A Passion for Giving Back NYC lawyer pledges support for CHKD’s Nuss Center

Born and raised in New York City, a location known for world-class hospitals, Christopher J. Baione should have had no reason to seek specialized medical care elsewhere.

But a diagnosis of pectus excavatum, a congenital chest wall deformity, had Christopher searching for answers his local doctors didn’t have. “That hole in my chest was a hole in my life,” he says. “At the time, my family and I weren’t sure where to turn.”

Affecting more boys than girls, pectus excavatum causes the breastbone and ribs to grow inward, giving the chest a sunken appearance. It can range from mild to severe, often worsening during growth spurts. Those with a mild condition may not have symptoms, but those with moderate-to-severe cases, like Christopher, can exhibit symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain.

“It was severe enough to affect my heart and breathing,” says Christopher. “But even more, I was impacted emotionally because my body looked different than everyone around me.” He chose to stay home and not go out to play with friends, afraid to explain why he looked so different from them. “I avoided a lot and lost much of my childhood,” he says.

Determined to find an answer, Christopher’s research eventually led him to discover that Children’s Hospital of

The King’s Daughters, under the leadership of surgeon Dr. Donald Nuss, was pioneering a new way to correct his chest wall deformity. Unlike his previous consultations, where the surgery would require opening the chest wall and removing pieces of cartilage, Christopher learned that CHKD could perform a minimally invasive procedure that would put a bar in place to reshape his sternum instead.

Christopher and his parents decided to make the trip south for a consultation at CHKD. “After meeting with the care team, my family and I knew that we had found the right place and the right people,” he says. “I can’t emphasize enough how comfortable and welcomed we all felt.”

Christopher had his operation at CHKD in 2003 at age 16. “I put my trust in them, and sure enough, my surgery went flawlessly. Not only did the procedure improve my health and breathing, but my overall mental health improved in ways that I could not have imagined at the time,” he says.

Soon after recovering, Christopher began pursuing physical activities like skiing, snowboarding, and martial arts. Amateur sports with friends became second nature.

“To go from someone self-conscious about removing their shirt, or even hugging someone for fear of them noticing that you were different, to someone who then became complimented on their appearance … it’s hard to put into words how important that was to me,” shares Christopher.

Today, Christopher is a nationally recognized attorney and founding partner of Pitta & Baione LLP in New York City, a firm dedicated to helping New Yorkers affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the city. To date, they have recovered $500 million dollars for nearly 10,000 victims and their families. Giving back is his passion, whether representing clients before the Victim Compensation Fund or supporting the children’s hospital that gave him a new lease on life.

Christopher’s gifts to the Nuss Center at CHKD have purchased equipment that improves the quality of care for Nuss patients. He has also pledged to help fund the needs of the Center in the future through a $50,000 commitment that established the Christopher Joseph Baione Fund.

“We’re so grateful to Christopher for his generosity,” says Dr. Robert Obermeyer, vice president and chief of surgery at CHKD. “This funding will have a positive impact on the care we are able to provide to young patients with all types of chest wall deformities for decades to come.”

“I give back to CHKD because they gave so much to me,” says Christopher. “This is my way to say thank you to the surgeons and hospital that provided such excellent care. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Leaders in Chest Wall Repair Recognized with Special Awareness Month

On December 2, 2024, Senator Angelia Williams Graves visited the Nuss Center at CHKD to read Virginia Senate Joint Resolution No. 46. This resolution establishes each December as Chest Wall Deformity Awareness Month in honor of CHKD’s contributions to the field. Senator Williams Graves was welcomed by CHKD President and CEO Amy Sampson, Vice President of Advancement Bryant Thomas, and the entire Nuss Center team. During remarks, CHKD Vice President and Chief of Surgery Dr. Robert Obermeyer announced that the Nuss Center team had recently performed its 3,000th chest wall surgery, more than any other center in America. The Nuss Center is the nation’s No. 1 center for treating and understanding chest wall deformities. Although Dr. Nuss is now retired, his colleagues at CHKD continue to develop and refine cutting-edge treatments for pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, and a variety of other complex chest wall issues.