Marybeth Browne, MD, has joined the medical staff at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and will serve as chief of pediatric surgery and urology at Children's Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

She joins Anthony Georges, MD and Michele Clement, MD in the division of pediatric surgery and urology.

Browne's LVHN medical staff privileges became effective Jan. 6.

She was an assistant professor of surgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, as director of surgical quality improvement and patient safety and as attending pediatric surgeon at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Browne plans to enhance care for children through innovative surgical approaches in her new role at LVHN. Her expertise includes minimally invasive surgery, which is used for a variety of pediatric conditions.

"Minimally invasive surgery represents an evolution in pediatric care that minimizes scarring and lessens postoperative pain," Browne says.

Browne says expanding the capacity and expertise of pediatric surgical services will allow Children's Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital to serve more patients so fewer children and their families need to leave the area to receive specialized pediatric health care.

Browne grew up in the Lehigh Valley and attended St. Thomas More School, Salisbury High School and Lafayette College,

She received a medical school degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and a Master's of Science in healthcare quality and patient safety from Northwestern University.

Browne trained in general surgery at Northwestern and pediatric surgery at Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, and is certified in both by the American Board of Surgery.