Children's National Heart Institute

(en español)

Thousands of families from around the region, nation, and 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.

• More specialists than anyone in the region. We have a team of more than 35 board-certified pediatric cardiologists who see patients throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. This means access to the very best cardiac care for families when they need it.
• Surgical expertise. Our pediatric cardiac surgery team performs hundreds of cardiac surgeries each year – twice the number of surgeries of any other hospital in the region and with strong outcomes nationally. Learn more about our cardiac surgery outcomes.
• Prioritizing your child's development. Our neurodevelopmental team evaluates our heart patients from infancy through their teenage years in our Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Program.  Our goal is to identify developmental problems before a child’s school performance is affected. We provide recommendations and treatment planning for parents, teachers, and healthcare providers.
• 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 procedures and technology that will make pediatric heart care safer and more effective.
• Family-centered care. Cheerful, warm rooms with televisions and DVDs, and enough space for families to stay comfortably with their child. We designed our Heart Institute around you, so your time with us will be as pleasant as possible. Children and families are at the core of what we do and continues to lead the way with an innovative and imaginative approach.

An Expert, Experienced Team

Every child with a heart problem who comes to Children’s National receives the unique focus of our dedicated pediatric heart team. The team includes cardiologists, surgeons, interventionalists, intensivists, prenatal cardiology specialists, cardiac anesthesiologists, and nurse practitioners. We provide specialized care in the areas of:

• Cardiology
  We offer programs for pediatric cardiac catheterization, imaging, electrophysiology, prenatal cardiology, preventive cardiology, as well as a unique adult congenital program for managing patients as they transition from pediatric care to adult care. Learn more about Cardiology.
• Cardiac Surgery
  Our surgeons perform the largest volume of pediatric surgeries in the Washington, DC, area with one of the best success rates for cardiac surgery in the nation. The Children’s team performs corrective procedures for Tetralogy of Fallot, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, and Fontan, among others. Learn more about Cardiac Surgery.
• Cardiac Anesthesiology
  Having 24/7 access to pediatric anesthesiologists is critical. We are one of the few programs in the country to offer a specialized pediatric cardiac anesthesia team. Each member of our team is a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist with subspecialty training and certification in pediatric cardiac anesthesia. We are uniquely qualified to manage your child’s needs during heart surgery. Learn more about Cardiac Anesthesiology.
• Cardiac Intensive Care
  The Cardiac ICU provides advanced subspecialty care for patients who are critically ill with congenital or acquired heart disease. Our state-of-the-art unit is a 34,000 square foot space with 26 beds and private rooms. Each room has sleeping accommodations for family members and other amenities to reduce the stress of critical illness. Learn more about Cardiac Intensive Care.

Come to Children’s for World-Class Leaders

World-renowned, pediatric cardiac surgeon Richard Jonas, M.D., is the co-director of the Heart Institute. He is the author of the definitive textbook on surgical management of congenital heart disease.

His development of a clinical research program in cardiopulmonary bypass techniques revolutionized the field of pediatric cardiac surgery. He is a pioneer in complex congenital heart surgery and leads a team that performs approximately 550 complex congenital reconstructive procedures annually. Read about our surgery outcomes. 

An internationally respected leader in pediatric electrophysiology, Heart Institute co-director, pediatric cardiologist Charles Berul, M.D. is recognized for his extensive clinical and research experience, and particular expertise in:

• Inherited heart rhythm abnormalities
• Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation
• Cardiac screenings for pediatric athletes

He leads a team of more than 35 board-certified pediatric cardiologists who see patients throughout the metro area, a team with more physicians and more experience than anyone else in the region. This means access to the very best cardiac care for families when and where they need it.