Physicians With Heart: Dr. Meghann McKane

In his letter recommending Meghann McKane for her pediatric residency, Brian Cardis, MD, said he was hopeful he’d one day call her one of his partners at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology. Sure enough, the two now practice together at Children’s Cardiology.

“During my medical school rotation through Brian’s office, I saw him drawing pictures of complex heart disease, and I was fascinated by the physiology,” Dr. McKane said. “I left there thinking, ‘That’s what I’m going to do with my life.’”

Dr. McKane sees patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings as part of her position with the Children’s Heart Center. She is a member of the city call team, which takes her all over Atlanta and the surrounding communities to consult on CHD patients. She also works at many different outpatient Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology clinics including the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, Cumming, Dalton and Scottish Rite. One of her passions within cardiology is serving as the primary cardiologist evaluating and treating muscular dystrophy patients in the multidisciplinary neuromuscular clinic. They are in the process of being certified as a Certified Duchene Care Center through Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy and would be one of the only in the Southeast to be awarded the designation. As part of her muscular dystrophy work, Dr. McKane participates in clinical trials and is currently the principal investigator for an oral heart failure medication.

Dr. McKane said it’s the longstanding relationships with patients and families that makes her job fulfilling and worthwhile. She said that becoming a parent herself – she has a 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son – has made her better at her job.

“I feel incredibly privileged that parents trust me to take care of their children,” she said. “I know how important the role is, and what I really want parents to know is that at the end of day, I have their child’s best interests at heart, just like they do. I try to counsel families in a way that is compassionate and gives them hope.”

Dr. McKane said Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology strives to hire the right kind of people, which means people who are laser-focused on providing the best care possible.

“Our staff is committed to helping children have the best experience they can have while they’re with us,” Dr. McKane said. “What we do can be very scary.

Everybody needs to be kind and grant each other grace. I hope our team knows that we, as physicians, see their hard work and kindness. It’s a privilege to come to work here every day.”

Although she doesn’t have a lot of time in this season between work and family, Dr. McKane says she loves to read and play tennis.

“At some point, I will get back to doing those things,” she said.

For more information about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology and our pediatric cardiology specialists, click here.

Meghann McKane, MD

Education

Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA
Residency: Levine Children’s Hospital, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
Fellowship: Monroe Carell Jr Children’s hospital at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Areas of Focus