Physicians with Heart: Dr. Wesley Lindsey
When Wesley Lindsey, MD, considers what makes his job at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology worthwhile, he says one of his favorite memories involves a pediatric cardiac patient he treated for several years. When she graduated from high school, Dr. Lindsey received an invitation to attend her graduation ceremony.
“I thought it was the sweetest thing,” he said. “The family wanted me to know that I had an impact on their lives, and they certainly had an impact on mine. What I love about this job is the connections you build.”
Dr. Lindsey did a dual residency in both adult and pediatric medicine, followed by a fellowship in pediatric cardiology, which gives him a unique perspective on cardiac issues in children like hypertension, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He works in the Fetal Cardiology Program providing fetal diagnoses of CHD and counseling for expectant parents to prepare for complex births. He also serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition.
“Nutrition impacts all aspects of a patient’s life, including kids with heart disease,” Dr. Lindsey said. “Kids often need to rebalance their diets. It’s not about depriving themselves or eating salads for every meal. It’s about balance.”
One surprising issue to come out of the pandemic has been a rise in eating disorders, which can have a detrimental impact on the heart and manifest as cardiac complications. Kids who restrict food intake, don’t eat regular meals and are chronically underhydrated may have abnormally low heart rates. The body will scavenge its own organs, including the heart, for fat and muscle to find energy. Dr. Lindsey says it’s been rewarding to get these kids the help they need to be healthier.
Dr. Lindsey said Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta does a comprehensive job of meeting children’s needs and providing top-notch, state-of-the-art care. He enjoys the supportive, collaborative work environment.
Dr. Lindsey has been an amateur radio enthusiast and operator since he was 11 and enjoys tinkering with electronics. He says his pandemic hobby was taking up genealogy and sleuthing his family tree in North Carolina. He and his wife have four children, from ages 2 to 15.
C. Wesley Lindsey, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
Education
- Medical school: East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC
- Residency: East Carolina University – combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
- Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine
Areas of Focus
- General Cardiology
- Fetal Cardiology
- Preventive Cardiology
Clinic Locations
- Gainesville
For more information about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology and our pediatric cardiology specialists, click here.