Michael D. Freed

Dr. Michael Freed passed away on December 11, 2024 after prolonged illness. As Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Senior Associate in Cardiology, Dr. Freed was a pioneer in the field of pediatric cardiology and a foundational member of the Department of Cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital. He will be sorely missed.

Dr. Freed graduated from Brandeis University and received his MD degree from New York University School of Medicine. After completing his pediatric training at NYU, he joined the fellowship program in Cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital in 1970 and remained here for his entire 50-year career. During this time, Dr. Freed influenced national treatment strategies and policies in congenital heart disease. He had a seminal role in bringing prostaglandin treatment to newborns with duct-dependent lesions and contributed important insights into the physiology of congenital heart disease in the newborn, infective endocarditis, valvular disease, and exercise restrictions, as well as workforce needs in our field. At Boston Children’s, he held many leadership positions, including Chief of the Division of Inpatient Cardiology and Director of Outpatient Cardiology, Chair of the Boston Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Committee, leadership roles at the Boston Children’s Heart Foundation, and Chair of the Admissions Committee of the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Training Program.

Remarkably, he continued to see patients and teach fellows in the ambulatory clinic until just a month before his passing. Dr. Freed’s dedication to trainee education and consummate patient care are legendary, and the Department of Cardiology is committed to continuing Dr. Freed’s legacy of exceptional patient care and clinician training in the years to come.