Every Heartbeat Matters: UCSF Earns Center of Excellence Designation for Pediatric Heart Transplants
For parents of a child with advanced heart failure, every heartbeat is precious. The Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Program at UC San Francisco is rewriting what’s possible for children facing life-threatening heart conditions.
Led by Othman Aljohani, MD, MPH, and Mark Cocalis, MD, in the Department of Pediatrics, and Peter Kouretas, MD, PhD, in the Department of Surgery, the program is guided by UCSF’s mission to combine compassion, innovation, and education, bringing personalized care tailored to the unique needs of each child that comes through its doors.
Recently designated as a Center of Excellence for heart transplantation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), UCSF is a national leader in pediatric heart care and a source of hope for families navigating an incredibly difficult journey.
Becoming a Center of Excellence at the national level is more than a badge of honor—it places UCSF as a premier provider that helps all children in the United States receive world-class care in the case of heart failure.
“Our focus is on building a culture of collaboration, innovation, and empathy that improves outcomes and makes every family feel supported,” said Aljohani, an assistant professor in the Division of Cardiology and Medical Director of UCSF’s Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Program.
At its core, the program’s vision is simple: to ensure that no child’s potential is limited by heart failure.
What Sets UCSF’s Program Apart
The Center of Excellence designation highlights the program’s effective multidisciplinary approach and commitment to innovation. Weekly meetings bring together specialists across child health to review and optimize each child’s care. By combining medical expertise with emotional and psychological supports, the team empowers families and works with them to build a comprehensive care plan.
“With so many specialists working together as one unit, we provide consistent support for families throughout the entire transplant process, from discussing potential treatments to post-operation monitoring and care,” said Aljohani. A dedicated transplant social worker, pharmacists, dieticians, financial counselors, and psychologists all offer specialized expertise to reinforce the team of advanced practice providers, nurse coordinators, physicians, and surgeons.
As part of the UCSF Pediatric Heart Center, the program offers cutting-edge therapies, including ventricular assist devices (VADs) like the Berlin Heart EXCOR® and HeartMate 3™. These life-saving devices bridge the gap for children awaiting transplantation or needing long-term heart support.
“Every transplant is not just a procedure but a commitment to restoring health and quality of life that lasts,” said Kouretas, the program’s surgical director. “At UCSF, we’re dedicated to bringing the best of surgical innovation and teamwork to every child we serve.”
The Power of Research and Innovation
Through collaborations with other heart transplant centers around the world, UCSF’s program is a key partner for organizations dedicated to advancing the care of children going through the journey of heart transplantation.
“Working with larger organizations like the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS) and Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) allows for a robust dataset that can be leveraged to improve care for children before, during, and after the transplant,” said Aljohani. For its significant contributions to the national registry and its dedicated team members, UCSF earned the Vanguard Center of Excellence Award from the PHTS in 2023 and 2024.
Aljohani’s research focuses on children with end-stage heart failure requiring a transplant—whose hearts have become too weak to pump blood through their whole body effectively. By looking into which factors affect health outcomes for these children, Aljohani continues to transform how their care is delivered to best support them.
A Designation That Reflects a Mission of Excellence
Being named a CMS Center of Excellence is a testament to the program’s remarkable achievements—but more importantly, it’s a promise to the children and families it serves. It’s a promise that no matter how complex a child’s condition, there is a team ready to advocate for them, to heal them, and to give them back their childhoods.
For families facing the unimaginable, the UCSF Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Program is a lifeline, a partner, and a beacon of hope.
At UCSF, every heartbeat matters.