Children's of Alabama Joins HLHS Consortium

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -- Mayo Clinic’s Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and Children’s of Alabama are proud to announce their collaboration within the HLHS Consortium to provide solutions for patients with HLHS. The consortium aligns regional medical centers of excellence and advocacy groups with the shared goal of bringing groundbreaking new research and treatments to individuals affected by congenital heart disease, including HLHS. Children’s of Alabama is now the 10th member of the consortium.

"The HLHS Consortium is a movement of inspired leaders who believe we can do things differently," says Tim Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of Mayo Clinic's Program for HLHS. "We are expecting to do things faster than ever before, and we know that bringing in the hardworking efforts and outstanding outcomes of Children's of Alabama will help enhance our research."

From left: Dr. Waldemar F. Carlo, Dr. Tim Nelson, Children’s of Alabama CEO & President Mike Warren, and Dr. Robert Dabal.

"The heart specialists at Children's of Alabama combine knowledge and experience to care for infants and children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and we are excited that this new collaboration with Mayo Clinic gives us the opportunity to continue paving the way for more research about congenital heart defects," says Dr. Waldemar F. Carlo, a pediatric cardiologist at Children's of Alabama. "Joining this esteemed group of health care providers brings us closer to even more resources for our patients and their families."

You can read more about this exciting collaboration on the Mayo Clinic News Network.

The Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a collaborative network of specialists bonded by the vision of finding solutions for individuals affected by congenital heart defects including HLHS. Our specialized team is addressing the various aspects of these defects by using research and clinical strategies ranging from basic science to diagnostic imaging to regenerative therapies. Email us at HLHS@mayo.edu to learn more.

Meet other people talking about HLHS or CHD on Mayo Clinic Connect – an online community designed to help patients and families connect with each other.  Our community is a safe space to share experiences, ask questions, find answers, and exchange support.  The discussion groups and topic pages are moderated to ensure that all posts are respectful, and Mayo Clinic Connect never sells or shares posted information to third parties.  Here are some you might like to follow:

• Congenital Heart Disease (topic page)
• Heart & Blood Health (discussion group)