Christopher Mascio , M . D .
“ We strive to provide the safest and highest quality care possible , and these programs keep us moving in that direction .”
2024 Profiles HEALTH CARE
Having roots in West Virginia was part of the attraction for Christopher Mascio , M . D ., to leave Children ’ s Hospital of Philadelphia and come home to the Mountain State . His maternal grandfather was a coal miner in Wheeling , and his mother and sister reside in Harrison County .
Mascio is now the executive chair of the WVU Children ’ s Institute , executive director of the WVU Medicine Children ’ s Heart Center and division chief for pediatric cardiothoracic surgery within the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery .
The WVU Medicine Children ’ s Heart Center is home to West Virginia ’ s most advanced heart care services for infants , children and teens and continued care into adulthood . It is the only program in the state to offer pediatric open-heart surgery , pediatric cardiac catheterization , ablation for pediatric arrhythmias and pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation .
Since Mascio ’ s arrival in May 2021 , the center has expanded rapidly , giving kids with heart conditions in the Mountain State and their families better options for world-class pediatric care closer to home .
In 2023 , the WVU Medicine Children ’ s Heart Center brought pediatric heart care to Charleston with a new pediatric cardiology clinic at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals . A pediatric cardiology clinic in Huntington also opened this year in collaboration with Valley Health .
“ Our mission is to serve the children of West Virginia with top-tier care , offering them the same level of quality services and expertise that
once required distant travel ,” Mascio says . “ Kids who were once traveling three hours to Morgantown for their cardiac care can now travel 15 minutes to a local clinic .”
The team introduced a new option for pulmonary valve replacement in the cardiac catheterization laboratory called the Harmony valve . This less invasive valve replacement option can treat some children who previously would have needed openheart surgery . A less invasive procedure means a shorter hospital stay , quicker healing and a reduced risk of complications .
The cardiac anesthesia and surgical teams are committed to early extubation in the operating room . They remove patients ’ breathing tubes in the operating room at a much higher rate than national averages . This allows patients to breathe on their own sooner , which leads to shorter , more comfortable hospital stays .
WVU Medicine Children ’ s has also formalized programs to improve safety and quality in the cardiac intensive care unit .
“ We strive to provide the safest and highest quality care possible , and these programs keep us moving in that direction ,” Mascio says .
Looking ahead , the heart center is planning to launch Heart Transplant and Ventricular Assist Device programs . It is also creating a Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program to train the next generation of pediatric heart specialists . The WVU Medicine Children ’ s Heart Center team continues to improve pediatric cardiology care for patients today and in the future . •
Christopher Mascio , M . D .
Company :
WVU Medicine Children ’ s
Title :
Executive Chair , WVU Children ’ s Institute ; Executive Director , WVU Medicine Children ’ s Heart Center
Contact Information : christopher . mascio @ wvumedicine . org
Accomplishments :
• James S . Tweddell Memorial Paper in Congenital Surgery at the 2024 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting
• Professor and Chief , Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery , WVU Medicine Children ’ s
• Associate Chief , Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery , Children ’ s Hospital of Philadelphia ( until 2021 )
• Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
West Virginia Executive | Profiles | 2024 33