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Esophageal and Airway Treatment

Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Tracheomalacia Care

Children with tracheomalacia need care from a team with proven expertise and a history of successful results. Our team provides compassionate, experienced care and innovative techniques in treating children with tracheomalacia in the Esophageal and Airway Treatment Program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s in St. Petersburg, Florida.

We're Here to Help

For more information on how our team at Johns Hopkins All Children’s can help your child, please give us a call. Our multidisciplinary team provides expert care. 

Call: 727-767-3711
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Meet Jason Smithers. M.D.

Dr. Jason Smithers, who leads the Esophageal and Airway Treatment Program, talks about what makes the program unique, and why he views it as a privilege to be able to help children and their families.

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Why Choose Johns Hopkins All Children’s 

  • World-class Expertise: Led by Dr. Smithers, a leader in treatment and innovation for pediatric thoracic surgery, our team provides world-class expertise in treating esophageal, airway and thoracic conditions. We work with specialists throughout the hospital, including anesthesiologists, gastroenterologists, and others with experience in airway conditions, to provide your child with comprehensive care. 
  • Advanced Diagnostic Techniques: Understanding the full scope of a child’s airway condition is essential to providing them with the right treatment. Our team developed a complete dynamic three-phase airway exam that allows us to perform a full assessment of your child’s airway before surgery using various methods, allowing us to carefully plan your child’s treatment.
  • Leading-edge Care: Our team is at the forefront of developing new procedures to treat esophageal, airway and thoracic conditions, providing specialized techniques that are not available everywhere.
Saylor, born prematurely at 31 weeks in a south Florida hospital and diagnosed first with esophageal atresia and later tracheomalacia, was transferred to receive care here at Johns Hopkins All Children’s.  

“She needed emergency surgery within the first 24 hours of her life. She had a rough time and did not seem to be recovering. I asked around and looked online to see who would be the best to treat her condition. After some searching, we found Dr. Jason Smithers and the EAT program. That was a game changer for us.” 
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—MaryBeth, Saylor’s mom
Picture: Saylor received care from the Esophageal and Airway Treatment program at Johns Hopkins
Vaida struggled with health issues all her life until she and her family traveled half a world away—from Australia to Florida—for answers. She had previously been diagnosed with tracheomalacia. Doctors prescribed medication and said she’d hopefully outgrow the problem, but instead her life became increasingly limited by the condition. After an exhaustive search for options in Australia, an online search found the Esophageal and Airway Treatment Program. 

“We knew from the very first Zoom call with Dr. Smithers that we were going to come to Johns Hopkins All Children’s,” 
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—Conan, Vaida’s dad
Picture: patient Vaida, Johns Hopkins All Children's Esophageal and Airway Program

Traveling for Care

We treat children from across the country and the world in the Esophageal and Airway Treatment Program. Johns Hopkins All Children’s has several resources to assist you and your family as you travel for care and can provide information on available accommodation options such as Ronald McDonald House to help meet your needs before traveling to St. Petersburg. 

 

Use this form to contact the Esophageal and Airway Treatment Program