Children’s National colorectal team at PAPSA 2025 - Children's National

At the 14th Congress of the Pan-African Pediatric Surgery Association (PAPSA) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Marc Levitt, MD, chief of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Children's National Hospital, was invited to deliver one of the primary courses, a rare honor reserved for leaders in the field. Held only once every 2 years, the PAPSA meeting draws more than 300 pediatric surgeons from across Africa, making it the continent's most significant gathering dedicated to pediatric surgery. Dr. Levitt's role in the event highlights both his global expertise and the ongoing commitment of Children's National to advancing pediatric surgical care and education in low- and middle-income countries.

Just prior to the congress, Dr. Levitt and his organization, Colorectal Team Overseas, led an international team of surgeons in partnership with the local surgical team to care for 17 children from Côte d'Ivoire and several neighboring countries with complex colorectal conditions. These conditions included anorectal malformations, cloaca and Hirschsprung's disease, which can severely affect quality of life if untreated. Founded by Dr. Levitt, Colorectal Team Overseas advances global pediatric surgical care through education and hands-on training, extending the expertise of Children's National to children around the world. Joining him on the mission were colorectal surgeon Andrea Badillo, MD, and surgical technician Guy Ozigre, both from Children's National. The course also welcomed pediatric surgeons from 14 African nations, promoting collaboration and skill-building.

Among the many teaching highlights was the first-ever perineal body preserving posterior sagittal anorectoplasty performed in Western Africa, a technique pioneered at Children's National. "These are life-changing procedures, and it was a privilege to perform them with such dedicated teams, who were so eager to learn," said Dr. Levitt. "The hospital's facilities were excellent, and the professionalism and warmth of the Ivorian teams made this an unforgettable experience."

The workshops and surgeries, hosted at the Mother-Child Hospital Dominique Ouattara in Bingerville, reflected PAPSA's core mission: to treat, train and transmit. With pediatric surgical needs continuing to outpace available expertise in many African countries, initiatives like this one are vital to training local specialists and developing sustainable care, according to the host and chief of pediatric surgery, Rouma Bankole, MD.

"Sharing knowledge and training the next generation of pediatric surgeons is the key to improving outcomes globally," said Dr. Levitt.