About This Program
The Preventive Cardiology Program is a specialty program within the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin.
The Preventive Cardiology Program focuses on identifying children at risk of developing early cardiovascular disease and helping them reduce that risk through education, lifestyle modification, and psychosocial support. Children may be at higher risk if they have hyperlipidemia, high triglyceride levels, hypertension, or a family history of premature cardiovascular disease, such as stroke or heart attack before the age of 50. Because these are complex conditions, patients benefit from a dedicated multidisciplinary team that addresses both the medical and behavioral aspects of care.
The Preventative Cardiology Program care team is comprised of nationally recognized and highly specialized physicians across different disciplines housed in a single cardiac care unit at Dell Children’s Medical Center. With access to expert staff and advanced technology, we provide a wide range of services, from evaluation, testing, and diagnosis to medical management, home monitoring, rehabilitation, heart surgery, and more, to give patients and their families the best quality of life.
Through our clinical partnership with Dell Children's Medical Center, the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease program contributes to Dell Children's national recognition as one of the country's best specialty programs for Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2025-2026.
Treatment Approach
The Preventive Cardiology Program takes a collaborative and family-centered approach to care. During your child’s visit, you will meet with one of our pediatric cardiologists (Dr. Joseph Casadonte or Dr. Michael Perez), a cardiac advanced practice provider, a dedicated clinical dietitian, and a clinical psychologist. Together, this team will review your child’s lipid profile, diet and exercise history, and family history to create a personalized care plan that promotes long-term cardiovascular health.
Our goal is to help children and their families adopt heart-healthy habits that last a lifetime. Through ongoing guidance and follow-up, we support patients in managing risk factors such as elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, and unhealthy lifestyle patterns.
Patients are cared for by a dedicated multidisciplinary care team, meaning you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained cardiologists have extensive experience treating patients with pediatric and congenital heart disease and work alongside a team of cardiac experts, including cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, critical care specialists, hospitalists, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, nurses, advanced practice providers, social workers, psychologists, child life specialists, dietitians, physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, and more, providing unparalleled care for patients every step of the way.
Appointment Information
For more information about the Preventative Cardiology Program at Dell Children’s, please call 1-855-324-0091.