Pediatric Surgery Faculty

Paul McGaha, MD, MSc

Paul McGaha, MD, MSc, is a fellowship-trained pediatric surgeon at Oklahoma Children’s OU Health and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Dr. McGaha earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He completed his general surgery residency and Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center before completing fellowship training in pediatric surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital/Washington University.

Dr. McGaha’s clinical practice spans the full spectrum of neonatal and pediatric surgery, including elective, minimally invasive (laparoscopic), and emergency procedures. He specializes in the treatment of congenital anomalies of the chest, including congenital lung malformations (CPAM/BPS), congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH), and esophageal anomalies such as esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF). He also has extensive experience in the surgical management of other complex congenital anomalies, including abdominal wall defects, intestinal and anorectal malformations, and Hirschsprung disease.

Dr. McGaha provides comprehensive management of chest wall deformities, including pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum, in children and adolescents. He offers both nonoperative and surgical treatment options, including bracing and other conservative therapies, as well as minimally invasive chest wall reconstruction (Nuss repair) with intercostal nerve cryoablation.

As Associate Director of the ECMO program at Oklahoma Children’s, Dr. McGaha provides specialized care for neonates and children with severe respiratory and cardiopulmonary disease requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and other advanced life-support therapies. Oklahoma Children’s has earned Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Gold Center of Excellence designation, reflecting the program’s commitment to providing the highest level of care for critically ill neonatal and pediatric patients.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. McGaha is committed to advancing surgical education and training at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has authored numerous publications and presentations in pediatric surgery, ECMO, trauma, and medical education and serves as the Editorial Board Leader for Pediatric Surgery on the Surgical Council on Resident Education (SCORE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a structured educational curriculum for surgical trainees.

Dr. McGaha is originally from Tyler, Texas. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.