OU Health’s pediatric cardiac surgery program has been built from the ground up over the past decade.
U.S. News & World Report recognizes the program as one of the best in the country. We are expanding our services to children in need of new hearts.
An Oklahoma child has been added to the national transplant list to receive a new heart. Once a new heart becomes available, the child will be able to remain in Oklahoma City.
As time passes, people move on in their lives. But at Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma, OU Health, every second counts. Until Dr. Harold Burkhardt arrived about 10 years ago, pediatric heart surgery was not an option at the hospital. “We’re doing a lot of complex surgeries right now,” says Burkhart, who is chief of cardiac surgery at OU Health. “[I had] A great opportunity to accept a challenge. For a state that was at the bottom of this country.”
Hundreds of children could not afford to wait. These children and their families had to seek medical care in other states. Burkhart helped build a team to perform heart surgeries on children in Oklahoma. “I’ve been blessed with a great team and a great group of people,” Burkhardt said. “I’m just trying to do the right thing for people who need help.”
The only thing missing was a program for children in need of heart transplants. OU Health received approval for the program over the winter. They added the child to the national list seeking a new heart. “Her heart is failing, so she needs to be put on the list,” Burkhardt said. “I think that’s a big deal.”
This child will eventually receive a heart transplant without leaving Oklahoma. “It’s great for patients and their families,” Burkhardt said.
Burkhart values precious time. He cultivated a program that buys time for kids who have their whole lives ahead of them. “I’m certainly proud of it,” Burkhardt said. “I’m proud of the work my team did. What I’m doing for these kids, I’ll be doing for my own kids.”
Burkhardt said this first transplant opportunity will show the hospital is ready to offer this service. That would allow the program to be opened up to other children in need of heart transplants.
