Experience and Outcomes Matter for Cardiac Conditions, Great and Small
The Heart Institute is proud to be the largest institute in our region, with more than 90 cardiologists and advanced practice providers and 400+ dedicated cardiac team members. With the only Heart Association-accredited adult congenital program in Colorado and our region, and clinical programs from fetal cardiology to heart transplant, we offer the care our patients need, when and where they need it.
550+
~1,000
98.2%
Cardiac surgery source: Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) data from July 2020 through June 2024. STS has the largest congenital heart surgery database. STS data taken from the fall 2024 risk-adjusted report. Heart transplant source: Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), Patients less than 18 years old; Survival rate for hearts transplanted between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023. SRTR data released January 2025.
“Philanthropy not only allows us to take some intellectual risks with our research, but it can also really help us leverage data. The value of philanthropy is that the return on investment is incredible. We use donations made to the Heart Institute to make sure they are paid forward into bigger investments and impact that can be felt by patients and their families.”
— Shelley Miyamoto, MD
Selby’s Chair in Pediatric Cardiology, Co-Medical Director of Children’s Colorado’s Heart Institute
Thanks to philanthropic support of the Heart Institute, 2024 was a year of remarkable progress in pediatric cardiology research and innovation.
One of the most significant achievements in 2024 was the development of a new animal model for pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy. This advancement stems from the discovery of a novel protein, sfrp1, found at elevated levels in the blood of children with this heart condition. In our model, mice treated with sfrp1 developed enlarged hearts, weaker contractions and gene expression patterns like those seen in children with dilated cardiomyopathy. This breakthrough will allow us to explore and test new treatments for children with heart failure. Generous philanthropy fully funded the development of this model, and in fall 2024, PhD candidate, Obed Nyarko, MD, was awarded an American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship grant to use the model to investigate the role of NOTCH signaling in pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy. NOTCH signaling is a fundamental cell communication system that regulates cell fate decisions during development and tissue repair.
Another important advancement last year was completing a groundbreaking study showing that sildenafil — a medication commonly used to help children with single ventricle heart disease, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) — may also improve the heart’s mitochondrial function. This discovery is important because, while sildenafil is often prescribed to manage high blood pressure in the lungs, this is the first research to suggest that part of its effectiveness may come from strengthening the heart at a cellular level. Thanks to your support, findings like these are opening exciting new possibilities for better treatments and outcomes for children with complex heart conditions.
A Journey of Hope and Healing
Hope was born with multiple complex congenital conditions, including a hole between the upper and lower chambers of her heart, which required surgery at just two months old to repair. Shortly after, she had another surgery performed by our colorectal team to address her inability to pass digestive waste. Today, Hope is a Children’s Colorado Patient Ambassador and is thriving. She loves to do cartwheels and handstands, embodying strength and courage despite her challenging start in life. Her story is just one of many that showcases the collaborative pediatric expertise provided by Children’s Colorado and our Heart Institute.
Children’s Hospital Colorado Heart Institute Research Funded by Philanthropy
“Every single cent that has been given to us has been put towards the research. The treatment of congenital heart disease is well within our grasp now.” Dr. Kelly Colvin, Research Instructor at Children’s Hospital Colorado
Highlights from the Transplant Program at Children’s Colorado
The Pediatric Heart Transplant Program at Children’s Colorado is one of the largest and most experienced in the world — having performed more than 550 heart transplants for infants, children and teens since 1990. As a leader in the field, our heart transplant survival rates are among the best anywhere.
Our team was honored with the Vanguard Center of Excellence Award by the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS) — a multidisciplinary, collaborative organization dedicated to advancing the science and care of children throughout their heart transplant journeys. The award recognizes the dedication and commitment of every team member at a participating PHTS center whose collective efforts drive excellence in care. Participating centers both contribute to and benefit from the PHTS database, which contains information on more than 9,000 children who have undergone heart transplantation.
The program brings together a multidisciplinary team of cardiac transplant specialists and surgeons who partner with dedicated transplant pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, child life specialists and others to deliver the highest quality care. Post transplant, patients are connected to cardiac rehabilitative services designed to support their recovery and help them return to good health and everyday childhood activities.
The Heart Transplant team works closely with experts on Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure, forming a unified, multidisciplinary group. Together, they are making significant strides toward one of their most important goals: national recognition for excellence in outcomes, service and research across a wide spectrum of pediatric care including cardiomyopathy, heart failure, ventricular assist support, myocardial recovery, heart failure associated with single ventricle physiology, cardio-oncology and heart transplantation.
Thank You!
In 2024, we were grateful to receive more than 1,500 gifts from over 1,270 generous donors, totaling more than $3.3 million in support of the Heart Institute at Children’s Colorado!