Dr. William Mahle, Chief of Cardiology
“As a pediatric cardiologist, I want to look myself in the eye each morning with a simple, unwavering certainty: that I can assure my patients’ parents they cannot receive better care for their children anywhere else.”
“If I can’t say that, I either need to change our approach or refer them elsewhere,” says Dr. William Mahle, Chief of Cardiology and Co-Chief of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center. “I must have the internal integrity to know what I would say to a parent who asks if I would want my own child cared for by this health system and this doctor. The answer should always be a resounding yes.”
A Global Destination for Healing
Since joining the team in 2001, Dr. Mahle has witnessed a profound evolution. What began as a dedicated regional program has matured into a Heart Center of worldwide reputation. Today, the center isn’t just practicing medicine; it is defining the future of the field.
“We have moved far beyond traditional boundaries,” Dr. Mahle notes. “We are now at the vanguard of innovation, testing the latest advances such as stem cell therapies to regenerate heart tissue and implantable devices that monitor heart pressure in real time. We are no longer just a stop on the journey; we are a global destination for the most complex cardiac care.”
The Power of the ‘Open Note’
Perhaps the most significant shift, however, isn’t found in a laboratory, but in the relationship between doctor and family. Dr. Mahle emphasizes that a truly top-tier Heart Center must be defined by its transparency.
“Inclusion of parents in the decision process is not just a courtesy—it is critical,” he explains. “We have moved toward a model where medical notes and test results are fully available to our families. By opening these doors, we’ve empowered parents to move from observers to true partners in shared decision-making. When a family feels engaged and informed, the quality of care reaches a different level entirely.”
A Culture Without Egos
Despite international accolades and more than 150 research publications, the heart of the program remains its solutions-not-excuses culture. Dr. Mahle recalls his early days practicing in a small Marietta clinic, where the facilities were modest but the commitment to care was unwavering.
“This is not a place for big egos,” Dr. Mahle says. “We recruit people who say, ‘I will do whatever needs to be done to help the team.’ Whether we are in a rural clinic office or a state-of-the-art surgical suite, that commitment to service is what allows us to look a parent in the eye and promise them our very best.”
William Mahle, MD
- Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
- Marcus Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
- Division Director of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
- Co-Chief, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center
- CEO, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology
Dr. Mahle sees patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology’s Marietta clinic.
Related:
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center
Inside Children’s Cardiology’s Fetal Cardiology Program
For more information about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology and our pediatric cardiology specialists, click here.
