News Releases

WILMINGTON, Del. (Nov. 5, 2026) – Nemours Children’s Health has named Michael Puchalski, MD, Division Chief of Cardiology for Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. In this role, Dr. Puchalski will provide clinical and strategic oversight of the Division of Cardiology while maintaining active clinical practice. His leadership will include a focus on fetal cardiology and cardiac imaging as well as supporting the maturation of fellows and trainees, and mentoring faculty in the advancement of the Nemours Children’s Cardiac Center’s clinical, research and educational programs.

"Dr. Puchalski is one of the nation’s most respected and skilled leaders in pediatric cardiology and cardiac imaging, and his fetal cardiology expertise, passion for developing clinicians, and proven ability to build outstanding programs make him an ideal addition to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware,” said Aaron Eckhauser, MD, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine and Executive Director of the Nemours Children’s Cardiac Center in the Delaware Valley.

Prior to joining Nemours Children’s, Dr. Puchalski served as Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and Co-Director of the Heart Institute at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Prior to that, he spent nearly 20 years at the University of Utah where he helped build the fetal cardiology and cardiac MRI programs and led the echocardiography laboratory for more than a decade.

“Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, is a national leader in pediatric cardiology, and I am excited to join, lead, and support an already talented and committed team of clinicians and associates who proudly and expertly serve children and families across the Delaware Valley,” said Dr. Puchalski.

A founding member of the Fetal Heart Society, Dr. Puchalski’s clinical and scholarly contributions to the field have positioned him as a leading clinical and academic voice in pediatric cardiology. This includes authoring more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and numerous textbook chapters to help educate trainees and faculty, notably around fetal and congenital heart disease imaging.

Dr. Puchalski completed his fellowship in pediatric cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco. Prior to that, he completed his pediatrics residency at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. He earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine, and a bachelor’s degree in physiology from Michigan State University.

Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Dr. Puchalski is a fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography, American Heart Association, and American College of Cardiology. A frequently invited speaker, Dr. Puchalski has shared expertise and insight as a presenter, panelist and thought leader at numerous international, national and regional conferences, conventions and meetings.

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About Nemours Children's Health

Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two free-standing children's hospitals and a network of 80 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children's seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also addressing children’s needs well beyond medicine. In producing the highly acclaimed, award-winning pediatric medicine podcast Well Beyond Medicine, Nemours underscores that commitment by featuring the people, programs and partnerships addressing Whole Child Health. Nemours Children's also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.

The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.