Expanding RMHC’s capabilities in pediatric cardiovascular services is another important step in developing a full complement of specialized pediatric care. I am pleased to welcome Drs. Steve Leonard and Damon

Kennedy whose expertise and experience in pediatric heart surgery forms the anchor for this important clinical service.

<< Steve Leonard, MD (pictured left) has more than 20 years of pediatric heart surgery experience, and Damon Kennedy recently completed his fellowship program.

Together with all of the other essential departments already in place (radiology, anesthesiology, laboratory, cardiology, rehabilitation, perfusionist, intensivists and hospitalists) they are developing the Rocky Mountain Pediatric Heart Center for RMHC—a cardiovascular center of excellence.

Because RMHC at P/SL has the busiest high-risk OB and neonatology service in the Rocky Mountain region, we looked extensively and over a long period of time to find the right surgeons to work with our perinatologists and neonatologists.

Both of these pediatric surgeons bring superior experience and skills with an extraordinary commitment to compassionate care for their patients and families—qualities that are important as they care for some of our most fragile patients.Having pediatric cardiovascular surgeons on staff means that the high-risk patient whose infant requires immediate cardiac care will have it available right after their baby is delivered without being transported to another facility. This creates the best care for mothers and babies and reduces stress on both of them as well as on the family.

Adding high-level pediatric cardiac surgery capability is a natural extension of other program development at RMHC that includes an internationally known pediatric minimally invasive surgery program led by Steve Rothenberg, MD, expanded neurology and neurosurgery services and new capability in nephrology.

As the Rocky Mountain Pediatric Heart Center develops, we are following the American Academy of Pediatrics “Guidelines for Pediatric Cardiovascular Centers” (Pediatrics Vol. 109 No. 3 March 2002). I was privileged to participate as a co-author in developing these guidelines, which are still the “gold standard” of pediatric CV centers today. Quality monitoring and reporting, along with data analysis, is built into our Heart Center program from its inception, and all program development follows the highest standards for diagnosis and treatment.

If you have questions or comments, I would be glad to hear from you. I hope that many of you will have an opportunity to meet Drs. Leonard and Kennedy in the very near future, as they are an outstanding addition to our medical community.