Current Environment:

Medical Services

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English

Education

Undergraduate School

Northwestern University

1993, Evanston, IL

Medical School

Harvard Medical School

1997, Boston, MA

Residency

General and Thoracic Surgery

Duke University Medical Center

2005, Durham, NC

Residency

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Duke University Medical Center

2006, Durham, NC

Fellowship

Boston Children's Hospital

2007, Boston, MA

Certifications

  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery (Congenital Heart Surgery)
  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery (General)

Professional History

Following completion of training in adult cardiothoracic surgery and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, I joined the staff at Boston Children’s Hospital.  I am the surgical director for the complex biventricular repair program, and adult congenital heart program.  My clinical expertise also includes valve repair and replacement strategies, neonatal heart surgery, and minimally invasive surgery for children.  My research efforts include strategies to “grow” a left heart – including stem cell therapy - in patients with borderline left heart who otherwise would undergo single ventricle palliation.  A major problem in children with heart valve disease is the lack of a valve that can grow as a child grows.  This motivated me to pursue a design of expandable valve technologies, to reduce the need for reoperation in children.  Additional research interests include use of 3-D printing for surgical planning and understanding the clotting system in children after heart surgery. 

Dr. Emani serves as an expert for the Department of Cardiac Surgery for Boston Children's Hospital Precision Medicine Service. For more information about the Precision Medicine Service please visit bostonchildrens.org/precisionmed.

Media

Caregiver Profile

Meet Dr. Sitaram Emani

Publications

Although originally an engineer by training, I found my true inspiration to be children and adults with congenital heart disease.

With just a little help from doctors and surgeons, a patient with CHD can recover to do amazing things, and this has motivated me to dedicate my life to such “warriors”. I try to combine my experience as an engineer to bring new technology and innovative solutions to difficult problems, but find the greatest satisfaction in seeing a child run, laugh, and play even after major surgery. My adult patients with congenital heart disease were the trailblazers for our field as they were among the first to undergo many of the surgeries we perform today. But they may need further surgeries later in adulthood, and have unique needs that we address with our combined adult congenital heart program. My research and device development work is totally motivated by my CHD warriors young and old, as we find ways to solve complex problems together.