Dr. I J Shaker MD, FACS, FAAP

Media Releases

Get to know Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Issam Shaker, who serves patients in Georgia.

A seasoned pediatric surgeon, Dr. Shaker is affiliated with Atrium Health Navicent Pediatric Surgical Associates in Macon, Georgia.

The physicians at Pediatric Surgical Associates have over 70 years of combined pediatric surgical experience. Their practice specializes in the unique surgical problems that occur in children, with an emphasis on providing the best clinical care in a family centered atmosphere. They strive to explain conditions and procedures to both their young patients and their parents in easily understandable terms. Their pledge is to make every child and every family feel as if they are their only patients.

Back in the early days of his academic career, Dr. Shaker graduated with his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1967, and completed his residency in general surgery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 1973, serving his chief residency with a focus on thoracic surgery. He then went on to complete his fellowship in pediatric surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1975. Later, he obtained his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler School of Business in 2001.

An authority in her field, the doctor is board-certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

Maintaining fellowship status, he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

As for his academic appointments, Dr. Shaker is the Milford B. Hatcher Professor of Surgery, Chair of the Department of Surgery, and Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at the Mercer University School of Medicine.

Pediatric surgery is a subspecialty of surgery involving the surgery of fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatric surgeons are trained as general surgeons who then go on to get specialty training to perform surgery on children and neonates with various congenital and oncologic issues.

Recommended Articles

• What You Need to Know About Incisional Hernias

  What is a Hernia?A hernia is a medical condition that results from tissue or organs protruding through the abdominal walls. This protrusion is due to a weakness or hole in a muscle. The condition might start without any symptoms, but can lead to serious problems like death if left unattended. Hernia...

• An Appendectomy for Appendicitis

  Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix, a tube-like extension attached to the large intestine. The appendix has no known function, but one thing for certain is that one can live without it with no apparent consequences.Appendicitis is a life and death kind of matter and should be treated...

• What Is Hydrocele Repair?

  Hydrocele repair is a surgical process that aims to correct the swelling of the scrotum that occurs as a result of hydroceles. A hydrocele is a painless buildup of fluid around the testicles. Fluid buildup causes the scrotum and the groin area to swell. This swelling can make you uncomfortable even...

• What Does a Pediatric Surgeon Do?

  What is a pediatric surgeon?A pediatric surgeon is a pediatrician, who is specially trained to perform a variety of medical procedures on newborns, infants, and children. They are experts when it comes to the diagnosis and operative care of different health conditions in children. These specialists...

• Everything You Need to Know About an Adenoidectomy

  What Are Adenoids?Adenoids are the immune system’s component which assists in the fight against infections and offers the body protection from viral and bacterial attack.Adenoids are found in children only. They begin to develop as soon as a child is born and reach their maximum when the child is...

• What Can I Expect After Undergoing Laparoscopic Hernia Repair?

  In laparoscopic hernia repair, the surgeon makes a small incision in or just under your umbilicus and inserts a narrow tube to pump carbon dioxide into your abdomen. The gas lifts organs and other tissue, allowing a good view of your internal structures. The surgeon then inserts a telescope-like...