Structural heart disease is a relatively new subspecialty within the specialty of cardiology. As such, it focuses on treating problems and defects in the structure of the heart, including the heart valves, walls and chambers. When these conditions are present at birth, they are referred to as being "congenital." Acquired conditions - those that develop over time - are also treated by structural heart disease specialists.

Conditions treated at King's Daughters Structural Heart Disease Program include:

• Atrial septal defects
• Ventricular septal defects
• Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
• Mitral valve regurgitation
• Mitral valve stenosis
• Aortic stenosis
• Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood)
• Stroke risk related to atrial fibrillation (Left atrial appendage closure, i.e., Watchman)

The structural heart program team includes:

• Interventional cardiologist Mohammed Hasan Kahn, M.D., Director, Structural Heart
• Interventional cardiologist Hisham Hirzallah, M.D.
• Interventional cardiologist Sri Velury, M.D., Co-Director, TAVR Program
• Electrophysiologist John Van Deren, M.D.
• Cardiothoracic surgeon Eric Bronstein, M.D., Co-Director, TAVR Program
• Cardiothoracic surgeon Ayodele Osasona, M.D.
• Cardiac anesthesiologist Oscar Penate, M.D.
• Cardiac anesthesiologist James Jernigan, M.D.
• Cardiac anesthesiologist Fritz Gerald Charles, M.D.
• Nurse practitioner April Melvin, APRN
• Nurse practitioner Kristy Turley, APRN, valve clinic coordinator