Why Choose the Cardiovascular Connective Tissue Disorders Clinic
Multidisciplinary expertise
The Cardiovascular Connective Tissue Disorders Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is one of few programs of its kind to provide care in clinic from both cardiology and genetics attending physicians, sparing patients multiple appointments for routine follow up.
Because many patients with connective tissue disorder have associated medical conditions, we also collaborate with multiple subspecialties across CHOP and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), including:
- Division of Ophthalmology
- Division of Orthopaedics
- Division of Allergy and Immunology
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at HUP
- Aortic Center at HUP
- Philadelphia Adult Congenital Heart Center
- Division of Otolaryngology
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Oral Surgery
- Division of Neurosurgery
- Division of Neurology
Integrative, holistic care
Unique to the Cardiovascular Connective Tissue Disorders Clinic is a recently-funded Lifestyle Medicine Program, based on the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine, which include nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress reduction, emotional connectedness and avoiding risky substances.
Scientific data supports the impact of these six areas on vascular function, emotional well-being and disease severity. The Lifestyle Medicine Program offers patients the support of a nutritionist, exercise physiologist and a psychologist to help patients set wellness goals, as well as a health coach to support them in achieving those goals.
For patients with limited resources, the health coach also helps identify and connect families with local, affordable services — like community partnerships and supplemental nutrition programs — to help them achieve their health goals.
Overall, the Lifestyle Medicine Program aims to improve patient health, enhance quality of life and potentially delay the need for surgery.