David Stitelman

David Stitelman is an Associate Professor of Surgery (Pediatrics) at the Yale School of Medicine, specializing in Pediatric Surgery. He serves as the Surgical Director of the Yale Fetal Care Center, a multidisciplinary program for families facing prenatal diagnoses. His clinical work involves treating children with congenital conditions like esophageal atresia, pediatric ulcerative colitis, and spina bifida, with long-term follow-up to ensure patient outcomes.

• Education:
  • MD, University of Pennsylvania Medical School (2004)
  • Residency, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (2011)
  • Fellowship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2013)

Dr. Stitelman leads a basic science laboratory focused on prenatal therapy for genetic and structural diseases, aiming to treat conditions like congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and myelomeningocele before birth. His research integrates nanoparticle delivery systems, gene editing, and epigenetic therapies, with collaborations spanning the Yale Stem Cell Center and Yale Cancer Center.

Scientific Awards include the C Elton Cahow Teaching Award (2018) and Francis Gilman Blake Award (2017), recognizing his contributions to education and clinical excellence. He has also advanced medical student training by evaluating virtual learning’s impact on surgical education.

His publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to fetal therapy, including in utero gene editing, miRNA delivery, and ethical frameworks for prenatal interventions. Collaborative work with experts like Peter M. Glazer and W. Mark Saltzman underscores his role in integrating systems immunology, engineering, and AI to improve human health.