As an expert in the field of fetal and neonatal surgery, Dr. Hedrick specializes in the surgical management of birth defects, like congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), both before and after birth, as well as the separation of conjoined twins. Dr. Hedrick has the most experience separating conjoined twins than any surgeon in North America.

Dr. Hedrick leads CHOP’s multidisciplinary CDH care, from prenatal diagnosis through long term follow up, and is known for having the largest volume of CDH patients in the world. She is dedicated to improving the outcomes following surgery for medically fragile infant who suffer long-term complications including pulmonary hypoplasia. Dr. Hedrick has shown leadership on the national level e.g. in the crafting of the Fetal Endoscopic Tracheal Occlusion (FETO) trial which is a prenatal therapy to enhance lung growth before birth for fetuses with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia.  She has led all of the FETO investigators from the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNET), a consortium of 52 fetal therapy centers in North America. 

Driven by this commitment, Dr. Hedrick sought to create a specialized program offering the most complete and current medical care tailored to the specialized needs of pediatric patients with compromised lung function. As a result, CHOP opened a first-of-its-kind Pulmonary Hypoplasia Program (PHP) in 2004, uniting medical specialists from across multiple disciplines – including neonatology, cardiology, pulmonary, audiology, and gastroenterology, to provide comprehensive and coordinated care for CDH patients well into school age. Today, more than 1,000 patients are followed in the PHP Program.

Dr. Hedrick and her team were the first in the world to successfully remove a fatal heart tumor via fetal surgery. She has continued to lead this work, most recently performing this same fetal surgery on a patient named Arley.

The list of Dr. Hedrick’s professional accomplishments is difficult to sum up in a few paragraphs, but in 2023, the Philadelphia County Medical Society (PCMS), awarded her its most prestigious scientific honor, the Strittmatter Award, for her role in demonstrating the most valuable contributions to the practice of surgical or medical healing. Her research into CDH led to her and her team being named a CHOP Frontier Program in 2018 for their focus on improving the lives of patients born with CDH. The program recognizes visionary research that translates to cutting-edge clinical care, supporting focused aims to improve outcomes. Its focus on eliminating mortality and morbidity through research and the development of novel devices continues today with many breakthroughs on the horizon.

A prolific and dedicated researcher, Dr. Hedrick has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance and was awarded the March of Dimes “Citizen of the Year” Award in 2006. She appeared in a three-part documentary series on PBS called TWICE BORN: Stories from the Special Delivery Unit. The EMMY Award-winning documentary offered a look inside CHOP’s Richard D. Wood Jr.’s Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment and its unique Garbose Special Delivery Unit. She was most recently featured on the Today Show representing the team that successfully separated conjoined twins: https://www.today.com/parents/babies/formerly-conjoined-twins-go-home-rcna175019

You can hear from Dr. Hedrick herself in this podcast episode with Madeline Bell, CHOP’s president and CEO: Women Leading the Way Podcast Series: Breaking Through with Madeline Bell.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-through-with-madeline-bell/id1388089428?i=1000554997077 

Notable achievements:

• In spring 2015, Dr. Hedrick appeared in a three-part documentary series airing on PBS called TWICE BORN: Stories from the Special Delivery Unit. The Emmy® Award-winning documentary offered a look inside the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and its unique Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit.

•  2023     Strittmatter Award, Philadelphia County Medical Society

•  2015-2025  Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors in Pediatric Surgery

•  2006     March of Dimes “Citizen of the Year”

Dr. Audrey Evans inspires me because she was a true change agent. When you worked with her, it was clear she wasn’t driven by personal prestige but by an unwavering dedication to patients and their families. They were her north star, and she did everything possible to ensure the best outcomes for them.

I want my legacy to be one of providing the best care for my patients and making a meaningful, positive impact on them and their families.