Meet Our Team
Find your care
Our pediatric cardiologists provide world-class care. To learn more about our services, call 310-267-7667.
If you would like to refer a patient to the UCLA Congenital Heart Program for congenital heart surgery or for a discussion of surgical candidacy, please complete this Surgical Referral Form.
UCLA Pediatric Cardiology, internationally recognized for providing world-class care, provides a comprehensive range of services for the fetus, newborn, child, and adolescent with any form of confirmed or suspected, congenital or acquired heart disease.
Our close association with the Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center enables our world-class fetal/pediatric cardiac care to continue into and throughout adulthood, with a seamless and effective transition.
Juan C. Alejos, MD
Christine M. Bui, MD
Gulnigor Ganieva, MD
Nancy J. Halnon, MD
Majid Husain, MD
Daniel S. Levi, MD
Jeremy P. Moore, MD
Claire A. Newlon, MD
Gregory S. Perens, MD
Leigh Reardon, MD
Gary M. Satou, MD
Sanjay P. Sinha, MD
Jonathan Su, MD
Sonia L. Voleti, MD
Outpatient Pediatric Cardiology Nursing
Outpatient Perinatal/Pediatric Cardiology Outpatient Nurse Coordinator: Ashley Wann, RN
Whether your child has just been discharged from the hospital following heart surgery, or you are coming to UCLA for an initial consultation, our team of outpatient nurses will assist you and the cardiologists as we all work together to provide the best care for your child.
Clinic Nurses
Our pediatric cardiology clinic is located in the Witherbee Foundation Children's Health Center located at UCLA Medical Plaza. When you arrive, you will register at the front desk and be directed to the cardiology module, where you will be greeted by one of our clinic nurses. The nurse will take your child's vital signs and measure height and weight, and then they will escort you to one of our patient rooms. These nurses are able to answer questions, assist with school or work notes for missing the day of the appointment, and perform an ECG (or Electrocardiograph, which is a non-invasive test that shows the electrical rhythm of the heart) at the cardiologist's request.
Pediatric Cardiology Nurses
Our pediatric cardiology nurses are an important part of our cardiology team, and have many years of experience in caring for children with complex cardiology needs. They are available during clinic to answer questions, complete patient assessments including monitoring of growth and nutrition, help coordinate care, and provide education related to diagnosis, medications, procedures, and well-child care. They are also able to connect you with other clinical staff and resources as needed, such as a dietitian, social worker, pediatric cardiology support group, or information on local and state programs, such as Medi-Cal and California Children's Services.
Between clinic visits, the nurses are also available by phone and email to answer questions, help resolve difficult situations (such as problems getting medication from the pharmacy), and act as a liaison to enhance your communication with the cardiology team.
Inpatient Cardiology/Cardiothoracic Surgery Nursing
Our inpatient nursing staff serves a vital role in the care of your child. Treatment plans can be complex and involve a variety of team members Nursing roles include patient assessment, education before/after surgical procedures, post-operative care, discharge instructions and transitioning to outpatient nursing. Our inpatient nurses are available to families throughout the hospitalization to answer questions, offer advice and provide state-of-the-art and compassionate care.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): your newborn will be cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit immediately after birth by a team of nurses that are trained to care for neonates. Your baby will be cared for here prior to surgery as well as after the immediate post-operative period as needed through discharge.
Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (PCTICU): Dedicated and designed specifically to care for children after cardiothoracic surgery. Nurses in this unit are experienced pediatric intensive care nurses that have undergone additional classes and training to care for children with congenital heart defects and open heart surgery. Immediately after surgery your child will be admitted to this unit for care and stabilization until recovered from the immediate post-operative period. Patients may be discharged directly from this unit.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU): Dedicated and designed to care exclusively for children who require higher acuity nursing outside of the immediate post-operative period. Your child may be transferred here 2-3 days after surgery to continue his recovery.
