Children's National Heart Institute

Contact number | 202-476-2020

World-Class Care and Expertise

Our pediatric cardiac care team is the largest in the Washington, D.C., region, performing more than 600 cardiac surgery procedures each year.

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The Children’s National Heart Institute provides specialized expertise across the full spectrum of congenital and acquired heart disease in children – from the most common to the most complex. In addition to general cardiac care, our renowned, multidisciplinary team offers state-of-the-art cardiac imaging and diagnostics, interventional cardiology and electrophysiology, heart surgery and cardiac intensive care. View our programs and services.

Choosing Children’s National for Heart Care

Surgical expertise. Our renowned pediatric cardiac surgeons conduct more than 600 cardiac procedures each year, and care for a range of cardiac anomalies from the very rare to the most common issues. We are also one of few programs in the United States that offers a team of anesthesiologists subspecialty trained and certified in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology. Learn more about our heart surgery outcomes.
Lifelong care. Children's National is home to 1 of only 40 Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA)-accredited programs in 25 states. Not only do we provide quality care for children with common and complex heart conditions, we provide specialized care for adult patients with congenital heart defects.
Prioritizing your child's development. The approach to cardiac care at Children’s National extends beyond traditional cardiac care to include a specialized focus on the developing brain and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes with our Neuro-Cardiac Critical Care Program. Clinical care begins with a prenatal diagnosis in the Prenatal Cardiology Program and then continues through any needed surgical procedures.
Pioneering research. At Children’s National, we don’t just use advanced techniques and devices. We are actively involved in identifying and developing the next generation of procedures and technology, such as tiny pacemakers for infants, that will enable the safest and most effective care of children’s hearts.
Family-centered care. We work closely with you and your child throughout every step of the care process, in order to support the physical and emotional needs of your family during your child’s treatment journey. Our team, including child life specialists, social workers, chaplains and behavioral health experts, offers the emotional support and resources parents and families need during this time.

World Class Expertise

Thousands of families around the world seek care at Children’s National Heart Institute from our team of internationally-respected pediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. When you come to Children’s National, you are getting a team that includes pediatric experts from more than 40 subspecialties, ensuring your child has the best possible care.

Founded by congenital heart disease and pulse oximetry expert Gerard Martin, M.D., the Heart Institute is currently led by first-class doctors, including:

Charles Berul, M.D., co-director of the Heart Institute and chief of the Division of Cardiology is a internationally respected leader in pediatric electrophysiology. He is recognized for his extensive clinical and research experience, and he has particular expertise in inherited heart rhythm abnormalities, pacemaker and defibrillator implantation and cardiac screenings for pediatric athletes. He leads a team of board-certified pediatric cardiologists who see patients throughout the metro area, which means access to the very best cardiac care for families when and where they need it.
Yves d'Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery and co-director of the Heart Institute is a world-renowned, pediatric cardiac surgeon. He is recognized for expertise in the most challenging procedures for newborns and children with complex congenital heart disease, including the repair of single ventricle anomalies. Dr. d'Udekem has additional expertise in valve repair, artificial hearts and other cardiac assist devices.
Ricardo Muñoz, M.D., chief of the Division of Cardiac Critical Care Medicine and co-director of the Heart Institute is a pioneer and innovator in the fields of cardiac critical care and telemedicine. He oversees the work of a multidisciplinary team, including critical care nurse practitioners and nurses, respiratory and physical therapists, nutritionists, social workers and pharmacists.

Children's National Awarded Hospital of the Year by Mended Little Hearts

Children's National has been recognized with the Hospital of the Year award for efforts to integrate peer support and education into patient care.

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Expertise	Encompassing Care	Locations
Our specialists are international leaders who have pioneered new tools and techniques used all over the world, like pulse oximetry, a test that saves newborns' lives. We care for the brain in addition to the heart, so children not only survive, but also thrive. The Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Program ensures the best possible neurological outcomes. Performing more than 3,000 fetal echocardiograms annually, our Prenatal Cardiology Program is the largest program in the region. We have the region’s first and only pediatric Cardiac ICU.	We treat the whole child, paying attention to both physical and emotional needs. Parents are included as a key part of the care team and encouraged to participate in daily rounds with the medical team. Dedicated social workers, child life specialists and case managers help ensure that families have the support they need.	Children’s National patients can receive common to complex care, including imaging and post-operative care, at many locations so parents can find one close to home. Some locations include: Main Hospital Annapolis Frederick Fredericksburg Montgomery County Northern Virginia Prince George's County Richmond Learn more about our cardiology locations.

Expertise

Encompassing Care

Locations

Our specialists are international leaders who have pioneered new tools and techniques used all over the world, like pulse oximetry, a test that saves newborns' lives.
We care for the brain in addition to the heart, so children not only survive, but also thrive. The Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Program ensures the best possible neurological outcomes.
Performing more than 3,000 fetal echocardiograms annually, our Prenatal Cardiology Program is the largest program in the region.
We have the region’s first and only pediatric Cardiac ICU.

We treat the whole child, paying attention to both physical and emotional needs.
Parents are included as a key part of the care team and encouraged to participate in daily rounds with the medical team.

Dedicated social workers, child life specialists and case managers help ensure that families have the support they need.

Children’s National patients can receive common to complex care, including imaging and post-operative care, at many locations so parents can find one close to home. Some locations include:

Learn more about our cardiology locations.

Heart

During his one-month-old checkup at a local doctor’s office in California, Maryland, Aidan’s pediatrician detected a rapid heartbeat. He immediately sent them to Children’s National where doctors confirmed that Aidan’s tiny heart was beating twice as fast as it should be.

