Cincinnati Children’s and Akron Children’s launch collaboration to elevate pediatric cardiology and heart surgery in Northern Ohio

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Akron Children's is now collaborating with Cincinnati Children's, one of the nation's top-ranked pediatric health systems, to provide complex care in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery in Northern Ohio.

Cincinnati Children's and Akron Children's have collaborated for over a decade to jointly care for children and teens in need of kidney transplants. In April 2024, the two organizations expanded their collaboration to include pediatric specialties in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), hepatology (liver disease), and bone marrow transplants. Cardiology is now the fifth medical specialty in which the two systems have joined forces.

The pediatric heart collaboration "essentially gives patient families a built-in second opinion with dozens of pediatric cardiologists and pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons," said Dr. John Lane, director of pediatric cardiology at Akron Children's.

"The teams from both Akron Children's and Cincinnati Children's will meet regularly to discuss cases and collaborate on treatment plans," Lane said. "This includes cases where children are receiving new heart-related diagnoses as well as when parents in our Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center learn a congenital heart defect has been detected in their unborn child."

According to Dr. Robert Stewart, director of cardiothoracic surgery at Akron Children's, anything above and beyond Akron Children's surgical scope, such as a child diagnosed with a rare, complex congenital heart defect, would have the option of having that surgery at Cincinnati Children's - with all follow-up care provided by the cardiologists and nurses in Akron Children's network who the family have come to know and trust since diagnosis.

"Akron Children's and Cincinnati Children's are two independent health systems, entirely devoted to pediatrics," Stewart said. "We share similar missions and, while very few patients will need to travel, there will be many benefits for our teams and patients in collaborating on cases and sharing information."

Dr. David Morales, director of cardiothoracic surgery at Cincinnati Children's and executive co-director of its Heart Institute, said the collaboration will bring world-class congenital heart surgery and cardiac care closer to home for patients and families in the Akron area.

"Cincinnati Children's offers innovative procedures such as complex biventricular repairs, total artificial heart implantation and multi-organ transplantation," Morales said. "This collaboration will increase access to such rare procedures for patients of Akron Children's. Additionally, Dr. Tara Karamlou of Cincinnati Children's, a highly skilled pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, will work alongside Dr. Stewart to support continued growth in the surgical program at Akron Children's."

Stewart noted: "Dr. Karamlou is an internationally recognized researcher who will provide a wonderful link to the highly respected research organization already in place at Cincinnati Children's."

Akron Children's Heart Center includes 18 cardiologists and surgeons, and seven advanced practice providers who see patients at two hospital campuses in Akron and in Boardman. In addition, they see patients at Akron Children's regional health centers in Beachwood, Boston Heights, Mansfield, Marietta, Medina, New Philadelphia, North Canton, Warren and Wooster.

Cincinnati Children's and the University of Kentucky Children's Joint Pediatric and Congenital Heart Program were ranked No. 5 in the nation for Cardiology & Heart Surgery in the recent U.S. News & World Report listing of Best Children's Hospitals.

About Akron Children's

Akron Children's is an independent, nonprofit pediatric health care system that has been caring for children since 1890. With two hospital campuses, seven regional health centers and more than 50 primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, it is the only health care system in northeast Ohio fully dedicated to pediatric care. Its vast network of Akron Children's Pediatrics offices offers convenient access to expert pediatric primary care for patients from infancy through young adulthood. From School-Based Health Care to Quick Care Online virtual visits and Akron Children's Anywhere app, Akron Children's makes it easy for today's busy families to find the high-quality care they need. In 2023, the health care system provided nearly 1.4 million patient encounters and employed more than 7,000 employees.

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