Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/441611
W HEN CLEVELAND CLINIC CHILDREN'S opened its Pediatric Heart Center in 1995, the intention was to build a team of cardiologists and cardiotho- racic surgeons to rival all others — maybe even those in the Clinic's adult Heart & Vascular Institute. Today, this team includes 15 pediatric cardiologists and 2 pediatric heart surgeons who, in 2013 alone, regis- tered more than 28,000 outpatient visits, 520 heart related catheterizations and 350 cardiothoracic surgeries. "Our team of pediatric cardiologists and heart surgeons is the largest and most expe- rienced in Northern Ohio," says Kenneth Zahka, MD, a Cleveland Clinic Children's pediatric cardiologist with over 30 years of experience. "We diagnose and treat the most complex heart problems in children, from neonates through young adults. And we collaborate with our colleagues in the Heart & Vascular Institute for the care of adults with congenital heart disease, as well." In fact, Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Heart Center serves as a world- wide referral and second opinion center for patients of all ages with congenital heart disease. Comprehensive care is needed for kids with complex congenital issues, a nd that's where Clevela nd Clinic Children's excels, according to Robert D. Stewart, MD. Dr. Stewart is a staff pediatric and congenital heart surgeon and Surgical Director of Congenital Heart Transplantation at Cleveland Clinic. "We have excellent subspecialists who assist in taking care of the kids with heart issues. When these kids have kidney issues, neurological issues, clotting problems or the ever so common feeding issues, we have specialists and subspecialists to take care of those issues, as well," he says. "The com- prehensive care here is really spectacular." Subspecialty and Multidisciplinary Clinics Each of the 15 cardiologists at Cleveland Clinic Children's has subspecialty interest in a variety of pediatric and congenital heart disorders. And each sees patients in subspecialty, and often multidisciplinary, clinics – for cardiovascular genetics, pre- ventative cardiology, metabolic disease, single ventricle disease, heart transplant, cardiomyopathy, hemangioma, neurocar- diology, and pediatric and adult congenital heart disease, among others. Cleveland Clinic Children's also has a fetal care and special delivery unit for mothers of babies diagnosed in utero with heart disease, and CARDIAC CARE FOR KIDS at Cleveland Clinic Children's Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Heart Center team includes 15 pediatric cardiologists and two pediatric heart surgeons who diagnose and treat the most complex heart problems in children, from neonates through young adults. Pictured here are (L–R) Kenneth Zahka, MD, pediatric cardiologist, and Robert D. Stewart, MD, pediatric and congenital heart surgeon. HOSPITA L SPOTLIGHT PHOTOS COURTESY OF CLEVELAND CLINIC 1 6 | Cleveland/Akron/Canton MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ JA N UA RY/ F E B R UA RY 2 0 1 5