Dr. Dawn Jaroszewski

Dr. Jaroszewski and her Pectus Team are The Best.
From the initial call to her office inquiring about the surgery 5 years ago, the pre-surgery evaluations, the actual bars-in surgery, recovery, and through bars out surgery, Dr J and her team were outstanding to work with. They are all supportive, knowledgable, and will go out of their way to help patients throughout the whole process. This is a life changing surgery and they provide the best care anyone could ask for.
Dr J is an industry leader perfecting the PE correction surgery with every operation by finding new ways to improve the bar insertion, enhance the repair result, and lessen patient pain in the days and weeks after surgery. You can tell from interactions with her that she is extremely passionate about her work, every one of her patients, and advancing her field. We are so very lucky to have her on the PE surgery and research side.
I just had the bars out 3 days ago, and her team was just as friendly, professional, and passionate as when the bars went in 4 years ago. If you are still looking for the right surgeon to take care of your pectus, reach out to her office. The journey to Arizona is worth it and I would do it all over again in an instant.
Dr. J is the industry best.

Dr. Jaroszewski is AMAZING! Professional, caring, smart and so very talented. Absolutely do not go to any other surgeon if you want expert results. She has also put together a caring, responsive, and professional team. From the evaluation through to my post op visit I felt that I was the most important patient at Mayo Clinic (even though I know that is the way they treat everyone!) Thank you Dr. J for all that you do every day , you are the best and have changed my life and so many others.

(7/17/18) I had my procedure and really the hardest part for me was keeping calm when i was in my pre-op bed waiting to be rolled in. Pain after surgery while in the hospital was very well managed. Dr. J and the team there was probably one of my favorite parts. Honestly, the Mayo Clinic is probably one of the best hospital experiences i have ever had. (7/23/18) I had my post-op follow up appointment with Dr.Jaroszewski. Everything went very well and I could not be happier about the way things have turned out. I am currently 4 weeks post-op and im feeling pretty decent, still a bit of pain in my side but it seems to ease day by day. Recovery is a roller coaster, yet i finally feel like i am finally turning the corner and continuing to get better and starting the feel "normal" again.

It's rather bitter sweet to be honest, to know that I will probably not see the amazing team there until I go back for bar removal. I just want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Dr.J and to the outstanding team at their facility for helping me along the way. You're team is changing lives everyday and giving patients with Pectus a new outlook life. I am extremely grateful for everything, it has truly be a life changing experience for me.

For that, thank you very much and I look forward to seeing you and you're outstanding team in a few years.

Take care.

Let me preface this review by giving those who hate reading long reviews by saying - Dr. J is, hands-down, the best and she truly cares. I was nussed on 5/8/18 and my experience with her and her staff was nothing short of amazing. For those who would like further detail - please enjoy the review below. I've put significant thought and time into it and would be glad to answer any questions. - AG

I judge professionals and doctors by 3 main criteria: 1) expertise, 2) professionalism, and 3) dedication. Essentially these criteria answer the questions, "How good is this person at what they do?" and, "How willing are they to give their best effort in my case?" Expertise without effort is ineffective and vice-versa. With these criteria in mind, I would say that Dr. J is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of these criteria and I have seen the folks at CHKD and the two best Nuss specialists in NYC for comparison. None of these compare with Dr. J and her staff in answering these two questions.

1) Expertise

This criteria is admittedly difficult to judge because I myself am not a doctor; however, there are details that you can pay attention to that express the quality of someone's work. For example, as a lawyer, I would never accept work from an associate that has not bothered to check for typos in a legal brief. Expertise surmounts in small details that add up to become a body of knowledge in a given subject or profession that increases the likelihood of positive results. In short, the proof is in the pudding (i.e., the results).

With that in mind, the first question that Nuss surgeons ask is whether this person is a candidate for the procedure. That is the watershed issue that determines your fate with PE. I have had PE for over 14 years and had worsening symptoms. When I was a high school athlete, I was concerned that I was always tired and out of breath. I was laughed out of the cardiologist's office of one of the highest ranked doctors listed on this forum that works in NYC. He did not believe that my symptoms were legitimate, to my frustration. The folks at CHKD kindly, but sternly, shooed me away from their office based on my Haller Index. Neither the folks at CHKD nor the folks at Columbia/NYC thought to use a simple, but effective diagnostic technique that Dr. J used to demonstrate how my PE was affecting my heart. I don't want to let out details on something that might be considered inside baseball for Dr. J's office, but suffice to say that they considered an additional data point within a diagnostic that provided a more complete review of the stress placed on my heart by PE and why my case merited surgery. I was at first hesitant to travel across the country for my surgery (hence seeing the other folks on the east coast earlier) but I am so glad that I did.

