Program spotlights
Cardiac genetics enables personalized care for inherited heart conditions
Kathryn Chatfield , MD , and Jessica Stansauk , MD , are revolutionizing pediatric cardiac care with cutting-edge genetic insights . Both board-certified in pediatric cardiology and genetics , Drs . Chatfield and Stansauk use genetic testing and the expertise of genetic counselors to better understand and treat conditions like Noonan syndrome , congenital heart disease and 22q deletion syndrome . Then they devise evidence-based innovative approaches to pediatric cardiac genetics by integrating cardiac genetics into their multidisciplinary care . This allows them to create personalized patient management for their patients and their families .
Drs . Chatfield and Stansauk also work closely with Leslie McCallen , MS , CGC , the Heart Institute ' s dedicated genetics counselor . McCallen teaches families about genetic conditions , options for genetic testing and how genetic conditions may affect families . She is one of 20 genetic counselors at Children ’ s Hospital Colorado , which provides the most comprehensive , in-person , pediatric genetic counseling services both in Colorado and in its surrounding states . When not counseling patients and families , McCallen serves as an assistant professor in Pediatrics in the clinical genetics and metabolism section of the University of Colorado School of Medicine .
Click here to learn more about our cardiac genetics program . Click here to learn more about Dr . Chatfield .
Cardiac Inpatient Neurodevelopmental Care Optimization ( CINCO ) Program addresses neurological interventions
Children with congenital heart defects , especially those with lengthy inpatient hospital stays , are at risk for lasting neurodevelopmental delays , which can impact overall quality of life . To address this gap , researchers implemented the Cardiac Inpatient Neurodevelopmental Care Optimization ( CINCO ) Program , which integrates neurodevelopmental interventions seamlessly into the care of every individual and family dealing with pediatric and congenital heart disease through clinical , quality improvement and research initiatives . To create this program , Heart Institute neuropsychologist Kelly Wolfe , PhD , partnered with psychologist Sarah Kelly , PsyD , and cardiologists and researchers Sherrill Caprarola , MD , Jesse Davidson , MD , and Melanie Everitt , MD , in addition to nurses , physical therapists , a speech pathologist , biostatistician and a child life program coordinator .
Click here to learn more about this holistic approach to patient development . Click here to learn more about the Cardiac Inpatient Neurodevelopmental Care Optimization ( CINCO ) Program
2023 Annual Report
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