Pulmonary Hypertension Service
Lurie Children’s offers the Pulmonary Hypertension Service to care for children of all ages with pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH is a disease of the very small blood vessels within the lungs. When they become narrowed, scarred or clotted, it is more difficult for blood to pass through the vessels. The right side of the heart then has to work harder to pump blood through these vessels. Therefore, pulmonary hypertension affects not only the lungs but the heart as well.
Our service offers expertise from Pulmonary Medicine, the Heart Center and Neonatology to develop individualized treatment plans for pediatric PH patients.
The Lurie Children's Difference
We provide comprehensive treatment to meet the needs of each patient. Pulmonary specialists collaborate with experts from across Lurie Children’s to provide the best care for each patient. Because certain conditions may cause PH in children, we work with the child’s treatment team to address the patient’s complete needs. We work very closely with experts from the Heart Center, as PH can affect the heart in addition to the lungs. We also believe in family-centered care, which means we involve the whole family in a patient’s treatment plan.
Our Specialists
The Pulmonary Hypertension Service at Lurie Children’s is made up of three physicians and one nurse practitioner.

Amanda L. Hauck, MD
Attending Physician, Cardiology; Medical Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Steven Lestrud, MD
Medical Director, Respiratory Care; Attending Physician, Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Nicolas F. Porta, MD
Attending Physician, Neonatology; Co-Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program; Associate Director, Lurie Children’s NICU
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Jennifer Beier, APRN-NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pulmonary Medicine/Pulmonary Hypertension
Make an Appointment
If you would like to make an appointment with our service, please contact us at 312.227.6750.
In addition to in-person visits, we now offer telemedicine visits via video or phone. Some appointments will still require you to be seen in-person, but your physician and care team will let you know if a telemedicine appointment is available.
Philanthropy
Your 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.