Aidan's Story

Children's National Heart Institute Team

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Charles Berul
Division Chief, Cardiology
Co-Director, Children's National Heart Institute
Craig Sable
Associate Division Chief, Cardiology
Director, Echocardiography
Annette Ansong
Medical Director, Outpatient Cardiology
Cardiologist
Jeffrey Becker
Cardiologist
Elizabeth Bettini
Nurse Specialist
Kristin Burns
Cardiologist
Michael Bykhovsky
Adult Congenital Cardiologist
Cardiologist
Sarah Clauss
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Russell Cross
Medical Director, Inpatient Cardiology
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Susan Cummings
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Shriprasad Deshpande
Medical Director, Advanced Cardiac Therapies and Heart Transplant Program
Niti Dham
Director, Cardio-Oncology Program
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Advanced Cardiac Therapies and Heart Transplant Cardiologist
Mary Donofrio
Medical Director, Prenatal Cardiology Program
Co-Director, Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Program
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Robin Doroshow
Cardiologist
Tacy Downing
Interventional Cardiologist
Adult Congenital Cardiologist
Mary Falterman
Cardiologist
David Finkelstein
Cardiologist
Lowell Frank
Director, Cardiology Fellowship Training Program
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Suma Goudar
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Ashraf Harahsheh
Director, Quality Outcomes in Cardiology
Director, Kawasaki Disease Program
Director, Cardiology Resident Education
Medical Unit Director, Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg
Jared Hershenson
Director, Cardiac Exercise and Rehabilitation
Ian Hovis
Medical Unit Director, HLK
Cardiologist
Seiji Ito
Adult Congenital Cardiologist
Cardiologist
Anitha John
Medical Director, Washington Adult Congenital Heart Program
Adult Congenital Cardiologist
Joshua Kanter
Medical Director, Interventional Cardiology
Interventional Cardiologist
Jonathan Kaltman
Electrophysiologist
Sairah Khan
Advanced Cardiac Therapies and Heart Transplant Cardiologist
Stephanie Lacey
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Linda Leatherbury
Cardiologist
Yue-Hin Loke
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Gerard Martin
Cardiac Ambassador to Global Services
Cardiologist
Jeffrey Moak
Director, Electrophysiology Program
Electrophysiologist
Jai Nahar
Cardiologist
Jin Park
Cardiologist
Vasum Peiris
Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Elizabeth Sherwin
Electrophysiologist
Cardiologist
Christopher Spurney
Associate Director, Cardiology Fellowship Training Program
Cardiologist
Ravi Vegulla
Advance Imaging Cardiologist
Yves d'Udekem
Division Chief, Cardiac Surgery
Co-Director, Children's National Heart Institute
Manan Desai
Director, VAD and Heart Transplant
Cardiac Surgeon
Richard Jonas
Emeritus Chief, Cardiac Surgery
Senior Investigator, Center for Neuroscience Research
Aybala Tongut
Director, ECMO Program
Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeon
Can Yerebakan
Associate Chief, Cardiac Surgery
Director, HLHS Hybrid Program
Director, Cardiovascular Surgery Fellowship Program
Ricardo Munoz
Division Chief, Cardiac Critical Care Medicine
Executive Director, Telemedicine
Co-Director, Children's National Heart Institute
John Berger III
Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program
Director, Cardiac ECMO
John Diddle
Director, Quality Outcomes in Cardiac Critical Care
Cardiac Critical Care Specialist
Yuliya Domnina
Medical Director, Quality and Safety for the ICUs
Medical Director, CICU
Cardiac Critical Care Specialist
Craig Futterman
Cardiac Critical Care Specialist
Alejandro Lopez-Magallon
Medical Director, Telemedicine
Cardiac Critical Care Specialist
Bao Puente
Fellowship Program Director, Cardiac Critical Care Medicine
Cardiac Critical Care Specialist
Michael Tsifansky
Medical Director, Advanced Lung Disease and Transplant Program
Cardiac Critical Care Specialist
Pulmonologist
Gil Wernovsky
Cardiac Critical Care Specialist
Gregory Yurasek
Cardiac Critical Care Specialist
Nina Deutsch
Associate Chief, Anesthesiology
Associate Chief, Academic Affairs
Anna Brown
Anesthesiologist
Andrew Matisoff
Cardiac Anesthesiologist
Daniela Perez-Velasco
Cardiac Anesthesiologist
Jacob Schick
Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
Jonathan Swink
Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
Karen Thomson
Cardiac Anesthesiologist
Chinwe Unegbu
Cardiac Anesthesiologist
Andrew Waberski
Cardiac Anesthesiologist
Kristina Barbera
Nurse Practitioner
Shiela Bostelman
Nurse Practitioner
Lauren Daniel
Nurse Practitioner
Melissa Dazo
Nurse Practitioner
Stephanie Irizarry
Nurse Practitioner
Melissa Jones
Director, Neurocardiac Critical Care
Laura Norris
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Kathleen Reid
Nurse Practitioner
Christine Riley
Advance Practice Provider Team Lead
Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care
Jennifer Rowe
Nurse Practitioner
Sarah Wilson
Nurse Practitioner
Lucy Burrell
Nurse Manager, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Charles Fleming
Nurse Navigator, Children's National Heart Institute
Justine Fortkiewicz
Professional Practice Specialist, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Martha Goldberg
Clinical Instructor, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Cara Pleau
Clinical Instructor, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Monique Powell
Nurse Manager, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit