Dr. Nicole Wilson is a board-certified pediatric surgeon and physician-scientist at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. Her clinical practice spans the full spectrum of pediatric surgery, including elective, minimally invasive, and emergency procedures. She has special expertise in pediatric foregut and thoracic surgery, prenatal and fetal diagnosis, and comprehensive management of chest wall anomalies such as pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum.
In addition to her surgical practice, Dr. Wilson leads the Wilson ECLIPSe Lab, a multidisciplinary, NIH-funded research group focused on developing innovative diagnostic, therapeutic, and predictive tools to improve surgical outcomes for children. Her work bridges engineering and surgery, applying principles from biomedical imaging, ultrasound, biomechanics, and device development to solve complex clinical problems.
Current projects in her lab include the development of quantitative ultrasound systems to assess sphincter muscles in children with anorectal malformations, creation of anti-adhesion compounds to prevent the formation of postoperative scar tissue (adhesions) and their associated complications, and the use of photodynamic therapy to sterilize the abdomen after perforated appendicitis. Her group also develops machine-learning models to enhance trauma triage and decision-making.
Dr. Wilson’s research has been continuously supported by the National Institutes of Health and national foundations, including a Jay Grosfeld, MD Scholar Award from the American Pediatric Surgical Association. She holds multiple U.S. and international patent applications for technologies designed to improve pediatric surgical care and patient safety.
Beyond her research, Dr. Wilson is passionate about mentoring students, residents, and fellows, and previously served as Associate Program Director for Research in General Surgery.
Originally from the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Dr. Wilson is honored to contribute to OU Health’s mission of advancing pediatric surgical care across Oklahoma and beyond through innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care.