Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and the University of Tennessee Name Chief Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 12:00 CST
MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeff L. Myers, M.D., Ph.D. has been named Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Myers comes from Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans where he served as chief of pediatric and congenital cardiac heart surgery.
Dr. Myers received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in physiology from Georgetown University, and he completed his surgery residency at Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. Myers completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at Duke University Medical Center, and then moved to California for his fellowship in pediatric cardiac and transplant surgery, which he completed at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center.
"He is a terrific guy, family-oriented, extremely well-trained," said Dr. Chris Gilbert, Le Bonheur's former Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery. "I am thrilled to welcome him to Le Bonheur," he said. Peggy Troy, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Chief Operating Officer and immediate past president of Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center added, "Dr. Myers will lead our program with excellent clinical skills and leadership abilities. With the help of Dr. Gilbert, who will be assisting Dr. Myers in the care of cardiothoracic surgery patients, we have a team that is among the best in the country."
Dr. Myers plans to re-open the heart transplant program at Le Bonheur. He has performed 50-60 heart transplants -- about one-third of them on pediatric patients. Offering transplants "allows us to offer the entire spectrum of care," he said. He will also focus on cardiac-assist devices -- a bridge to transplantation. Another area of focus includes blood conservation during cardiac surgery, which involves inter-operative strategies for blood conservation and careful post-operative management.
Offering neurologic protection to pediatric patients during cardiac surgery is another priority for Dr. Myers. Newborns who undergo these complex procedures have a 25% rate of neurologic complications, and he wants to develop some protocols to prevent those problems, he said.
In addition, Dr. Myers is interested in expanding Le Bonheur's program to treat adults who have congenital heart disease. Pediatric patients with congenital heart disease who have been followed by pediatric cardiologists often get lost in the system after they reach adulthood. Dr. Myers' goal is to incorporate their management into Le Bonheur's program.
Dr. Thomas Chin, chief of cardiology for the UT Department of Pediatrics, said Le Bonheur and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) are fortunate to have Dr. Myers come aboard. Dr. Myers is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Surgery at UTHSC. "He has already shown his dedication to patient care," Dr. Chin said. "And he is very well-read and in tune with the CT literature."
Founded in 1952, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center is the Mid-South's first and only comprehensive pediatric medical facility with 225 beds and a medical staff of 500. More than 130,000 children throughout the region are treated annually on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Last year alone, Le Bonheur's Emergency Department treated more than 70,000 children.
Le Bonheur specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric diseases and injuries and is home to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Department of Pediatrics, SAFE KIDS Mid-South, The Children's Foundation Research Center of Memphis, Le Bonheur East Surgery Center and the Center for Children and Parents. The hospital is one of three Comprehensive Pediatric Referral Centers designated by the state of Tennessee.
Since 1952, Le Bonheur's doors have been open to the children of the Mid- South. Still today, children from all over the United States and throughout the world are referred to Le Bonheur for specialized care and treatment. For more information, please call (901) 572-3030 or visit http://www.lebonheur.org/.
Contact: Anne Glankler LBCMC 901-572-3030 glanklea@lebonheur.org
Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center
CONTACT: Anne Glankler of Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center,+1-901-572-3030, or glanklea@lebonheur.org
Web site: http://www.lebonheur.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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