Preventive Cardiology
- About Us
- Our Care
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Building Healthy Habits for a Healthy Heart
Nemours Children’s preventive cardiologists help give kids at risk for heart disease a healthy future. We’re at the forefront, developing approaches that detect, prevent and reverse conditions which can lead to heart attack or stroke later in life, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides and obesity. We also monitor kids with heart disease that runs in families to keep them healthy and strong.
As part of award-winning, nationally recognized heart centers in Delaware and Florida, we work with experts in cardiovascular genetics, cardiac psychology, cardiac exercise, nutrition and more. Together we teach your whole family about heart disease and give you the tools to create healthy habits for life.
We know that healthy kids can grow into healthy adults, and that is why we’re conducting innovative, leading-edge research and clinical trials on the factors affecting children’s health and strategies to improve it. We're bringing good heart health habits to families in the communities we serve.
Our team includes leaders who are setting the national standard in care for pediatric heart disease prevention. With a compassionate, personal approach, we work for your child’s healthiest life.
Two Leading Pediatric Heart Centers
Our heart centers offer highly advanced, integrated care just for kids and young adults with congenital heart disease. Learn about our focused programs, innovative research and exceptional outcomes.
“The kids understand that this is something they will have to deal with for their whole lives. Fortunately for us, Nemours is up to date on all the research concerning familial high cholesterol.”
- one
Healthy Kids Grow Into Healthy Adults
Our preventive heart specialists help kids and families make heart-healthy choices today, for healthier tomorrows. We create a plan that works for your family.
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Nationally known pediatric heart centers, in Delaware and Florida
8
Preventive cardiologists within our system
3
Number of national preventive cardiology guidelines we helped create
We make it a little easier with blood pressure monitoring and other tests at home.
Our nutritional counseling helps you and your child learn about healthy eating. We teach you how to assess the food you eat so you can make better choices.
We offer cardiovascular genetic counseling to help you understand heart conditions that may run in your family and what you can do about it.
Nemours is researching and developing innovative programs and therapies that help reverse or reduce the risk for heart disease in children.
We provide convenient video visits throughout the state of Florida. We’re here for your family, wherever you are.
Healthy Kids Grow Into Healthy Adults
Our preventive heart specialists help kids and families make heart-healthy choices today, for healthier tomorrows. We create a plan that works for your family.
2
Nationally known pediatric heart centers, in Delaware and Florida
8
Preventive cardiologists within our system
3
Number of national preventive cardiology guidelines we helped create
We make it a little easier with blood pressure monitoring and other tests at home.
Our nutritional counseling helps you and your child learn about healthy eating. We teach you how to assess the food you eat so you can make better choices.
We offer cardiovascular genetic counseling to help you understand heart conditions that may run in your family and what you can do about it.
We’re researching and developing innovative programs and therapies that help reverse or reduce the risk for heart disease in children.
Our team is outside our doors helping families in underserved areas to access testing and tools for healthy heart living.
Featured Doctor
Meet Carissa M. Baker-Smith, MD, MPH, Director of Preventive Cardiology at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware. Influencing and improving the long-term health of children is what inspires her every day.
Meet the Team
Nemours preventive cardiology teams are experienced and focused on your child's healthiest future. Meet them now.
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Carissa M. Baker-Smith, MD, MPH
Cardiology Director, Preventive Cardiology Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Sean Daniel Connolly, DO
Cardiology Associate Program Director, Pediatric Cardiology FellowshipPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Michael Joseph Luceri, DO
Cardiology Director, Nemours Children’s OutreachPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Abbas Haider Zaidi, MD
Cardiology Medical Director, Outpatient Cardiology Clinic Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE
Building Healthy Communities
Sometimes, conditions like high cholesterol aren’t found because the process to check for them takes a long time. We're doing something about it.
We offer a simplified screening process at our primary care Jessup Street location in Wilmington, Del. With fewer visits needed to assess heart disease risk, we can help more kids get the lifesaving preventive care they need, when they need it.
Programs & Services
Conditions like childhood obesity can lead to adult health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and cause heart attack or stroke.
According to the American Heart Association, familial hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol that runs in families), which can lead to heart attack in early adulthood, happens in 1 in 250 people.
We can address these conditions early in childhood to help reduce the risk for more serious health issues in adulthood.
Our preventive cardiologists partner with different specialists and advanced practice providers and nurses to create a unique plan for your child’s condition. We help your child set manageable goals.
