Robert A. Swendiman
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Robert A. Swendiman, MD, MPP, MSCE

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Eccles Primary Children's Outpatient Services Building

Colorectal Center
Salt Lake City
801-662-1619

Primary Children's Hospital

Pediatric Surgery
Salt Lake City
801-662-2950

Primary Children's Hospital - Lehi

Pediatric Surgery
Lehi
801-662-2950

St. Vincent Healthcare

SCL Health Medical Group - Fortin Pediatric Specialty Clinic
Billings
406-237-5300

  • Robert A. Swendiman, MD MPP MSCE is an attending pediatric surgeon at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. He has numerous clinical interests, including the management of traumatic injuries, inflammatory bowel disease, chest wall deformities, minimally invasive surgery, and neonatal conditions. He performs a broad spectrum of procedures, including operations for:

    • Appendicitis
    • Hernias
    • Nutritional access
    • Vascular access
    • Gallbladder disease
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Ulcerative colitis
    • Childhood cancers
    • Pectus deformities
    • Esophageal atresia
    • Congenital anomalies

    Dr. Swendiman is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He received both his BA and MD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his Master in Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard University where he was a fellow at the Center for Public Leadership, and holds a Master of Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) from the University of Pennsylvania. After medical school, he trained at the University of Pennsylvania in General Surgery, and completed his fellowship in Pediatric General Surgery at the University of Utah.

    Dr. Swendiman serves as the Trauma Medical Director for the new children’s hospital in Lehi, UT (PCH – Miller Campus). He also staffs the complex inflammatory bowel disease clinic. He is engaged in clinical research with numerous publications and book chapters.

    When not at the hospital, Dr. Swendiman enjoys spending time with his wife (Brenda) and two children (Luke and Lucy). He is an avid swimmer and college basketball enthusiast.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Surgery (Sub: General Surgery)
    American Board of Surgery (Sub: Pediatric Surgery)

  • Robert A. Swendiman, MD MPP MSCE is an attending pediatric surgeon at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. He has numerous clinical interests, including the management of traumatic injuries, inflammatory bowel disease, chest wall deformities, minimally invasive surgery, and neonatal conditions. He performs a broad spectrum of procedures, including operations for:

    • Appendicitis
    • Hernias
    • Nutritional access
    • Vascular access
    • Gallbladder disease
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Ulcerative colitis
    • Childhood cancers
    • Pectus deformities
    • Esophageal atresia
    • Congenital anomalies

    Dr. Swendiman is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He received both his BA and MD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his Master in Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard University where he was a fellow at the Center for Public Leadership, and holds a Master of Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) from the University of Pennsylvania. After medical school, he trained at the University of Pennsylvania in General Surgery, and completed his fellowship in Pediatric General Surgery at the University of Utah.

    Dr. Swendiman serves as the Trauma Medical Director for the new children’s hospital in Lehi, UT (PCH – Miller Campus). He also staffs the complex inflammatory bowel disease clinic. He is engaged in clinical research with numerous publications and book chapters.

    When not at the hospital, Dr. Swendiman enjoys spending time with his wife (Brenda) and two children (Luke and Lucy). He is an avid swimmer and college basketball enthusiast.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Surgery -Primary
    Academic Divisions Pediatric Surgery
    Board Certification
    American Board of Surgery (Sub: General Surgery)
    American Board of Surgery (Sub: Pediatric Surgery)

