Our Cardiovascular Genetics Center (CVGC) is made up of several clinical care teams that collaborate to evaluate and treat families with different types of genetic heart disease including conditions relating to heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart rhythm (arrhythmia), the aorta (aortopathies), and syndromic conditions (such as Marfan syndrome and Williams syndrome). Our team includes experts in pediatric and adult cardiology, as well as experts in genetics, heart failure and heart rhythm abnormalities.
Patients and families come to our clinic after referral from their primary care provider, another cardiology specialist, or on their own. When you call our center, we will help you determine which of our experts are best suited to consult with your family.
The Lurie Children’s CVGC provides comprehensive patient care, including diagnosis, treatment, and genetic counseling for inherited heart disease. The center also serves as a resource for families that may be at risk for inherited heart disease.
Genetic Testing for Heart Disease
Genes and Genetics Basics Explained by a Genetic Counselor
Genetic Testing for Heart Disease Explained
Genetic Counselor Explains How She Uses Family History to Identify Cardiac Risks
Cascade Genetic Screening Explained by a Genetic Counselor
Conditions Evaluated & Treated
These are some of the disorders that we evaluate and treat:
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVC/ARVD)
- Brugada Syndrome
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT)
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
- Family history of Sudden Death
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Left Ventricular Non-compaction (LVNC)
- Long QT Syndrome (LQTS)
The Connective Tissue Disorder Program at Lurie Children’s provides comprehensive care and genetic counseling to patients — from infants to young adults — who have disorders of the connective tissue, such as Marfan syndrome.
Our Williams Syndrome Program is another multidisciplinary program that provides care for people with Williams syndrome.
The RASsopathy Program also provides care for patients with RASopathies, such as Noonan syndrome, which can impact numerous body systems including the heart.
Meet Our Team
The providers for Lurie Children’s Cardiovascular Genetics Center include the following:
Lurie Children's Providers
Gregory Webster, MD, MPH
Section Chief, Electrophysiology
Edward G. Jones, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Philip T. Thrush, MD
Medical Director, Heart Failure/Heart Transplant Program; Attending Physician, Cardiology
Irwin Benuck, MD, PhD
Division Head, Community-Based Primary Care Pediatrics; Attending Physician, Pediatric Preventive Cardiology
Joseph A. Camarda, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology; Clinical Practice Director
Elizabeth S. Cappella, APRN
Advanced Practice Provider, Outpatient Cardiology; Advance Practice Nurse, Connective Tissue Disorders Program; Advance Practice Nurse, BAV Program
Brandon Chalazan, MD, PhD
Attending Physician, Genetics, Genomics and Metabolism
Stephanie Chandler, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Kelly L. Cox, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Lindsey A. Gakenheimer-Smith, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Ashish Garg, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Nancy Hasenauer, APRN-NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Cardiology
Jeff Hong, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Anna G. Joong, MD
Medical Director, Ventricular Assist Device Program; Attending Physician, Cardiology
Brian A. Madden, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Erika J. Mejia, MD
Attending Physician, Palliative Care; Attending Physician, Heart Failure/Heart Transplant Program
Adam K. Morrison, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Amanda Marma Perak, MD, MSCI, FAHA, FACC
Attending Physician, Cardiology and Preventive Cardiology Program
Jaclyn Reider, APRN-NP, CPNP-AC, CCDS
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Electrophysiology
A. Sami Chaouki, MD, PhD
Director, ECG Laboratories; Attending Physician, Cardiology; Program Director, Invasive Cardiology Fellowship
Kendra M. Ward, MD, MSCI
Director, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Lab; Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation Program; Director, Preventive Cardiology Program; Attending Physician, Cardiology
Lajja P. Desai, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Katheryn E. Gambetta, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Defne A. Magnetta, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology
Genetic Counselors
Sara Cherny, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor III
Sarah Jurgensmeyer Langas, MS, CGC
Cardiovascular Genetic Counselor II
Make an Appointment
Call to make an appointment with one of our specialists.
Insurance
We can work with you to determine if Lurie Children’s is in-network for your plan. If you would like to talk to one of our insurance counselors directly, the number is 312.227.1230. View a list of insurance plans we accept.
If Lurie Children's is not in-network, we are often able to help connect you with an in-network provider.
Our Locations
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave.Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park
2515 N. Clark Street/467 W. Deming PlaceChicago, Illinois 60614-3393
1.800.543.7362
Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center
25 N. Winfield RoadEast Entrance
Winfield, Illinois 60190
630.933.6631
Lurie Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center in Skokie
3722 W. Touhy AvenueSkokie, Illinois 60076
312.227.5600
Patient Family Testimonials
"My daughter Karina and I came to Dr. Webster and Sara Cherny scared and desperate for answers….Sara Cherny has such a sincere and witty personality that I was immediately drawn to her, and I can see my daughter was too. She explained step by step of what the genetic testing was for and how it would help us seek those answers we were looking for. She was so patient with us. We laughed and cried with her. She was a breath of fresh air for us, and I finally felt like we were on the right path to helping my daughter. She made us feel safe and…she refueled me with the strength to get my daughter through this."
- Rosa Moy, mother of a Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic patient
Cardiovascular Genetics Research
Our cardiovascular genetics providers are dedicated to developing clinical and genetic strategies to improve outcomes for patients and families.
View the resources below for more information on our team's research.
Recent Publications
- A Case for Inclusion of Genetic Counselors in Cardiac Care
- Cardiac Evaluation of Children With a Family History of Sudden Death
- Changes in Genetic Variant Results Over Time in Pediatric Cardiomyopathy and Electrophysiology
- Genetic Counselors' Approach To Postmortem Genetic Testing After Sudden Death: An Exploratory Study
- Screening for Prevention of Sudden Death in the Young: What Is New?
- Desmoplakin Cardiomyopathy in Pediatric Patients: A Distinct, Underrecognized Cohort of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy
- Genotype and Cardiac Outcomes in Pediatric Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Additional Resources
Resources & Support
For additional information, please refer to the resources included below:
- Collect and draw your own family health history at My Family Health Portrait
- Get more information on when to refer to Cardiovascular Genetics
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