Cardio-Oncology care at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital
Children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment – and even those in remission – are susceptible to premature cardiovascular disease. Specialized Le Bonheur pediatric cardiologists in our cardio-oncology program are specially trained to care for children with chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy, and/or heart failure.
Our cardiologists provide heart care to inpatients and clinic patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and to children who are in remission but still suffer long-term effects of chemotherapy.
Children with cancer now have a more than 85% five-year survival rate, but a growing number of survivors suffer from premature cardiovascular disease. Our cardiologists are on the forefront of caring for cancer patients and publishing new research on cancer-related therapies, including cardiovascular illness.
Patients have access to:
- A world-class team of cardiologists, trained to care for children with heart failure – particularly chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy
- Access to cutting-edge imaging, including cardiac MRI, advanced echocardiography – and an expert team of cardiologists to interpret the studies.
- A world-class team of oncologists and specialists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Meet Our Cardio-Oncology Team
Dr. Towbin is executive co-director of Le Bonheur’s Heart Institute, serves as chief of Pediatric Cardiology for Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and is medical director of cardiomyopathy, heart failure and heart transplant at Le Bonheur. Towbin specializes in diagnostic and therapeutic advances for cardiomyopathies (heart muscle disease), heart failure, heart transplantation and cardiovascular genetics. His research work and clinical expertise in pediatric heart failure is internationally known, and he is widely considered a leader in pediatric cardiology specifically in the area of cardiomyopathy care for children.
Dr. Goldberg is a specially trained pediatric cardiologist with advanced training in cardiomyopathy, heart failure and heart transplantation. He completed fellowships in pediatric cardiology and heart failure/transplantation at Texas Children's Hospital. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Dr. Ryan is a specially trained pediatric cardiologist with advanced training in cardiomyopathy, heart failure and heart transplant. She completed her fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Le Bonheur. She is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology.
Dr. Martinez is a specially-trained cardiologist at Le Bonheur and an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology sub-specialty. His areas of focus include Pediatric Transplant Cardiology, Cardiomyopathies, Cardio-Genetics and Cardio-Oncology. Dr. Martinez received advanced specialty training at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Dr. Absi is a dual-specialty trained cardiologist in Intensive Care and Cardiology with training at Le Bonheur. He also received training in cardiomyopathy and mechanical circulation support at Texas Children's Hospital. Dr. Absi is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty and is an associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Absi is medical director of Mechanical Circulatory Support at Le Bonheur.
Clinic Coordinator
Jeri Thomas, RN
