Heart Transplant

Make an Appointment

Complex heart conditions can feel overwhelming. Even more so when it’s your kid. As a parent, you want a team you can count on.

We know kids who need new hearts have different physical and emotional needs than adults. At UVA Health Children's, we have a team of experts ready to care for your child.

Pediatric Heart Transplant Experience

We performed our first pediatric heart transplant in 1991. Since 2013, we’ve provided new hearts to more than 53 children.

We’re the only hospital in the state that performs childhood heart transplants. We provide pre- and post-transplant care in Charlottesville, Norfolk, and Winchester.

    2023 U.S. News & World Report nationally ranked cardiology and heart surgery badge over children's hospital picture

    Nationally Ranked Cardiology Program

    We’re nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report in their 2023-2024 Best Children’s Hospitals guide for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery. We're here to deliver world-class care for your kids, with expert care and a family-centered approach that helps you understand every aspect of care. 

    See How We Compare
    Expert Heart Center

    Our Children’s Heart Center offers:

    • The most comprehensive congenital heart center in Virginia
    • The largest pediatric pulmonary hypertension clinic in Virginia
    • A genetics clinic that tests for inherited heart or vascular disease risks
    • One of the most experienced programs in the region for kids with end-stage heart disease

    Family-Centered Approach

    We promise to:

    • Help you and your child understand how and why we're doing a test or procedure
    • Explain the follow-up process
    • Collaborate with your referring physician
    • Work with your child's school if needed
    • Involve healthcare providers in your community

    Dedicated Transplant Team

    If your child has a heart transplant at UVA Health Children's, you can count on a care team that includes:

    • Pediatric heart transplant surgeons
    • Pediatric cardiologists
    • Pediatric anesthesiologists
    • Pediatric intensivists (doctors who specialize in the care of patients in intensive care)
    • Social workers
    • Nurse practitioners
    • Child life specialists
    • Psychologists
    • Nutritionists

    Heart Care That Grows with Your Child

    • You will have instant access to specialty services throughout UVA Health Children's.
    • As your child grows into a young adult, they'll move seamlessly from UVA Health Children's to UVA Health's adult care programs, easing the stress and uncertainty of switching facilities and finding a new doctor.
    • For families within a 25-mile radius of UVA Health Children's, we offer a specialized home care program for children dealing with complex medical issues.

    Transferring to UVA Health Children's for More Advanced Care

    At 10 days old, Violet had her first heart surgery in Norfolk. When it was time for her second surgery, she was transferred to UVA Health Children's. Hear what her parents and doctors are saying now after her transplant. View Transcript.