The Norton Children’s Heart Institute heart failure, cardiomyopathy and heart transplant team includes highly skilled providers in pediatric heart care from Norton Children’s and UofL Physicians. Our team includes specialists from many fields in addition to cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, including electrophysiology, critical care, anesthesia, infectious diseases, psychology and more. Your child will receive care focused on their overall health and wellness — not just their heart condition.

Pediatric Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy and Transplant Program team

• Joseph H. Hersh, M.D., genetics
• Christopher L. Johnsrude, M.D., electrophysiology medical director
• Kelvin C. Lau, M.D., electrophysiology
• Ryan A. Leahy, M.D., interventional cardiology
• Joshua Sparks, M.D., heart failure and transplant medical director
• Victoria A. Statler, M.D., pediatric infectious diseases
• Dustin W. Dillon, M.D., Hearts & Hands Care Team
• Bryan D. Carter, Ph.D., pediatric psychologist
• Mary T. Massey, APRN
• Jennifer D. Thomas, DNP, R.N., CCRN, transplant administrator
• Sara Chandler, transplant dietitian

Why Norton Children’s Heart Institute for cardiomyopathy, heart failure and heart transplant care?

• Norton Children’s Hospital has been a pioneer in pediatric heart transplant surgery. The hospital was the second site for a successful infant heart transplant in the country and the first in Kentucky, performed in 1986.
• Our program has the oldest living pediatric transplant patients, three individuals who received transplants in 1987.
• Highly trained specialists close to home. Our team includes specialists in cardiomyopathy and neuromuscular disease, among others. Our muscular dystrophy clinics provide a multidisciplinary approach with advanced imaging and more for children with cardiomyopathies.
• Our program has a 100 percent survival rate using ventricular assist devices (VADs) as a bridge to heart transplantation (as of 2018).
• Our heart transplant team includes an infectious disease physician, transplant psychologist, the Hearts & Hands Care Team, and other caregivers to address the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families before and after surgery.
• We offer support systems for children and families waiting for heart transplants, including the Brave Hearts program.
• We have the only pediatric heart genetics program in Kentucky.
• We are approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and work closely with health insurers to help families.