June 10, 2024

Abby Kenigsberg is a geologist, CrossFit enthusiast and lifelong patient at Texas Children’s Hospital. Born in Corpus Christi in 1992, she was diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot. Her parents, understandably anxious and seeking the best care, were advised by a family friend to take her to Texas Children’s. Dr. Tim Bricker, her first cardiologist, and Dr. David Ott, who performed her surgery at just nine months old, became important figures in Abby’s early life.

“My mom loved Dr. Bricker and the entire team,” Abby recalled. “They made my parents feel secure and hopeful during a stressful time.”

Abby continued her care in our Heart Center when she went away to college. While in grad school in the northeast, she returned to Texas regularly for appointments. Thanks to the opening of our first-of-its-kind Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) facility, and now that Abby lives and works in Houston, it is even easier to maintain her care under the watchful eyes of Dr. Wilson Lam.

“I’ve never had a doctor like him. Even during the pandemic, when I emailed him, he responded within an hour. That’s been the case several times,” Abby shared.

Living a full and active life with ACHD

Despite her condition, Abby has always led an active life. She played tennis, softball, and basketball in high school and continued with intramural sports in college and grad school. Now, as a geologist, she is often outdoors, enjoys hiking and has taken up CrossFit, a passion she shares with her wife, who is a marathon runner.

With her scientific background, Abby appreciates the uncertainties and complexities of medical science. She values the thoroughness of her care team, which has always left her feeling well-supported.

“Dr. Lam went back through decades of my records when I had a question about my stabilized condition and what that meant. For a doctor to spend that much time with an asymptomatic patient and listen to my concerns, I think really is rare,” Abby marveled.

Our ACHD team are The Difference

Dr. Lam is renowned for his detailed explanations, often illustrated on a whiteboard during consultations. Nurses frequently point out, “That’s a Dr. Lam whiteboard.”

“Education is the most empowering tool we can offer our patients in the outpatient setting,” Dr. Lam explained. “I want my patients to be the most knowledgeable person in the room when discussing their congenital heart disease because patients invested in maintaining the best health possible have the best shot at leading fuller, longer and more active lives.”

Our multidisciplinary ACHD team keeps up with novel strategies and therapies, often extrapolating risks and benefits for an adult population underrepresented in studies and research. They adapt to fast-paced changes in medical literature and guidelines and collaborate regularly.

“Working well together helps ensure the best outcome possible for our patients,” explained Dr. Lam.

Texas Children’s ACHD team recently made a significant impact at the 34th International Symposium on Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult in Skamania, Washington, participating in 40% of the event’s podium sessions. Our team members, including Peter Ermis, Katie Salciccioli and Ryan Byrne, played key roles in major discussion topics such as workforce and fellowship training, utilization of ACHD guidelines and ACHD heart failure. We are thrilled to celebrate the progress and expansion of our ACHD team as they continue to demonstrate excellence and leadership in their field

Abby’s story is a powerful example of how dedicated, personalized care by an exceptional team is The Difference for adults living with congenital heart disease. Do you know an individual who is The Difference on your team? Fill out this form and tell us about how they make an impact: https://forms.office.com/r/XK8w3pwEMS

May 28, 2024
Dr. Daniel Penny (left); Dr. Caner Salih

The Texas Children’s Heart Center, ranked number one in the nation for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News and World Report for seven consecutive years, is pleased to announce its new executive leadership structure.

Dr. Daniel Penny, previously Chief of Cardiology at Texas Children’s Hospital, was recently named as Executive Co-Director of the Heart Center. Dr. Caner Salih, currently Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Evelina Children’s Hospital in the U.K., will join him as Executive Co-Director this summer. Dr. Jeff Kim will succeed Dr. Penny as the new Division Chief of Cardiology.

“These distinguished leaders are internationally recognized, world-class pioneers in pediatric cardiac care,” said Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, Pediatrician-in-Chief and chair of Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital. “At Texas Children’s, we are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes, and these outstanding leaders will continue to develop our exceptional heart program.”

Click here to read more about this exciting development.

