Director, Colorectal Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital — Florida’s first comprehensive pediatric colorectal program.
Specialized surgical care for the most complex colorectal and pelvic conditions in children — from the newborn diagnosis to reoperative reconstruction for those who haven’t done well elsewhere.
Triple board-certified surgeonWorld expert in pediatric colorectal surgeryTop-volume robotic surgery program120+ pro bono operations in Latin America
Comprehensive pediatric colorectal center in Florida
120+
Pro bono operations — Red de Corazones
Areas of Focus
Complex care, concentrated in one place.
The Colorectal Center concentrates the volume, the multidisciplinary team, and the reoperative experience that these diagnoses demand — including children referred after a first operation elsewhere.
In Hirschsprung disease, the nerve cells that tell the bowel to relax and move stool are absent from the end of the intestine. That segment stays tightly closed, and stool backs up behind it. Most children are diagnosed as newborns — they don’t pass their first stool, or the belly becomes swollen — though milder cases can surface later in childhood.
The definitive treatment is a pull-through operation: the affected segment is removed and the healthy, nerve-containing bowel is connected down to the anus. Done well, most children go on to thrive. The harder questions come afterward — soiling, recurrent obstruction, or enterocolitis — and that is where precise evaluation matters most.
How Dr. Calisto approaches it
Primary transanal and minimally invasive pull-through, tailored to the length of affected bowel
Structured re-evaluation of children who continue to struggle after a prior pull-through
Published work on the anal canal as the dividing line between continence and colitis after pull-through
Ongoing bowel-management partnership so families aren’t left to manage symptoms alone
Many families arrive here for a second opinion. That is exactly the right time to ask.
Anorectal malformations are a spectrum of conditions in which the anus, rectum, and sometimes the urinary and gynecologic structures do not form normally before birth. They range from a low malformation corrected in infancy to a cloaca, where the rectum, vagina, and urethra share a single channel and reconstruction is among the most demanding in all of pediatric surgery.
Repair restores the anatomy — most often through a posterior sagittal reconstruction — but the real goal is long-term function: bowel control, urinary control, and, later, healthy sexual and reproductive anatomy. That requires a surgeon who plans for the child’s whole future, not only the first operation.
How Dr. Calisto approaches it
Full pelvic and anorectal reconstruction across the malformation spectrum, including cloaca
Complex and redo reconstruction for children with poor results from a prior repair
Published technique for rectovestibular fistula with vaginal agenesis, preserving the natural fecal reservoir
Lifelong continence planning through a dedicated bowel-management program
A precise first reconstruction is the single best predictor of a continent child.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic, immune-driven inflammation of the digestive tract. Most children are managed by pediatric gastroenterology with medication — and should be. Surgery enters the picture when disease resists medical therapy or creates a complication that medicine cannot fix: a stricture, an abscess or fistula, severe bleeding, or colitis that won’t settle.
For ulcerative colitis, removing the diseased colon can be curative, often with an internal J-pouch that preserves the ability to stool normally. For Crohn’s, surgery is targeted and bowel-sparing. In every case the work is shared closely with the child’s gastroenterologist.
How Dr. Calisto approaches it
Minimally invasive and robotic resection to limit scarring and speed recovery
Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch (J-pouch) for ulcerative colitis
Bowel-sparing surgery and stricture management for Crohn’s disease
Co-managed care alongside pediatric gastroenterology, start to finish
Surgery is never the first answer in IBD — but timed well, it can be the one that gives a childhood back.
Dr. Calisto is an expert robotic surgeon within one of the highest-volume pediatric robotic surgery programs in the United States — a program that has performed more than 1,000 robotic cases. Working through this platform, he has personally completed hundreds of robotic operations, bringing the precision of his reconstructive work to the smallest patients — through tiny incisions, with a magnified three-dimensional view and instruments that move like a human wrist, only steadier.
From colorectal and gastrointestinal procedures to complex reconstructions, the program pairs the da Vinci Xi platform with a dedicated pediatric robotic team — translating into less pain, smaller scars, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to being a kid.
