Published: November 4, 2026
Norton Children’s is working to expand and coordinate specialized care for children with complex colorectal conditions through the development of a multidisciplinary pediatric colorectal care program.
Leading this effort is Naomi-Liza “Mimi” Denning, M.D., a pediatric general surgeon with Norton Children’s Surgery, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and assistant professor of pediatrics. Dr. Denning completed specialized fellowship training in pediatric colorectal surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio and a general pediatric surgery fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
Dr. Denning is working to bring together existing expertise in pediatric surgery, gastroenterology, urology and rehabilitation to establish more coordinated evaluation, treatment and long-term management for children with congenital and acquired colorectal conditions.
“There are already a lot of great pieces in place at Norton Children’s,” Dr. Denning said. “We have pediatric gastroenterology, urology, surgery and physical therapy, but right now those services don’t always function through one coordinated process. One of my goals is to help bring those pieces together and build a more comprehensive colorectal surgery program.”
Children with complex colorectal conditions often require specialized evaluation and management extending beyond surgical intervention. From infancy through adolescence and into adulthood, patients may require ongoing support from various specialties as their needs change.
Pediatric colorectal surgery helps treat a broad range of congenital and acquired conditions, including children with:
Children with congenital colorectal conditions may be diagnosed during the neonatal period and undergo surgery during infancy. However, ongoing care remains necessary as they reach developmental milestones, including toilet training, starting school and becoming increasingly independent.Other patients present later in childhood or adolescence. Their path to colorectal surgery may follow evaluation by a pediatrician, gastroenterologist, urologist or another specialist, depending on their symptoms and diagnosis.
“We want to make sure we’re following these children over time, understanding how they’re progressing and addressing challenges as they come up,” Dr. Denning said. “Our goal is to build that longitudinal relationship here. We want families to know where to go as their child grows and develops, rather than having to figure out the next step every time a new issue comes up.”
The developing colorectal program aims to bring together the clinical resources already available at Norton Children’s through a more integrated approach. Depending on the child’s diagnosis and needs, treatment may involve collaboration among pediatric surgeons, gastroenterologists, urologists and rehabilitation specialists. “Caring for kids requires a different level of connection and communication,” Dr. Denning said. “I really enjoy being part of that journey with families.”
By aligning these specialties, the goal is to support continuity of care while helping families and their referring provider navigate complex treatment needs more efficiently.
A central priority in establishing the program is creating more streamlined referral pathways for children who may benefit from specialized colorectal evaluation.
Dr. Denning and the multidisciplinary team are working to clarify how patients can be connected with the appropriate specialty, based on their presenting symptoms, diagnosis and potential need for surgical intervention.
One pathway involves pediatric gastroenterology for children who require a more specialized evaluation but may not need surgical intervention. Another involves patients with congenital colorectal abnormalities or conditions potentially requiring operative management, who may benefit from involvement by pediatric surgery and urology.“The goal isn’t simply to see more patients,” Dr. Denning said. “It’s to get the right patients to the right specialists at the right time.”
As these pathways are developed, the program aims to make it easier for pediatricians and other referring clinicians to connect children with appropriate specialty expertise while reducing the need for families to navigate multiple services independently.
Beyond multidisciplinary coordination, Dr. Denning sees opportunities to advance pediatric colorectal care through surgical innovation, research collaboration and long-term patient support. Her interests include exploring the integration of robotic technology into pediatric colorectal procedures and expanding Norton Children’s access to participation in national studies. Another priority is improving patients’ transition from pediatric to adult care.
“We want to provide the level of specialized colorectal surgery care families might otherwise have had to travel out of town to receive, while also making that care more coordinated and accessible close to home,” Dr. Denning said.
Through the addition of Dr. Denning’s specialized training and the development of a more integrated care model, Norton Children’s is working to strengthen resources for children with complex colorectal conditions and the providers who care for them.
Dr. Denning earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and completed her general surgery residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Northwell Health in Glen Oaks, New York. She completed a fellowship in pediatric colorectal surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a pediatric surgery fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Denning is board certified in general surgery and is an assistant professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.