MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital’s heart program claims No. 2 spot in country

The already highly successful cardiology team at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital has risen another two spots to become the No. 2 Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program in the country in newly released rankings of children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

Eric Graham, M.D., Children’s Heart Program chair in Pediatric Cardiac and Congenital Heart Disease at MUSC Children’s Health, was thrilled by the news. “It’s all about our patients and providing the best outcomes and it’s a great recognition for our team. They really deserve it.”

Surgeon Minoo Kavarana, M.D., division chief of Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina, agreed. “I was very excited, particularly to see that the clinical outcomes were steadily improving despite the increasing complexity of the cases that we’re taking on. And performing cases that are not performed in the majority of the heart centers in the United States.”

It’s easy to find examples of such cases.

• Two heart transplants in a single day. In June, 3-year-old Clover Carney of Murrells Inlet and another child received heart transplants the same day, a rare feat that required careful coordination, a lot of resources and a large team capable of such an achievement.
• Complex surgery on a baby with Ebstein’s anomaly. Doctors normally try to wait a few years before operating on children with this condition, which affects the right side of the heart. But Rowan Cooley, at just 2 months old, needed surgery to survive. Kavarana and his team performed what’s known as a Cone procedure, reconstructing the baby’s tissue-paper-thin heart valve and muscle.

Mark Scheurer, M.D., chief of the Children’s and Women’s Integrated Center of Clinical Excellence at MUSC Health, is well aware of the heart team’s skills. He attributed its success to a key factor. “In a word: commitment. That means a commitment from every care team member toward exceptional outcomes, patient safety, innovation, collaboration and compassion.”

But the heart program isn’t the only ranking the hospital has to be proud of.

Top children’s hospital in South Carolina

The MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital retained its status as the top children’s hospital in the state in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Scheurer said that tells parents in South Carolina and beyond that they can be confident in the care the hospital provides, whether a child needs a simple procedure or something more complicated.

He said the ranking also sends a message to the people who work in the hospital. “I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that all care team members understand that these rankings are representative of what they do all day, every day. The complex care we provide at MUSC Children’s Health relies on many caring experts and specialties, not just those receiving national attention. I hope our teams feel pride when they see these results.”

Pediatric Nephrology ranked No. 24.

The MUSC Children’s Health Nephrology program, the largest pediatric kidney program in the state, ranks No. 24 nationally. Kathleen Twombley, M.D., serves as chief of Pediatric Nephrology and medical director of the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program.

“I think we have been pivoting with the need. We try not to stay static. And we try to stay on top of new technology and try to provide the best care,” she said.

Staying on top of new technology includes the recent acquisition of the state’s only neonatal continuous renal replacement therapy machines for babies with kidney problems.

But that’s not the only factor Twombley cited. “Our group has worked very hard. We are proud of our accomplishments, and we continue to want to serve the children of South Carolina the best we can.”

Pediatric Gastroenterology & GI Surgery ranked No. 30.

The Gastroenterology and GI Surgery program at MUSC Children’s Health ranks No. 30 in its category. Ben Kuhn, D.O., division chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology, said his team has seen a period of growth.

“When I arrived at MUSC two years ago and underwent a needs assessment, there were several key areas for enhancement. Since that time, our physician team has doubled, and we have launched South Carolina’s only multidisciplinary Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility Clinic, led by Dr. Nancy Swiader, who is now up and running with the most advanced tools to evaluate and diagnose complex gastro-motility disorders.”

The team also launched the MUSC Children’s Center for Eosinophilic Disorders, which specializes in GI allergic conditions. “We are committed to remaining early adopters of innovative services that are proven to better the health of your child,” Kuhn said.

Pediatric Cancer ranked No. 38.

The Cancer program at MUSC Children’s Health ranked No. 38 nationally. Michelle Hudspeth, M.D., director of Hematology/Oncology, said her team is proud of the innovative care it provides.

“As the only pediatric stem cell transplant and cellular therapy program in the state and through our precision medicine initiatives led by Dr. Kraveka, we are grateful to be able to impact the lives of children throughout South Carolina,” Hudspeth said.

“However, the best cancer care is not reduced to checklists and numbers. It recognizes the humanity of our patients and the need for individualized care. It involves both the art and science of medicine. This requires us as a team to wrap ourselves around the child and family to help guide them through all the physical, emotional, educational and social aspects of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.”

About the rankings

U.S. News & World Report puts out annual rankings “to help families with complex and rare conditions find the best medical care for their children,” according to its website.

It gathers clinical data from about 200 medical centers, taking into consideration such factors as patient safety, infection prevention and nurse staffing. The organization also surveys pediatric specialists, asking where they’d send the sickest child in their specialty.

To read MUSC’s news release about the rankings, click here.