Joseph (Brian) Clark, MD

I am a pediatric heart surgeon specializing in the repair of congenital heart defects in newborns, infants, and children. I am extremely proud of the exceptional work we do here at Duke Children’s Hosptial. We have an incredibly talented team of providers who are deeply committed to delivering outstanding patient care. It’s a privilege and an honor to get to do what I absolutely love to do. Among the many positive aspects, I especially enjoy the initial meeting with the family of a child who may need heart surgery. For many expectant mothers, these heart defects are first identified on ultrasound during pregnancy. For defects that typically need early surgery, we offer a prenatal surgical consultation. In this conversation, I have the opportunity to carefully describe in plain language the nature of the heart defect, the treatment options and role of surgery, and the expectations for recovery and the long-term outlook. This important moment gives me a chance to meet the mother, establish a relationship, and begin our shared journey through the prospect of heart surgery for her child. Together with the expertise of my colleagues, we continually strive to provide the safest possible heart care for the children of our region and beyond.