Mary Bridge Children’s opens new cardiology practice 

MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Network marked the opening of our new pediatric cardiology specialty clinic with a ribbon cutting celebration the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 3. 

From left: Florence Chang, president of MultiCare Health System; Nefthi Sandeep, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Mary Bridge Children’s Cardiology; Bill Robertson, CEO of MultiCare Health System, stand together at the grand opening of Mary Bridge Children’s Cardiology in September 2024.

Cardiac care is a critical piece of pediatric health care. Mary Bridge Children’s has been working actively to create a comprehensive children’s heart center and network to ensure kids in the Pacific Northwest have access to the care they need, close to home. 

Our goal is to create a comprehensive and compassionate pediatric cardiology program that will offer the highest standard of care to our patients. We are committed to utilizing the latest advancements in medical technology and treatment to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.

For many years, we provided pediatric cardiac care through partnerships with other health systems in the Puget Sound region. Opening Mary Bridge Children’s Cardiology means we are now able to offer this important specialty care to the families in our communities fully under the Mary Bridge Children’s name and with our multidisciplinary, family-centered and patient-first approach to care. 

“To be able to care for patients with congenital heart disease from fetus to adulthood is a true honor and privilege and the ultimate team sport,” says Nefthi Sandeep, MD, board-certified cardiologist and medical director of Mary Bridge Children’s Cardiology. “We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this next great chapter in Mary Bridge’s history and legacy.” 

In addition to Dr. Sandeep, longtime pediatric cardiologist John McCloskey, MD, is seeing patients at Mary Bridge Children’s Cardiology. Dr. McCloskey founded Northwest Congenital Heart Care and has more than 40 years of cardiology experience.  

“After a fulfilling period of retirement, I decided to return to work to help establish this new pediatric cardiology program at Mary Bridge Children’s to ensure that patients with congenital heart disease will continue to have a local resource for care in the South Sound,” says Dr. McCloskey. “My passion for providing exceptional care to children with heart conditions has always been a driving force in my career. The opportunity to contribute to the development of this new program and to work with a dedicated team of professionals at Mary Bridge Children’s is truly inspiring.” 

The clinic’s focus will be on caring for pediatric cardiac patients in the Tacoma and South Sound region in the short term, but plans are in the works to expand capacity to care for patients in all the regions we serve as we move into the future.  

Learn more about Mary Bridge Children’s Cardiology, including how to get a referral to the clinic.