Congenital heart conditions are the most common types of birth defects in children, and they can be deadly. Studies show congenital heart conditions affect nearly 1% of births — about 40,000 — each year in the U.S., and experts say this rate is rising. Babies born prematurely are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks later in life. 

In adults, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease.

February is American Heart Month, a time for awareness of heart-related conditions that affect children and adults. 

Johns Hopkins Medicine experts are available all month to discuss various aspects of heart health. 

Children and Heart Health

Media contacts: Paige Acevedo, communications specialist, 301-938-8909, [email protected] and Kim Polyniak, communications manager, 443-510-5807, [email protected] 

Stephanie Fuller, M.D.
Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
Professor of Clinical Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Specialty topics: pediatric cardiac surgery, pediatric congenital heart disease, pediatric heart transplant

William Ravekes, M.D.
Interim Chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Specialty topics: pediatric cardiology, congenital heart disease, fetal cardiology, fetal echocardiography, pediatric heart failure, pediatric heart transplant

Ashish Doshi, M.D., Ph.D.
Pediatric Cardiologist, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center 
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 
Specialty topics: pediatric cardiology, congenital heart disease, cardiovascular imaging (including echocardiography and cardiac MRI), pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Adults and Heart Health

Media contact: Gabrielle Little, senior communications specialist, 860-818-2345, [email protected]

Lili Barouch, M.D.
Director, Sports Cardiology Program
Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Specialty topics: sports cardiology, heart disease, congestive heart failure, preventive cardiology, peripartum cardiomyopathy

Ari Cedars, M.D.
Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Specialty topics: adult congenital heart disease from childhood to adulthood, general cardiology

Stacy Fisher, M.D.
Associate Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Specialty topics: adult congenital heart disease, heart disease in pregnancy, pulmonary hypertension, general cardiology

Seth Martin, M.D., M.H.S.
Director, Advanced Lipid Disorders Program and Digital Health Lab,
Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Specialty topics: heart disease prevention, general cardiology, digital heart health, high cholesterol, risk factor modification and stratification, stress testing, chest pain, coronary artery disease

Francoise Marvel, M.D.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Division of Cardiology
Specialty topics: digital heart health, internal medicine, general cardiology

Lena Mathews, M.D., M.H.S.
Medical Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Specialty topics: cardiac rehabilitation, exercise after a heart attack, general cardiology

Anum Minhas, M.D., M.H.S.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Specialty topics: cardio-obstetrics, women and maternal health, cardiovascular disease in women, preventive and general cardiology