Medical City Children's Cardiology Specialists

Medical City Children's Hospital recently collaborated with 14 other children's hospitals nationwide for an important study led by PC4 - The Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium published in the prestigious JAMA Pediatrics journal.

Congratulations to all the expert physicians whose dedication to these patients helps to improve more lives in more ways - even beyond North Texas.

Medical City Children's Hospital collaborated with 14 other children's hospitals nationwide for an important study led by PC4 - The Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium published in the prestigious JAMA Pediatrics journal.

The study aimed to lower cardiac arrests in pediatric cardiac intensive care units (CICU). As the only hospital in North Texas to participate in this study, led by pediatric cardiologist, Tia Raymond, MD and AVP of pediatric cardiac and neonatal services, Janie Garza, RN, Medical City Children's Hospital has so far enrolled over 200 patients – and significantly reduced cardiac arrest in this high-risk, highly vulnerable population.

Congratulations to our expert physicians whose dedication to these young patients helps to improve more lives in more ways - even beyond North Texas.

Learn more about the CAP study: https://bit.ly/3bIuZ24

Congratulations to our Heart Center team for leading the way. Vivian Dimas, MD, Carrie Herbert, MD, Brannon Marlowe, MD, and cardiac lab staff Liz Galloway, RN, and Jordan Walker, RCIS, placed a stent framework allowing for the placement of a transcatheter pulmonary valve LIVE during the first congenital case at the 2022 Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI).

As the only hospital in North Texas with both a full-service children's hospital and an adult hospital in the exact location, our world-renowned specialists can provide patients of all ages who have congenital heart defects with compassionate, comprehensive care.

Today is Doctor's Day! We celebrate our Medical City Children's Cardiology Specialists doctors today, and thank them for the changes they are making in our patients' lives every day!

Ilana Zeltser, MD, is the Medical Director of Pediatric Electrophysiology at Medical City Children's Hospital and is a pediatric cardiologist at Medical City Children's Cardiology Specialists.

Dr. Zeltser received her medical degree from New York University (currently NYU Grossman School of Medicine) in 1997, and went on to a Pediatric Residency at Mount Sinai school of Medicine. From there, she accepted a cardiology fellowship position at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from 2000-2003, and trained at CHOP for an additional year for subspecialty electrophysiology training. After completing her advanced fellowship training in 2004, she joined the faculty at UT Southwestern Medical Center as a dedicated electrophysiologist. Over the course of her tenure at UTSW, she was promoted to the position of Associate Professor of Pediatrics and was the Director of Pediatric electrophysiology services. After a productive and illustrious career at UT, she has joined the Heart Center team at Medical City Children's Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

In her free time, Dr. Zeltser enjoys running, tennis, spending time with her husband and three children, and is a crazy sports fan (Go Stars!). She is fluent in English and Hebrew.

Take a look at this fun recipe to celebrate all things green 🍀

Today it’s all about the green! Our Mean Green Super Smoothie, naturally sweetened with fruit and loaded with flavor and nutrition, is the perfectly healthy way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: https://bit.ly/3CRDcdG.

For more fun, kid-friendly recipes, visit https://bit.ly/3KMjgvy

Carrie Herbert, MD is a pediatric interventional cardiologist who specializes in minimally invasive treatments of complex heart conditions in children. She is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology.

After receiving her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, Dr. Herbert completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern. She completed her fellowship in pediatric cardiology as well as advanced training in pediatric interventional cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern as well.

In her free time, Dr. Herbert enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, travelling, and being actively involved in her church.

Poonam Punjwani Thankavel, M.D., is a pediatric cardiologist at Medical City Children’s Hospital and Medical Director of Pediatric Cardiac Imaging. She specializes in perioperative imaging, complex congenital heart disease, fetal cardiology and congenital coronary anomalies. She completed her pediatric cardiology and advanced imaging fellowship at UT Southwestern and has been in practice for 12 years.

Dr. Thankavel is from Brazil and speaks fluent English, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, and Sindhi. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family.

Vivian Dimas, M.D. is the Medical Director of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and the Director of the Pediatric Cath Lab at Medical City Children’s Hospital. Dr. Dimas specializes in minimally invasive treatments of heart failure and other complex heart conditions. Dr. Dimas is also board certified in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

Dr. Dimas serves as a principal investigator in several national cardiac device trials and sits on several national committees focused on improving delivery of care to not only patients but adults with congenital heart disease.

