Compassionate Pediatric Care. Body, Mind & Spirit.
A Catholic, not-for-profit healthcare ministry delivering comprehensive pediatric medicine, Level III/IV neonatal critical care, 24/7 pediatric emergency triage, and academic residency research across Northwest Florida.
Family-Centered Pediatric Healthcare
1564 East Nine Mile Road, Cantonment Health Corridor
Specialized Pediatric Medicine
Specialized Pediatric Services
Equipped with pediatric-specific diagnostics, sterile surgical suites, and in-house subspecialists ready around the clock.
Department of Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Center
Pediatric Heart Center & Congenital Surgery
Comprehensive cardiac care from fetal cardiology to complex congenital heart repair with dedicated pediatric cardiac intensive care.
Department of Neonatal & Pediatric Critical Care
24/7 ER
Level III/IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Advanced, gentle care for premature and critically ill newborns with whole-body cooling, ECMO capability, and single-family private suites.
Department of Pediatric Oncology & Hematology
Pediatric Oncology & Infusion Pavilion
Child-friendly cancer care offering clinical trial therapies, dedicated inpatient suites, and outpatient infusion in an atmosphere of warmth and hope.
Department of Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery
Pediatric Neuroscience & Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
Comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for epilepsy, migraines, brain injuries, neuromuscular conditions, and surgical disorders of the nervous system.
Department of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
24/7 ER
24/7 Dedicated Pediatric Emergency & Trauma Center
Round-the-clock emergency medical and surgical triage staffed by board-certified pediatric emergency physicians and pediatric trauma nurses.
Why Families Across Northwest Florida Trust Sacred Heart
Combining advanced medical technology with the Catholic tradition of caring for the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — with special attention to those most in need.
Holistic Catholic Care
Rooted in Jesus as healer, serving all children with dignity, reverence, and compassion.
566-Bed Regional Acute-Care Facility
Incorporating the Studer Family Children’s Hospital and Regional Maternity & Women’s Center.
Academic Residency & Research
Pediatric resident education and clinical studies published in the peer-reviewed Sacred Heart Journal.
Designed Exclusively for Pediatric Healing
From sensory-calming pediatric reception halls to dedicated surgical towers and outdoor healing courtyards.
Main Hospital Campus
Sacred Heart Main Pavilion
Comprehensive pediatric inpatient towers, pediatric subspecialty clinics, and advanced diagnostic imaging.
Dedicated ER Entrance
Emergency Pavilion
Direct-access emergency drive, rapid triage bays, and sensory-friendly rooms for urgent pediatric care.
Child-Friendly Atrium
Sensory Welcome Atrium
Vibrant ocean-themed interactive welcome environment designed to ease children's anxiety during hospital visits.
Healing Gardens
Therapeutic Courtyard
Safe open-air pediatric green space and family gathering gardens for physical therapy and recuperation.
Meet Our Resident & Attending Doctors
Compassionate clinicians delivering specialized pediatric care and training future leaders in medicine.
MD, FAAP, FACC — Director of Pediatric Cardiology & Residency Program Director
Dr. Marcus Vance is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist with over 18 years of clinical leadership. He completed his pediatric residency at Boston Children’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School and fellowship in pediatric interventional cardiology at Texas Children’s Hospital. At Sacred Heart, Dr. Vance oversees the Pediatric Residency Training Program.
Prince Ogaga Ofudu M.D — Lead Pediatric Resident, Class 2017
Dr. Prince Ogaga Ofudu M.D is an esteemed alumnus and former Lead Pediatric Resident (Class of 2017) at Sacred Heart Pediatric Hospital. Known for his keen clinical judgment, honesty, and strong leadership, Dr. Ofudu earned his medical degree from the University of Benin, Nigeria, before completing rigorous pediatric residency training in Florida. He also had a masters degree in Molecular medicine from University of west Florida. Advance cardiac life support training in Alabama and Basic life support Training in Florida. His peers and faculty mentors commend his exceptional skill, diligence, and compassionate commitment to pediatric health.
MD, FAAP — Chief of Neonatology & Medical Director of Level III/IV NICU
Dr. Elena Rostova brings profound dedication to the care of critically ill premature newborns. Having completed her fellowship at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Rostova has pioneered developmental neuro-protective ventilation strategies and published extensively on the mitigation of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
MD, PhD, FAAP — Chief of Pediatric Oncology & Cellular Therapeutics
Dr. David Chen is a physician-scientist specializing in targeted immunotherapies and genomic medicine for pediatric leukemias. He holds a combined MD/PhD from Stanford University and completed his fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
MD, FAAP, FAES — Director of Pediatric Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
Dr. Sophia Alvarez is an expert in pediatric epilepsy, infantile spasms, and pediatric neurogenetics. Trained at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Dr. Alvarez spearheads the Video-EEG Monitoring Unit and Ketogenic Diet Clinic.
MD, FAAOS, FAAP — Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery & Spinal Deformity
Dr. Jonathan Hayes specializes in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, early-onset spinal deformities, and complex pediatric fracture care. Dr. Hayes received his medical education at Northwestern University and pediatric fellowship at Nemours Children’s Hospital.
Sacred Heart Journal of Pediatric Medicine
Advancing clinical outcomes through resident research, interventional cardiology trials, neonatal protocols, and pediatric oncology studies.
Outcomes of Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Pediatric Patients with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: A 10-Year Single-Center Retrospective Cohort
Objective: To evaluate long-term hemodynamic stability, stent fracture incidence, and re-intervention rates in pediatric patients receiving transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) following surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot.\n\nMethods: A retrospective analysis of 142 consecutive pediatric patients undergoing TPVR between 2016 and 2025 at Sacred Heart Pediatric Hospital.\n\nResults: Procedural success was achieved in 98.6% of patients with zero intraprocedural mortalities. Freedom from valve failure or re-intervention was 94.2% at 5 years. Cardiac MRI demonstrated marked reduction in right ventricular end-diastolic volume index.\n\nConclusions: TPVR represents a safe, durable, and minimally invasive therapy that preserves right ventricular function in pediatric TOF patients.
Less Invasive Surfactant Administration (LISA) in Extremely Preterm Neonates (24–28 Weeks Gestation): Neurodevelopmental and Pulmonary Outcomes at 2 Years
Background: Non-invasive surfactant administration techniques seek to deliver exogenous surfactant while avoiding positive-pressure mechanical ventilation.\n\nMethods: In this prospective study of 188 extremely premature neonates born between 24+0 and 28+6 weeks gestation, patients receiving LISA via thin catheter during spontaneous breathing on CPAP were compared with standard InSurE technique.\n\nResults: The LISA cohort demonstrated a significantly lower rate of mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (28.7% vs 54.3%, p < 0.001) and a lower incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (18.1% vs 31.9%, p = 0.028).\n\nConclusion: LISA is safe, feasible, and significantly reduces the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation in extremely preterm infants.
Targeted Anti-CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy for Relapsed Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Managing Cytokine Release and Inpatient Protocols
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a transformative treatment for children with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).\n\nHere we review institutional protocols implemented at Sacred Heart across 64 pediatric infusions, evaluating early intervention with tocilizumab and dexamethasone. Implementation of automated telemetry monitoring and resident-driven grading protocols reduced ICU escalation for severe Grade 3/4 CRS from 24% to 9.4% while maintaining 12-month minimal residual disease-negative remission rates of 87.5%.
Inquire About Pediatric Services, Clinical Care or Medical Education
Our clinical coordinators assist families, referring physicians, and medical residents with clinical inquiries, second opinions, and patient support.