Colorectal Centre of Excellence (COCOE)
514-412-4289
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Colorectal Centre of Excellence (COCOE)
Welcome to COCOE
COCOE aims at setting new standards for pediatric colorectal care in Canada and improving the lives of families and children living with anorectal malformations or Hirschsprung’s disease. Our mission is to:
- Offer outstanding, compassionate clinical care using a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach
- Investigate and improve outcomes in pediatric colorectal diseases, focusing on patient and family experiences
- Provide outreach medical education for patients, families, and communities, training for healthcare practitioners and professional development programs
A unique approach
Notre approche collaborative implique une prise en charge par une équipe multidisciplinaire, incluant:
- Colorectal and general surgeons
- Pediatricians
- Gastroenterologists
- Gynecologists
- Urologists
- Radiologists
- Anesthesiologists
- Nurses
Our medical team discusses individual patient cases during multidisciplinary conferences to create a customized treatment plan that addresses each child’s unique needs. Our surgeons are accustomed to performing multiple, complex procedures at the same time. Parents and families work closely with our specialists to receive education about their child’s colorectal disorder, discuss diagnostic and treatment options and engage in a shared decision-making process.
Conditions
Understanding your child’s condition is an important step on your treatment journey. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and diagnosis for a variety of pediatric colorectal conditions, as well as unique treatments being performed at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
Team
Colorectal surgeons
- Dr. Hussein Wissanji, Director
- Dr. Dan Poenaru
General surgeons
- Dr. Étienne St-Louis
Pediatricians
Gastroenterologist
- Dr. Gaël Kornitzer
Gynecologists
- Dr. Ian Comeau
- Dr. Janie Benoit
Urologists
Radiologists
- Dr. Christine Saint-Martin
- Dr. Karl Muchantef
- Dr. Caroline Lacroix
- Dr. Zonah Khumalo
Anesthesiologist
- Dr. Chantal Frigon
- Dr. Anelise Schifino Wolmeister
Pathologists
- Dr. Karl Grenier
- Dr. Chelsea Maedler Kron
- Dr. Chantal Bernard
- Dr. Van-Hung Nguyen
Nurse practitioner
- Marcy Horge
Registered nurses
- Carla Vitali
- Sabrina Beauseigle
Nurse stomotherapists
- Courteney Allan
- Nadine Vandale
Operating room nurse
- Géraldine Morency-Laflamme
Nurse educators
- Stéphanie Lepage
- Stéphanie Mardakis
- Elissa Remmer
Preoperative assessment and Day surgery centre team
- Annie Castro
- Vanessa Morin
- Nicky Alexis
- Véronique Hurteau
ERAS nurse
- Justine Laurie
Radiology technicians
- Vicky Fortin
- Maryanne Fortin
- Kelly Doucette
- Tania Paoli
Research and Education manager
- Lee Hill
Managers
- Nathalie Fréchette
- Rosanna Barrafato
Administrative support
- Alessia Umana
- Jacqueline Bouchard
- Anna Gravino
Bowel Management Program
COCOE offers a comprehensive Bowel Management Program that provides customized treatment for children who experience constipation and/or fecal incontinence (the inability to control their bowels), such as previously operated anorectal and cloacal malformations or previously treated Hirschsprung’s disease. Our program uses a multidisciplinary approach, with access to the pediatric colorectal specialists needed to oversee your child’s care.
Urologic and gynecologic management for anorectal malformations
Our COCOE team understands that children with ARM may need on-going, coordinated treatment and care from specialists across multiple medical disciplines in order to maintain urologic and gynecologic health throughout their lifespan.