After receiving her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Dr. Dimas completed a residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma. She completed her fellowship in pediatric cardiology as well as advanced training in both pediatric interventional cardiology and pediatric heart failure and transplantation at Texas Children’s Hospital.
In her free time, Dr. Dimas enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, running and cycling. She speaks English and Greek.

As heart month comes to an end, we want to point out how our doctors and staff .

Depicted here, Director of Congenital Heart Surgery Kristine Guleserian, MD, took time following an open-heart surgery to care for the patient's beloved teddy bear that had stayed by the patient's side.

While complex heart surgeries help improve the lives of our patients, these simple gestures help bring comfort to the patients and their families. https://bit.ly/3tkBCNl

Today is Noonan Syndrome Awareness Day! Did you know 50-80% of children with Noonan Syndrome also have congenital heart disease?

Dr. Jacqueline Noonan, a pediatric cardiologist, first identified what is now called Noonan Syndrome in 1962. Nine of her patients had similar facial features, short stature, significant chest deformities, and congenital heart defects. Noonan syndrome is one of the most common genetic diseases associated with congenital heart defects, being second for frequency only to Down syndrome. Pulmonary stenosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are generally the most common congenital heart defects found in Noonan syndrome.

Are you a patient or parent impacted by both CHD and Noonan Syndrome? Let us know in the comments!

Spotlight #4 Poonam Punjwani Thankavel MD with Medical City Children's Cardiology Specialists

Photo: Bella, my first single ventricle baby, in 2017. Shared with permission from her mother.

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle." - Steve Jobs

Thank you for all that you do for your patients and their families.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day!

So excited to have a surgical program and CVICU team that provides excellent care to our patients. Proud to be a part of it all.

The Women Leading Medical City Children’s Heart Surgery Program - D Magazine Dr. Kristine Guleserian built her dream team, and they are breaking barriers one heart at a time.

Did you know? Over 1 million babies worldwide are born each year with congenital heart defects – the most common birth defect and the most common cause of infant death from birth defects. Every year from February 7-14th, the heart community recognizes and brings awareness of this important disease to the greater community during Congenital Heart Disease Awareness week.

Mackenzie, dubbed “Mighty Mack” for her strength at such a young age, was back spreading smiles this week and it showed. We are grateful for all of our colleagues like Carrie Herbert, MD (on the left), a pediatric cardiologist in our Congenital Heart Center, who care for our patients.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common type of birth defect in the U.S., affecting about every 1 in 100 births. Thanks to advances in healthcare and the dedication of talented physicians, CDH patients like Mackenzie Watts can go on to live full and healthy lives. Learn more about our team: https://bit.ly/3nug92d

Follow along with Mighty Mack:
https://bit.ly/3A0c4b6

North Texas students rely on school counselors now more than ever as they continue to face hardships throughout the pandemic. Together with our partner, EVERFI, we understand the importance of youth mental wellness and are proud to offer free resources for classrooms. This National School Counseling Week, we want to recognize the continued investment counselors make in our students. We applaud YOU!

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect in the U.S., affecting about every one in 100 births. These defects are abnormalities in the heart that develop before birth. In honor of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, help spread awareness by sharing these quick facts!⁣
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For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/index.html

According to the American Heart Association, a woman’s life is taken by a cardiovascular disease every 80 seconds. Thankfully, a majority of cardiac events can be avoided through education and lifestyle changes.

In observance of , join us as we continue to highlight the importance of heart heath.

Today we honor the path that female doctors have paved since 1849 when Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female physician in the U.S. It's National Women Physicians Day and we would like to thank all the women who have dedicated their time, wisdom and talents to the field of medicine including our very own physicians - Dr. Vivian Dimas, Dr. Carrie Herbert, Dr. Poonam Thankavel and Dr. Ilana Zeltser.

This week we are excited to announce that Dr. Dimas will be speaking to the students of Highland Park High School . We are so proud of Dr. Dimas for all of her hard work and dedication!

Vivian Dimas MD Pediatric Cardiologist will be speaking to the students about “How to take the open out of open heart”

Medical City Children's Cardiology Specialists updated their business hours.

It's now easier to call Medical City Children's Cardiology Specialists.