Welcome to the

Pediatric Congenital Heart Program

Our specialized team offers innovative care for infants, children, and adults with congenital heart conditions.

If your child has a known or suspected congenital heart defect, we know you are searching for compassionate care delivered by a medical team that is among the best at repairing the tiniest hearts. At the Pediatric Congenital Heart Program, part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, our experts deliver the treatment and care your child and family need.

VIDEO: Our experienced team uses the latest technology to treat children who have the most complex heart conditions.

We treat all children with congenital heart disease, including those with the most complex forms and the smallest babies who have physical or genetic conditions and need highly specialized care.

Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone is the highest ranked in New York for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, according to U.S. News & World Report. Our outcomes are the best in the state, reflecting our surgical experience and the personalized treatment we provide each child and their family. Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital is also recognized as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons for providing the highest-quality surgical care for children.

When taking into account the complexity of care, we have the best outcomes of any hospital in the state for pediatric patients who had congenital heart surgery, according to most recent New York State Department of Health report. In addition, our outcomes, complication rates, and length of stay are better than the national average, as reported by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Every year, our experts provide care for children with congenital heart disease during about 12,000 outpatient visits. We use the most advanced imaging techniques, such as CT angiography and three-dimensional heart models, allowing our experts to zero in on the issues affecting your child.

All treatment decisions are made in collaboration with our cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, pediatricians, and you, because we believe families are important members of their child’s care team.

Treatment for Pediatric Congenital Heart Defects

Our experts care for children with known or suspected congenital heart defects and other congenital heart problems. These include childhood arrhythmias in babies developing in the womb, as well as in infants, children, and adults. In our catheterization laboratory, our interventional cardiologists use the latest medical technology to perform advanced procedures such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure, a nonsurgical transcatheter procedure used to seal an opening in the heart in premature infants weighing less than 2.2 pounds.

Doctor with Pediatric Patient

As part of a world-class academic medical center, we offer children a full range of therapies and the latest technologies. Treatments for congenital heart disease vary widely, depending on the type and severity of the heart defect, but may include medication, cardiac catheterization, cardiac surgery, or heart transplant. Our cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists perform more than 500 procedures each year to treat congenital heart defects.

Family-Centered Cardiac Care

The vast majority of children with heart defects, even those with complex types, spend most of their time at home under their parents’ care, and require only periodic visits to the pediatrician and pediatric cardiologist.

But there are times when surgery is necessary, and we understand that the hospital can be an overwhelming place for children and parents alike. For this reason, we make every effort to provide a warm, caring, and comfortable environment.

Programs provided by Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care support our family-centered model, where parents are valued partners in the care of their children. Sala Institute delivers child life services, social work services, and spiritual and emotional support for children and families. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to take an active role in their children’s treatment by participating in Family-Centered Rounds with our medical staff, and staying with their children overnight in the hospital at their child’s bedside, if they would like.

We provide treatment and support for children through every step of the journey, and often are able to continue caring for children as they mature into adulthood through our Congenital Heart Transition Program, which helps children prepare for receiving care from our specialists at NYU Langone’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program.

Our Locations

Our doctor’s appointments take place at the Congenital Heart Center, located at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital—34th Street, and at the Fink Ambulatory Care Center—150 East 32nd Street.

At the Congenital Heart Center, we provide doctor visits, diagnostic testing, presurgery and postsurgery appointments, and patient and family education on issues related to congenital heart disease. Additional outpatient appointments take place at the Fink Ambulatory Care Center.

All surgical procedures take place at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital—34th Street, which is located within Kimmel Pavilion and is New York City’s newest and most advanced children’s hospital.

More About Our Pediatric Cardiac Services

More About Our Pediatric Cardiac Services

Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone

Our pediatric experts provide the best care possible for children with conditions ranging from minor illnesses to complex, more serious conditions.

Learn More

Our Leadership

  • Ralph S. Mosca at Pediatric Congenital Heart Program
    Co-Director | Pediatric & Adult Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

    Dr. Mosca is the chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at NYU Langone. Internationally recognized as an accomplished congenital heart surgeon, Dr. Mosca has performed more than 6,000 procedures. His medical and surgical interests include reparative and palliative surgery in neonates and children with complex cardiac malformations, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, as well as treating adults with congenital heart disease. Dr. Mosca collaborates with the Divisions of Pediatric and Adult Cardiology in continuing to expand NYU Langone’s world-class congenital heart programs.

  • Frank Cecchin at Pediatric Congenital Heart Program
    Co-Director | Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, Adult Congenital Heart Disease

    Dr. Cecchin is the division chief for Pediatric Cardiology in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone. His fields of expertise are heart rhythm disorders in children and congenital heart defects. He is a nationally and internationally known expert in cardiac rhythm devices, sudden death prevention, and arrhythmia management in adults with congenital heart disease. He is board-certified in pediatric cardiology and adult congenital heart disease. Together with the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, the Pediatric Congenital Heart Program, and the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine, Dr. Cecchin and his colleagues have created a world-class cardiac program that treats patients from the womb through adulthood.

  • Catherine Bull at Pediatric Congenital Heart Program
    Catherine Bull, PNP-BC

    Ms. Bull develops and guides both the medical and nursing staffs, while helping to create a positive hospital experience for each family. She has been a nurse practitioner specializing in congenital heart disease for more than 15 years, and has been integral to the development of multiple congenital heart surgery programs in the country, including her most recent contributions to the NYU Langone program. Her responsibilities include program development, enhanced patient experiences, and direct patient care in the inpatient and outpatient setting. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s degree from the pediatric critical care nurse practitioner program and has worked as a nurse practitioner in pediatric and congenital heart disease since graduation.