Dr. d’Udekem, a world-renowned pediatric cardiac surgeon, will also co-direct Children’s Countrywide Coronary heart Institute
September 28, 2020
WASHINGTON—Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric cardiac surgeon identified for abilities in the most difficult processes for newborns and little ones with advanced congenital coronary heart disorder, has joined Children’s Countrywide Healthcare facility as main of Cardiac Surgery and co-director of the Children’s Countrywide Coronary heart Institute.
“Children’s Countrywide has the scenarios and abilities I was looking for,” he states. “Even better, when you check out it’s distinct that the whole Coronary heart Institute team is energetic about operating collectively. They are regularly looking for better methods to do this perform and improve how we treatment for little ones and their families.”
Dr. d’Udekem will come to Children’s Countrywide from The Royal Children’s Healthcare facility in Melbourne, Australia, an institution that has led the development of congenital coronary heart disorder treatment and investigate, accomplishing extra than 500 surgical processes with cardiopulmonary bypass each and every calendar year.
He has a broad spectrum of pediatric cardiac medical procedures abilities, with particular emphasis in solitary ventricle congenital coronary heart flaws, when one lower chamber of the coronary heart does not create. One place of his investigate portfolio involves medical investigate into extended-term excellent of everyday living for persons who experienced Fontan processes — a significant surgical approach to adapt blood circulation for persons born with solitary ventricle coronary heart disorder. He has added abilities in valve restore, artificial hearts and other cardiac guide products.
“Sometimes it would seem like I’ve been born and place on this earth for that solitary intent — I have to convey everyday living to people with solitary ventricle hearts or guide products,” he states. He describes his route to pediatric cardiac medical procedures as serendipity, “It’s extra like pediatric cardiac medical procedures selected me.”
“It is an honor to welcome Yves d’Udekem to the Children’s Countrywide Coronary heart Institute,” states David Wessel, M.D., govt vice president and main clinical officer of Healthcare facility and Specialty Products and services at Children’s Countrywide. “He is a surgeon, health practitioner and chief of the highest caliber. I can say without having hesitation that Yves’ management of our cardiac medical procedures team will modify the life of hundreds, if not thousands, of little ones and adults with congenital coronary heart disorder.”
In preparation for Dr. d’Udekem’s arrival, the Children’s Countrywide Coronary heart Institute and medical center management produced a framework system for success that will create on the legacy of excellence set up by Richard Jonas, M.D. Dr. Jonas, a world chief in congenital coronary heart medical procedures who has produced important medical and academic developments in the discipline, will carry on his award-profitable laboratory-based investigate at Children’s Countrywide on neurodevelopmental outcomes for little ones with congenital coronary heart disorder.
Dr. d’Udekem is Belgian-born with Canadian and Australian citizenship. He received his early education in Belgium and Toronto. As an attending cardiac surgeon in Belgium, he operated on both equally adults and little ones with congenital coronary heart disorder. Dr. d’Udekem then labored with internationally identified coronary heart surgeon Marc de Leval, M.D., FRCS, and many others in London to teach in congenital coronary heart medical procedures at the Good Ormond Avenue Healthcare facility for Youngsters. From there, he was recruited to The Royal Children’s Healthcare facility in Melbourne, Australia, where by he has been at any time given that.
Dr. d’Udekem has extra than 350 investigate publications and has acquired extra than $seven million in grant funding in the earlier five decades for perform to develop the initial investigate community of Australian little ones and adults who have gone through the Fontan treatment.
He started off seeing people at Children’s Countrywide in mid-September.
Media make contact with: Jennifer Stinebiser | 703-568-8825