For decades, Charles Huddleston, MD, and Andrew Fiore, MD, have been the heart of the nationally recognized cardiac surgery program at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital — over the years caring for thousands of children with a wide range of heart conditions needing surgical repair or even heart transplants. All their success, they say, is because of a shared commitment to excellence and a team approach to care. That collegiality has been in place since the Hospital was founded, and they say the team, which now includes surgeons Corinne Tan, MD, and Peter Pastuszko, MD, along with several dedicated support teams, has an unselfish approach to helping each other do what’s best for patients.
Question: What does that “unselfish approach” mean?
Dr. Fiore: It’s about working together to achieve great results without focusing on who gets the credit. We have a group of people — from physicians to nurses and many others — who collaborate closely to care for children with heart problems. I think the process fosters excellence and innovation.
Question: The program is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country. What are some of the highlights of the history of cardiac surgery at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital?
Dr. Huddleston: We have been ranked nationally for many years. I remember the talented physicians before me — Val Willman, MD, and other doctors at Saint Louis University were the first surgeons in the Midwest to perform an adult heart transplant in 1972. Their colleague, Glenn Pennington, MD, performed the first pediatric heart transplant at Glennon in 1988. He also was a national leader in the research and use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) that could be used as a bridge to transplantation.
Dr. Fiore: I’ll add that Dr. Pennington was a pioneer of ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) starting in 1982, which is a heart-lung bypass device that can temporarily take over the functions of the lungs and heart. Today ECMO can be employed emergently at the bedside in the intensive care unit or the emergency room and continues to save countless lives. Dr. Huddleston then expanded the program here to include novel treatments for congenital heart defects. With more adults than children living with congenital heart disease now, he was at the forefront of helping us establish a pediatric-to-adult congenital heart surgery program.
Question: What have been some of the biggest advances in heart care for children over the past three decades?
Dr. Fiore: A major advance has been the start of our fetal heart program, which allows us to detect heart defects before birth, plan the best approach and treat newborns within hours, often saving lives that once would have been lost. We’ve also moved toward less invasive procedures, such as valve repair or replacement through transcatheter techniques instead of open-heart surgery. Imaging has advanced from basic ultrasound to 4D technology to showcase real-time blood flow. 3D-printed heart models are used for surgical planning of complex cases. Add in mechanical assist devices, heart transplants and highly advanced reconstructive surgeries, and the possibilities for helping children have never been greater.
Question: Dr. Tan, you joined the team in 2021. You earned your medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine and completed advanced fellowships in congenital cardiac surgery and another in surgical critical care in Boston before you returned to St. Louis. What drew you back?
Dr. Tan: Dr. Fiore was my mentor while I was training at SLU. He and Dr. Huddleston set the standard for how this program cares for children, and I wanted to be a part of that. Throughout my training, they taught with skill and compassion and always emphasized teamwork.
Dr. Huddleston: When people interview here, we always talk about the collaboration among all the cardiac surgeons and cardiologists. Even during re-certification of our heart program, reviewers noted our collegiality. That’s significant.
Dr. Fiore: I agree. It’s really a key component of our long-standing success. Collegiality helps all of us achieve excellence.
Q. Dr. Pastuszko, you also have a long connection to our institution through your relationship with Dr. Huddleston, right?
Dr. Pastuszko: Yes. I met Dr. Huddleston in 2006 or 2007, and my own mentor spoke very highly of him. Pediatric cardiac surgery is a small field, with fewer than 200 trained surgeons in the United States. I’ve been a pediatric heart surgeon for more than 20 years, working in four hospitals before coming here. When you look at the national ranking for Cardinal Glennon, it is truly a reflection of the skill and dedication of the entire team. My goal is to continue to build upon that legacy of excellence.
Question: What sets Cardinal Glennon’s heart program apart from other programs across the country?
Dr. Pastuszko: Between the four of us here, we probably have more experience than 99% of all the pediatric cardiac surgery programs in the country. There may be hospitals that have higher volume, but patients here benefit from the combined knowledge and experience we have.
Dr. Tan: I think another advantage is that we are an academic institution affiliated with Saint Louis University School of Medicine. It’s that bridge that enables us to remain involved in research and scholarly activities. It’s a big plus because it enhances our own knowledge and can improve the way we treat patients for various cardiac conditions.
Question: What is the vision for the future?
Dr. Tan: To keep doing what we are doing. To not turn away any patient who needs us and to work together to solve the complex conditions we sometimes face. That’s how we build upon what others have taught us.
Dr. Pastuszko: No matter whether the names change, or physicians retire, the full team commitment to excellence doesn’t change.
As Dr. Fiore and Dr. Huddleston contemplate retirement, they both smile and fondly recall the many patients they have helped over the years. Says Dr. Huddleston, “One of the great things that I get to see is that many of our patients keep in touch as they become adults. I love to get Christmas cards, wedding notices and graduation and birthday cards. I keep them all. It’s a tangible reminder that what we do to care for children with heart problems has a profound positive impact as they grow into adults.”
This story was featured in the 2025 issue of Glennon Magazine.
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