base Review. Am Surg. 2018 Mar 01; 84(3):338-343. View Abstract
  10. The socioeconomic impact of a pediatric ostomy in Uganda: a pilot study. Pediatr Surg Int. 2018 Apr; 34(4):457-466. View Abstract
  11. Testicular tumors in prepubescent patients. J Pediatr Surg. 2018 Sep; 53(9):1748-1752. View Abstract
  12. Effects of socioeconomic status on children with well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Surgery. 2017 09; 162(3):662-669. View Abstract
  13. Breast Malignancies in Children: Presentation, Management, and Survival. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Jun; 24(6):1482-1491. View Abstract
  14. Survival and Surgical Outcomes for Pediatric Head and Neck Melanoma. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 01 01; 143(1):34-40. View Abstract
  15. The association between nephroblastoma-specific outcomes and high versus low volume treatment centers. J Pediatr Surg. 2017 Jan; 52(1):104-108. View Abstract
  16. Characteristics and outcomes in children with undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver: A report from the National Cancer Database. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2017 04; 64(4). View Abstract
  17. Gastroschisis in Uganda: Opportunities for improved survival. J Pediatr Surg. 2016 Nov; 51(11):1772-1777. View Abstract
  18. Factors Associated With Mortality in Pediatric vs Adult Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016 Mar; 142(3):217-22. View Abstract
  19. Colorectal carcinoma in pediatric patients: A comparison with adult tumors, treatment and outcomes from the National Cancer Database. J Pediatr Surg. 2016 Jul; 51(7):1061-6. View Abstract
  20. Primary malignant pulmonary tumors in children: a review of the national cancer data base. J Pediatr Surg. 2015 Jun; 50(6):1004-8. View Abstract
  21. Pediatric papillary thyroid cancer >1 cm: is total thyroidectomy necessary? J Pediatr Surg. 2015 Jun; 50(6):1009-13. View Abstract
  22. Parathyroid carcinoma in more than 1,000 patients: A population-level analysis. Surgery. 2014 Dec; 156(6):1622-9; discussion 1629-30. View Abstract
  23. Outcomes and unmet need for neonatal surgery in a resource-limited environment: estimates of global health disparities from Kampala, Uganda. J Pediatr Surg. 2014 Dec; 49(12):1825-30. View Abstract
  24. Pediatric surgical camps as one model of global surgical partnership: a way forward. J Pediatr Surg. 2014 May; 49(5):786-90. View Abstract
  25. Design and rationale of safe pediatric euglycemia after cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial of tight glycemic control after pediatric cardiac surgery. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2013 Feb; 14(2):148-56. View Abstract
  26. Tight glycemic control versus standard care after pediatric cardiac surgery. N Engl J Med. 2012 Sep 27; 367(13):1208-19. View Abstract
  27. Value of continuous glucose monitoring for minimizing severe hypoglycemia during tight glycemic control. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2011 Nov; 12(6):643-8. View Abstract
  28. Preservation of intestinal motility after the serial transverse enteroplasty procedure in a large animal model of short bowel syndrome. J Pediatr Surg. 2009 Jan; 44(1):229-35; discussion 235. View Abstract
  29. Congenital and acquired single-lung patients: long-term follow-up reveals high mortality risk. J Pediatr Surg. 2009 Jan; 44(1):100-5; discussion 105. View Abstract
  30. Is scalping the spleen enough? Laparoscopic splenic cyst unroofing and recurrence rates. J Pediatr Surg. 2008 Jun; 43(6):1230; author reply 1230-1. View Abstract
  31. Long-term bowel function and quality of life in children with Hirschsprung's disease. J Pediatr Surg. 2008 May; 43(5):899-905. View Abstract
  32. Improved survival in a multidisciplinary short bowel syndrome program. J Pediatr Surg. 2008 Jan; 43(1):20-4. View Abstract
  33. First report of the international serial transverse enteroplasty data registry: indications, efficacy, and complications. J Am Coll Surg. 2007 Mar; 204(3):365-71. View Abstract
  34. Serial transverse enteroplasty for management of refractory D-lactic acidosis in short-bowel syndrome. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2006 Sep; 43(3):395-7. View Abstract
  35. Adrenal insufficiency in the critically ill neonate and child. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2006 Aug; 18(4):448-53. View Abstract
  36. Gain in target dose from using Computer Controlled Radiation Therapy (CCRT) in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1993 May 20; 26(2):335-9. View Abstract
  37. Multimodality treatment of stage IIIA non-small-cell lung carcinoma: a critical review of the literature and strategies for future research. J Clin Oncol. 1992 May; 10(5):829-38. View Abstract

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