Current Environment:

The primary members of the VAD team are: 

  • cardiac surgeons
  • cardiologists with expertise in mechanical circulatory support
  • nurse practitioners
  • social workers
  • pharmacists
  • dietitians

The VAD team works in close conjunction with the Cardiomyopathy, Cardiac Antithrombosis Management Program (CAMP), Heart Failure, and Heart Transplant teams. Together, we coordinate care for advanced heart failure patients to assure a standardized level of management across the board when caring for your child.

To provide the most comprehensive needs for your child, the VAD team also coordinates care with a larger, multidisciplinary team including, but not limited to, other cardiac surgeons and cardiologists, heart transplant coordinators, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, nutritionists, psychologists and psychiatrists, ECMO specialists, palliative care physicians, financial coordinators, child life specialists, physical therapists, and nurse practitioners.

Attendings

Elizabeth Blume, MD

Division Chief, Advanced Cardiac Therapies; Senior Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology

Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Kevin P. Daly, MD

Medical Director, Heart Transplant Program; Associate Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Jessica Garbern, MD, PhD

Attending, Department of Cardiology

Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Paul Esteso, MD, PhD

Medical Co-Director, Cardiac Antithrombosis Management Program (CAMP); Physician Lead, Neuromuscular Cardiology Program; Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology

Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Ryan Kobayashi, MD

Physician Lead, Heart Failure in Congenital Heart Disease Program; Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology

Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Tajinder (TP) Singh, MD, MSc

Chair, Scientific Review Committee; Attending Physician, Department of Cardiology

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Christina J. VanderPluym, MD

Medical Co-Director, Cardiac Antithrombosis Management Program (CAMP); Medical Director, Ventricular Assist Device Program; Medical Co-Director, Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center; Associate Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Ryan Williams, MD

Physician Lead, Cardio-Oncology Program; Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology

Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

NP Coordinators

Beth Hawkins, RN, MSN, FNP-C

NP Coordinator, Ventricular Assist Device Program and Cardiac Antithrombosis Management Program (CAMP)

Courtney Ventresco, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC/AC

NP Coordinator, Ventricular Assist Device Program and Cardiac Antithrombosis Management Program (CAMP)