expert heart care, built for kids
Our board-certified pediatric cardiologists evaluate chest pain, heart murmurs, irregular heartbeats and congenital heart conditions — with testing right in the clinic.
The Pediatric Difference
Where pediatric expertise meets compassionate care
Board-Certified
Fellowship-trained pediatric cardiologists
In-Clinic Testing
EKG, echo and more during your visit
why families choose Dayton Children’s
care designed just for kids
Every exam, EKG and echocardiogram is designed with children and teens in mind, providing care tailored to their unique needs.
answers without extra trips
Most diagnostic tests happen right in the clinic, so doctors see results quickly and address concerns right away.
care at every stage
From fetal heart conditions to adult congenital care, our team supports growing hearts for a lifetime.
prevention, not just treatment
Our preventive cardiology clinic helps kids with high cholesterol, blood pressure concerns or family heart history.
conditions we treat
We bring specialized expertise, advanced imaging and compassionate care together to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions affecting your child’s heart.
- Chest pain
- Heart murmurs
- Irregular heartbeat or palpitations (arrhythmia)
- Racing heartbeat (SVT)
- Fainting or lightheadedness (syncope)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol (abnormal lipids)
- Holes in the heart (ASD, VSD, PFO)
- Congenital heart defects
- Fetal heart conditions
- Cardiomyopathy
- Heart valve conditions
- Kawasaki disease
- Family history of heart conditions
- View more conditions we treat →
cardiology care close to home
common
questions
Many families come to us through a referral from their pediatrician, often after a heart murmur or abnormal finding. You can also call or schedule online to get started, and our team will help coordinate any records or test results we need.
Pediatric cardiologists are specially trained in how a child’s growing heart differs from an adult’s — including conditions present at birth. Our team cares for hearts from before birth through young adulthood, with exams and testing designed to put kids at ease.
In most cases, yes — tests like EKGs and echocardiograms happen right in our clinic, often during the same visit, so our doctors can review results quickly and talk through next steps with you. Plan for one to three hours, depending on your child’s needs.
Avery’s story
Avery Abshear loves to read, make people laugh and cares about everyone. And, at just 10 years old, she’s not afraid to try anything. However, Avery today is vastly different than how she came into this world and for her mom, Rachel, Avery is the miracle she could have only wished for.
When Avery was born, her little heart was her biggest medical concern and the family knew open heart surgery was imminent. Her initial stay at Dayton Children’s set into motion the plan for surgery to take place.
A central member of Avery’s care team then – and now – has been her cardiologist, Dr. Michael Ralston.
At just 4 months old, Avery underwent heart surgery to repair a hole in her heart. The surgery – performed at another children’s hospital – was successful; however, Avery developed severe pulmonary hypertension and the medical team had difficulty regulating her heart rate and oxygen levels. The team there recommended Avery for a tracheostomy where a tube would be inserted into her throat to assist with breathing.
“We couldn’t wrap our heads around that being our only option. I was struggling and just didn’t feel right about the trach option, so I called and left a message for Dr. Ralston. He called me back, talked to her surgery team and assured me that we didn’t have to do the trach at this time. It wasn’t life or death. We were able to take her home with the option to schedule the procedure for a later date if it was necessary. He was the only person to look at the bigger picture. I call him our hero doctor.”
ready to get answers about your child’s heart?
Schedule online in minutes, or call our team to find the earliest available appointment with a pediatric cardiologist.
