Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Therapies and Heart Transplant

Whether your child is newly diagnosed or living with a long-term heart condition, our pediatric advanced cardiac therapies and heart transplant team provides advanced treatment and lifelong support to help them thrive.

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When a child’s heart is very weak or not responding to medicine, families need a team that can act quickly and guide them step by step.

At University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, our Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Therapy (ACT) and Heart Transplant program provides highly specialized care for babies, children, and young adults with the most complex forms of heart disease.

We offer advanced medical therapies, mechanical heart support, and heart transplantation, along with compassionate family support throughout the journey. We focus on stabilizing your child’s heart function, supporting their healthy growth, and improving their quality of life.

Advanced, long-term support

Some children improve with optimized heart failure medications, but others need additional support. Our pediatric ACT and transplant team provides both temporary and long‑term mechanical circulatory support, as well as heart transplant evaluation when appropriate. Our multidisciplinary team meets daily to review progress and adjust care plans, so families always understand the next step.

Coordinated, team-based care

Our team creates a personalized care plan based on your child’s diagnosis, age, and goals. Care is coordinated across specialties, including cardiac surgery, the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit, cardiology subspecialists, anesthesia, genetics, nutrition, child life, psychology, and palliative care.

We partner closely with your family — providing updates, education, and support at the bedside and between visits — so you always understand the plan and what comes next.

After surgery or transplant, we continue to support your child’s recovery and long‑term health with education, monitoring, and lifelong follow‑up to help them heal, grow, and get back to being a kid. This includes:

Team rounding with 24/7 in‑house coverage

Family teaching on medications, devices, and home care

Long‑term surveillance and a smooth transition to adult care when appropriate

What to expect

From the first visit, we focus on clear answers and a personalized plan. We review your child’s history, perform targeted testing, and discuss options in plain language. If advanced therapies are needed, we outline timelines and help with logistics like lodging, parking, and school notes.

During hospitalization, you’ll see our team every day, and you can reach us around the clock. We focus on both medical and emotional comfort. Children can personalize their rooms with colorful lighting through a feature called Drew’s Lights, designed in memory of a former patient. It helps kids feel more at ease and in control during their stay.

After discharge, we schedule frequent check-ins, help coordinate care close to home, and remain available for questions.