August 10, 2009 - For Immediate Release

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LOYOLA'S PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT BOLSTERED

Dr. Joel Hardin cares for infants, children and adults with inherited heart disorders

MAYWOOD, Ill. -- Dr. Joel Hardin has been appointed director of pediatric cardiology, associate professor of pediatrics, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

His professional interests include pediatric cardiac intensive care, heart failure, cardiomyopathy and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. He has also established a specialized Loyola outpatient clinic for adults with congenital heart disease. Hardin is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and its sub-board of Pediatric Cardiology. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

"The decision to practice cardiology at Loyola was an easy one to make," Hardin said. "The key was Loyola's already superb regional and national reputation for cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment in general, the newly constructed Heart and Vascular Center with its state of the art capabilities and the opportunity to expand programs of similar excellence to the care of children and adults with congenital heart disease."

A resident of Chicago, Hardin began his affiliation with Loyola in May 2009. He received his medical degree in 1987 from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, Tenn. He then completed pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Hardin most recently served as director of cardiology, Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, N.J., from 2005 to 2009. He is a military veteran, having served as a Navy medical officer in support of Fleet Marine Forces at home and abroad. His last active duty assignment was in 2004 as a Marine infantry battalion surgeon, attached to 3d Battalion, 24th Marines, 1st Marine Division, then forward deployed to Al Anbar, Iraq. Hardin attained the rank of commander before being honorably discharged in 2006.

Hardin is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. He is a founding member of the World Society of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery.

Hardin cares for infants, children and adults with congenital heart disorders at the Loyola Center for Health at Oakbrook Terrace South, 17W740 22nd St., Oakbrook Terrace; and Loyola Outpatient Center and Loyola University Hospital, both at 2160 S. First Ave., Maywood. He also cares for patients at Loyola Center for Health at Homer Glen, 15750 Marian Drive, Homer Glen; and Loyola Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine at Park Ridge, 1030 W. Higgins Road, Park Ridge.

To schedule an appointment with Hardin or any other Loyola physician, call toll-free (888) LUHS-888 and ask for extension 7100.

Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, Loyola University Health System is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and 25 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. The medical center campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. The heart of the medical center campus, Loyola University Hospital, is a 561-licensed-bed facility. It houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children's Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as the LUC Stritch School of Medicine, the LUC Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus in Melrose Park includes the 264-bed community hospital, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness and the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Care Center.