Physicians with Heart: Dr. Michael Lopez
Born, raised and educated in Miami, Fla., with a large population of Spanish-speakers, Michael Lopez, MD, appreciates the nuances that he can pick up when speaking to a heart family in their own language. When Cyrus Samai, MD, Chief Operating Officer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology, proposed the idea of an all-bilingual heart clinic in Lawrenceville, Dr. Lopez felt it was a perfect fit for him. In addition to Dr. Lopez, the entire clinical staff in Lawrenceville is bilingual.
“The families really seem to like it, and it provides a nice, smooth transition as they move through the clinic,” Dr. Lopez said. “Without the roadblock of having to call in a translator for every conversation, our families can feel more heard and appreciated. It helps us pick up on the small nuances that can sometimes be lost in translation.”
Dr. Lopez joined Children’s Cardiology earlier this year after completing his pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology electrophysiology fellowships at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. His sister, who is also a physician, lives in Valdosta, Ga., with her two children. When their parents announced they were moving from Florida to Georgia to be closer to the grandchildren, Dr. Lopez decided to make the move as well to Children’s Cardiology in Atlanta. He says the quality that strikes him most about Children’s is how much the staff and physicians care.
“It’s very evident that everyone here cares about the patients,” Dr. Lopez said. “They’re willing to stay late and spend extra time doing everything they can do to focus on families and ensure they feel safe and listened to.”
Dr. Lopez’s clinical research interests involve heart rhythm disorders and cardiopulmonary exercise testing including the role of exercise testing in risk stratification among various forms of congenital heart disease and arrhythmia disorders. In his role as the Director of the Cardiac Exercise Laboratory at the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, Dr. Lopez is spearheading efforts to understand and address the cardiac health of children and adolescents, with a specific emphasis on exercise and physical activity. In addition, he will lead a heart arrhythmia clinic in Lawrenceville beginning in the fall of 2024.
Dr. Lopez said that what makes his job worthwhile is seeing his young patients get better.
“It’s fulfilling to see children going from being scared to cured, feeling better or just helping them and their families have a more complete understanding of their conditions,” he said.
When he’s not at work helping his patients feel better, Dr. Lopez enjoys driving fast, hanging out with his niece and nephew and taking care of his western hognose snake.
Related:
Michael Lopez, MD
Education
- Medical School: George’s University School of Medicine
- Residency: Pediatrics, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
- Fellowship: Pediatric Cardiology, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
- Additional Fellowship: Pediatric Electrophysiology, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Areas of Focus
- Heart rhythm disorders
- Cardiomyopathies
- Exercise physiology
For more information about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology and our pediatric cardiology specialists, click here.