February 12, 2024

Texas Children’s Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey J. Kim, MD to the role of Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology. Dr. Kim is a tenured professor with Baylor College of Medicine, internationally esteemed cardiologist and longtime leader at Texas Children’s top-ranked Heart Center.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce Dr. Kim as the new Division Chief for Cardiology,” said Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, Texas Children’s Pediatrician-in-Chief and Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor of College of Medicine. “Dr. Kim is a trusted leader, a brilliant clinician and highly respected throughout his field. I am certain that under his leadership, Cardiology will continue to reach new levels of excellence.”

Kim joined Texas Children’s in 2002 starting with fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine, and he has previously served as Director of Electrophysiology & Pacing and Chief of Strategic Operations for the Heart Center. He also currently serves as the Vice Chair of Faculty Development for the Department of Pediatrics. He is involved in collaborative translational research in cardiology, and is on faculty with the Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Department. He sits on numerous national boards and is currently acting President of the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society.

“I am humbled and excited to serve as the next Division Chief for Cardiology…it’s an incredible team that has maintained unwavering resolve to innovate, advance the field and provide the best patient-centered care possible,” said Dr. Kim on his promotion. “The passion from this group has helped us become the world standard of excellence in lifelong care for those impacted by childhood cardiovascular disease. My hope is to find ways to make this remarkable division even better, and contribute more to our existing legacy at Texas Children’s Hospital.”

As part of an expanded leadership structure, Dr. Daniel Penny will now serve as Executive Director of Texas Children’s Heart Center. A search is now underway for his surgical Executive Co-Director.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kim on his appointment!

June 14, 2022

In yet another monumental achievement made possible through the hard work of our One Amazing Team and your commitment to every child and family we serve, Texas Children’s has earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report as the #2 children’s hospital in the country.

In addition to Texas Children’s historic rise to #2 in the overall list, the 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital survey included Top 10 spots for every subspecialty:

  • #1 in Cardiology & Heart Surgery, in a testament to the cutting-edge treatments and family-centered care provided by the Heart Center for more than 60 years
  • #1 in Pulmonology
  • #2 in Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • #3 in Nephrology (kidney disorders)
  • #3 in Neonatology
  • #4 in Cancer
  • #4 in Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
  • #5 in Diabetes & Endocrinology
  • #5 in Urology
  • #8 in Orthopedics

Texas Children’s is also ranked as the #1 children’s hospital in Texas and #1 in the Southwest Region – rounding out the national honors in what President and CEO Mark A. Wallace called a “pivotal moment that reflected everything we’ve accomplished together this year.”

“These tremendous outcomes are the result of the steadfast leadership, unwavering dedication and sincere passion you have for Texas Children’s mission,” Wallace wrote in announcing the exciting news to the organization. “Our eight in-chiefs, our five executive vice presidents, our medical and administrative leaders, and our faculty and staff are without a doubt the greatest teams in our organization’s history.”

Reaching the top of the list

U.S. News & World Report introduced the Best Children’s Hospitals ranking in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available. The rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals.

They rely on clinical data from nearly 200 medical centers through a detailed survey that analyzes measures, such as patient safety, infection prevention and adequacy of nurse staffing. In addition, each hospital’s score is derived from surveys of more than 15,000 pediatric specialists who are asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty.

In 2021, only 89 children’s hospitals were ranked in at least one of the 10 pediatric specialties evaluated for the annual report. Ten hospitals ranked at the top of their class and were named to the 2022-2023 Honor Roll. For more information, visit usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

“Consistent collaboration, newfound discoveries and extraordinary patient care is what has brought us to where we are today. But we all know that for Texas Children’s, this is only the beginning of our bright future ahead,” Wallace said. “Let’s cherish and celebrate this moment – and then let’s gear up to climb even higher. I have no doubt that with this team, everything is possible!”

To read the full news release announcing Texas Children’s latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report, click here.

April 12, 2022

We are proud to announce that Barbara Elias, Texas Children’s lead Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Coordinator in Congenital Heart Surgery, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) VAD Coordinator Leadership Award.

