If you’re dealing with a diagnosis of congenital heart disease, you’re not alone. For more information about The HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center or to make an appointment, please call us at:
Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation
For Heart Families
In-Home Nursing Support
If you are interested in learning more about The HEARTest Yard In-Home Nursing Care Program, please contact Kari Plant, Director of Pediatric Cardiac Neurodevelopment Program at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital.
- Email: kari.plant@atriumhealth.org
- Desk Phone: 704-381-3949
Clinic & Hospital Support
Atrium Health
Levine Children’s Hospital
If you have questions for The HEARTest Yard Clinic staff or to make an appointment with our medical team at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, please call 704-373-1813.
For directions, operating hours and contact information for The HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, visit the page on Atrium’s website.
MUSC
Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital
For more information about MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital’s pediatric cardiology program, visit the program’s page on MUSC’s website.
For medical emergencies, please call 911 or visit your nearest hospital.
Faces Who Make a Difference
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Kari Plant, Nurse Practitioner
Crawford is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner. She specializes in cardiac neurodevelopment and single ventricle outpatient care. She also has experience with pulmonary hypertension and mild dysautonomia.
She is an advanced practice provider (APP) for the Atrium Health Pediatric Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program, the Levine Children’s Hospital HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center and CHAMP: Complex Congenital Heart At-Home Monitoring Program.
Crawford was recognized by the North Carolina Great 100 Nurses.
She chose pediatric cardiology due to her own experiences and the cardiac surgery she underwent as a teenager. She has had the opportunity to work in an ICU setting, step-down and outpatient. She enjoys pediatric cardiology and caring for patients and their families.
Crawford received her master’s degree in nursing at the University of Maryland.
She has participated in the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Initiative Collaborative, the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Collaborative and the Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative.
Crawford is married with 2 stepchildren and 3 dogs. They love to spend time together outdoors floating in their pool.
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Dr. Thomas Maxey, Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Dr. Maxey is board certified in cardiothoracic surgery with a focus on treating congenital heart defects in people of all ages, especially newborn babies. He specializes in surgical repair of congenital heart defects, palliation of single ventricle heart disease, mechanical support and heart transplants.
Dr. Maxey serves as the interim chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute. He was named an Atrium Health Physician of the Quarter and has been named a Top Doctor by Charlotte magazine for multiple years.
He became fascinated with cardiovascular disease in college while studying under a professor who was a heart transplant recipient. Dr. Maxey has a passion for teaching others and developing a team approach to providing optimal patient care.
Dr. Maxey received his medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He completed a residency at the University of South Florida and a fellowship at Emory University.
He is married and the father of 2 sons. A self-proclaimed foodie, in his free time he enjoys exercising, gardening and traveling with his wife, who loves to cook.
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Dr. Gonzalo Wallis, Pediatric Cardiologist
Dr. Wallis is board certified in general pediatrics and pediatric cardiology. He specializes in pediatric heart failure and transplant, congenital heart disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Dr. Wallis serves as medical director of the Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Program and vice chief of Pediatric Cardiology at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital.
He has been recognized as a Charlotte Magazine Top Doctor for multiple years and is amazed at the resiliency of children facing challenging diagnoses. Dr. Wallis has written multiple papers on the subject of congenital heart disease and pediatric heart failure in national and international journals.
Dr. Wallis received his medical degree at Universidad Central de Venezuela and completed his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He then completed his fellowship at the University of Florida.
