Children's Hospital Colorado
A close-up of a stethoscope on a patient's chest.

Nationally ranked for heart care and surgery by U.S. News & World Report, Children's Hospital Colorado's Heart Institute sees patients from across the country. Here, hundreds of our cardiac experts work together to provide care for all kinds of congenital and childhood heart diseases.

As a leader in pediatric heart care, our Institute is the largest in the region, treating more than 20,000 patients each year. And because we're dedicated to training tomorrow's leaders, our heart fellowship program has educated hundreds of pediatric cardiologists who are changing the lives of children with heart disease across the country.

 

We are also one of only eight stand-alone pediatric research centers in the country and we are committed to improving the lives of all kids and families with heart disease.

Learn about featured research and innovation at the Heart Institute

A lifetime of care

Experts in our highly specialized programs see patients of all ages, from before birth in our Fetal Cardiology Program to well into adulthood in our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. We treat the full range of congenital heart defects, from the most common to the incredibly rare.

See the list of conditions we treat.

A longstanding commitment to transparency

Here, we believe that every family deserves to know how much experience their hospital has treating their child's particular heart defect or condition.
 
We were one of the first pediatric heart programs in the nation – and we’re the still the only center in the state – to report our cardiac surgery outcomes publicly. And we're proud of what the data show: that we consistently deliver safe, successful care – even in highly complex cases.

But don't just take our word for it. See our outcomes for yourself on this website and through Conquering CHD's Hospital Navigator.

See why our outcomes make us one of the top heart hospitals

Leaders in heart surgery and minimally invasive procedures

We know that no two patients are the same, and neither are their hearts. That's why we provide highly individualized care for every patient. No matter your child's diagnosis, we will work together as a team to determine the best treatment option for your child, whether it's open heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure.

Watch how we helped Sam, Theo and Colt's families.

Collage with Family Resource center living area, boy smiling with artwork, baby holding block, aquarium-themed room, child in Seacrest studios, and teen playing pool

We care about your experience

Planning a visit to our Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado? Access our local area guide and resources for the whole family including hours and details about parking, our Family Resource Center, Play Areas, T(w)een Zone, visitation policies and more. 

Access resources for your visit

Provider and patient smiling and talking with each other.

Looking for a second opinion?

From heart conditions present at birth to adult congenital heart disease to heart conditions requiring surgery, our pediatric heart experts can provide a second opinion so you feel confident in your care plan.

Request a second opinion from our Heart Institute

Pushing the limits

We're equipped with state-of-the-art technology and renowned for our excellent outcomes. But we won’t stop there. Despite incredible progress, congenital heart disease remains the most common birth defect, and patients need lifetime care.

We continue to push the limits on what's possible, all thanks to your donations.

Donate to the Heart Institute

Get to know our pediatric experts.

Robert Bishop, MD

Robert Bishop, MD

Cardiology - Pediatric, Critical Care - Pediatric, Pediatrics

Patient ratings and reviews are not available Why?

Melanie Everitt, MD

Melanie Everitt, MD

Cardiology - Pediatric

Patient ratings and reviews are not available Why?

Elizabeth Chernuta, CPNP-AC

Elizabeth Chernuta, CPNP-AC

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Patient ratings and reviews are not available Why?

Greg Brames, MD

Greg Brames, MD

Cardiology - Pediatric

Children's Colorado in the news

  • 9News
    Adults find treatment for congenital heart disease at Children’s Colorado
    July 03, 2019

    Born with a congenital heart defect, Chris Dini now works as a firefighter in Fort Collins. Though he’s now 38, he still receives treatment at Children’s Colorado. Joseph Kay, MD, wants more teens and adults with congenital heart disease to know they need specialized care as they age.

  • CBS4
    Minimally invasive procedure fixes hole in baby’s heart
    June 18, 2019

    About half of children with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease. At other hospitals, Charlie Smith would have needed open heart surgery to repair her heart. But at Children’s Colorado, Gareth Morgan, MD, repaired Charlie’s heart defect through a minimally invasive procedure called heart catheterization.

  • 9News
    Discussing life with adult congenital heart disease
    February 13, 2019

    Spencer Rice, a captain at the Poudre Fire Authority in Fort Collins, brought his daughter to a specialist for a heart murmur. He saw the same doctor a month later and eventually had surgery at Children’s Colorado.