Part of one of the highest-volume pediatric robotic surgery programs in the United States (1,000+ cases)
The da Vinci Xi platform: 3D high-definition vision and wristed instruments for sub-millimeter precision
A dedicated, specially trained pediatric robotic team in every case
Full spectrum of procedures — colorectal, gastrointestinal, and complex reconstruction
Smaller incisions, less pain, shorter stays, and a faster return to childhood
Selected robotic surgery publications
2023 Hey MT, Mayhew M, Calisto J, Shaffiey S, Alkhoury F. The safe introduction of robotic surgery in a free-standing children’s hospital. J Robot Surg. 17(5):2369–2374.
2023 Hey MT, Mayhew M, Calisto J, Alkhoury F. Pediatric single-incision robotic cholecystectomy: a 6-year update from a single institution. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 33(7):698–702.
2021 Hey MT, Mayhew MM, Rico S, Calisto J, Alkhoury F. Initial experience with robotic inguinal hernia repair in the adolescent population. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 31(11):1346–1350.
2021 Castellan MA, Calisto J, Galvez C, et al., Gosalbez R. Robot-assisted laparoscopic Mitrofanoff and Malone procedure with both stomas located in the umbilicus. Videoscopy.
About
A surgeon built for the hardest cases.
Dr. Juan Calisto is a triple board-certified pediatric surgeon and Director of the Colorectal Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital — the first and only comprehensive pediatric colorectal program in Florida. His practice concentrates on the conditions other centers refer onward: reoperative reconstruction, complex pelvic anatomy, and the children who haven’t done well after a first operation.
Beyond Miami, he directs Red de Corazones USA, through which he has performed more than 120 pro bono operations for children across Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Costa Rica — building local surgical capacity, not dependency.
Certification
American Board of Surgery — Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Critical Care & General Surgery
Fellowship
Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Focus
Colorectal & pelvic reconstruction, minimally invasive & robotic surgery
Academic
Peer-reviewed author & book-chapter contributor in pediatric colorectal surgery
Research & Credentials
Publications & Academic Work
Triple board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, with a record of peer-reviewed research in pediatric colorectal surgery, pelvic reconstruction, and minimally invasive and robotic technique — alongside more than 120 pro bono operations for children across Latin America.
3×
Board-certified — Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Critical Care & General Surgery
24+
Peer-reviewed journal articles
120+
Pro bono pediatric operations across Latin America
2018
Founding Director, Colorectal Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Training & Certification
Pediatric General & Thoracic Surgery University of Pittsburgh — Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pediatric Surgical Critical Care University of Pittsburgh
General & Thoracic Surgery University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Surgical Endoscopy Fellowship Weill Cornell Medical College, New York
American Board of Surgery Pediatric Surgery · Surgical Critical Care · General Surgery
Leadership & Service
Director, Colorectal Center Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami — Florida’s first comprehensive pediatric colorectal program
Director, Red de Corazones USA Surgical care & education across Peru, Colombia, Ecuador & Brazil
American Pediatric Surgical Association Member since 2012
American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons Member since 2009
International Pediatric Endosurgery Group Member since 2017
Selected Publications
Representative work in pediatric colorectal and pelvic reconstructive surgery.
Hirschsprung Disease
Association of small intestinal atresia and Hirschsprung disease in a multi-institutional colorectal registry
2026 Read MA, Crady RC, Hussaini SF, … Calisto JL, et al. Association of small intestinal atresia and Hirschsprung disease in a multi-institutional colorectal registry. J Pediatr Surg. doi
2025 Guzman RA, Wallace BA, Othman F, Lake C, Calisto J. Mesenteric lipoma-induced small bowel obstruction in a pediatric patient: a rare case of midgut volvulus. Cureus. doi
2024 Siretskiy R, Alonso D, Calisto J, Lau PE. Complication of gastric balloon in an adolescent patient: a case report. Cureus. doi
2023 Hey MT, Mayhew M, Calisto J, Shaffiey S, Alkhoury F. The safe introduction of robotic surgery in a free-standing children’s hospital. J Robot Surg. 17(5):2369–2374.
2023 Hey MT, Mayhew M, Calisto J, Alkhoury F. Pediatric single-incision robotic cholecystectomy: a 6-year update from a single institution. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 33(7):698–702.
