Meet the Members of our
HUG Medical Advisory Board
Director of HUG Medical Advisory Board
Professor: Department of Cardiac Surgery
University of Michigan
Edward L. Bove, MD
Edward L. Bove, M.D. is a renowned pediatric cardiac surgeon and an internationally recognized expert on the treatment of complex congenital heart disease. He joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as director of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery and became Head of the Section of Cardiac Surgery in 1999. Dr. Bove was inaugurated as the first Helen and Marvin Kirsh Professor of Surgery in 2005 and Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery in 2012.
Dr. Bove has received support for his research from the American Heart Association, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and the Leducq Foundation. He has held many named lectureships here and abroad and given hundreds of presentations on heart surgery around the world. He has served on numerous committees including the American Heart Association, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Bove serves on a number of editorial boards, has published over 300 manuscripts, dozens of book chapters, and edited two books.
Deena Barber, RN
ACHD Nurse Program Coordinator
Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron OH
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Deena Barber graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in 1983. She works in Akron, Ohio as a cardiac nurse. Deena has become a subject matter expert in adult congenital heart disease care including the natural course of congenital heart disease in adults and the challenges this unique population of survivors face. Deena’s nursing passion is caring for adults living with congenital heart disease. As Nurse Program Coordinator, she has the privilege of managing and coordinating the specialized care of adult congenital heart patients at Akron Children’s Hospital.
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Chris Donald, RN
Neonatal ICU Nurse
Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Tech University Health Science Center
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I have 5 years of experience as a nurse in pediatric cardiology. Prior to working in the clinic Chris worked as a NICU nurse for 5 years.
I wanted to work in pediatric cardiology because I myself have congenital heart disease. I wanted to work with families and patients who have been through similar situations. I am excited to work with HUG because I have been impressed with the work that Anna Jaworski does for the CHD community.
I am excited to be a part of their mission to spread CHD awareness and to remind others they are not alone!
I have worked at the University Medical Center Neonatal ICU in Lubbock, Texas; Driscoll Children's Hospital Neonatal ICU in Corpus Christi, Texas; and Driscoll Physicians' Group Pediatric Cardiology Clinic in Corpus Christi, Texas.
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Chun Huie Lin, MD
PHD, FACC, FSCAI
Director, Adult Congenital Heart Program, Houston Methodist Debakey Heart & Vascular Center
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Dr. Lin was born and grew up in Tempe Arizona then went to college at Yale University with a major in Psycho-biology. He then completed his MD/PhD at
University of Virginia and went on to Internal Medicine Residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. However, it was in cardiovascular fellowship at Washington University in St Louis that he fell in love with adult congenital heart disease and went on to complete sub-specialty fellowships in both adult and pediatric interventional cardiology. He then started the Adult Congenital Heart Program at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center in 2012.
He is thrilled to be joined by Dr. Valeria Duarte and a great team of ACHD providers.
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1) What is your area of expertise in the congenital heart defect community?
Adult Congenital Interventional Cardiology
2) What attracted you to work with people with CHDs?
It started out at as an intellectual attraction – each patient was a puzzle with a unique solution. However, I have since come to love just simply taking care of our ACHD patients – from the simple lesions to the complex, each patient brings joy to my day, whether it’s filled with smiles or tears.
3) Why do you want to work with Hearts Unite the Globe?
Building awareness and normalizing dialog around ACHD is a critical next step in our field, and I love what HUG has been doing to get us there!
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About Houston Methodist
Houston Methodist is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Texas for patient care and safety and one of the top 20 hospitals in the nation. In addition, we are nationally ranked in 11 specialties, the most in the state, and have been national leaders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in research, offering innovative treatments and surpassing CDC safety standards. For more than 100 years, Houston Methodist has provided the best—and safest—clinical care, advanced technology and patient experience. That is our promise of leading medicine.
