Scott and Laura Eller know a lot about the challenges of living with congenital heart disease. That’s because their daughter, Elissa, was born with a heart defect.
Working with heart surgeon David Cleveland, MD, the Ellers established the Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Heart Center at St. Joseph’s Heart & Lung Institute. Congenital heart defects are structural problems within the heart that are present at birth. Defects range in severity from simple problems, such as "holes" between chambers of the heart, to severe malformations, such as complete absence of one or more chambers or valves. Estimates suggest that about 1 million Americans have a congenital heart defect (CHD).
The Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Heart Center staff comprises a devoted team of physicians, nurses, and allied practitioners who care for all patients with congenital heart disease in an integrated and coordinated system, including adolescent and adult patients. From the Ellers, Dr. Cleveland learned about the challenges people with CHD face as they transition from childhood into adulthood. As a result, St. Joseph’s has established the Adult CHD Program as part of the Congenital Heart Center.
The Ellers’ gift created the center’s first endowed chair and is a foundation for recruiting excellence.