“As a nurse – coordinator and VAD liaison for over 25 years, I am honored to be nominated for and chosen to receive this prestigious award – not only professionally, but personally,” Elias noted of her achievement. “Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) is a dynamic field with continuous change in the paradigm shift in the acceptance of device support, patient preparation, and quality of life for all recipients.”

This prestigious award, granted annually by the ASAIO, to the nation’s top VAD Coordinator in both the adult and pediatric fields, recognizes the tremendous leadership and dedication Elias has displayed throughout her years as a VAD coordinator. As the first person from Texas Children’s to be selected, Elias is looking forward to accepting the award in person at the ASAIO 67th Annual Conference in Chicago in June.

“This award is very well deserved,” said her colleague Dr. Iki Adachi, Surgical Director of Heart Failure and Transplant and Director of the VAD Program. “Barb goes above and beyond for our patients and families and for the nurses in the Heart Center. Our VAD Program is special because our coordinator is so special.”

After completing her BSN from Kent State University, Elias began her career as an assistant nurse manager before joining Thoracic Surgery as a nurse clinician at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. From there, she helped found Cleveland Clinic Florida before returning three years later to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. In 2004, Elias furthered her career by moving to Texas to work as a transplant coordinator combined with VAD and circulatory support at Houston Methodist Hospital then joined Texas Children’s Congenital Heart Surgery Division in 2014 as the hospital’s first VAD coordinator.

As VAD coordinator, Elias is responsible for supporting all facets of Texas Children’s VAD Program, including start up, training and development, and VAD medical transport. During her time at Texas Children’s, she has been an integral part of the team’s success and instrumental in helping grow the VAD Program.

“Barb’s dedication to our patients and families always inspires me,” shared Dr. Chris Caldarone, Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery. “We are incredibly fortunate to have her as part of the Texas Children’s Heart Center.”

January 26, 2022

The hard-working team at Texas Children’s Adult Congenital Heart Inpatient Unit is celebrating its one-year mark and progress after opening alongside the program’s Outpatient Clinic to care specifically for patients with congenital heart conditions.

The Inpatient Unit team is pleased with their progress, especially during an extra-challenging year thanks to COVID and staffing shortages. In the midst of everything, the unit saw steady growth in inpatient volume, complexity and best of all, maintained excellent outcomes.

“The entire group has been so adaptable and willing to take on challenging cases and to work as a team,” said the unit’s director, Dr. Cameron Dezfulian. “We have pushed the limits in terms of the diagnoses we see, patient mobility and even our own census limits all in order to provide great care and it has gone exceedingly well.”

A few of the milestones the team is celebrating include:

  • Some of the Inpatient Unit’s challenging cases included heart transplants, heart failure with temporary and durable ventricular assist device placements and a number of very complex congenital heart repairs that were among referrals that were turned down at other centers across state lines.
  • The many patients who received care outside of the unit’s scope include two with strokes, one with tamponade, a dozen peri-partum women with COVID and more. One of the most challenging and gratifying cases was caring for an 18-week pregnant mom with COVID. She was supported with VV ECMO for 10 weeks and ultimately delivered a healthy baby at 32 weeks, saving two lives against all odds. Both mom and baby were home for Christmas!
  • All of the unit’s patients treated surgically have bene discharged home to independent living!

Looking ahead, the team plans to bring in patients from across Texas and the U.S. and anticipates reaching 100 percent capacity by the end of 2022, five to six years ahead of projections.

According to Dr. Dezfulian, “Our ICU is a first of its kind, so our success is important beyond the limits of the walls of Texas Children’s. As we gain experience with large volumes and a variety of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) diagnoses, our findings will be of value to the larger ACHD community.”

A unique hospital experience

What sets the Inpatient Unit apart is its capacity to allow family members to stay with loved ones throughout their hospital stay. Patients remain in the same large room through their procedure and rehabilitation process while family members have access to laundry and respite areas (TV, food). The unit’s advanced monitoring platform (sickbay) permits the care team to assess patients remotely without difficulty and immediately respond to any issues.

October 13, 2021

Rachel Arnold, a physician assistant from Interventional Cardiology, shares her experience caring for a courageous, young heart warrior who beat the odds. Read more