Lurie Children's Heart Center

Home
United States
Chicago, IL
Lurie Children's Heart Center

The Heart Center at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

11/24/2025

Grateful for the chance to teach Cardiac S.T.A.B.L.E. at Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford last week!
We loved working with clinicians from the NICU, Emergency Department, and transport teams to strengthen skills in recognizing congenital heart disease and stabilizing our tiniest patients.
Thank you for inviting us, we can’t wait to come back!

11/21/2025

✨ A Major First at Lurie Children’s! ✨
Our Electrophysiology team, led by Dr. Sami Chaouki, successfully implanted Lurie Children’s first completely leadless pacemaker in a patient with intermittent heart block. Only a small number of children and young adults in the United States have received this advanced pacing system.
Traditional pacemakers have a device with long wires, called leads, that connect the battery to the inside of the heart. In contrast, this leadless pacemaker system uses two tiny devices, one placed in the atrium and one in the ventricle, that communicate wirelessly, helping the upper and lower chambers beat in a coordinated rhythm.
This achievement was made possible through a remarkable team effort, including cardiac anesthesia led by Dr. Jared Spilka, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) by Dr. Jarrett Linder, and interventional cardiac catheterization by Dr. Jeremy Fox, along with many other dedicated team members.

11/16/2025

Our pediatric cardiology team spent the weekend in New Orleans at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, where they presented their latest research, collaborated with experts from around the world, and learned new insights in advancing heart care. They bring all of this back to the Lurie Children’s Heart Center with one goal in mind: delivering the safest, most innovative, and most compassionate cardiac care for your child. ✨

11/14/2025

Today is Genetic Counselor Appreciation Day! 💙🧬
We’re proud to celebrate our two amazing genetic counselors in the Heart Center: Sarah Jurgensmeyer Langas and Sara Cherny.

Genetic counselors are Masters-trained professionals with expertise in both medical genetics and counseling. They provide education, guidance, and advocacy to help patients make informed decisions about their health.

Want to learn more about our Cardiovascular Genetics Center?
👉 Check out the Linktree in our profile!

11/12/2025

Today, on Veterans Day, we honor those who have served — including Dr. Michael Carr, Cardiology Fellowship Program Director and U.S. Navy veteran. ⚓

Dr. Carr’s experience in the Navy continues to shape his approach to medicine — inspiring leadership, teamwork, and a deep sense of service in caring for his patients and mentoring the next generation of pediatric cardiologists.

We’re proud to have veterans like Dr. Carr bringing compassion and commitment to The Heart Center every day.

11/11/2025

Tomorrow we honor Veterans Day, and today we’re proud to highlight one of our own — Willie Willingham, Clinical Services Coordinator and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. 💙

We are honored to have veterans working alongside us in The Heart Center. Your service and dedication make us stronger every day. Thank you, Willie, for continuing to serve through compassionate care. 🇺🇸

11/08/2025

It’s National Radiologic Technology Week, a time to honor the essential contributions of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals to patient care and health care safety.

In the Heart Center Catheterization Lab, our technologists are at the heart of every procedure, ensuring precision, safety, and excellence for every patient. This week, they flipped the script and showed our doctors how they do it, from snapping pressures to running the monitor during cases!

We’re so grateful for all they do to keep our patients’ hearts in great hands.

11/06/2025

Our hearts are full as the celebrations continue for Josie! After undergoing a successful heart transplant this summer and working hard to regain the physical strength to be discharged home, Josie has now moved on to her next memorable milestone – returning to school in person! Josie was admitted to Lurie Children’s in the fall of 2024 and spent a full year away from her classmates, teachers, and familiar school environment. Despite this distance, our School Services team ensured her learning continued, and she graduated kindergarten with a special ceremony at the hospital this summer!

Now, we’re thrilled to see this resilient 1st grader welcomed back to her elementary school, greeted by dozens of teachers, friends, and administrators cheering her on. Her teacher even decorated the classroom with a "Bluey" themed episode called "Joselin's Big Return."

We can’t wait to see what the school year has in store for you, Josie! To see more about her big return, watch ABC 7’s story: https://abc7chicago.com/post/peck-elementary-school-1st-grader-joselin-welcomed-back-chicago-successful-heart-transplant/18080658/

10/29/2025

Recently, we were honored to welcome Claudia Barrios, a freshman at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago, for a shadow session in our Cardiac Catheterization Lab alongside Keegan Marz, APRN. Claudia’s participation is part of the Higher Educational Readiness Opportunities (HERO) program, an immersive clinical shadowing experience that connects students with healthcare professionals across Lurie Children’s.

With dreams of becoming a doctor, Claudia brings a spirit of curiosity and commitment to helping others that mirrors the values we hold close at the Heart Center. By opening our doors to students like Claudia, we not only share our expertise—we share our “why.”

Together, we’re shaping a future where every child receives the best care from providers who lead with heart.

10/25/2025

💫 As we wrap up National Healthcare Quality Week, we’re celebrating the people behind our continuous commitment to excellence in care.

Hear from Dr. Stefani Samples, our quality improvement physician in cardiac imaging, as she shares what QI means and what inspires her to make a difference for every child’s heart.

10/21/2025

✨ It’s National Healthcare Quality Week! ✨

At Lurie Children’s Heart Center, quality and safety are more than goals — they’re a daily promise to the kids and families we serve.

This week, we’re proud to spotlight some of the incredible work our team is doing to make care better, safer, and more effective. From enhancing patient experiences to improving outcomes, our Heart Center team is always reaching higher — because your child’s health deserves nothing less.

➡️ Swipe through to see the amazing quality improvement posters from the Heart Center team.

10/19/2025

At work, he heals young hearts. At home, he’s raising them.

Pediatric cardiologist Dr. Phil Thrush from the Lurie Children’s Heart Center was recently featured in Chicago Magazine, sharing how he and his family keep their hearts healthy — both physically and emotionally.

From setting boundaries around screen time to encouraging active play and balanced meals, Dr. Thrush brings the same care and intentionality he shows his patients into his own home. He reminds us that heart health begins long before the clinic visit. It starts with the small, everyday choices we make as families. 🩵

Check out his magazine feature in our bio.

Address

225 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL
60611

Telephone

+13122274000

Website

https://linktr.ee/luriechildrensheartcenter?fbclid=PAdGRleAOEVilleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lurie Children's Heart Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Lurie Children's Heart Center:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Chicago?