Regional and Global Heart Network Improves Access to Care

The Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children’s was built on a vision to help as many patients with cardiovascular disease as possible, no matter where they live. Because all families deserve excellent care close to home, the Heart Institute established a network of institutional partnerships, starting regionally and now expanding globally to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The network gives us a way to treat kids all over the region, country and world who may never come to Cincinnati,” says Michael Gaies, MD, MPH, executive co-director of the Heart Institute. “We know the burden traveling for care puts on families. Our partnerships allow families to stay close to home until they need care that stretches beyond the resources of their local institution.”

Onsite Collaboration Through Regional Partnerships

Heart experts at Cincinnati Children’s work with clinicians at other institutions to keep patients at their home hospital for as long as they can until they need treatment that stretches beyond their local resources.

“We always strive to improve care locally, but there are unique procedures and therapies at Cincinnati Children’s that very few places can offer,” says David Morales, MD, executive co-director of the Heart Institute. “The network allows patients and families to access the care they need regardless of where they live.”

Current Heart Institute regional partnerships include:

• Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio
• Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana
• University of Kentucky HealthCare in Lexington, Kentucky

Each location has faculty surgeons from Cincinnati Children’s on-site, with other faculty traveling regionally as needed. Daily integration between institutions involves reviewing cases to make joint clinical decisions. Cincinnati Children’s offers second opinions, along with insights related to administration, care protocols, education, clinical development and more.

“This is a unique way for hospitals to collaborate,” says Gaies. “There have been similar partnerships between pediatric heart hospitals, but in a lot of cases, they don’t remain successful long-term because the ‘big’ hospital wants to bring patients to them instead of focusing on patients staying in their community.”

Global Expansion to the United Arab Emirates

In 2025, the Heart Institute’s network expanded globally to a hospital partnership in the UAE. The Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), which has the largest children’s hospital in the UAE, was seeking a partner from another major children’s hospital. Through a competitive selection process, they chose Cincinnati Children’s as their partner for all pediatric healthcare, including cardiovascular surgery and cardiology.

Located in Abu Dhabi, SKMC provides similar complex cardiovascular care to the Heart Institute, except advanced heart failure treatment and transplantation, both specialties that are world-renowned at Cincinnati Children’s. This global partnership differs from others, since it is not feasible to transport patients regularly between institutions.

“We are working with them primarily in a consultancy, advisory capacity,” says Gaies. “We review cases and advocate for resources and infrastructure to help them build their program, so kids can stay in their home country without having to travel to Europe or the United States.”

Recently, Gaies traveled to the UAE, along with Morales, to work with the heart team at SKMC. Gaies saw patients in the clinic and consulted on cases, while Morales consulted in the operating room. There are plans to spend more in-country time with the SKMC team in the future, though for the most part, Cincinnati Children’s doctors will serve as consultants from afar.

Long-Term Program Success Means Patients Get the Care They Need

Ultimately, whether global or regional, the Heart Institute’s network of partnerships is designed to help growing heart programs get past hurdles to ensure their long-term success. As a larger institution with resources and depth of staff, Cincinnati Children’s is dedicated to assisting other hospitals—especially when treating rare cardiac cases. The Heart Institute also learns from the partners in the process, thus improving care in Cincinnati.

“We’re trying to provide a safety net for these institutions and their patients,” says Gaies. “To build their programs and keep their patients in their health system, which makes for a much more productive and healthy relationship between hospitals. It also supports our fundamental belief that we should help kids wherever they live and keep them close to their home.”

Interested in exploring a collaboration with the Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute? Contact david.cooper@cchmc.org, michael.gaies@cchmc.org or david.morales@cchmc.org.

(Published November 2025)

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