A conversation with Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D.:
Pediatric cardiac surgery – where it started and where it’s going

May 25, 2021

David Wessel, M.D., chief medical officer at Children’s National Hospital, sat down with Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., the new chief of Cardiac Surgery, to discuss his background, the history of pediatric cardiovascular surgery and his vision for the future. View the full conversation or watch the individual chapter videos below.

A discussion with Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., Cardiac Surgery Chief at Children’s National Hospital: David Wessel, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Children’s National Hospital, sat down with Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., Division Chief of Cardiac Surgery, to discuss his training and professional history that brought him here to Children’s National, his work here in Washington, D.C., and his vision for the future of pediatric cardiac surgery.

Trailer: David Wessel, M.D., chief medical officer at Children’s National Hospital, sat down with Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., the new chief of Cardiac Surgery, to discuss what brought him to Washington and his vision for the Children’s National Heart Institute.

Personal history and training: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss Dr. d’Udekem’s personal history and training that ultimately led him to Washington, D.C.

Family and hobbies: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss Dr. d’Udekem’s family, his hobbies, and how he spends his time outside of the hospital.

Coming to Washington: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss Dr. d’Udekem’s first impressions of Children’s National and what brought him to Washington, D.C.

Case mix: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss the differences in case mix in Washington, D.C., compared to Dr. d’Udekem’s previous workplaces.

Treating families: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss Dr. d’Udekem’s approach to treating the child and the family.

Collaboration: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss the need for collaboration in cardiac surgery.

History of pediatric cardiac surgery: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss the history of the field of pediatric cardiac surgery.

Vision of the future: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss Dr. d’Udekem’s vision for the future of pediatric cardiac surgery as a field and at Children’s National.

Children’s National Heart Institute: In this clip, David Wessel, M.D., and Yves d’Udekem, M.D., Ph.D., discuss the legacy of Richard Jonas, M.D., Emeritus Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Children’s National, the connection between cardiac clinical care and research, and the structure of the Children’s National Heart Institute.