Visit for more Information:
William M. Novick, MS MD
Medical Director: CEO Senior Pediatric & Congenital Cardiac Surgeon University of TN
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I am a pediatric cardiac surgeon with focus on neonates, congenital heart disease with pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular to pulmonary artery alternatives for reconstruction. Before I went to medical school I was working on my PHD in biochemistry at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and my work coincided with the work of John Kirklin, one of the pioneers in pediatric cardiac surgery. He is the reason I picked pediatric cardiac surgery. I am always interested in providing advocacy for CHD and increasing awareness to the problems faced in low and middle-income countries in acquiring adequate care.
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Brandon L. Phillips, MD
FAAP, FACC, FASE
Pediatric Cardiology Attending Ochsner Health, Pediatric Sub-Specialties Clinic, West Monroe, LA
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Pediatric Cardiology Attending Ochsner Health, Pediatric Sub-specialties Clinic, West Monroe, Louisiana
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, New Orleans,
Louisiana Board of Trustees Starlight Children’s Foundation, Los Angeles,CA.
Award Winning Author of
When I Wished Upon A Star
Winner of Baby Hearts Press People’s Choice Award and a Gold Award from the Nonfiction Authors Association
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Roslyn Rivera, BSN-RN
Outpatient Pediatric Cardiology Nurse Coordinator, Bachelor of Science Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
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Roslyn began her career in pediatric nursing in 2005. She currently is the Fetal and Pediatric Cardiology Outpatient Nurse Coordinator at the UCLA Children’s Heart Center. Roslyn strives to provide family-centered, compassionate care for infants, children and adolescents being followed in UCLA’s outpatient pediatric cardiology clinic. Roslyn also is the Pediatric Cardiology High Acuity Surveillance Nurse, coordinating care for single ventricle and high risk infants requiring home monitoring.
Her previous nursing experience includes thirteen years as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nurse specializing in Pediatric Cardiac ICU care at several hospitals across the US. Roslyn has also worked with the William Novick Global Cardiac Alliance as a PICU Nurse Educator, traveling to developing countries to provide ICU care after pediatric cardiac surgery and educating medical staff.
Education: Bachelor of Science Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, 2005.
Volunteer Experience: Since 2013, Roslyn has volunteered with Camp del Corazon, a nonprofit organization offering year-round activities for children and young adults with CHD. She holds the role of Nurse Coordinator and as an Advisor for their adult CHD program called PACE.
Roslyn is also a professional member of the Adult Congenital Heart Association, volunteers as an ACHA Peer Mentor, and assists with ACHA projects and initiatives. Roslyn has been involved in ACHA’s Congenital Heart Legislative Conferences, advocating for CHD research and funding from legislators in Washington DC.
Professional Organizations:
Adult Congenital Heart Association Society of Pediatric Cardiovascular Nurses
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1. What is your area of expertise in the congenital heart defect community?
Pediatric Cardiac Registered Nurse
2. What attracted you to work with people with CHDs?
I was born with CHD and after my second heart surgery at age 10, I knew that I wanted to become a nurse when I grew up.
3. Why do you want to work with Hearts Unite the Globe?
I understand the worldwide burden of CHD and have dedicated my life to providing CHD awareness and education. Hearts Unite the Globe offers a unique platform that delivers support and information to the CHD community.
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Fred M. Wu, MD
General Cardiology, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Kent County Memorial Hospital
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Dr. Wu completed a combined residency in pediatrics and internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, before completing an advanced fellowship in adult congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension at Harvard Medical School. He has been a faculty member of the Boston Adult Congenital Heart and Pulmonary Hypertension Program since 2007. He has received a teaching award from the Harvard Medical School Academy Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and studies innovative approaches to the management of adults with congenital heart disease, particularly single ventricle physiology.
My areas of expertise are adult congenital heart disease, pregnancy in heart disease, and the cardiac and extra cardiac complications of long-term Fontan circulation.
I enjoy the intellectual challenge of thinking about the unique anatomy and physiology associated with congenital heart defects. I also love the rich history that has brought the field to where it is today. I find it rewarding to be working with what I consider to be an under-recognized and under-served population (adults with congenital heart disease), and I especially love working with the patients and their families who constantly inspire me with their positivity, resilience, and advocacy. I agreed to work with HUG because I value any opportunity to work more closely with the larger CHD community and to help people with CHD feel more supported and empowered.
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