Bringing World-Class Pediatric Surgery to Oklahoma

Children’s Health Foundation (CHF) is proud to support the groundbreaking work of Catherine Hunter, M.D., the CMRI Paula Milburn Miller Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery and Section Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hunter’s dedication exemplifies CHF’s mission to ensure that children and families have access to top-tier medical care without the burden of traveling out of state.

Before coming to Oklahoma, Dr. Hunter served as co-director of the Chest Wall Deformity Program at Children’s Hospital of Chicago. When she arrived in Oklahoma, only a handful of chest wall correction surgeries were performed statewide. Recognizing the need for expanded care, Dr. Hunter collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of orthotics professionals, physical therapists, and pediatric anesthesiologists. Today, this team performs 50 corrective surgeries annually and provides follow-up care for approximately 800 patients across Oklahoma. “It is very meaningful to offer these services in the state of Oklahoma,” Dr. Hunter shares, reflecting on the impact of her work.

Beyond her surgical expertise, Dr. Hunter is committed to advancing pediatric medicine through research. She collaborates with neonatologists to study necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening condition affecting premature and newborn infants, and leads research efforts funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

As she looks to the future, Dr. Hunter is eager to expand her pediatric surgery team, ensuring that even more children and families receive the high-quality care they deserve. CHF is honored to support her work to improve the health and well-being of Oklahoma’s kids!