Morgan Richards, MD, MPH is a pediatric surgeon with a broad range of interests including neonatal congenital anomalies, pediatric oncology, hepatobiliary problems, and congenital lung anomalies. She also manages general pediatric disorders such as hernias, appendicitis, pyloric stenosis, feeding disorders, and gallbladder problems.

Dr. Richards is the medical director of pediatric trauma at St. Luke’s, which has the only level II pediatric trauma center in Idaho. She has also acted as the pediatric surgeon champion for the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and has a strong interest in quality improvement in pediatric care. She serves on many national committees including the Surgical Quality and Safety, Nominating, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committees of the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA).

Dr. Richards earned her bachelor’s degree in history of science and medicine from Yale University, where she graduated with honors and played varsity basketball. She attended Case Western Reserve University for medical school where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society. Dr. Richards completed her residency at the University of Washington where she devoted three additional years to research at Seattle Children’s Hospital and obtained a master’s degree of public health in epidemiology at the University of Washington. Her research included surgical oncology, examining adult tumors in children using the National Cancer Data Base, and the standardization of care for medically complex children. This work led to numerous publications and presentations. 

Dr. Richards completed her pediatric surgical training at Emory University, which is internationally known for its innovative approach to advanced minimally invasive surgery in children. She trained with world experts in neonatal minimally invasive surgical techniques that included thoracoscopic congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair, tracheoesophageal fistula ligation and esophageal atresia repair, and laparoscopic duodenal atresia repair. She also gained experience with minimally invasive treatment of Hirschsprung disease and anorectal malformations. 

In her free time, Dr. Richards enjoys cooking, cycling, watching movies and exploring the outdoors with her family.