Adult Congenital Heart Disease The Adult Congenital Heart Program at the University of Utah was developed in 1987 to care for the growing number of congenital heart patients who, due to advancements in medical treatment, were reaching adulthood. This program is the first clinic of its kind in the intermountain region.
Adult Congenital Clinic
Adult congenital patients receive comprehensive cardiac care and medical management by physicians and staff who are specifically trained to diagnose and treat congenital heart disease. Care of the pregnant congenital heart patient and family planning counseling are also available. Working closely with the University Of Utah School of Medicine's Pediatric Cardiology Division at Primary Children's Medical Center, our providers carry clinical privileges at both facilities. Young patients are assisted in their transition from pediatric to adult care because of this unique partnership. Working collaboratively with referring physicians and other specialties available at the University of Utah Health Care system, the adult congenital heart patient receives comprehensive medical management which includes:
- Physicians and staff trained to diagnose and treat patients with congenital heart disease
- Availability of diagnostic testing
| Echocardiography |
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| Interventional cath lab |
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| Exercise oxygen consumption testing |
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| Cardiac MRI |
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| Stress tests |
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| CTA |
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- EP, Surgical transplant services
- Family counseling
- Access to affiliated consultants such as OB-GYN, genetic counseling, etc...
- Therapeutic phlebotomy
- Coumadin therapy
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The Good News About Congenital Hearts
According to the American Heart Association, at least 35 types of cardiovascular defects are recognized, with many additional anatomic variations. Medical advancements continue to improve the treatments for people born with cardiovascular defects. Because of these advancements, over 1,000,000 Americans born with cardiovascular defects are alive today. |
PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Meet Alysa and hear her story...
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The Adult Congenital Heart Team Victoria Judd, M.D., is board certified in pediatric cardiology and has extensive experience in congenital heart disease in both children and adults. Dr. Judd, who has been affiliated with Cardiology at Primary Children's Medical Center since 1987, joined the clinic in 2002. Dr. Judd brings with her a wealth of experience in caring for patients with congenital heart disease as well as cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, Dr. Judd serves as the Medical Director for Student Health Services at the University of Utah. Kevin Whitehead, M.D., is board certified in both adult cardiology and echocardiography. He has been affiliated with the clinic since 2000. Dr. Whitehead has specialty training in congenital heart disease and interest in the management of cardiac disorders in pregnancy. Dr. Whitehead also has a strong basic science research interest, studying the basic mechanisms of heart and blood vessel formation, and was nationally recognized by receiving the prestigious Pfizer postdoctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine in 2000. Angela Yetman, M.D. a board certified pediatric cardiologist with a specialty interest in the Cardiovascular aspects of Marfan syndrome and adult congenital heart disease has recently joined us from The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado where she served as the Director of Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic as well as the Marfan Adult & Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic Sid Biggs, P.A.-C, Charles King, PA-C and Juli Jerman, R.N., Clinic Coordinator, complete the ACHD team. |
