Dr. William Novick was a resident studying to become a surgeon when he decided that he wanted to devote his expertise and time to serving the needs of underprivileged children. After witnessing his professors at the University of Alabama provide services to children from developing countries around the world, he made good on his promise to do the same.

Novick, medical director and founder of the International Children’s Heart Foundation, recently returned from his latest mission trip to the Ukraine. Each year, Novick spends anywhere from 34-40 weeks out of the country performing surgeries or attending national conferences each year. Outside of heart transplants, Novick is able to treat a variety of heart defects and perform various surgeries.

What started as a one-man operation has grown to include 11 other staff members. “We started in 1993 with a paid staff of one and an annual budget of $80,000, now we have a paid staff of 12, with an annual budget that last year approached $6 million,” said Novick.

Dr. Novick serves as the Paul Nemir M.D., Jr., Professor of International Child Health and Surgery with the University of Tennessee, a position that allows him to work full-time to perform surgeries and build pediatric heart programs in third world countries. “This Endowed Professorship was specifically created and funded at UT to allow me to pursue this unique career of mine full time,” he said.

Novick’s work helps to shine a light on the city of Memphis through the work he does internationally. In addition, UT medical students get to travel with him to learn more about pediatric heart disease. “We now have a credited elective in surgery and pediatrics for senior level student to travel abroad with me.”

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In our special web-only content, Rosalind continues with a Q&A session with Dr. Novick.
 
Approximately how many surgeries do you perform a year?

For the last five years, I have averaged about 270 operations per year, but the foundation has averaged about 350 because we have other volunteer surgeons. Over the last two years I have averaged 330 surgeries a year, as we have increased our efforts around the world. Over these last two years, the foundation has increased its average to care for just over 575 kids per year. Last year we did just over 660 and in 2009 we did a little over 500.

Do you have a team that works with you through the foundation?

We have over 250 volunteers from the major pediatric heart centers around the world that volunteer and travel with us each year. The ICHF staff in Memphis includes three heart surgeons, two pediatric cardiac ICU nurse educators, two operating room nurses, one pediatric cardiac intensivist and one biomedical engineer and they are constantly traveling. Last year, we made 36 trips to 12 different countries; this year we will probably make 44 trips to 13 countries and operate on over 700 children.

From the ICHF website:

One in every 100 children in the developing world will never see his first birthday because of congenital heart disease. Due to a lack of resources, parents are powerless to save him. Since 1994, the mission of the International Children’s Heart Foundation is to bring the skills, technology and knowledge to diagnose and care for children with congenital heart disease in developing countries that request our help.

The teams are assembled from world class cardiac care centers. They implement their informational curriculum by operating with and educating local health care professionals. Since inception, over 5,000 operations have been performed in countries that span all continents.

Related Links:
http://www.babyheart.org/

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