We meet your child and family where you are, offering solutions that fit your lifestyle. This even includes video visits when possible. Your child’s care can include:
- Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and other measurements
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Lipid testing, or cholesterol and triglycerides
- Heart diagnostic tests, including electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, exercise testing, Holter event monitoring, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and more
- Nutrition assessment and counseling
- Medicine assessment and management
- Exercise planning and fitness program
- Medically supervised wellness and weight loss program in partnership with our weight management program
- Apheresis, or a nonsurgical procedure that removes low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the blood for children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
- Psychological support specific to the special needs of kids at risk for heart disease
- Partnership with Nemours pediatric specialists like endocrinologists, pulmonologists, nephrologists, gastroenterologists and others as needed
Conditions & Treatments
We see many conditions — far too many to list here. The conditions we treat vary depending on the location and providers selected. Don’t see a condition listed? Call us.
Related Specialties & Programs
Convenient Follow-Up Appointments by Video
We offer follow-up appointments through scheduled, live video visits. You can avoid waiting rooms and save travel time. Ask your doctor if this is an option for your family.
Healthy Living Resources
Life’s Essential 8™ Health Behaviors & Health Factors
Learn more about keeping your heart healthy from the American Heart Association. There are four health behaviors (diet, exercise, sleep and avoid smoking/vaping) and four health factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index/weight) we must control to improve and maintain a healthy heart.
More From Nemours KidsHealth®
The more you know, the better you can help your child grow up healthy. The experts at Nemours KidsHealth offer a wealth of trusted medical information and advice for living well as a family. You’ll see why KidsHealth is one of world’s most visited websites for health information for kids.
Heart Health Center
Learn everything about the heart, from how it works to what can go wrong and how to keep it healthy. Read about tests, treatments, heart conditions, surgeries and much more. We also offer family-friendly, heart healthy tips for eating right and getting physical activity.
Articles & Advice You Can Trust
Our goal is to help your child and family build healthy habits that last a lifetime. Browse articles that will help you support your child’s healthy journey.
We pulled together articles that will help you support your child’s heart journey.
Conditions that can lead to heart disease:
- Cholesterol
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Overweight and Obesity
Tests and screenings:
- Blood Test: Lipid Panel
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Genetic Testing
Eating well:
Getting active:
Healthy Habits Start Now
As a teen, you can start your journey to becoming a healthy adult right now. Nemours KidsHealth offers information about the heart, conditions that can cause heart disease in the future, tests you might need, and tips for healthy living.
How the Heart Works
Remember learning about the heart and circulatory system in school? If you need a refresher, we can help. Read about how the heart pumps blood and oxygen throughout the body and why it’s important to keep it in top shape.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when the force of the blood pushing on the blood vessel is too high. This causes the heart to pump harder and strains the arteries. This can lead to damage. Find more about high blood pressure and what you can do to lower it.
Other conditions related to high blood pressure can increase the risk for heart disease. Learn more about:
Heart Tests You May Need
If your doctor thinks you might have risk for heart disease, they may order tests. A common test is an electrocardiogram (EKG), which measures your heart’s electrical activity. It’s a simple and painless.
Other tests you might need:
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Being overweight can cause a lot of problems with your health. But what’s a healthy weight? Find out what it means to be overweight and the different health conditions it can cause.
More about your healthy weight:
How to Be a Heart Healthy Grown Up
Did you know that keeping your heart healthy can help you grow up to become a healthy adult? Nemours KidsHealth can tell you more about your heart. We show you how what you eat and do with your body can keep your heart ticking for a long time.
Learn About the Heart
Take a video tour of the heart with Chloe and Nurb! Join them for an adventure into the heart and circulatory system. After you watch the video, test what you learned with this fun quiz.
What Does it Mean to Be Overweight?
Learn about weight and what terms like “obese” and “body mass index” has to do with your health. From here, find info about calories, feeling good about your body and more.
Your Guide to Eating Right
If you’re looking for an easy way to eat healthier, you’re in the right spot. Learn about healthy, and not so healthy, foods to eat. You can also see how to make school lunches better and how to read nutrition labels.
Be a Fit Kid
Being fit means eating well, being active and having a healthy weight. See how you can be a fit kid, too! While you’re here, you can find tips for being physically active when you don’t like sports.
Meal Prep Made Easy
Making food for yourself is a great way to learn about healthy foods. From chicken and salmon and salad and snack mixes, we have everything you need to get started in meal prep. Learn more.