Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
Heart Care Through Adulthood from Experts You Trust
Today, children with a congenital heart disease are living longer, healthier lives. For some adolescents this means transitioning care to an adult health care provider at age 18. Not at Nemours Children鈥檚. We see young adults up to age 40.听
Our adult program brings together Adult Congenital Heart Disease-certified cardiologists, advanced heart imaging specialists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons who are part of award-winning heart centers in Delaware and Florida. 奥别鈥檙别 experts in congenital heart disease.
As a system, we offer the full range of care including medical and surgical management (in Delaware), exercise stress testing, transitional services, and mental and dental health. We even provide cardiovascular genetics testing and counseling, pregnancy planning and high-risk obstetric heart care for moms-to-be with congenital heart disease.
Our program is recognized around the world for our treatment success and outcomes. We work with you through all ages and life stages.
Our Services
Nemours offers treatments focused on the best possible quality of life and healthiest future. Our team provides a lifetime of seamless care for congenital heart disease, from听before birth听to age 40.听We provide:
- Condition management with certified cardiologists, advanced practice providers and nurses with experience in the full range of congenital heart disease and related complications, including lymphatic disorders, pulmonary hypertension, stroke and others
- Diagnostic testing and advanced cardiac imaging, including echocardiograms, cardiac MRI and CT, and exercise tests using the latest, state-of-the-art technologies
- Cardiovascular genetics testing and genetic counseling today, and for future family planning
- High-risk maternity care and听fetal heart services听like fetal echocardiograms and planning for baby after birth if needed
- Cardiac psychology听care听to support emotional wellness and听neurodevelopment
- Heart failure management听from an experienced team
- Education, healthy living advice and dedicated support
In Delaware Valley, we also offer:
- Cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology听tests and procedures using tiny tubes called catheters threaded through blood vessels
- Electrophysiology procedures听to detect and manage heart rhythm problems, and to implant pacemakers and other devices
- Cardiothoracic surgery听using less invasive and hybrid approaches combined with catheters, as well as complex valve repair and replacement, surgery for rare heart-related genetic disorders and more
- Heart failure care that includes mechanical circulatory support with ventricular assist devices听
- Cardiac rehabilitation听and fitness programs听with focused therapies just for adults with congenital heart defects
Two Leading Pediatric Heart Centers
Our heart centers offer highly advanced, integrated care just for kids and young adults with congenital heart disease. Learn about our focused programs, innovative research and exceptional outcomes.听听
Conditions & Treatments
We see many conditions 鈥 far too many to list here. The conditions we treat vary depending on the location and providers selected. Don鈥檛 see a condition listed? Call us.
Related Specialties & Programs
Heart Expertise for The Best Possible Life
The Nemours adult congenital heart team includes highly experienced specialists here from the start. We work as a team, planning care and providing all the support you need.
Care comes from heart centers with expert specialists, leading-edge research and excellent outcomes.
We tend听to both physical and emotional wellness, with integrated programs that focus on whole health.听
奥别鈥檙别 accessible and available, and here how you need us, either through text messaging or talking on the phone.
We know what young adults need and how to help them effectively transition听to adult health care.
We collaborate with other specialists, like dentists, gynecologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists and gastroenterologists.
Heart Expertise for The Best Possible Life
The Nemours adult congenital heart team includes highly experienced specialists here from the start. We work as a team, planning care and providing all the support you need.
Care comes from heart centers with听expert specialists, leading-edge research and excellent outcomes.
We听tend to both physical and emotional wellness, with integrated programs that focus on whole health.听
奥别鈥檙别 accessible and available, and here how you need us, either through text messaging or talking on the phone.
We know what young adults need and how to help them effectively transition听to adult health care.
We collaborate with other specialists, like dentists, gynecologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists and gastroenterologists.
Meet the Team
Nemours adult congenital heart teams are experienced and focused on your child's healthiest future. Meet them now.听
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Mark J. Cartoski, MD
Cardiology Director, Cardiac MRI Program; Director, Advanced Cardiac Noninvasive Imaging Fellowship Assistant Professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Devyani Chowdhury, MD
Cardiology Medical Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease ProgramPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Shannon Nees, MD
Cardiology Director, Cardiovascular Genetics Program; Associate Program Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship; Co-Chair, Scholarly Oversight CommitteePrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Christian Pizarro, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine; Director, Cardiac Center; Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery; Director, Heart Transplantation Program Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Erica Dolores Sood, PhD
Psychology Director, Cardiac Learning and Development (LEAD) Associate Professor of Pediatric Psychology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Shubhika Srivastava, MD
Cardiology Division Chief Cardiology, Co-Director Cardiac Center; Medical Director, Echocardiography, Congenital Echocardiography, Fetal Echocardiography Professor of Pediatrics 鈥 Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Joel D. Temple, MD
Cardiology Director, Electrophysiology; Associate Chief, CardiologyPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE
In Our Patient's Words
鈥淒r. Chowdhury and Adam are always there for me if I need them. Adam will text me just to see how I鈥檓 doing.鈥
鈥 Kevin, patient, age 19
In Our Patient's Words
鈥淭he doctors and nurses in the cardiac center have cared for me since birth and feel like family. I am forever grateful for all they have done and will continue to do for me.鈥
鈥 Allison, patient and cardiac health care professional, age 24
Heart Health Information from Nemours KidsHealth庐
The experts at Nemours KidsHealth offer advice on keeping healthy with a heart condition. Learn about congenital heart defects, tests, treatments, when to call the doctor, and tips for eating well and exercising.
Convenient Follow-Up Appointments by Video
We offer follow-up appointments through scheduled, live video visits. You can avoid waiting rooms and save travel time. Ask your doctor if this is an option for your family.