ABOUT ACTION
Our Team
Our team knows when it’s time to take action.
Our hearts are in ACTION.
We have grown exponentially since our start in 2017— our global healthcare network is comprised of patients, families, clinicians, researchers and industry representatives. Our multi-disciplinary leadership team and members work together to guide ACTION’s initiatives to improve outcomes for patients.
Founders
![Angela Lorts, MD, MBA](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/20201215_th147_120x150.jpg)
Angela Lorts, MD, MBA
![David Rosenthal, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/rosenthal_david_120x150.jpg)
David Rosenthal, MD
![Lauren Smyth, MHA](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Smyth-Lauren_120x150_b.jpg)
Lauren Smyth, MHA
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/FACT_Sprague_LS7_1200x800.png)
Inspiring ACTION
After a heartbreaking experience, Liam and his family inspired providers across the country to rethink how they communicate and learn from one another. Now, with the ACTION collaborative, every patient has access to a healthcare community working together to provide the best care throughout their heart health journey.
Executive Leadership
![Neha Bansal, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Bansal_Neha_120x150.jpg)
Neha Bansal, MD
Children's Heart Center
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Cousino_Melissa_2022_120x150.jpg)
Melissa Cousino, PhD
Children’s Hospital
![Katrina_Fields_BSN](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Fields_Katrina_20170613_rn-3_120x150.jpg)
Katrina Fields, BSN
![David Morales, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Morales_David_20181126_th051_120x150-scaled.jpg)
David Morales, MD
![Jenna Murray, NP](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Murray_jenna_120x150.jpg)
Jenna Murray, NP
![Matthew O'Connor, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/OConnor_Matthew_120x150.jpg)
Matthew O’Connor, MD
of Philadelphia
![David Peng, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Peng_David_120x150b.jpg)
David Peng, MD
Children’s Hospital
![Tanya Perry, DO](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Perry_Tanya_20200928_ml-9865_120x150.jpg)
Tanya Perry, DO
![Joseph_Spinner_MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Spinner_Joseph_MD_120x150.jpg)
Joseph Spinner, MD
Hospital
![Christina VanderPlyum, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/VanderPlyum-Christina_120x150.jpg)
Christina VanderPluym, MD
Hospital
![Chet Villa, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Villa_Chet_20190327_ml-2691_120x150.jpg)
Chet Villa, MD
Executive Adjunct Leadership
![Scott Auerbach, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Auerbach_Scott_MD_120x150.jpg)
Scott Auerbach, MD
![Katy Fraser, Abbott](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Abbott_KatyFraser.jpg)
Katy Fraser
![Kirstie Keller, PhD, Additional Ventures](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/AdditionalVentures_Keller_Kirstie_120x150.jpg)
Kirstie Keller, PhD
![Robert Kroslowitz, Berlin Heart](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/BerlinHeart_RobertKroslowitz_120x150.jpg)
Bob Kroslowitz
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/McQueen_Melissa_120x150.jpg)
Melissa McQueen
![Sara Paquali, Cardiac Networks United](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CNU_SaraPaquali_120x150.jpg)
Sara Pasquali, MD, MHS
![Joseph Rossano, MD, MS](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Rossano-Joseph_120x150.jpg)
Joesph Rossano, MD, MS
![Farhan Zafar, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Farhan-Zafar_20200219_120x150.jpg)
Farhan Zafar, MD
Data Adjudication & Visualization Leadership
![Scott Auerbach, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Auerbach_Scott_MD_120x150.jpg)
Scott Auerbach, MD
Colorado
![Kwiatkowski_David](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Kwiatkowski_David_120x150.jpg)
David Kwiatkowski, MD
Hospital Stanford
![Robert Niebler, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Niebler_Robert_120x150.jpg)
Robert Niebler, MD
Wisconsin
Disease or Treatment Specific Leadership
Heart Failure
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Butts_Ryans_120x150b.png)
Ryan Butts, MD
Dallas
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Simpson_Katie_MD_120x150.png)
Kathleen Simpson, MD
Colorado
![Joseph_Spinner_MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Spinner_Joseph_MD_120x150.jpg)
Joseph Spinner, MD
Hospital
Congenital Heart Disease
![Ari_Cedars_MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Cedars_Ari_MD_120x150.jpg)
Ari Cedars, MD
Children's Center
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Schumacher_Kurt_MD_120x150.jpg)
Kurt Schumacher, MD
Children’s Hospital
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Simpson_Katie_MD_120x150.png)
Kathleen Simpson, MD
Colorado
Ventricular Assist Devices
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Conway_Jennifer_Stollery_120x150.jpg)
Jennifer Conway, MD
Hospital
![Angela Lorts, MD, MBA](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/20201215_th147_120x150.jpg)
Angie Lorts, MD, MBA
![Christina VanderPlyum, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/VanderPlyum-Christina_120x150.jpg)
Christina VanderPluym, MD
Hospital
Muscular Dystrophy
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Cripe_Linda_MD_120x150.jpg)
Linda Cripe, MD
Children’s
![Deipanjan Nandi, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Nandi_Deipanjan_120x150.jpg)
Deipanjan Nandi, MD
Children’s
![Chet Villa, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Villa_Chet_20190327_ml-2691_120x150.jpg)
Chet Villa, MD
Preparing for Transplant
![Neha Bansal, MD](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Bansal_Neha_120x150.jpg)
Neha Bansal, MD
Children's Heart Center
![seth_hollander_md](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/hollander_seth_md_120x150.jpg)
Seth Hollander, MD
![](https://www.actionlearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/amir_jeewa_MD_120x150.png)
Aamir Jeewa, MD
The Hospital for Sick Children
Core Initiative Leaders
- Betsy Blume, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Melissa Cousino, PhD, C.S. Mott Children’s
