The Jack of Hearts Foundation - Helping Hearts Grow!

About Us - Medical Advisory Board

	Roger E. Breitbart, MD Interim Chief, Inpatient Cardiology Services Boston Children's Hospital Roger Breitbart is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and the Interim Chief of Inpatient Cardiology Services at Boston Children's Hospital. He is a Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude graduate of Haverford College and earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his Internship and Residency in Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, followed by a Research Fellowship in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and a Research Fellowship in Cardiology and a Cardiology Fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Breitbart sits on numerous national committees including the Executive Committees of the Pediatric Heart Network, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institutes of Health. He is also on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Breitbart is the author of numerous original articles, Abstracts and Book Chapters in the field of Pediatric Cardiology. His current research activities are focused on clinical and translational objects, including a multi-center study of the correlation between ventricular function and well-being in Fontan patients, and investigation of the genetic basis of Tetralogy of Fallot.
	Susan Warren Denfield, MD Cardiology - Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX Susan Warren Denfield is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Baylor College of Medicine and a faculty member of the Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Service at Texas Children’s Hospital. She has authored numerous book chapters and articles in the field of pediatric cardiology with an emphasis on cardiac transplantation. Dr. Denfield earned her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and completed her Residency in Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, followed by a Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine.
	Annemarie K. Ellgaard, MD Family Medicine - Plymouth, MN Annemarie K. Ellgaard is a physician in a large family medicine group in Plymouth, MN. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Newcomb College of Tulane University and her Medical Degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency at the University of Minnesota. She has published articles in the American Journal of Microbiology on gene regulation, and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. Dr. Ellgaard is board certified in Family Medicine.
	Charles Duncan Fraser, Jr. MD Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX Dr. Fraser earned his medical degree with honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch, and completed his Surgery Residency and Cardiac Transplant Research Fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He then completed a Cardiovascular Surgery Fellowship at The Texas Heart Institute, followed by a Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and a Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Fellowship at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. He is currently the Director of Congenital Heart Surgery at the Texas Heart Institute and a Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Fraser has conducted numerous research studies in the field of congenital heart disease and pediatric cardiac surgery, with a recent emphasis on the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass. He is the author of numerous textbook chapters, research papers and a text book titled, A Practical Textbook of Congenital and Acquired Diseases of the Aorta. He has lectured nationally and internationally in the field of pediatric cardiac surgery.
	J. William Gaynor, MD Cardiothoracic Surgeon Children's Hospital of Philadelphia J. William Gaynor is an attending cardiothoracic surgeon at CHOP as well as a Professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree at Medical University of South Carolina, then completed general and cardiothoracic surgery residencies at Parkland Memorial Hospital and Duke University Medical Center. He completed a Fellowship in congenital cardiac surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in London. Dr. Gaynor performs all reconstructive congenital operations and well as cardiac transplantation and coordinates the ECMO and VAD programs at CHOP. He successfully performed heart transplantation on a child following 44 days on ECMO, a record duration preceding transplant. In the laboratory, Dr. Gaynor, along with Dr. Spray are investigating the early stages of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease, a complication of many congenital heart anomalies. Dr. Gaynor is also an authority on the measurement of intrinsic left ventricular contractility.
	Robert Douglas Benjamin Jaquiss, M.D. Professor of Surgery - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Dr. Jaquiss is the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at Arkansas Children’s Hospital; and Co-Director of the ECMO Program at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Jaquiss received his Medical Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1986. He was an Intern, Resident and Chief Resident in General Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. He also was a Resident and Chief Resident in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. He completed his Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Dr. Jaquiss has written extensively on cardiothoracic topics, including his findings on improved survival rates for HLHS patients and home monitoring of infants after stage one and stage two palliative surgery.
	Gina L. Langlois, RN, BSN Pediatric Cardiology Clinical Care Coordinator Ochsner Clinic Foundation As the lead nurse for the Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Team, Gina Langlois has specialized skill in the utilization of developing technology and assists in every pediatric cardiac catheterization. She was a member of the Gratis Faculty of the LSUMC, School of Nursing from 2003-2005 precepting senior level nursing students. She practiced as a Medical Research Specialist at Tulane University School of Medicine, using chromatography applications as diagnostic tools to discover inborn errors of metabolism. Her post graduate studies have included Biochemistry and Medical Genetics. Gina Langlois earned a B.S.N. in Nursing from the LSU School of Nursing and a B.S. in Biology from Newcomb College of Tulane University.
	Ellen Farina Liuzza Internal Medicine - Knoxville, TN Ellen Farina Liuzza earned a BA in Anthropology from Johns Hopkins University, an MA in Epidemiology from Tulane University School of Public Health and her Medical Degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, where she also completed her residency. She completed a Fellowship in Public Health at Tulane Medical School and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Liuzza is a Member of the American College of Physicians and was awarded the "Spirit of Caring Award" by Ochsner Foundation. She is in Private Practice in Internal Medicine in Knoxville, TN
	Victor Lucas, M.D. Director Pediatric Interventional Cardiology and Arrhythmia Services, Ochsner Clinic Foundation Victor Lucas obtained his B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from Charleston Southern University and earned a Medical Degree from Medical University of South Carolina. He completed his Pediatric Internship, Residency and Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Training Program and the Pediatric Cardiology Electrophysiology and Pacemaker Programs at the University of California, San Diego. He has also served as an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine. He is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Tulane University Medical School. He has published several articles on subjects affecting HLHS patients including articles on Aortic Coarctation, Cyanosis After the Fontan Operation, and Wire snare technique with distal flow control for coil occlusion on a Modified BT Shunt.
