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Heart Center Team
Children's Heart Center, led by Co-Directors Mark Lewin, MD, Division Chief, Pediatric Cardiology and Gordon Cohen, MD, Division Chief, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, is the leading regional referral center in the Pacific Northwest.
To deliver exceptional patient care, the Heart Center brings together specialists who care for children with heart disease. The team works closely with parents and referring physicians to provide the best possible outcome for every child.
Pediatric Cardiologists
Pediatric cardiologists evaluate, treat and manage the care for children with heart problems. They provide follow–up care through childhood.
- Robert Boucek, MD
- Terrence Chun, MD
- Michelle Gurvitz, MD
- Bruce Hardy, MD
- S. Paul Herndon, MD
- Troy Johnston, MD
- Thomas Jones, MD
- Isamu Kawabori, MD
- Yuk Law, MD
- Mark Lewin, MD
- Aaron K. Olson MD
- Michael Portman, MD
- Jack Salerno, MD
- Amy Schultz, MD
- Steve Seslar, MD
- Brian Soriano, MD
- Stanley Stamm, MD
- Karen Stout, MD
- Warren Toews, MD
- Margaret Vernon, MD
- Delphine Yung, MD
Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons
Pediatric cardiac surgeons determine when and what type of surgery is needed and perform surgical procedures. They and their team of nurse practitioners provide follow-up care for children after surgery.
Cardiac Anesthesiologists
Our pediatric cardiac anesthesia service is provided by a group of specially trained doctors who know how a child with heart disease may react to anesthesia. They and their team of nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners will meet with you before the procedure.
They will provide the anesthetic for children undergoing full cardiac surgery as well as for those needing cardiac catheterization or electrophysiological studies.
Cardiac Intensivists
Our staff is highly specialized in treating heart conditions in children from newborns to teens. Our team includes three cardiac intensivists—doctors specially trained in pediatric cardiac intensive care.
The team also includes cardiac nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists, pharmacologists, dieticians and a social worker.
Fellows
A "fellow" is a doctor who has finished medical school and is now training in a special field. Our Heart Center fellows are learning to treat children's heart diseases. As part of your child's Heart Center team, these doctors will:
- Assist the team in your child's general care
- Visit your child while in the hospital
Nurse Practitioners
Children's Heart Center nurse practitioners coordinate care for patients and communication between all team members. They are usually the first contact for referring physicians, team physicians and patients.
They will provide continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient settings. This includes educating families and staff about heart conditions, ordering diagnostic tests and managing medications, keeping your family, your child and the referring physician informed about progress and visiting your child daily while he is in the hospital
- Collette Fearneyhough, ARNP
- Elizabeth Hadland, ARNP
- Barbara Miller, ARNP
- Mary Elizabeth "Libs" Schlater, ARNP
- Lara Shepard, ARNP
Nurses
Treatment plans can be complex, so our nurses are an important resource for families seen in the Heart Center. Their role includes patient assessment, coordination of care, education before surgical procedures and long-term follow-up. They are available to families throughout the course of care to answer questions and give advice.
Your child may work with specialty nurses who have experience in specific areas of the Heart Center. They may include clinic, electrophysiology, cardiac catheterization, transplant, inpatient medical/surgical and inpatient ICU nurses.
Medical Assistants
Our medical assistants have many jobs including greeting you on arrival, taking your child's height and weight and setting up for an electrocardiogram (ECG). They are here to help direct questions to medical staff and to help you check in for clinic, a procedure or surgery.
Sonographers
We have nine sonographers registered in pediatrics, the most at any hospital in the region. A sonographer performs echocardiograms, ultrasounds of the heart.
ECG Technicians
ECG technicians assist during exercise testing and monitor placement. They also will place electrodes on a patient's chest and attach the wires that hook up to a machine that records heart rate called an ECG.
Social Worker
Our social worker is available to you throughout your child's treatment to address a wide range of psychosocial issues and stresses related to your child's illness. The social worker collaborates with all members of the multidisciplinary health care team.
Services provided depend upon the needs of the patient and family, and may include emotional support, information about coping with illness and the impact of a heart condition on the family or assistance in getting access to resources.
Nutritionists
Children with heart conditions may have challenges or cardiac risk factors related to eating and weight gain, especially during the first years of life. Our nutritionists work closely with the family, their primary physician and their cardiologists to develop feeding plans, monitor calorie intake and track weight gain or loss.