Cardiothoracic Surgery Nurse Practitioners: Cardiothoracic Pediatric Nurse Practitioners will be the first medical professionals you and your family members will meet from the surgical team. They provide continuity from the first meeting with the surgeon at the surgical consultation to the post-operative appointment after your child has been discharged home. The cardiothoracic pediatric nurse practitioners work closely with families and the remainder of the health care team to assure that your child receives the best care possible. In addition to providing continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient settings, our nurse practitioners participate in educating families and staff about heart conditions, ordering diagnostic tests, managing medications, keeping your family, your child and the referring physician informed of any test results or changes in management or plan. The nurse practitioners visit your child daily while he/she is in the hospital.
Pediatric Cardiology/Cardiothoracic Surgery Nursing
Nicole Antonville, RN, MSN
Nicole began her nursing care, inpatient at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center before moving to outpatient at the Ahamanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center. For 8 years, she worked on the adult cardiac observation unit (COU) and critical care unit (CCU), where she enjoyed working with the young adult congenital heart patients.
Aurora Garcia Guillermo, LVN
Aurora joined the UCLA Children’s Heart Center in November 2020. Graduated from California Career Institute in 2017. She began her nursing career at UMMA Community Clinic in 2017 where she provided care for a variety of patients on a daily basis. She then joined Pacific Cardiovascular Associates Medical Group in Long Beach in 2018 where she cared for infants, children and adolescents with congenital heart disease and other cardiac disorders in outpatient pediatric cardiology clinic.
Robyn Goldstein, NP, MSN, ACNP-BC, CNS
Robyn Goldstein has worked with UCLA Children’s Heart Center as a Nurse Practitioner for 2 years. She comes to UCLA after caring for Cardiology and Electrophysiology patients in private practice for 12 years as a Nurse Practitioner. As a staff nurse, Robyn worked at the USC University Hospital for 8 years where she held multiple positions including Staff Nurse, Lead Preceptor, Charge Nurse, and ultimately as the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.
Erin Mendoza, RN, BSN
Erin Mendoza, RN, BSN joined the UCLA Pediatric Cardiology team in 2018. Her previous fifteen years of implanted cardiac device experience includes the management and care of adult patients with implanted cardiac devices in a large private cardiology group where she also managed multiple long and short-term research studies.
Susana I. Preza-Scavo, NP
Mary E. Scotti, NP
Education: Master of Science in Nursing, California State University, Dominguez Hills 2007; Family Nurse Practitioner Program, 2007; Bachelor of Science Physical Education, CSU Northridge, 1982.
Certifications: Board Certified American Academy of Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Cardiology Social Work
Providing Patients and Their Families Psychosocial Support in the Transition between Life in the Hospital and Life at Home.
Social workers at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital work closely with pediatric cardiology/cardiothoracic surgery patients and their families, and collaborate with the entire medical team including your child's pediatric cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, nurses, dieticians, child life specialists, and other allied health service providers. Along with the Chase Child Life Program at UCLA, we understand the psychosocial impact that heart conditions can have not only on pediatric patients but also on their families. We work collaboratively to develop care plans that meet your child's medical, developmental and emotional needs. We respect and complement the family's vital role in ensuring the well-being of all pediatric cardiology patients.
Services that we provide depend on the individual needs of each patient and family, but may include:
- Crisis intervention and psychosocial support surrounding trauma, catastrophic or chronic illness (major forms of congenital heart disease)
- Counseling to help patients and families cope with cardiac diagnosis, illness, hospitalization and/or role changes
- Psychoeducation regarding the patient's illness and care plan
- Advocacy to promote patient- and family-centered care while respecting language and cultural differences
- Facilitation of family conferences with your child's team to ensure collaborative communication and comprehensive treatment plans
- Referrals to community agencies for basic needs
- Creation of early transitional plans to ensure patient's readiness to move from pediatric to adult cardiology services.
- Assistance with grief, loss and end of life issues
- Support with behavioral, developmental, or educational concerns
- Assessment of mental health or family issues including depression, anxiety, substance abuse and violence
Community Pediatric Cardiologists
Olive View Medical Center
14445 Olive View Dr
Sylmar, CA 91342
(747) 210-3000
