DALLAS, Sep 10, 2025 — Children’s Health, the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, today announced that Ryan Davies, M.D. has been named Co-Director of The Heart Center. He will also serve as the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Davies is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, bringing decades of experience, leading-edge research and exemplary care to Children’s Health and UT Southwestern. He will work alongside Nicolas Madsen, M.D., Director of Cardiology at Children’s Health and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology at UT Southwestern.
“Dr. Davies’ appointment reflects our commitment to advancing pediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic care for patients in North Texas and beyond,” said Dai Chung, M.D., Chief Medical Executive for the Children’s Health and UT Southwestern joint pediatric enterprise. “He is a dynamic leader, educator and innovator whose expertise in congenital heart conditions, heart failure and transplantation will be pivotal in further positioning The Heart Center as one of the most comprehensive pediatric cardiology and heart surgery facilities in the nation.”
Dr. Davies has been an industry leader in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, previously serving as the Surgical Director of Pediatric Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at Children’s Health, as well as co-leading the system’s pediatric heart transplant program — the highest-volume program of its kind in the country. His work was also recognized as part of UT Southwestern’s 2024 Leaders in Clinical Excellence Award for Program Achievement.
In addition to his clinical leadership, Dr. Davies has advanced pediatric cardiac care through research and national advocacy. He currently serves as a Director of the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) and previously chaired the Thoracic Organ Transplant Committee, which has shaped national heart allocation policy. He is also a national principal investigator for the NIH/NHLBI’s PumpKIN Pivotal Trial. His research portfolio includes over 120 peer-reviewed publications and clinical trials exploring innovations such as bioabsorbable pulmonary valve conduits and the Jarvik 2015 VAD.
“I am deeply honored to begin a new chapter of my career at Children’s Health and UT Southwestern in this leadership role,” said Dr. Davies. “During my eight years with the system, Children’s Health has given me an extraordinary opportunity to advance pediatric cardiac surgery and to build on the strong foundation of care and innovation already established. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Madsen and the entire team to continue to make life better for children and their families.”
“Dr. Davies is an esteemed leader in the field and someone I deeply respect for his dedication to clinical excellence, academic rigor and commitment to patient-centered care,” said Dr. Madsen. “We share a commitment to guide The Heart Center into the future by advancing clinical excellence, research and patient outcomes.”
The Heart Center at Children’s Health is a U.S. News & World Report-ranked facility for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, and it is one of the most comprehensive in the nation. With the appointment of Dr. Davies, the Children’s Health team and UT Southwestern will continue to strengthen The Heart Center using pioneering innovation, academic research and lifesaving technology and treatments, all to provide comprehensive care to pediatric cardiac patients in North Texas and beyond.
To learn more, visit childrens.com/watchusgrow, www.utsouthwestern.edu, and give.childrens.com.
About Children’s Health
Children’s Health is the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas and has long been recognized as a leader in pediatric health. Children’s Health campuses include Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Children’s Medical Center Plano and multiple Children’s Health Specialty Centers. With its academic partner, UT Southwestern, Children’s Medical Center Dallas is consistently ranked the No. 1 children’s hospital in North Texas and among the nation’s best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Its commitment to excellence and providing outstanding care across all aspects of pediatrics has resulted in being ranked across all specialty programs for seven consecutive years, including Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Behavioral Health, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology and Urology.
In addition, Children’s Health nurses have received the Magnet® designation for the past 14 years, the highest honor for nursing excellence, and the health care system has been named a 2025 top place to work by Forbes and USA Today and one of the 150 Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review for 13 consecutive years. In addition, Children’s Health was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024 for its pioneering model to train physicians to treat children’s mental health.
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About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 24 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 23 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,200 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 140,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.1 million outpatient visits a year.