Boston Children’s names Rahul Rathod, MD, MBA, as Chief of the Department of Cardiology

BOSTON, MA [Sept. 16, 2026] - Boston Children's Hospital has appointed internationally recognized pediatric cardiologist and physician-scientist Rahul Rathod, MD, MBA, as Chair of the Department of Cardiology and Cardiologist-in-Chief, effective Aug. 1, 2026.

Dr. Rathod is a recognized expert in pediatric cardiology, specializing in single ventricle heart disease and the Fontan circulation. He combines clinical skill, research leadership, and administrative experience to lead one of the top pediatric and congenital cardiology programs worldwide. He is renowned for improving care for children with complex congenital heart conditions through innovative clinical initiatives, pioneering research, and collaborative leadership.

"Dr. Rathod comes to the role of Cardiologist-in-Chief as more than an international leader in pediatric cardiology. Inspired by a family history with complex congenital heart disease, he brings a compassionate, firsthand understanding of what it means to be a family cared for by our extraordinary Cardiology team. He values the importance of establishing bonds with patients and families that are measured not in months, but in years. His combination of clinical expertise, research leadership, and administrative acumen makes him exceptionally well positioned to lead the Department of Cardiology forward," said Kevin B. Churchwell, MD, CEO, of Boston Children's Hospital.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Rathod has transformed care for children with single ventricle heart disease by building nationally recognized clinical programs and expanding access to specialized care. He founded the multidisciplinary Fontan at Boston (FAB) Clinic, which now serves patients from more than 26 states and has helped strengthen programs that improve access for patients with complex heart disease, including the Heart Access Center, the Second Opinion Program, and the Inpatient Transfer Team.

Beyond Boston Children's, Dr. Rathod is the Founder and Executive Director of the Fontan Outcomes Registry using Clinical Examinations (FORCE), the largest Fontan dataset in the world, with more than 5,500 patients enrolled across 51 centers in North America and Europe. His research focuses on applying advanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) technologies to better understand and predict outcomes in patients with complex congenital heart disease.

Dr. Rathod earned his undergraduate degree at Duke and his MD from Case Western. He completed his pediatric residency, including a chief year, at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, and his pediatric cardiology fellowship, also including a chief year, at Boston Children's Hospital. He later earned an MBA from MIT.

Boston Children's Department of Cardiology, part of the Benderson Family Heart Center, provides comprehensive care for children with congenital and acquired heart conditions and advances progress through research, innovation, and education. As one of the largest pediatric cardiology programs in North America, it offers unmatched expertise in managing some of the world's rarest and most complex cases.

As Chair, Dr. Rathod will build on the department's longstanding leadership in pediatric and congenital cardiology while accelerating innovation across clinical care, research, education, and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve outcomes for children and adults with congenital heart disease worldwide.