The University of Nevada School of Medicine recently received a generous gift from the Children's Heart Center Nevada to support faculty development and research in its pediatrics department.

The "Children's Heart Center of Nevada Pediatric Research Fund," in the amount of $100,000 over 10 years, will be used to stimulate new research activities among faculty, according to David Gremse, M.D., chair of the School's pediatrics department in Las Vegas.

"This gift will allow our faculty to engage in research activity that can improve children's lives," he said. "It is fitting that the Children's Heart Center gift is aimed at fostering medical research to benefit children."

Nevin Wilson, M.D., pediatrics chair in Reno, echoes the sentiment. "We are very pleased and grateful that this gift has been made available to us to cultivate research in children's diseases here in Nevada. It will allow us to continue and expand clinical research that we are doing that directly impacts children in this state. What the Children's Heart Center has provided is appreciated and will be put to good use."

Established in 1980, Children's Heart Center Nevada is the only pediatric cardiology practice in the state of Nevada. Comprised of 12 physicians and supported by a nursing department and staff of over 100, the center's aim is to make Nevada a world-class center for the treatment of children with heart disease. It has developed full-time programs in the areas of pediatric cardiac consultation, intervention, electrophysiology, cardiovascular risk factor reduction, fetal echocardiography, cardiovascular surgical services, adults with congenital heart disease and an evaluation program for pulmonary hypertension in both children and adults.

The collaborative relationship between the University of Nevada School of Medicine and the Children's Heart Center of Las Vegas illustrates a successful marriage of public and private entities working together to address Nevada's health care needs.

The pediatric cardiologists of Children's Heart Center have a strong belief in the academic principles of research for the advancement of scientific knowledge, the teaching of physicians and service to the community, all ideals which fit hand-in-glove with the School of Medicine's mission as the only public medical school in the state dedicated to a best-practice approach to medicine.

Children's Heart Center serves Nevada with five offices in Southern and Northern Nevada as well as various outreach clinics. No child in need of services is turned away for any reason.