A Journey Begins When Amanda learned during her 13-week pregnancy scan that her baby had Down syndrome, her first thought was to hope that she wouldn’t have one of the CHDs commonly associated with the syndrome as well. But just…
From Local Roots to Pediatric Heart Care at Children’s Born and raised in the metro area, Rachel McKay, MD, knew of the excellent reputation of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta long before she began pursuing a career in medicine. Now that…
From Pharmacy to Pediatrics: Finding His Calling After working for two years as a pharmacist, Brian Cardis, MD, switched gears entirely to attend medical school at the University of South Carolina. He initially ruled out pediatrics, but when he did…
Energy drinks are everywhere—from convenience stores to sports sidelines. Many teens reach for them to stay awake, boost energy, or improve focus. But for teens with congenital or acquired heart conditions, these drinks can pose unique risks. We spoke with…
Discovering a Passion for Pediatric Cardiac Imaging Although he first thought he would become a surgeon, Timothy Slesnick, MD, discovered a strong affinity for imaging – specifically pediatric cardiac imaging – in medical school. When Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology…
A Heart Diagnosis That Changed Everything As a young, first-time mom, Ashley knew that becoming a parent would change her life—but she didn’t realize just how dramatic that change would be until baby Christopher, affectionately known as C3, made his…
When a child is diagnosed with both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a heart condition, parents often have questions—and concerns—about how treatment for one condition might affect the other. ADHD medications, especially stimulants, are widely prescribed and effective, but they also…
Understanding Sports Physicals What is a sports physical, and why is it important for children and teens? A sports physical is a targeted history and medical exam designed to find children and teens more at risk for injury and medical…
Fierce persistence and a nagging mother’s intuition that something wasn’t right led newborn Emmanuel to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center on Christmas morning two years ago. His mom, Brielle—a veterinarian—noticed that he looked and sounded different from her…
When a family learns that their child has a congenital heart defect, the financial considerations of that serious diagnosis is often the last thing on their minds. However, along with providing your child with the best heart care and treatment…