Physicians with Heart: Dr. Andrew Dodgen

Teaching the Heart of Medicine: Training Tomorrow’s Pediatric Cardiologists

Training the next generation of pediatric cardiologists is not just about teaching anatomy or interpreting echocardiograms – it’s about shaping physicians who know how to care for children and families with skill and compassion. At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology, Andrew Dodgen, MD, considers the education of future physicians as a responsibility that extends beyond the exam room.

“Not every doctor is gifted in or interested in educating others,” he says. “But a well-rounded clinical education relies on attendings being personally invested in junior learners, and that’s something technology will never replace.” Through hands-on mentorship and a deeply human approach to care, Dr. Dodgen is helping ensure Georgia’s future pediatric heart patients are in capable, caring hands.

Dr. Dodgen’s hometown of Columbus, Ga., where his clinic is located, is uniquely positioned near multiple medical schools including Mercer University School of Medicine and its Columbus campus, PCOM South Georgia and VCOM as well as two residency programs – The Martin Army Family Medicine Residency Program at Fort Benning and The Family Medicine Residency Program at Piedmont Columbus Regional. The learners sent to his clinic are typically third-year medical students and residents.

Creating Active Learners

Dr. Dodgen said his own experience as a medical student shaped his commitment to education, and he believes in providing an active learning environment for future physicians. His staff shares his passion for education, and they participate in training learners who are completing clinical rotations. This approach has the added benefit of allowing Dr. Dodgen to cross-train his staff, creating a stronger care team for patients.

“It both gives us multi-functionality in our office as well as giving students the opportunity to receive a broad education that includes exposure to all aspects of the practice, from performing EKGs and echocardiograms to managing billing and interacting professionally with staff,” he said.

To Dr. Dodgen, active learning means offering learners the chance to see patients alongside him. He can then give real-time feedback on cardiac exams, while modeling what a good medical professional looks like and how to properly operate a clinic.

“As students, you often get thrown into a busy office environment and no one takes the time to engage with you,” he said. “But learning by osmosis is inefficient. We want students to be active during the day, not just watching.”

Empowering learners actually improves clinic efficiency as they get up to speed more quickly and can contribute to the practice faster. Dr. Dodgen tells his third-year medical students that they know more than they think they do, and he encourages them to think critically and hone their decisionmaking abilities by asking questions.

“My approach is about showing them they already know the answer, not just telling them,” he said.

Balancing Patient Care and Teaching

Dr. Dodgen said training future physicians in a busy practice like his can be a challenge, but one that he believes is well worth the effort. He knows that the investment he is making now will contribute to heart patient care in Georgia for years to come. While gaining medical knowledge is important, he says there is much more to being a physician that goes underemphasized in training. He teaches the value of authenticity, patient connection and professionalism, attributes he learned from his own mentors at Children’s Cardiology.

“Two of my partners were my attendings in medical school and working with them in the pediatric cardiology clinic solidified my career decision,” Dr. Dodgen said. “I modeled much of my professional personality after them and seeing them being themselves with patients has allowed me permission to do the same. I try to be engaging – sometimes even silly – to put patients and families at ease in what can be stressful moments, and that matters in delivering good care.”

Dr. Dodgen says he loves being part of the Children’s Cardiology practice because its leadership is fully supportive of his teaching efforts. He concedes that lack of support can play an outsized role in why some physicians choose not to teach as much as they could.

“I couldn’t do what I do without support,” he said. “It gives me a unique satisfaction to pursue my passion for teaching as part of my medical practice. Educating others keeps me grounded.”

The Rewards of Teaching – and the Future of Pediatric Heart Care

Dr. Dodgen said the positive feedback he receives from both patient families and students validating his teaching approach keeps him motivated and makes the extra effort worth it. While he hopes that he will inspire a partner or two to join his practice because of their experience with him, he believes that practicing patient-centered care is the most important thing he can pass on to his students.

“We’re here to take care of patients, and that means more than just taking care of the medical problem they came in for,” he said. “We want them to know we care, and it’s our goal to help them lead happy and healthy lives. In the end, that’s the most important part of what I do, and it takes time. I also hope that even if I don’t inspire someone to be a pediatric cardiologist, I inspire them to be an engaged lifelong learner and teacher.”

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Andrew Dodgen, MD, is from Columbus, GA, and received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from LaGrange College in LaGrange, GA. He then attended medical school at Mercer University School of Medicine and went on to complete his pediatric residency training at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, AR. Following his residency training, he completed his fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. Most recently, Dr. Dodgen served as an assistant professor of pediatrics and program director for the pediatric cardiology fellowship at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Dodgen cares for children with congenital and acquired forms of heart disease. He also has a special interest in fetal cardiology. Additionally, he is passionate about medical education and has worked regularly with medical students, residents and fellows as part of his practice. This has resulted in his receipt of several teaching awards, including the annual teacher of the year award at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. He is proud to be serving the people of Georgia and to be working in his hometown of Columbus, GA. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Amber, and their two boys, AJ and Amos. He also enjoys traveling, woodworking and participating in medical mission trips with his church.

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