    Education history

    Fellowship Pediatric General Surgery - University of Utah School of Medicine Fellow
    General Surgery - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Chief Resident
    Diploma University of Pennsylvania M.S.C.E
    General Surgery - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Resident
    Graduate Training Public Policy - Harvard Kennedy School M.P.P.
    Medicine - University of North Carolina School of Medicine M.D.
    Undergraduate Chemistry and Political Science - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Wallace MW, Iantorno SE, Moore ZJ, Colton BT, Keeshin B, Swendiman RA, Russell KW (2024). Evaluation of New Mental Health Diagnoses After Pediatric Traumatic Injuries at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. Am Surg, 31348241300358. (Read full article)
    2. Scaife JH, Clinker CE, Alexander AJ, Iantorno SE, Eldredge RS, Swendiman RA, Fenton SJ, Russell KW (2024). Association of Initiation of Statewide Pediatric Trauma Collaborative and Hospital Preventable Transfer Rates. J Pediatr Surg, 162004. (Read full article)
    3. Clinker C, Scaife J, Basinger C, Barnes KL, Roach C, Lau GA, Norton S, Swendiman RA, Russell KW (2024). Routine Urology Consultation and Follow-up After Pediatric Blunt Renal Trauma is Likely Unnecessary. J Pediatr Surg, 161886. (Read full article)
    4. Scaife JH, Hewes HA, Iantorno SE, Clinker CE, Fenton SJ, Skarda DE, Kastenberg ZJ, Swendiman RA, Russell KW (2024). Optimizing patient selection for ECMO after pediatric hypothermic cardiac arrest. Injury, 111731. (Read full article)
    5. Wallace MW, Kastenberg ZJ, Swendiman RA, Eckhauser AW, Rodriguez-Davalos M, Russell KW (2024). Two-Stage Liver Transplantation and Tricuspid Valve Replacement After Blunt Trauma in a Pediatric Patient. Am Surg, 90(6), 1781-1783. (Read full article)
    6. Swendiman RA, Russell KW, Larsen K, Eyre M, Fenton SJ (2024). USE OF A STATEWIDE SOLID ORGAN INJURY PROCOTCOL TO OPTIMIZE TRIAGE, TREATMENT, AND TRANSFER FOR PEDIATRIC ABDOMINAL TRAUMA. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. (Read full article)
    7. Latessa RA, Galvin SL, Swendiman RA, Onyango J, Ostrach B, Edmondson AC, Davis SA, Hirsh DA (2023). Psychological safety and accountability in longitudinal integrated clerkships: a dual institution qualitative study. BMC Med Educ, 23(1), 760. (Read full article)
    8. Russell KW, Iantorno SE, Iyer RR, Brockmeyer DL, Smith KM, Polukoff NE, Larsen KE, Barnes KL, Bell TM, Fenton SJ, Inaba K, Swendiman RA (2023). Pediatric Cervical Spine Clearance: A 10-year Evaluation of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. (Read full article)
    9. Swendiman RA, Scaife JH, Barnes KL, Bell TM, Roach CM, Iyer RR, Brockmeyer DL, Russell KW (2023). Hanging and Strangulation Injuries: An Institutional Review From a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. J Pediatr Surg. (Read full article)
    10. Iantorno SE, Swendiman RA, Bucher BT, Russell KW (2023). Surge in Pediatric Firearm Injuries Presenting to US Children's Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Pediatr, 177(2), 204-206. (Read full article)
    11. Fenton SJ, Swendiman RA, Eyre M, Larsen K, Russell KW (2023). The Utah Pediatric Trauma Network, a statewide pediatric trauma collaborative can safely help non-pediatric hospitals admit children with mild traumatic brain injury. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. (Read full article)
    12. Eldredge RS, Moore Z, Smit J, Barnes K, Norton SP, Larsen K, Padilla BE, Swendiman RA, Fenton SJ, Russell KW (2023). A Pediatric Teletrauma Program Pilot Project: Improves Access to Pediatric Trauma Care and Timely Assessment of Pediatric Traumas. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. (Read full article)
