Heart Institute News

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Awarded on Newsweek's List of the World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2027 for Pediatrics

September 21, 2026 – Nicklaus Children's Hospital has been awarded on Newsweek's list of the World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2027 for pediatrics. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The award list was announced on September 17th, 2027, and can be viewed on Newsweek's website.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital is No. 1 Pediatric Hospital* in Florida in U.S. News & World Report 2026-2027 Rankings

September 15, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is the No. 1 pediatric hospital* in Florida in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings, continuing its longstanding recognition for excellence in pediatric care. Nicklaus Children’s also has been recognized among the nation’s Top 50 children’s hospitals for the 18th consecutive year. Eight specialty programs, including all four key institutes, were recognized among the nation’s best, giving the hospital more nationally ranked pediatric programs than any other hospital in South Florida.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Performs One of the First Transcatheter Fontan Completions in the Country on a Two-Year-Old Child

September 09, 2026 – The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Heart Institute has successfully performed one of the first Fontan procedures in the United States utilizing a transcatheter-based approach on a child, marking an important advancement in care for children born with complex congenital heart disease.

Florida's First Pediatric Cardiac Robotic Surgery Performed at Nicklaus Children's Hospital

August 31, 2026 – The cardiovascular surgery team at Nicklaus Children's Hospital Heart Institute and Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute have successfully performed the first pediatric robotics-assisted cardiac surgery case, a first in Florida and one of few in the nation. Surgeons completed an atrial septal defect (ASD) repair on a child using robotic assistance.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Heart Institute Achieves Florida's First Staged Cardiac Septation Procedure

June 18, 2026 – The cardiovascular surgery team at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Heart Institute has successfully performed the first staged cardiac septation in the state of Florida on a 1-year-old baby. As one of only a handful of centers in the world offering this technique, Nicklaus Children’s cardiovascular surgeons used a staged multi-step approach in order to “make a pathway” inside the heart so oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood can move in a way that helps the heart work effectively and will allow for the heart to continue to grow and improve circulation over time.

First Traveling Bedside PDA Closure Performed at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Fort Lauderdale NICU

April 22, 2026 – The team at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Heart Institute has successfully performed the first traveling bedside transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure on a 22-week-old premature infant weighing 800 grams within Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Fort Lauderdale, located on the campus of Broward Health Medical Center.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Heart Institute Performs Florida’s First Partial Heart Transplant

April 15, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Heart Institute cardiovascular surgery team successfully performed Florida’s first partial heart transplant on an 11-year-old patient, implanting a donor “living valve” designed to grow with the child and reduce the need for future open-heart surgeries.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Heart Institute Leads the Region with Groundbreaking Techniques for Congenital Heart Disorders

February 04, 2026 – From partial heart transplantation and complex biventricular repairs to innovative procedures in the catheterization laboratory, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital's Heart Institute is pioneering new options for children with pediatric heart conditions.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Heart Institute Becomes First in Florida to Perform Pediatric Pulmonary Ozaki

January 05, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital's Heart Institute has successfully performed an innovative pulmonary heart valve repair utilizing a complex and unique technique known as the Ozaki procedure, becoming the first known pediatric program in the state of Florida to do so and among only a select group of pediatric health systems globally.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital's Heart Institute Launches Bedside Transcatheter PDA Closure Offering for Newborns

October 16, 2025 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital'sHeart Institute, a world-recognized leader in heart innovation, is now offering bedside transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closures for medically fragile newborns.This new offering brings advanced therapy directly to the neonatal intensive care unit, allowing procedures to be performed within the baby’s own isolette or crib.

U.S. News & World Report Ranks Nicklaus Children's Among Nation’s Top 50 Hospitals

October 07, 2025 – Ranked among the nation's top 50 best by U.S. News & World Report, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is listed in its 2025-26 “Best Children’s Hospitals” survey results with seven specialty ranked programs, making the hospital the children’s hospital with the most ranked programs in South Florida.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital is Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Cardiovascular Care

September 17, 2025 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has received six American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines^® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute First to Offer Innovative Heart Stent Designed for Babies

August 28, 2025 – Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Heart Institute is ushering in a new era of cardiac treatment for children across South Florida. Nicklaus Children's is the first hospital in South Florida to offer the latest innovative Minima Stent from Renata Medical, the first FDA-approved heart stent that expands as the child grows. This innovation gives new hope to babies and young children with congenital heart disease, helping them avoid repeated open-heart surgeries.

Global leader in pediatric congenital cardiac surgery joins Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, faculty of FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

August 11, 2025 – Dr. David M. Kalfa, a pioneer in developing minimally invasive surgical approaches to treating congenital heart defects, will join Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (Nicklaus Children's) as chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Surgery and co-director of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital's Heart Institute on Sept. 1.

World-Renowned Cardiologist Dr. Shyam Sathanandam Joins Nicklaus Children’s Hospital's Heart Institute as Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine

May 01, 2025 – Globally recognized pediatric interventional cardiologist Dr. Shyam Sathanandam has joined Nicklaus Children’s Hospital as chief of cardiovascular medicine and co-director of the renowned Nicklaus Children’s Hospital's Heart Institute.

New Florida Heart Law Highlights the Importance of EKG Screenings for Student-Athletes

July 09, 2026 – Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, Florida’s Second Chance Act will require many high school student-athletes to complete a one-time electrocardiogram, or EKG, before participating in sports governed by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). The new requirement is intended to help detect hidden heart conditions that may increase a young athlete’s risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

The Future of Pediatric Cardiac Research at Nicklaus Children's Hospital

February 13, 2025 – In recognition of American Heart Month, the Nicklaus Children's Research Institute is celebrating the future of cardiac research at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. With decades of experience in pediatric cardiology, the new Chief of Cardiology, Shyam Sathanandam M.D., is enthusiastic about the future of clinical trials at Nicklaus Children's.

Saving Lives with a Sudden Cardiac Arrest Readiness Program

December 20, 2024 – Though rare, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the young causes tragic events that impact the entire community. Roughly 7,000 people under the age of 18 will suffer a cardiac arrest annually in the U.S. Because of education and hands-on training to school faculty, countless lives have been saved nationally. In just two years, eight lives have been saved in South Florida schools.

Pediatric Aortic Arch Repair: Revolutionary Care for Traumatic Cardiac Injuries

December 16, 2024 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is renowned for its groundbreaking pediatric cardiac and cardiovascular surgical care. Learn more about the pioneering innovative clinical research and offering advanced, lifesaving procedures such as aortic arch surgery.

The Growing Footprint of Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization

November 08, 2024 – As the medical community continues its shift toward less invasive interventions, cardiac catheterization is becoming more commonplace within care plans for pediatric and adult patients. In many cases, this less invasive approach is the standard of care.

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