Nicole Kurnik, MD, enjoys taking care of children with complex needs and their families. As a craniofacial and plastic surgery specialist, Dr. Kurnik offers a wide range of services. She treats craniofacial malformations, cleft lip and palate, breast and chest wall anomalies, and a wide range of other pediatric plastic surgery diagnoses.

Dr. Kurnik is passionate about providing long-term care for patients from infancy through adulthood. She strives to offer comprehensive, compassionate and individualized attention through all stages of care, from consultation to surgical recovery.

"Many patients at Phoenix Children's have complex diagnoses," Dr. Kurnik says. "Being able to provide specialized team-based care to meet all the patients' and families' needs is very rewarding. Taking care of children has always been an honor and a privilege. Pediatric patients are inspiring and resilient. I continue to learn from, and am impressed by, my patients and their families every day."

At Phoenix Children's, Dr. Kurnik serves on the Women's Surgical Collaborative; the Craniofacial, Skull Base and Facial Reanimation teams; the Vascular Anomalies team; and the Differences in Sexual Development team. A member of the Arizona Society of Plastic Surgeons Global Health Panel, Dr. Kurnik is active in numerous professional organizations, including the American Cleft Palate Association, the American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons and the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons.

In 2018, Dr. Kurnik received the Mayo International Health Program (MIHP) Scholarship Award, which funded her on a month-long medical mission to Kenya. She also received the MIHP Grant for International Travel and Missionary Work, the Mayo Clinic Recognition for Excellence in Teamwork and the Best Abstract Award from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Kurnik is grateful to the surgeons who mentored her during residency training and inspired her career, teaching her and modeling "empathy, passion, perseverance and surgical expertise." She is pleased to be part of the team at Phoenix Children's.

"Phoenix Children's offers a variety of expertise and specialized programs to take care of all our patient's needs," Dr. Kurnik says. "The hospital excels on every level, from our support staff in clinic to the nurses in the hospital. The physicians here are committed to providing comprehensive, specialized care to each patient, and it's an honor to be part of this team."

Outside of work, Dr. Kurnik enjoys spending time with her family and loves being outdoors and exploring new places.