Patrick McConnell, MD

Took my daughter who is a 17-year old black female to see Dr. McConnell due to referral from the Orthopedic team because of where her lump and pain were located. Our visit with Dr. McConnell was probably one the worst, if not the the worst experience my daughter and I have had during her 17 year battle with Sickle Cell Disease, and we have seen a multitude of medical professionals. We both walked out there feeling unseen and completely unheard. He kept using the phrase "perception of pain" when my daughter and I talked about the excruciating pain she has been experiencing almost like she was making it up. This appointment triggered me in so many ways and definitely spoke to how medical professionals, especially white men, downplay black women's pain. We both walked out of that appointment feeling so frustrated by he and his assistants lack of empathy, understanding and compassion for what my daughter is going through.

We had the pleasure of having Dr. McConnell as our surgeon for our 3.5 month old son who needed a valvuloplasty to repair his bicuspid valve. He is an incredible surgeon and was very up front and honest about what the risks were, how much he could improve his valve, and what to expect. Immediately after the surgery he came to us and told us how well our son did and explained how much improvement was made and what to expect for our sons future. I appreciated how thorough he was and how he clearly did not take our sons life lightly. He cares about each of his patients so much and i am forever grateful for the work he has done for my son.

Dr. McConnell preformed a Ross procedure for me in February 2020. He spent time reviewing the risks and benefits of each valve choice. He told me whatever valve I picked was the right choice. He also assured me that choosing a valve for replacement is a unique experience and that it's an almost impossible task but something I had to do. He discovered a aneurysm on my aortic root during surgery. He explained afterward that they typically opt for a mechanical valve when a person has a large aneurysm like I had because it was less risky. But he respected my wishes and preformed the Ross and did a aneurysm repair. That meant a lot to me as a patient because he went the extra mile for me and respected my personal wishes. I am now 6 months post op and doing extremely well. I have a lot more energy and I am not short of breath like I was before surgery. My likelihood of having children in the future has increased significantly. Dr. McConnell ultimately saved my life. I have so much respect for him and his team at Nationwide Children's hospital they are a gift from God.

One of the best pediatric cardiac surgeon in the world! He has done wonders with our son's very complex heart defect. We love him!

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