Justin T. Tretter, MD

Biography

I’m a pediatric cardiologist who specializes in noninvasive cardiac imaging, three-dimensional cardiac imaging and cardiovascular genetics. My unique additional training as a cardiac anatomist, under world-renowned cardiac anatomist Professor Robert Anderson from London, gives me exceptional insight as a cardiac imager.

I was drawn to a career in medicine when my grandfather, who was like a father to me, died of a brain tumor when I was a teenager. In college, I became fascinated with the cardiovascular system during a course in cardiopulmonary pathophysiology. My mother, who was an elementary school teacher, fueled my passion to work with children by involving me with her classes. All of this, along with the ability to provide lifesaving treatments and the fascinating anatomy and physiology of congenital heart disease, made pediatric cardiology a clear calling for me.

In my practice, I always try to approach my patients with the same care and compassion I would want for my own children, one of whom has a chronic illness. In our Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic within the Heart Institute, we have a unique multidisciplinary team. It includes cardiologists like me, our excellent genetic counselors and cardiovascular geneticists.

The purpose of my research is to understand detailed cardiac anatomy and function in order to improve cardiac imaging, interventions and outcomes. Much of my current research focuses on variation in the aortic root and how that impacts its function, as well as its relationship to the heart’s conduction system.

I also have led the development of Heart University, an online educational site for providers of congenital and pediatric acquired heart disease. I am the editor of this site, which has over 4,000 users spanning more than 125 countries and six continents, with an international editorial board.

In my spare time, I am very much a family man and love to spend time with my wife and three children. We are very active in our church. I also love to play basketball and coach my kids’ basketball teams. When I coach, I like to encourage children to be confident in their abilities, to work hard to reach their goals and not be afraid to make mistakes.