Marc Levitt, MD

Chief, Division of Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstruction

Surgeon

Marc Levitt, MD, has been the driving force around the world in enhancing the care of children with colorectal and pelvic reconstructive needs through the development of specialized, integrated, and collaborative surgical centers. He is internationally recognized as an expert in conditions affecting the newborn, pediatric, and adolescent population affected with anorectal malformations (imperforate anus), cloacal malformations, Hirschsprung disease, as well as a variety of conditions leading to fecal incontinence, such as spinal conditions and functional constipation. Dr. Levitt has cared for children from all 50 states and 76 countries and has performed more than 15,000 pediatric colorectal procedures, which is more surgeries covering the entire spectrum of problems involving the colon and rectum than any other surgeon in the world. 

He has written four textbooks and has authored over 300 scientific articles on these subjects. His work extends beyond providing direct surgical care to educating medical students, medical doctors, surgeons, and nurses, as well as developing collaborating centers throughout the world to ensure that all children have access to quality colorectal care. He has hosted hundreds of surgeons and nurses from hospitals across the globe, who have sought out education and training on advanced colorectal surgical techniques, management of patients, and research outcomes.

As part of his efforts to educate the medical community about colorectal surgery, Dr. Levitt – with Alejandra Vilanova-Sanchez, MD – edited the textbook Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. The textbook provides comprehensive coverage of the anatomical and physiological aspects of complex colorectal and pelvic malformations presented in a practical and clinically focused way. Surgical protocols, the benefits of high-level collaboration between surgical services when treating these anomalies, and treatment algorithms and care of complications are described. In addition, Dr. Levitt has recorded educational materials and live surgery presentations that are available on the Experts in Surgery website. He also has a series of webinars and podcasts available on GlobalCastMD, a virtual platform that allows one to watch or listen to world-class medical education sessions at your convenience.

Dr. Levitt received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, a fellowship in Pediatric Colorectal Surgery at Schneider Children’s Hospital and a Pediatric Surgery fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. He helped create the Colorectal Centers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Nationwide Children’s Hospital at which he served as director until his recruitment to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. in 2019.  Dr. Levitt is the founder of the Colorectal Team Overseas (CTO), which is a group of international providers that travel to the developing world to provide care and teaching for patients with colorectal needs. He co-founded the Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC), which is an organization of collaborating Colorectal centers across the globe.

Dr. Levitt serves as Chief of the Division of Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstruction at Children’s National Hospital. It is the first program in the mid-Atlantic region to fully integrate surgery, urology, gynecology and gastroenterology into one cohesive program for children.

• Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstruction
• General and Thoracic Surgery