The American Health Council is proud to announce Pediatric Surgeon Todd Heaton, MD, MPH as “Best in Medicine” because of his outstanding patient care, academic prowess, and commitment to improving health access to underserved populations. Dr. Heaton’s 15 years in the healthcare industry and five years in his current role as Assistant Attending Physician at the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are marked by a passion for advanced medical practice. The American Health Council recognizes the compassion and deliberation Dr. Heaton pours into his work and welcomes him to its extensive network of healthcare professionals.

Dr. Heaton grew up across the street from a US Navy physician and nurse in Virginia. When his parents were not home, Dr. Heaton spent time with his neighbors. His personal interactions with his neighbors and understanding of their patient exchanges inspired an interest in medicine. This interest developed into a deep-seated passion when his friend died from leukemia. As Dr. Heaton recovered from this tragedy, his desire to help others strengthened into a commitment to cancer eradication and lifesaving oncological research. He resolved to attain a comprehensive medical education. Dr. Heaton graduated from the University of Virginia with a medical degree in 2002 and went on to obtain a Master of Public Health from Harvard University School of Public Health in 2015. This background in public health gave Dr. Heaton a deeper understanding of the impact of medical decisions on wider communities and patient populations, continuously informing his clinical decisions today.

Dr. Heaton has expertise in pediatric surgery, particularly surgical treatment of childhood solid tumors. Dr. Heaton has been an Assistant Attending at MSKCC for the past five years where he assumes a variety of responsibilities. He works in pediatric surgical oncology, childhood cancer treatment, and clinical research in surgical oncology. As an active contributor to oncological research, Dr. Heaton has more than 20 biomedical publications as a primary or contributing author in high-tier medical journals like the Cancer and the Journal of Pediatric Surgery. His research has a wide scope, considering topics from prenatally diagnosed abdominal anomalies and their postnatal management, to the surgical approaches to bilateral Wilms tumors in neonates. Dr. Heaton’s present research concentrates on clinical outcomes research in pediatric surgical oncology. The American Health Council applauds the consequential contributions Dr. Heaton has made to the field of Pediatric Oncology and his dedication to such a vulnerable patient population.

As both an academic researcher and practicing physician, Dr. Heaton works tirelessly to treat his pediatric oncology patients and influence the global fight against aggressive childhood cancers in the present and future. He attributes his exceptional success as a practicing and research physician to the support of his parents and mentors. Dr. Heaton enjoys working with the staff to promote effective medical service and improve the hospital experiences of their young patients.

His professional accomplishments and clinical potential have been recognized with several fellowships and awards. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, and a member of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology. His outstanding academic performance was honored with induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the honor society for liberal arts and the sciences, and Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. Additionally, Dr. Heaton maintains associations with the Society Surgical Oncology and the Children’s Oncology Group.

Expressing his humanitarian character in his private life as well as his professional one, Dr. Heaton donates his time and resources to Fred’s Team and Cycle for Survival. In his recreational time, Dr. Heaton maintains active hobbies such as running, traveling, hiking and fly fishing. The American Health Council applauds his passion for cutting-edge oncological treatment and application. Dr. Heaton’s dedication improves healthcare access and delivery.