The Heart of Our Mission: Saving Children's Lives

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defect in the U.S., where approximately 40,000 babies are born with heart defects each year. It's estimated that there are 2 to 3 million people in the U.S. living with CHDs.

At Phoenix Children's, we're dedicated to ensuring that children with congenital heart defects and other heart conditions can grow up to live long, healthy lives. Led by co-directors Wayne Franklin, MD, FACC, and Daniel Velez, MD, the Center for Heart Care is the fifth-largest pediatric cardiac program in the country and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top pediatric centers for cardiology and heart surgery.

With expertise in more than a dozen pediatric cardiology subspecialties, the Center for Heart Care provides advanced care for infants, children and teens with simple and complex heart conditions. It also offers one of the country's only programs for adults with congenital heart disease.

By the Numbers

Thanks to generous support from people like you, the Center for Heart Care is reaching new milestones.

20k+

cardiac patients in 2022

2k+

adult CHD clinic visits in 2022

550+

cardiac operations every year

160+

heart transplants performed to date

Meet Our Leaders

The co-directors of the Center for Heart Care, Wayne Franklin, MD, FACC, and Daniel Velez, MD, talk about how philanthropy makes their lifesaving work possible.

Wayne Franklin, MD, FACC

Co-Director, Center for Heart Care
Robinson Family Endowed Chair in Cardiology
Medical Director of Quality, Center for Heart Care

Daniel Velez, MD

Co-Director, Center for Heart Care
Division Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery

Stories of Hope and Healing

Hope can't wait.
A Heart Full of Hope
Even as Iris spent a year in the hospital waiting for a new heart, her parents held on to hope that things would change for the better.
The Heart for It
How Steve Grout’s courage advanced congenital heart surgery and how his legacy will support the growing field of adult congenital heart care.
NICU Brings Hope During Dark Times
Robert is a thriving 3-year-old after a long medical journey that started in Phoenix Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Jayken's Heart: 22 Years Later
Jayken is a flourishing college student with plans for the future, thanks to a lifesaving heart transplant at Phoenix Children's.
Inside the Mind of a Cardiology Researcher
Find out how Dr. Zangwill is solving one of the toughest problems in pediatric heart transplantation.
Noelle
Noelle: The Heart of Her Family
Thanks to Phoenix Children's, Noelle is a thriving 3-year-old whose heart beats to the healing tune of her family's love.
Help Heal Children's Hearts

Your gift helps ensure that Arizona's pediatric heart patients get the lifesaving care they deserve.

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