The nominating committee selected Dr. Wernovsky for his contributions to clinical care, research knowledge, teaching, and community advocacy leading to improvements in the neurodevelopmental outcomes for children with heart disease.
For over 25 years, Dr. Wernovsky has focused on optimizing long-term functional and developmental outcomes for children with congenital heart disease. He has conducted extensive research on the long-term outcomes of congenital heart disease, particularly transposition of the great arteries and single ventricle heart disease. Dr. Wernovsky has been published over 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts, editorials and chapters, in addition to editing 8 books.
He currently provides attending inpatient and outpatient consultative services at Nicklaus Children’s, as well as serving as the Medical Director of the New Single Ventricle Interdisciplinary Clinic. He also serves on numerous scientific advisory boards and provides mentorship to students, residents, fellows and junior faculty.
Dr. Wernovsky is a tireless advocate for patients and their families. He started quarterly ‘Patient and Family Education Days’ at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which bring together parents and cardiac specialists who share information on what to expect and what they are experiencing as their child grows. Topics can be as specific as a particular congenital heart condition to discussions about participation in sports, physical education as well as social and attention challenges. These events are free and open to the public.
For more information about Dr. Gil Wernovsky and The Heart Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org/heartprogram.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital – part of Miami Children’s Health System – is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with more than 650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric sub-specialists. The 289-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs ranked among the best in the nation in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015-16, by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.