Overview

Overview

Cleveland Clinic Children’s pediatric cardiologists provide comprehensive care and treatment for children, teens and young adults diagnosed with congenital and acquired heart defects. Our team also identifies congenital heart problems for babies still in the womb and can help prepare parents for the baby’s treatment while in utero and after their birth.

If a patient requires surgery, we work closely with the pediatric & congenital heart surgery team.

What is a congenital heart defect?

If a child is born with a heart defect (congenital), the heart is not working properly, usually because there is something wrong with the valves or the blood vessels around the heart.

Congenital heart defects can be simple or complex. Many children who are born with heart defects do not need treatment. In these cases, the defects are mild or they simply correct on their own.

Symptoms of pediatric congenital heart disease

Often, there are no symptoms associated with these defects. They are usually found during routine physical examinations. In cases where there are symptoms, they may include:

  • Bluish tones to the skin (cyanosis).
  • Poor eating habits.
  • Fatigue (tiredness).
  • Swelling in the abdomen or around the eyes.
  • Rapid heartbeat.

Complex heart care our team specializes in:

Our Team

Our Team

Bradley Marino, MD, MBA
Bradley Marino, MD, MBA
Department Chair of Heart, Vascular & Thoracic and Division Chair of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Catherine Allan, MD
Catherine Allan, MD
Director, Inpatient Cardiology and Section Head Cardiac Critical Care
Shahnawaz Amdani, MD
Shahnawaz Amdani, MD
Section Head, Heart Function and Transplantation
Peter Aziz, MD
Peter Aziz, MD
Director, Professional Affairs
Orkun Baloglu, MD
Orkun Baloglu, MD
Staff
Edgard Bendaly, MD
Edgard Bendaly, MD
Staff
Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD
Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD
Section Head, Cardiovascular Genetics
Gerard J. Boyle, MD
Gerard J. Boyle, MD
Staff
Gary Butchko, MD
Gary Butchko, MD
Staff
Abby Demianczyk, PhD
Abby Demianczyk, PhD
Section Head, Neurodevelopmental and Psychosocial Health
Iqbal El Assaad, MD
Iqbal El Assaad, MD
Staff
Francine Erenberg, MD
Francine Erenberg, MD
Section Head, Imaging
Chidiebere Ezetendu, MD
Chidiebere Ezetendu, MD
Staff
Christina Fink, MD
Christina Fink, MD
Staff
William Hanna, MD
William Hanna, MD
Staff
Howard Heching, MD
Howard Heching, MD
Director, Outpatient Operations and Access and Section Head General Cardiology
Rukmini Komarlu, MD
Rukmini Komarlu, MD
Staff
Samir Latifi, MD
Samir Latifi, MD
Division Chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Mayme Marshall, MD
Mayme Marshall, MD
Director, Patient and Family Experience
Holly Nadorlik, DO
Holly Nadorlik, DO
Quality Improvement Officer
Akash Patel, MD
Akash Patel, MD
Director, Pediatric Electrophysiology
Madalsa Patel, MD
Madalsa Patel, MD
Fellowship Program Director
Clare O'Hare, MD
Clare O'Hare, MD
Staff
Rashmi Rao, MD
Rashmi Rao, MD
Section Head, Neurodevelopmental and Psychosocial Health
Britt Sandler, MD
Britt Sandler, MD
Associate Staff
Ramzi Souki, MD
Ramzi Souki, MD
Section Head, General Cardiology
Patcharapong Suntharos, MD
Patcharapong Suntharos, MD
Section Head, Cardiac Catheterization and Intervention
Nicholas Szugye, MD
Nicholas Szugye, MD
Staff
Animesh (Aashoo) Tandon, MD
Animesh (Aashoo) Tandon, MD
Vice Chair for Innovations
Madeleine Townsend, MD
Madeleine Townsend, MD
Staff
Justin Tretter, MD
Justin Tretter, MD
Staff
Malek Yaman (El Yaman), MD
Malek Yaman (El Yaman), MD
Staff
Kenneth Zahka, MD
Kenneth Zahka, MD
Director, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Cardiology APPs

PCICU APPs

  • Kathleen Atlagovich, CNP
  • Ashley Babjak, CNP
  • Stephanie Casto, CNP
  • Brandie Childress, CNP
  • Laurel Dobies, CNP
  • Jamie Fast, CNP
  • Cassie Grabowski, CNP
  • Erin Gross, CNP
  • Nick Marino, CNP
  • Dana O’Keefe, CNP
  • Karen Paradise, CNP, APP Coordinator
  • Michelle Wilson, CNP
  • Allison Zeiger, CNP