Ventricular Assistive Device Program | Meet our Team
The primary members of the VAD team are:
- cardiac surgeon
- cardiologist with expertise in mechanical circulatory support
- nurse practitioners coordinators
- social workers
- pharmacists
- dietitian
The VAD team works in close conjunction with the Cardiomyopathy, Cardiology Anticoagulation Monitoring, Heart Failure and Heart Transplant teams. Together, we coordinate care for advanced heart failure patients to assure a standardized level of management across the institution.
The VAD team also coordinates care with a larger, multidisciplinary team including, but not limited to, cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, heart transplant coordinators, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, nutritionists, psychologists/psychiatrists, ECMO specialists, palliative care physicians, financial coordinators, child life specialists, physical therapists, and nurse practitioners to meet comprehensive patient needs.
Attendings
Christina J. VanderPluym, MD
Co-Director, Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center; Medical Director, Cardiac Antithrombosis Management and Monitoring Program (CAMP); Medical Director, Ventricular Assistive Device Program Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Paul Esteso, MD, PhD
Medical Co-Director, Cardiac Antithrombosis Management Program (CAMP); Attending, Department of Cardiology Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical SchoolNP 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)Administrative Coordinator