	William T. Mahle, MD Associate Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Mahle is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. He is also the Co-Director of the Heart Transplant and Heart Failure Clinic at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Mahle received his Medical Degree from the University of Maryland in 1993 and completed his Residency in Pediatrics, Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology, and Advanced Fellowship in Non-invasive Imaging at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Mahle’s research focus is on the functional outcome and long-term sequelae of congenital heart surgery. He pays particular attention to the neurodevelopmental outcomes of intermediate-term heart surgery survivors. His research projects also have investigated myocardial and endothelial abnormalities in patients with palliated congenital heart defects. Dr. Mahle has written extensively on many aspects of HLHS, including long-term developmental and neurological outcomes.
	John Mayer, M.D. Cardiovascular Surgery- Children’s Hospital Boston John E. Mayer, Jr. is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and the Tommy Kaplan Chair in Cardiovascular Studies at Children’s Hospital Boston. He is a Senior Associate in Cardiovascular Surgery and was the Surgical Director of Cardiac Transplant Program at Boston Children’s from 1986-2007. He is the 2007-2008 President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Dr. Mayer earned his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and completed his Residency and Fellowship in Surgery and Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Minnesota. John Mayer, Jr. has published nearly 300 articles on cardiovascular surgery and cardiology and is the author of more than 30 book chapters on pediatric cardiovascular surgery, as well as a frequent lecturer on the subject. Dr. Mayer's research has encompassed several areas of cardiovascular surgery, including the short- and long-term outcome of the Fontan operation, cardiac transplantation, and tissue engineering of cardiac structures.
	Geoffrey Rosenthal, M.D., Ph.D. Director of Pediatric Cardiovascular Research - The Cleveland Clinic Dr. Rosenthal is the Director of Pediatric Cardiovascular Research, Director of Inpatient Medicine for Pediatric Cardiovascular Services, and Director of the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program at The Children’s Hospital at The Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Rosenthal received his Medical Degree and Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Maryland in 1992. He completed his Internship and Residency in Pediatrics, and his Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Rosenthal is an avid teacher, lecturer, researcher and author. He is an Associate Editor of the journal Pediatric Cardiology and has spoken or written about a vast array of pediatric cardiovascular malformations, including HLHS, VSDs, ASDs, Kawasaki Disease, and Congenital Heart Disease.
	Christopher Scott Snyder, M.D. F.A.A.P. Director, Pediatric Electrophysiology Ochsner Clinic Foundation New Orleans Christopher Snyder was a Merit Scholar and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wayne State University with a degree in Biology, and graduated With Distinction from the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his Internship and Residency in Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, as well as a Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology and a Fellowship in Pediatric Electrophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine- Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. He was an assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Electrophysiology from 2000-2004, and serves on the Editorial Board of Congenital Heart Disease.
	Sarah Tabbutt, M.D., Ph.D. Medical Director, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Dr. Tabbutt is the Medical Director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Tabbutt received her Medical Degree from the University of California, San Diego in 1990. She completed her Internship and Residency in Pediatrics at the same university, and then completed Cardiology and Critical Care Fellowships at Harvard University, Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Tabbutt has an extensive teaching background in the area of Neonatology Cardiac Bedside Rounds and is an Attending in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Her bedside teaching extends to Neonatology Fellows, Pediatric Residents, Cardiology Fellows, Critical Care Fellows and Cardiovascular Surgery Fellows. She is a frequent lecturer and has spoken extensively on HLHS, including pre and post-operative care, fetal diagnosis and postnatal management, perioperative care and neurological outcomes.
	Jeffrey A. Towbin M.D. Chief, Pediatric Cardiology - Texas Children's Hospital Jeffrey A. Towbin M.D. is currently the Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at Texas Children’s Hospital, as well as the Director of the Pheobe Willingham Muzzy Pediatric Cardiology Laboratory, and Co-Director of the Cardiovascular Clinic. He is a Professor of Pediatrics, Cardiovascular Sciences and Molecular and Human Genetics at the Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Towbin earned his medical degree from Cincinnati College of Medicine, and is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology and the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. His primary focus is on Childhood Heart Disease, Cardiomyopathies, Myocarditis, Heart Transplant and Cardiac Genetics.
	Thomas W. Young, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.C. Cardiology- Ochsner Clinic Foundation - New Orleans, LA Thomas Young is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Richmond. He earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia, where he also completed his residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and a Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology. He was named the "Best Fellow" in 2001. Thomas Young is the author of several abstracts and articles in pediatric cardiology as well as a book chapter on Congenital Heart Disease in Conn’s Current Therapy (2005). He was named "Faculty of the Year" of the 2006-2007 Tulane-Ochsner Pediatric Residency Program.