- Lindsay May, MD, Primary Children’s
- Kevin Hall, MD, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital
- Dave Peng, MD, C.S. Mott Children’s
- Jennifer Conway, MD, Stollery Children’s
- Dave Peng, MD, C.S. Mott Children’s
- Kathleen Simpson, MD, Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Katrina Fields, BSN, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
- Jodie Lantz, MSN, Children’s Health Dallas
- Tanya Perry, DO, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
- Anna Joong, MD, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
- Joseph Spinner, MD, Texas Children’s Hospital
Task Force & Committee Leaders (not listed above)
- Christopher Almond, MD, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
- Shahnawaz Amdani, MD, Cleveland Clinic Children’s
- Sharon Chen, MD, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
- Lara Danziger-Isakov, MD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
- John Dykes, MD, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
- Barbara Elias, BSN, Texas Children’s
- Jesse Esch, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Brian Feingold, MD, Children’s of Pittsburgh
- Josh Friedland-Little, MD, Seattle Children’s
- Robert Gajarski, MD, Nationwide Children’s
- Kristen George, NP, Sick Kids/The Hospital for Sick Children
- Nancy Ghanayem, MD, Advocate Children’s Hospital
- Aamir Jeewa, MD, Sick Kids/The Hospital for Sick Children
- Michael Khoury, MD, Stollery Children’s Hospital
- Steven Kindel, MD, Children’s Wisconsin
- Mary Mehegan, RN, St. Louis Children’s
- Michelle Ploutz, MD, Primary Children’s
- Marc Richmond, MD, Columbia Morgan Stanley
- Arash Salavitabar, MD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- David Sutcliffe, MD, Children’s Mercy Kansas City
- Hari Tunuguntla, MD, Texas Children’s
- Kae Watanabe, MD, Texas Children’s
- Samuel Wittekind, MD, Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Steven Zangwill, MD, Phoenix Children’s
Operations & Data Coordinating Center
Located within the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
- Anaam Alzubi, Data Analyst
- Nikita D’Souza, Program Management
- Toni Duganiero, Data Management
- Katie Flaspohler, Coordinator
- Harish Gureddygari, Developer II
- Benjamin Kroslowitz, Sr. Data Analyst
- Christina Larkins, Program Management
- Kacie Serrato, Designer, Swash & Dot Design
- Muhammad Shezad, MHSA, Staff Scientist
Key Stakeholders
- Sonya Bhavsar Abiomed
- Eric Chen Abbott
- Katy Fraser Abbott
- Robert Kormos Abbott
- Kirstie Keller, PhD Additional Ventures
- Bob Kroslowitz Berlin Heart, Inc.
- Melissa McQueen, Parent Advisor
- Leslie Sweet Medtronic
- Elizabeth Oei SynCardia
Our Sites
To contact an ACTION site or member, please email us and let us know who you would like to connect with.
- Advocate Children’s Hospital
- American Family Children’s Hospital
- Arkansas Children’s Hospital
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
- Children’s Health Dallas
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Children’s Hospital at Montefiore
- Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan
- Children’s Hospital of New Orleans
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
- Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
- Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
- Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital
- Children’s Mercy Kansas City
- Children’s Minnesota
- Children’s Nebraska
- Children’s National Medical Center
- Children’s of Alabama
- Children’s of Mississippi
- CHU Sainte-Justine
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
- Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital
- Cohen Children’s Medical Center
- C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
- Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas
- Duke Children’s Hospital
- Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone
- Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
- Holtz Children’s Hospital/Jackson Memorial
- Inova L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital
- Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
- Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
- Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
- Levine Children’s Hospital
- Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital
- Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
- Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
- Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital
- Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian
- Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Heart Center
- MUSC Children’s Health
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware
- Norton Children’s Hospital
- Ochsner Hospital for Children
- Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Heart Center
- Phoenix Children’s Hospital
- Primary Children’s Hospital
- Rady Children’s Hospital
- Riley Hospital for Children
- Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Sick Kids – The Hospital for Sick Children
- St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
- St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Stollery Children’s Hospital
- Texas Children’s Hospital
- UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital
- UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
- UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital
- University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital
- University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital
- UVA Children’s
- Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital
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Australia The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
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United Kingdom Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children
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Malaysia National Heart Institute (Institut Jantung Negara, Kuala Lumpur)
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Vancouver, British Columbia British Columbia Children’s Hospital
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São Paulo, Brazil Heart Institute (InCor) University of São Paulo Medical School
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Rome, Italy Bambino Gesù Children Hospital