Pediatric Cardiology

3D model of heart helped doctors prepare for intricate procedure

First-time father Mike Wescamillo and the Dodgers' A.J. Pollock encourage each other through a virtual call

“I tell parents when I first meet them that they’re going to become experts in the heart,” smiles Kristen Ethridge, a pediatric nurse practitioner with the pediatric cardiac surgery program. Kristen (pictured second from left) poses with other cardiac nurses from the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. “Cardiac nursing has been [...]

“We’ve been stressing out, wondering what are we going to do for Christmas, but now we don’t have to worry,” exhales Michiko Walker. Walker came to the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital holiday party with her husband and their 14-month-old son, Anoki Walker. She continues, “It’s awesome that the hospital does [...]

Noah Bella Michaelis spent 13 years living with health challenges from being born with complex congenital heart defects (CHD) and heterotaxy syndrome. The syndrome involves an abnormal arrangement of internal organs in the chest and abdomen. On January 3, 2017, Noah succumbed to a life-threatening condition she developed, known as [...]

“I’d let other kids know that you’re going to have good days and you’re going to have bad days, but every day is worth it,” says 13-year-old Osker Gamboa, who received a heart transplant three years ago at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. “When I was diagnosed with a heart murmur [...]

There was a time Glen Van Arsdell, MD, director of pediatric cardiac surgery at UCLA Health, wanted to be a fireman or a chicken farmer. Those were unusual choices for a boy who spent his formative years in Thailand with parents who were medical missionaries. His father, a [...]

Dr. Gary Satou was born for pediatric cardiology and it did not take him long to find out. As the son of a physician, he knew it was only a matter of time before he entered the vast world of medicine. “I was in high school and I saw a PBS [...]

February is American Heart Month ‒ the perfect time to prioritize heart health for your entire family, says Sheena Kamra, MD, a pediatrician at the UCLA Health Torrance - Pediatrics office. When it comes to raising heart-healthy kids, she says there are a few things parents should know: [...]

  Story highlights After a successful pilot program, UCLA Heart and Vascular Services launches a Structural and Congenital [...]