The Heart Center at Lurie Children’s provides the highest quality care for patients with the most complex and serious heart conditions. As the region’s largest children’s heart center, we care for more patients with cardiac conditions than any other hospital in Illinois. We use the most comprehensive heart evaluations and treatments to deliver the highest quality care from admission, to discharge, to follow-up. We provide cardiac care to pregnant mothers, infants, children and young adults, and our services range from cardiac disease prevention to heart transplantation. Our experienced, multidisciplinary teams of pediatric specialists make it easier for patients to see every specialist they may need under one roof and often in the same visit.
Lurie Children's experts have a wide range of experience, treating thousands of patients with heart complications annually.
Lurie Children’s is ranked 3rd in the nation for child cardiology and heart surgery by U.S.News & World Report, and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons rated Lurie Children’s as a 3-Star hospital, the highest rating level awarded, in their Fall 2017 Harvest Report of the STS Congenital Cardiac Surgery Database.
To stay up-to-date on the latest news, patient stories and health resources from our specialists, "like" the Lurie Children's Heart Center Facebook page.
Our pediatric cardiologists evaluate and treat both congenital and acquired heart diseases. Learn more about the wide range of conditions we treat.
View a list of conditionsOur Heart Center offers many specialized programs, from fetal cardiology to adult congenital heart disease. We are nationally and internationally renowned for the diagnosis and treatment of irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia) and for helping pioneer the treatment of pediatric congenital heart disease through procedures like the Fontan conversion.
Our team also participates in Lurie Children’s Care Connect, a pediatric-focused telemedicine program that leverages technology to improve pediatric subspecialist access for children with heart conditions.
View our programsOur pediatric heart team includes:
Our specialists use various heart tests and evaluation methods to diagnose and monitor children's heart conditions.
Learn MoreIf you’d like to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®). To cancel or reschedule and make return appointments, contact us at:
To protect your privacy, we discourage sending of personal health information via e-mail.
Our physician-scientists are pioneering new cures, preventions and treatments for complex cardiac conditions through clinical and translational research. The Center for Cardiovascular Innovation focuses on interventions to improve outcomes and quality of life for children with high-risk complex heart disease.
Our scientific discovery efforts are supported by the Heart Center Research Core, a multi-disciplinary team to support significant and innovative clinical, translational and basic research.
We’re also conducting ongoing studies that concern:
The Heart Center supports various opportunities for students and physicians to continue to expand their expertise and knowledge in pediatric cardiology.
Lurie Children's is ranked 3rd in the nation for child cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
Dr. Carl Backer, Dr. Joseph Forbess, Dr. Peter Koenig, Dr. Elfriede Pahl, Dr. Dolores Vitullo and Dr. Thomas Weigel were all recently recognized as part of Chicago magazine's Top Cardiologists 2018 – a special edition of the publication's Top Doctor List.
Bradley S. Marino, MD, MPP, MSCE, named President of the American Heart Association Metro Chicago Board of Directors.
Read MorePerformed more than 550 cardiac catheterization procedures
Our leadership has over 200 years of experience
Joseph Forbess, MD, recently joined Lurie Children's as the Associate Division Head of Pediatric Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery and Surgical Director of the Single Ventricle Reconstruction Program.
Learn MoreYour support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.