I could stop there, but Dr. J went above and beyond. The staff at her office come from across the country to work with the best. Aside from understanding that the Haller Index is a one-dimensional cross-section of a multidimensional issue, my surgery with Dr. J went smoothly and the results were outstanding. I woke up a new person after surgery and my time at Mayo was great. My frame has filled out, my chest is improved and flat. Dr. J's hand in surgery is precise and adept. The cuts made on my chest were well made and the stitching to seal them up was top notch. Even the quality of my IV stick was outstanding (thank you, Nurse Alexander). The surgery scars healed nicely and the varied medication provided indicated that a lot of thought went into mitigating the effects of the surgery. Moreover the resultant pain was as effectively curbed as could be. Whereas I would get lightheaded and have blotchy vision after walking up a flight of stairs, I now feel like I can run a marathon. I can finally breathe deeply and I feel like I'm 16 again in terms of energy. In all, in terms of results, my results were amazing - 10/10. I could end this review there and that would be sufficent for most, but Dr. J reads these reviews and not including the rest would be a disservice to her and her staff.

2) Professionalism

I have done hours and hours of research on PE. I know a lot a out the ins and outs of the condition as well as the research side of things such as indications that a lack of magnesium at the pre-natal and adolescent stage could contribute or perhaps cause the development of PE. In short, I've done my homework and had many questions as well. In spite of being very busy, Dr. J and her staff walked me through the ins and outs of the surgery and answered all of the questions that I had in fine detail. Moreover, they were glad to go into the details and fully describe the pre- and post-surgery experience so that I knew what to expect. They also diligently followed up on my post-surgery condition and demonstrated acute attention to detail in reviewing my post-operative condition. As a corporate lawyer, I have worked with the largest financial institutions/banks in the country and the professionalism of Dr. J and her staff rivaled or exceeded that of my clients at work. I could not ask for more in terms of professionalism and discipline, they are at the top of their game - 10/10.

3) Dedication

A quick google/youtube search will show why Dr. J's surgical techniques are the best. Simply put, she could live out the rest of her days teaching others to do this procedure and live well off of the dividends. She doesn't have to be in the trenches, performing the Nuss procedure for two entire days a week, week in and week out - but she chooses to. Speaking with her and seeing the time and effort that goes into a single surgery, I respect and admire that she is still in the front lines and performing surgeries herself even though she doesn't have to. She has probably trained her staff so well that she could have them do the procedure without her, yet I can see it in her eyes that she truly cares about changing the life of her patients for the better. There is a gravitas present in her character and demeanor that is indicative of a sincere interest in your condition. I believe that she knows that she is the best and wants to help as many people as possible, but that, of course, is just my opinion. As a person who is in a profession where folks going through the motions is the norm, her approach is refreshing and most welcome. She listened closely to my concerns and provided detailed answers to my questions while also taking the time to comprehensively review the post-operative results without the rushed approach that I've experienced at the offices of other doctors listed in this forum - 10/10.

Why should you believe me?

I am an Ivy League educated lawyer who has worked with and in some of the best corporate practice groups in the world. I know what it takes to earn excellence and I know what it feels like to grind it out, performing or studying in a high-stress environment while providing expedient, detailed and comprehensive
results. I've been held to a high standard and I hold others to a high standard as well when it comes to a professional context. While this portion is subjective to my experience, I would be glad to provide more detail upon request.

In the final analysis, choosing a doctor is a rational decision. If you want the objective best, go to Dr. J.

I wish that I could make Dr. J's and her staff's dreams come true, so that they may know what it feels like to have my dream come true of finally being able to live a normal life and, for once, wake up refreshed and energized in the morning instead of tired and groggy. Dr. J, thank you for helping me and please keep doing what you're doing.

-AG