2022 Glithero KJ, Hey MT, Calisto JL, Alkhoury F, Malvezzi L, Burnweit CA. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement via introducer technique is safe and effective when compared to the laparoscopic technique. Pediatr Surg Int. 38(12):2005–2011. doi
2022 Roberts BK, Alonso D, Terp K, Metellus B, Calisto JL, Malvezzi L, Burnweit CA, Alkhoury F. Using NSQIP to improve perforated appendicitis protocol and better resource allocation. Surg Pract Sci. 9:100074. doi
2021 Hey MT, Mayhew MM, Rico S, Calisto J, Alkhoury F. Initial experience with robotic inguinal hernia repair in the adolescent population. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 31(11):1346–1350.
2021 Pasarón R, Calisto J. Clostridioides difficile: diagnostic probabilities in a pediatric surgery case over time. J Pediatr Surg Nurs.
2020 Lane VA, Calisto J, de Blaauw I, Calkins CM, Samuk I, Avansino JR. Assessing the previously repaired patient with an anorectal malformation who is not doing well. Semin Pediatr Surg. 29(6):150995. doi
2018 De La Torre L, Calisto J, Ruiz-Montañez A, Santos-Jasso K. Transanal endorectal approach for the treatment of idiopathic rectal prolapse in children: experience with the modified Delorme’s procedure. J Pediatr Surg. doi
2017 Fusco JC, Calisto JL, Gaines BA, Malek MM. A large single-institution review of tracheoesophageal fistulae with evaluation of the use of transanastomotic feeding tubes. J Pediatr Surg. doi
2017 De La Torre L, Cogley K, Calisto J. The anal canal is the fine line between “fecal incontinence and colitis” after a pull-through for Hirschsprung disease. J Pediatr Surg. 52(12):2011–2017. doi
2016 De La Torre L, Cogley K, Calisto J, Zornoza M. Vaginal agenesis and rectovestibular fistula: experience utilizing distal ileum for the vaginal replacement, preserving the natural fecal reservoir. J Pediatr Surg. 51(11):1871–1876. doi
2016 De La Torre L, Cogley K, Calisto J, Nace G, Correa C. Primary sigmoidectomy and appendicostomy for chronic idiopathic constipation. Pediatr Surg Int. 32(8):767–772. doi
2015Calisto JL, Gaines B. The new science of concussion and mild brain injury in children. Curr Surg Rep. 3:33.
2014 Landmann A, Calisto J, Postier R. Pancreatic neoplasm with metastatic workup (Clinical Challenge). JAMA Surg. 149(10):1087–1088. doi
2011Calisto JL, Kawamura J, Milsom JW. Fixation of intestinal tissue using a novel endoscopic device. Surg Innov. 18(1):44–47. doi
2009 Barreda L, Targarona J, Milian W, Sequeiros J, Pando E, Calisto JL. Is prophylactic antibiotic therapy with imipenem effective for patients with pancreatic necrosis? A randomized controlled trial. Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam. 39:24–29.
2008Calisto JL, Tagle M, Targarona J. Autoimmune hepatitis with elevation of CA 19-9 and normalization with immunosuppressant treatment. Rev Gastroenterol Peru. 28(2):167–170.
2021 Castellan MA, Calisto J, Galvez C, et al., Gosalbez R. Robot-assisted laparoscopic Mitrofanoff and Malone procedure with both stomas located in the umbilicus. Videoscopy.
2017Calisto JL, Landmann A, Scholz S. Laparoscopic splenectomy. In: SAGES Manual of Minimally Invasive Pediatric Surgery (Chapter 44). Springer.
2017 Landmann A, Calisto J, Malek MM. Combined laparoscopic–endoscopic technique for gastric diverticulectomy. Videoscopy.
2008 Poggi L, Calisto JL. Cyst and abscess of the spleen. In: General Surgery: Principles and International Practice (Chapter 113). Springer.
Publication list compiled from the author’s curriculum vitae and PubMed. DOI links point to the original articles; some entries may be available only through institutional or journal access.
Contact & Referrals
Refer a patient or request a consultation.
Pediatricians and families are welcome to reach out directly. For complex or reoperative cases, an early conversation often changes the plan for the better.
