Overview

Overview

We provide comprehensive care for children at risk for or with heart failure. If your child has cardiomyopathy or complex congenital heart disease, they’re in expert hands at Cleveland Clinic Children’s.

Our experienced team provides holistic, personalized and evidence-based treatment for your child. We combine advanced medical and surgical therapies with specialized support services. Those services include help from psychology, neurodevelopmental pediatrics, nutrition and social workers. It all adds up to comprehensive, leading-edge care. And that gives your child their best chance for their best life.

Program highlights and history

  • Pioneering excellence: Cleveland Clinic performed its first pediatric heart transplant in 1985.
  • Unparalleled experience: We’ve successfully completed over 200 heart transplants for children and adults with congenital heart disease.
  • Innovative mechanical circulatory support: Our team has expertise in providing temporary or long-term mechanical support for your child. This includes ventricular assist devices (VADs), ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and temporary artificial heart pumps.

Additional patient stories

Our Team

Our Team

Our elite group of experts comes from a wide range of specialties. Together, we’re dedicated to providing comprehensive, personalized care for children with heart failure and those undergoing heart transplantation. We collaborate across all these specialties to give your child the best possible outcome and long-term well-being.

Heart Function and Transplant Cardiologists

Shahnawaz Amdani, MD
Shahnawaz Amdani, MD – Section Head, Pediatric Heart Function and Transplant

Gerard Boyle, MD
Gerard Boyle, MD

Madeleine Townsend, MD
Madeleine Townsend, MD

Drishti Tolani, MD
Drishti Tolani, MD

Pediatric and ACHD Transplant Surgeons

Hani Najm, MD
Hani Najm, MD

no photo available
Munir Ahmad, MD

John Costello, MD
John Costello, MD

Advanced Practice Provider

  • Allison Gerges, CNP

Heart Function and Transplant Nurse Coordinators

  • Colleen Nasman, RN
  • Emily Wallace, RN

Administrative Assistant

  • Valencia Stone

Dedicated Social Worker

  • Providing essential psychosocial support throughout your family’s journey

Comprehensive Support Team

  • Nutrition services — Specialized dietary support if your child has heart failure or needs a transplant
  • Psychology — Addressing your child’s emotional and psychological well-being
  • Palliative care — Enhancing quality of life through holistic, family-centered care
  • Cardiac genetics team — Learn more about our Cardiovascular Genetics program
  • Neurodevelopmental Support Program — Explore our resources

Collaborating Medical Subspecialists

Our team works closely with experts in:

  • Nephrology: Managing kidney-related complications in heart transplants
  • Infectious Disease:  Providing specialized care for infection prevention and treatment
  • Hepatology: Addressing liver-related concerns for people in heart failure or having a transplant

Seamless transition to adult care

We work closely with the Cleveland Clinic Adult Heart Failure Program so your teen will make a smooth transition to adult and lifelong cardiovascular care. Learn more.

Heart Transplant Program

Heart Transplant Program

At Cleveland Clinic Children’s, we’re committed to providing world-class care for pediatric heart transplant recipients. Our program combines innovative medical advancements with compassionate care from experts across many areas. Together, this gives your child their best chance for their best possible outcome.

Program outcomes

THRIVE Clinic

The THRIVE Clinic (Transplant, Health, Resiliency, Independence, Vitality, and Empowerment) is our annual clinic for pediatric heart transplant recipients. We bring together a specialized team of experts from across many fields. Our goal is to make sure your child receives comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs. And that can empower them to lead a full and healthy life.

Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS)

We’re an active participant in the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS). Through PHTS, we collaborate and innovate with other research centers across the world. Together, we aim to continuously improve outcomes for pediatric heart transplant recipients.

Artificial Heart Program

Artificial Heart Program

Our Mechanical Circulatory Support Program provides lifesaving therapies for children with heart failure. We use the latest advancements in ventricular assist devices (VADs) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for life support.

Types of support

  • Bridge to Transplant: Supporting patients awaiting a donor heart
  • Bridge to Recovery: Temporary support for reversible heart conditions
  • Chronic Therapy / Bridge to Home: Long-term support if your child isn’t eligible for immediate transplant

    • Populations served

    Children with congenital or acquired heart disease from infancy through adulthood.

    Ventricular assist devices (VADs)

    • HeartMate 3™
    • Berlin Heart EXCOR®
    • Centrimag™/Pedimag™
    • Rotaflow®
    • Impella

    Innovative imaging and surgical planning

    We use advanced imaging techniques to make sure we select the right device and placement for your child. These techniques include virtual fit testing and 3D modeling.

    Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION)

    We’re an active participant in ACTION. That means we take part in international research with other centers. Our goal is quality improvement and innovation in advanced heart failure therapies.  And improved outcomes for your child.

    Heart Function Program

    Heart Function Program

    Our Pediatric Heart Function Program provides expert care if your child has heart failure or is at risk for heart failure. This may be due to cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease or single-ventricle physiology.

    FRONTIER Fontan Program

    A specialized program focused on improving outcomes for children with Fontan circulation, emphasizing:

    • Resiliency enhancement
    • Optimized interprofessional care
    • Neurodevelopmental support
    • Therapeutic interventions and exercise rehabilitation

    Pediatric Inherited Cardiomyopathy Clinic

    We specialize in the care of children with various forms of genetic cardiomyopathies and those at risk for developing these conditions. We provide care for the lifetime and spectrum of cardiomyopathy disease. That means we’ll be there for you from screening and preventive care to advanced heart failure and heart rhythm therapies when needed.

    Learn more about Cardiovascular Genetics.

    Pediatric Cardio-Oncology Clinic

    The Pediatric Cardio-Oncology Clinic at Cleveland Clinic Children’s leads the way in screening and management for children who have had or are having cardiotoxic (damaging to the heart) chemotherapy and or radiotherapy. Certain cancer treatments (anthracyclines, alkylating agents, and chest radiation) significantly increase the risk of heart failure, arrhythmias, and vascular dysfunction. This may lead to years of therapy. If your child has had these treatments, we keep a close eye on them because they remain vulnerable to heart problems that can progress to irreversible heart disease. Our team of experts from many fields work as one unit to monitor your child and put the right strategies in place to prevent cardiac injury. This proactive approach improves early detection, intervention, and long-term cardiac outcomes. At Cleveland Clinic Children’s, we set the national standard for pediatric cardio-oncology care.

    Clinical trials and research

    We participate in international pharmaceutical trials to advance new treatments for pediatric heart failure, including:

    • VALOR trial: evaluates the potential of a medication called vericiguat to improve cardiac function and outcomes for children
    • FUEL: The FUEL-2 Study (Fontan Udenafil Exercise Longitudinal Assessment Trial - 2) aims to determine if udenafil can improve exercise capacity and overall quality of life for children and teens who have undergone the Fontan procedure for single ventricle heart disease.
    • A study on the impact of Fontan circulatory failure (FCF) on heart failure and transplant outcomes. The study aims to identify critical FCF factors and to assess how physical and psychological treatment may influence outcomes.

    We are also collaborating with PHTS, ACTION and the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation.

    Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation Recognized Center of Care logo

    Appointments

    Appointments

    By Phone
    To schedule an appointment, please call 216.445.5000.

    Online scheduling

    • Instantly book an appointment through MyChart.
    • Need to cancel or reschedule? Manage your upcoming appointments online.

    Physician Referrals
    Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (ET)
    Phone: 216.445.5000