    13. Hobson BJ, Lett E, Hawkins LA, Swendiman RA, Nance ML, Dowshen NL (2022). Transgender Youth Experiences with Implantable GnRH Agonists for Puberty Suppression. Transgend Health, 7(4), 364-368. (Read full article)
    14. Acker R, Swendiman RA, Luks VL, Hanna AN, Lee MK, Williams NN, Kelz RR, Lynn J, Aarons CB (2022). Pulling back from the brink: a multi-pronged approach to address general surgery resident clinical work hour adherence.2022:S1931-7204(22)00119-2. J Surg Educ. (Read full article)
    15. Hatchimonji JS, Luks VL, Swendiman RA, Allukian M 3rd, Nance ML, Nace GW Jr (2022). Settling the Score: Injury Severity Score Fails to Capture Nuances in Pediatric Trauma. Pediatr Emerg Care, 38(2), e828-e832. (Read full article)
    16. Taylor MA, Lewis AE, Swendiman RA, Fenton SJ, Russell KW (2021). Interest in improving access to pediatric trauma care through telemedicine. J Med Syst, 45(12), 108. (Read full article)
    17. Swendiman RA, Abramov A, Fenton SJ, Russell KW, Nance ML, Nace GW Jr, Iii MA (2021). Use of angioembolization in pediatric polytrauma patients with blunt splenic injury. J Pediatr Surg, 56(11), 2045-2051. (Read full article)
    18. Swendiman RA, Jones RE, Blinman TA, Krummel T (2020). Disrupting the fellowship match: COVID-19 and the applicant arms race. J Surg Educ, 78(4), 1069-1072. (Read full article)
    19. Abdallah HO, Zhao C, Kaufman E, Hatchimonji J, Swendiman RA, Kaplan LJ, Seamon M, Schwab CW, Pascual JL (2020). Increased firearm injury during the COVID-19 pandemic: A hidden urban burden. J Am Coll Surg, 232(2), 159-168.e3. (Read full article)
    20. Swendiman RA, Luks VL, Hatchimonji JS, Nayyar MG, Goldshore MA, Nace GW Jr, Nance ML, Allukian M 3rd (2020). Mortality after adolescent firearm injury: effect of trauma center designation. J Adolesc Health, 68(5), 978-984. (Read full article)
    21. Hatchimonji JS, Swendiman RA, Seamon MJ, Nance ML (2020). Trauma does not quarantine: violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Surg, 272(2), e53-e54. (Read full article)
    22. Hatchimonji JS, Swendiman RA, Kaufman EJ, Scantling D, Passman JE, Yang W, Kit Delgado M, Holena DN (2020). Multiple complications in emergency surgery : Identifying risk factors for failure-to-rescue. Am Surg, 86(7), 787-795. (Read full article)
    23. Swendiman RA, Goldshore MA, Fenton SJ, Nance ML (2019). Defining the role of angioembolization in pediatric isolated blunt solid organ injury. J Pediatr Surg, 55(4), 688-692. (Read full article)
    24. Hatchimonji JS, Swendiman RA, Goldshore MA, Blinman TA, Nance ML, Allukian M 3rd, Nace GW Jr (2020). Pediatric firearm mortality in the United States, 2010 to 2016: A national trauma data bank analysis. J Trauma Acute Care Surg, 88(3), 402-407. (Read full article)
    25. Song Y, Swendiman RA, Shannon AB, Torres-Landa S, Khan FN, Williams NN, Dumon KR, Brooks AD, DeMatteo RP, Aarons CB (2020). Can we coach resilience? An evaluation of professional resilience coaching as a well-being initiative for surgical interns. J Surg Educ, 77(6), 1481-1489. (Read full article)
    26. Swendiman RA, Sharoky CE, Russell KW, Goldshore MA, Blinman TA, Nance ML (2019). Life-saving interventions in pediatric trauma: A national trauma data bank experience. J Trauma Acute Care Surg, 87(6), 1321-1327. (Read full article)
    27. Swendiman RA, Coons BE, Alter CA, Bamba V, Nance ML, Vogiatzi MG (2019). Histrelin implantation and growth outcomes in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: an institutional experience. J Endocr Soc, 4(2), bvz004. (Read full article)
    28. Owei L, Swendiman RA, Torres-Landa S, Dempsey DT, Dumon KR (2019). Impact of body mass index on minimally invasive ventral hernia repair: an ACS-NSQIP analysis. Hernia, 23(5), 899-907. (Read full article)
