Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta  Hosted “Heart to Heart” Celebration for 20th Anniversary of Heart Transplant Program

Valentine’s Celebration Was Special For These Sweet “Hearts”

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hosted an annual “Heart to Heart” event, along with Emory Healthcare to celebrate 20 years of successful heart transplant programs with adult and pediatric heart transplant patients and their families. The event took place at the Georgia Aquarium.  More than 250 patients and their families celebrated in the Pacific Ballroom with live music, cake and a visit of the aquarium.


Richard Patterson (age 33) was honored as one of the first patients to have received a heart transplant at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in 1988.  The program just reached its milestone of 200 successful pediatric heart transplants in November 2007.

Kirk Kanter, M.D., Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of the Heart Transplant Program for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, was recognized at the ceremony for starting the pioneer program in 1988.

For more information on Children's Healtcare of Atlanta please click here.

Pictured above: Kirk Kanter, M.D., and Richard Patterson share a laugh as they are honored at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s annual “Heart to Heart” celebration. Both Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory Healthcare celebrated 20- year anniversaries of successful heart transplant programs.