Physicians with Heart: Dr. Emily Williams

Dr. Emily Williams and friends at restaurant.

Dr. Emily Williams and other pediatric cardiologists.

For Emily Williams, MD, specializing in pediatric cardiology offered the opportunity to combine many of the things she loved most about caring for children—from building meaningful relationships with patients and families to exploring the many facets of heart care. Today, Dr. Williams brings that broad perspective to her work as a pediatric cardiologist and co-director of the Pulmonary Hypertension program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology. She is committed to providing thoughtful, collaborative care for children with complex heart conditions and believes that the best outcomes come from bringing together the collective expertise of specialists, pediatricians, and families.

From the Farm to the Heart

Dr. Williams grew up on a farm, where she was a serious equestrian and has remained lifelong animal lover. She completed medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, residency Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and came to Atlanta for her pediatric cardiology fellowship, following her husband to the area. She ultimately joined the cardiology team as an attending physician in 2016.

Dr. Williams said she was drawn to the breadth and depth of pediatric cardiology as a medical student. She appreciated that pediatric cardiology brings together many different areas of medicine—from outpatient care and imaging to cardiac catheterization, intensive care and collaboration with cardiac surgeons. As a resident, she was particularly inspired by female pediatric cardiologists who demonstrated the possibilities of the specialty and mentored her.

“There are so many flavors of congenital and acquired heart disease,” she said. “Every patient presents a unique combination of factors to consider, which continues to make the specialty rewarding for me.”

A Collaborative Approach

Dr. Williams says collaboration with a child’s team is essential, particularly when the patient is medically complex. She values communication with a child’s pediatrician and believes in using the expertise of colleagues throughout the Children’s team when a patient’s needs are not straightforward. She also strives to understand the family’s perspective and takes intentional time to educate families about their children’s conditions, so they feel comfortable asking questions and sharing concerns.

“I know that direct communication between pediatricians and subspecialists helps everyone remain on the same page,” she said. “It takes time and familiarity to build the trust that allows families to bring up what is really on their minds. It’s well worth the investment.”

What Makes Children’s Cardiology Special

Children’s Cardiology specialty programs, like the pulmonary hypertension program that Dr. Williams co-leads, bring together cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, nurses, APPs and other clinicians to care for children with complex conditions. She said that pediatric cardiology is too complex for any one physician to know everything, making a team of highly skilled specialists essential. Creating a culture of collaboration ensures that kids receive the best care possible.

This kind of culture at Children’s comes from a commitment to excellence and each other, a strong work ethic and a high level of trust among colleagues. She said that at Children’s, she sees a willingness to go above and beyond for patients and fellow providers, and that makes all the difference.

“I find it especially rewarding to practice alongside colleagues I trust and consider it a real treat to be part of such a collaborative group,” she said.

Leading the Pulmonary Hypertension Program

Pediatric pulmonary hypertension is a condition involving abnormally high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs that can make it harder for the heart to pump blood through the lungs. The Children’s Pulmonary Hypertension program provides specialized care for conditions that cause elevated blood pressure in the lungs. Because of the complex nature of pulmonary hypertension in children, coordinated, specialized care in a collaborative environment is crucial, which dovetails well with Dr. Williams’ personal philosophy that her patients benefit from multiple experts working together.

The PH program is committed to advancing treatment through research and clinical innovation. Dr. Williams said there is currently excitement surrounding a newer medication that was initially FDA-approved for adults and is now being used successfully in some pediatric pulmonary hypertension patients.

“It’s exciting to be able to offer a new treatment to some patients and see them improving in terms of symptoms,” Dr. Williams said.

Dr. Williams said she considers caring for other people’s children the greatest privilege. For her, caring for children is more than a career—it is a privilege and an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the quality of life for children and their families.

Emily Williams, MD

Areas of Focus