    29. Swendiman RA, Goldshore MA, Blinman TA, Nance ML (2019). Laparoscopic management of pediatric abdominal trauma: A national trauma data bank experience. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A, 29(8), 1052-1059. (Read full article)
    30. Swendiman RA, Marcaccio CL, Han J, Hoffman DI, Weiner TM, Nance ML, Chou CM (2019). Attitudes and habits of highly humanistic surgeons: A single-institution, mixed-methods study. Acad Med, 94(7), 1027-1032. (Read full article)
    31. Swendiman RA, Vogiatzi MG, Alter CA, Nance ML (2018). Histrelin implantation in the pediatric population: A 10-year institutional experience. J Pediatr Surg, 54(7), 1457-1461. (Read full article)
    32. Swendiman RA, Edmondson AC, Mahmoud NN (2018). Burnout in surgery viewed through the lens of psychological safety. Ann Surg, 269(2), 234-235. (Read full article)
    33. Swendiman RA, Hoffman DI, Bruce AN, Blinman TA, Nance ML, Chou CM (2019). Qualities and methods of highly effective surgical educators: A grounded theory model. J Surg Educ, 76(5), 1293-1302. (Read full article)
    34. Landa ST, Cohen JB, Swendiman RA, Wirtalla C, Dempsey DT, Dumon KR (2018). The association of body mass index with postoperative outcomes after elective paraesophageal hernia repair. J Gastrointest Surg, 22(12), 2029-2036. (Read full article)
    35. Owei L, Swendiman RA, Kelz RR, Dempsey DT, Dumon KR (2017). Impact of body mass index on open ventral hernia repair: A retrospective review. Surgery, 162(6), 1320-1329. (Read full article)
    36. Latessa RA, Swendiman RA, Parlier AB, Galvin SL, Hirsh DA (2017). Graduates' perceptions of learning affordances in longitudinal integrated clerkships: A dual-institution, mixed-methods study. Acad Med, 92(9), 1313-1319. (Read full article)
    37. Swendiman RA (2017). Cognitive dissonance in training: A view from the middle. Ann Surg, 265(6), 1062-1063. (Read full article)
    38. Swendiman RA (2015). The Clock on the Wall. J Grad Med Educ, 7(2), 306. (Read full article)
    39. Weber AL, Swendiman RA (2014). Talk to me. Med Teach, 36(11), 1005-6. (Read full article)
    40. Swendiman RA (2014). We the living. J Am Geriatr Soc, 62(8), 1594. (Read full article)
    41. Swendiman RA (2014). Deep listening. Acad Med, 89(6), 950. (Read full article)
    42. Swendiman RA (2014). See what you cannot see. Acad Med, 89(4), 631. (Read full article)
    43. Swendiman RA (2014). Drowning. JAMA Pediatr, 168(3), 203. (Read full article)
    44. Swendiman RA (2014). Students need exposure to the joys of rural surgery. Bull Am Coll Surg, 99(1), 46-7. (Read full article)
    45. Swendiman RA, Latessa RA (2013). Medicine and the arts. Between a rock and a hard place: [excerpt] by Robert A. Swendiman. Commentary. Acad Med, 88(6), 778-9. (Read full article)
    46. Salom C, Salom-Grosjean E, Park KD, Morieux P, Swendiman R, DeMarco E, Stables JP, Kohn H (2010). Synthesis and anticonvulsant activities of (R)-N-(4'-substituted)benzyl 2-acetamido-3-methoxypropionamides. J Med Chem, 53(3), 1288-305. (Read full article)

    Editorial

    1. Swendiman RA, Hatchimonji JS, Allukian M 3rd, Blinman TA, Nance ML, Nace GW (2020). Pediatric firearm injuries: Anatomy of an epidemic. Surgery, 168(3), 381-384. (Read full article)

    Letter

    1. Swendiman RA, Goldshore MA, Allukian M 3rd, Nace GW Jr, Nance ML (2021). In reply to "Abdominal angiography is associated with reduced in-hospital mortality among pediatric patients with blunt splenic and hepatic injury: A propensity-score-matching study from the national trauma registry in Japan". [Letter to the editor]. J Pediatr Surg. (Read full article)
    2. Hoffman DI, Swendiman RA, Chou CM (2020). In reply to Schattner. [Letter to the editor]. Acad Med, 95(3), 327-328. (Read full article)