Latest Blogs

Committed to Excellence

Carlos Mery, MD, MPH, a pediatric congenital heart surgeon and the Associate Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery for the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, delivers multidisciplinary, team-based care to ensure patients and their families receive the highest level of specialized care and experience a seamless transition from pediatric to adult congenital cardiac care.

Defying the Odds

For parents Linda and Robert Sedillo, it was seemingly impossible to find a heart surgeon to take on their infant daughter Rubi’s case. When they reached out to the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, they were met with a care team willing to address their needs and support them in a path forward for Rubi. Find out how receiving care at the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease helped them become better advocates for their child's health.

Circumstance, Compassion, and Expertise Combine to Save a Child’s Life

On December 13, 2018, 5-year-old Owen Coulter’s heart stopped beating in the emergency room at Dell Children’s Medical Center. After 90 minutes of CPR and other critical interventions, his heart began beating again. Today, three years later, Owen is a vibrant, curious second grader. Read Owen's story and find out why Owen's parents, Kristin and Darin Coulter, refer to Dell Children's as their family.

World-Renowned Heart Surgeon to Lead New, Fully Integrated Cardiovascular Care Partnership Model in Austin, Texas

On Wednesday, March 2, UT Health Austin pediatric and congenital heart surgeon Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, an internationally recognized congenital heart surgeon, was named the inaugural Executive Director of the new Institute for Cardiovascular Health, a collaboration between Ascension Texas and The University of Texas at Austin, which includes the Dell Medical School.

Cardiology Pediatrics Feb 8, 2022

Making Every Childhood the Beginning of a Healthy, Happy Life

Every child and their family deserve the best possible care, and the best has come to the families of Central Texas! With a focus on uncompromising quality, unwavering commitment, and both whole-patient and whole-family care, the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin, is dedicated to making every childhood the beginning of a healthy, happy life.

Leaders in Cardiac Care Join the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

UT Health Austin and Dell Children’s Medical Center are excited to announce that as they continue to expand pediatric cardiac care services in Central Texas, three leading cardiac care physicians, D. Byron Holt, MD, FSCAI, Chesney Castleberry, MD, and Hitesh Agrawal, MD, MBA, FSCAI, have formally joined the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease.

Living Life Without Limitations

Lorenzo Restrepo was born with a rare and complex medical condition that resulted in multiple congenital heart defects. When he was 4 months old, his parents traveled from Colombia, South America to seek care from Charles Fraser, MD, who operated on Lorenzo and now serves as Chief of the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. Today, Lorenzo is an 18-year-old high school senior living a normal and active life despite what doctors predicted.

UT Health Austin and Dell Children’s Medical Center Are Awarded Funding to Study Rare Coronary Artery Anomalies in Young People

UT Health Austin and Dell Children’s Medical Center are proud to announce funding for a multi-institutional study to focus on patients with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) and their families. AAOCA's are the second leading cause of sudden death in children and young adults who participate in sports.

Establishing an Innovative Educational Program for Training the Next Generation of Cardiovascular Perfusionists

The Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease announces a first-of-its-kind educational partnership with the Texas Heart Institute in which student perfusionists will now have the opportunity to perform clinical training in the pediatric clinical setting at Dell Children’s Medical Center.

UT Health Austin and Dell Children’s Medical Center Celebrate the Discharge of Grace Jennings, the Second Patient to Receive a Heart Transplant at Dell Children’s

UT Health Austin and Dell Children’s Medical Center are proud to announce that 13-year-old Grace Jennings is home after receiving a long-awaited heart transplant. Grace received her heart transplant on January 26, 2021 after waiting 15 months for a donor heart while on a lifesaving mechanical heart pump.

Healing Tiny Hearts to Ensure Big, Bright Futures

Levi was born with a ventricular septal defect, a more common congenital heart defect characterized by a hole in the ventricular septum, that can sometimes close as a child grows. But when Levi's hole didn't close his family was prepared to travel anywhere across the nation to make sure he received the best care possible. To their surprise, they ended up finding a world-class pediatric cardiac care team right here in Central Texas.

Cardiology May 16, 2018

Doctors Teaching Doctors

Academic medical centers are known to be at the forefront of cutting-edge medical care and technologies. They are where medical knowledge is continuously evolving through research and where new cures, therapies and treatments are found. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, discusses how academic medical centers make an impact.

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