The Heart Institute: Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery

Giving Young Hearts Another Chance to Beat

The Heart Institute – a world leader in pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery and the care of children with congenital heart disorders – serves as a beacon to families confronting the reality of a child or newborn with a heart defect.

Support our work to confront the reality of a child or newborn with a heart defect with the best team and most innovative techniques.

Donate

Offering Same and Next-Day Appointments
And
Second Opinion Consultations

With Pediatric Cardiologists in locations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties.

*Subject to insurance approval and authorization.

Request an Appointment

Or call 305-662-8301 for more information.

Congenital heart disorders occur in approximately eight out of every 1,000 newborns. These disorders can range from mild to severe, with two to three babies in 1,000 displaying signs of a heart defect requiring medical intervention.

Our pediatric heart programs and clinics offer the most innovative, least invasive approaches in pediatric cardiology, interventional cardiology, and cardiovascular surgery to the treatment of congenital heart disease, including many first-in-the-world procedures that were pioneered right here by the Heart Institute's own internationally renowned team.

The Heart Institute:

Performs over 1,000 pediatric heart procedures, interventions and diagnostics each year
11+ locations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach (opening soon in Boca Raton)
Among the first in Florida one of few in the nation to utilize the Ozaki method to repair a pediatric pulmonary valve in an infant, a technique that utilizes the infants own tissue instead of traditional methods.
Among one of few in the world to perform the Kawashima procedure, a rare and innovative heart surgery that reroutes blood flow directly to the lungs in patients with complex heart and vein structures, serving as a critical step towards the Fontan completion.
First in the region to offer bedside PDA closures in premature infants in the NICU using ultrasound guidance (a less invasive and safer option for infants requiring closure of ductus arteriosus).
First in South Florida to offer the latest innovative Minima Stent from Renata Medical, the first FDA-approved heart stent that expands as the child grows
Has performed more than 72,000 free EKG screenings in the community to help prevent sudden cardiac death in the young. Over 70 patients have undergone a procedure to correct an abnormality detected through the free EKG screening program.
Trained all Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County public schools on how to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest event.

A Team Approach to Care Makes a Difference

Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute is committed to driving excellence in patient care, pioneering research, and community outreach. Their leadership marks an exciting new chapter for the region's children as we continue to lead the way in transforming cardiovascular care.

As the largest and most experienced pediatric cardiac service in South Florida, The Heart Institute is comprised of:

Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeons
Pediatric Cardiologists
Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologists
Cardiac Intensivists
Advanced Practice Providers
Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging Physicians
Electrophysiologists

Comprehensive Programs and Services

Show All

Conditions We Treat

Show All

Treatments and Procedures

Biventricular Repair
Cone Repair
En Bloc Rotation
MAPCA Unifocalization
Multimodality Fusion Imaging
Pulmonary Flow Restrictors (PFRs)
Pulmonary Valve Repair with Ozaki
Rehabilitation Procedure
Transcatheter Sinus Venosus ASD Closure
Ventricular Septation

Show All

Recognition and Outcomes Tell the Story

Our pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery services are ranked among the nation’s best for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery by U.S.News & World Report.

A Distinguished History of Saving Little Hearts

During the 1960s, Nicklaus Children's Hospital became the first facility in Florida to perform pediatric open-heart surgery. Over the years, the hospital has continued to build on this tradition of leadership and excellence in children's cardiology.

In 1995, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, recruited top cardiac physicians and surgeons in pediatric cardiology to oversee new services that included Florida’s first dedicated Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, a state-of-the-art Interventional Cardiac Catheterization Program, and, later, a Clinical Research Program and Electrophysiology Program.

1st

In 1960, we became the first facility in Florida to perform pediatric open-heart surgery

11,000+

cardiac surgeries performed since 1995, including open-heart procedures

portrait of a smiling victoria in colorful dress and blue glasses.

Stories to Inspire

Eleven-year-old Victoria, an energetic swimmer and big sister, underwent open-heart surgery to repair her pulmonary insufficiency. Dr. David Kalfa and the cardiovascular surgery team reconstructed her valve using her own pericardial tissue through the Ozaki Procedure.