Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children recently welcomed Stanford Children’s Health pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Louis Capecci to its team. Board certified in thoracic surgery, Capecci received his medical degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and completed his residency training at Penn State University Medical Center. He also completed a pediatric cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center.

Capecci was born with a congenital heart defect that required several open-heart surgeries before his first birthday. His experience inspired his interest in medicine.

“From a young age, I was acutely aware and in awe of the impact these doctors had, and I knew I wanted a career in the medical field,” Capecci said. “When my daughter was born, there were some concerns with her heart, and although she fortunately did not need surgery, it made me realize that I could do the greatest good as a congenital heart surgeon.”

Now, Capecci performs corrective surgery on infants, children and adults as well as works closely with pediatric cardiologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists and other health care teams at Kapiolani Medical Center to provide the best care for patients.

Capecci is operating as Kapiolani’s first full-time pediatric heart surgeon and will consult regularly with the Stanford Children’s Health Betty Irene Moore Children’s Heart Center health care team over highly complex pediatric heart cases. His role will also grow as the medical center prepares to open the first Pediatric Heart Center in the state later this year. The full-service, comprehensive heart program will include additional specialists, a cardiac catheterization lab and coordinated services. It all means that Hawaii children will not have to get on a plane for lifesaving cardiology procedures and treatment.

“Although some of the surgeries are quite invasive and can be long and risky, it is always so gratifying to see the relief in the eyes of the parents when we are able to fix their child’s heart,” Capecci said. ”I am constantly and truly humbled by my patients and their family’s faith in me.”

PHOTO CAPTION:
Dr. Louis Capecci, Pediatric Heart Surgeon at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children