UVA Children’s Heart Center is part of UVA Children’s, the only children’s hospital in Virginia with national top-50 specialty rankings by U.S. News & World Report for both pediatric cardiology and heart surgery and neonatology for 2020-2021. Additionally, the publication ranked UVA Children’s “excellent” in heart transplant, infection prevention, clinical services, advanced technologies available, quality improvement and support for families; “very high” in Norwood procedure survival and complication prevention; and “above average” in our congenital heart program.
According to data from the Society for Thoracic Surgeons (STS), our survival rates exceed or are close to national averages across all five STAT categories. Our median length of stay is also significantly shorter than the national average across the five categories.
You can feel confident referring your pediatric cardiology patients to UVA Children’s Heart Center, one of the most experienced programs available for pediatric patients with complex congenital heart disease and acquired cardiac conditions. We offer:
- The largest pediatric heart transplant program by volume in Virginia, North Carolina and D.C.
- A high-volume single ventricle program with surgical and quality outcomes far exceeding accepted national benchmarks
- The largest fetal heart program in Virginia, including a comprehensive fetal outreach network
- The only Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association Center of Excellence in Virginia and D.C.
- An extensive cardiac neurodevelopmental program
The congenital heart surgery program at UVA Children’s is led by James Gangemi, MD, FACS, who is board certified in congenital heart surgery and trained to provide care for patients of all ages. UVA also has the only dedicated pediatric heart transplant program in Virginia.
Overcoming Congenital Heart Disease
A congenital heart defect can strike without warning. Luckily, Jen and Shawn Stiffler were able to successfully navigate their daughter Scout's heart rhythm problem with UVA's support. So, when their third child was also born with congenital heart disease, they once again turned to the experts at UVA Children's.
Pediatric Heart Care Throughout Virginia
We can see pediatric heart patients at our clinics located throughout Virginia. In addition to Charlottesville, UVA Children's has clinics in Richmond, Winchester, and Culpeper.
Services include:
- Non-invasive diagnostics, including echocardiograms and ECGs
- Genetic evaluations (developmental delay or disabilities, family history of genetic or chromosomal condition, dysmorphic features, growth disorders, chromosome abnormalities)
- Evaluation and management of heart conditions
Close Collaboration
We're committed to providing the most comprehensive care possible:
- Patients have instant access to specialty services throughout UVA.
- We are also able to provide care for children with end-stage pediatric heart disease.
- As children grow into young adults, they'll transition seamlessly from UVA Children's to UVA Health's adult care programs, eliminating the stress and uncertainty of switching care facilities and finding a new doctor. Continuity of care is crucial with congenital heart disease and transplant patients.