Skip to main content
Scheduling

Virtual visit appointments available 7 days a week from 9:00am to 11:00pm. Learn More

COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Updates: Get the latest on vaccine information, in-person appointments, virtual visits and more. Learn More

Location

Texas Medical Center

Specialty
Cardiology
Phone: 832-826-2030 (Clinic) | 832-826-5770 (Admin)

Address

6651 Main Street
Legacy Tower, 21st Floor
Houston, TX 77030

Joseph Spinner, MD

Associate Medical Director, Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy and Cardiac Transplantation

Assistant Professor, Pediatric Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine

Education

School Education Degree Year
Baylor College of Medicine Fellowship Pediatric Cardiology 2018
Baylor College of Medicine Residency Pediatrics 2014
Baylor College of Medicine Internship Pediatrics 2012
Baylor College of Medicine Medical School Doctor of Medicine 2011

About

I am a pediatric cardiologist specializing in the care of children with heart failure, children with cardiomyopathy, children who have undergone placement of a ventricular assist device, and children who have undergone a heart transplant. I am particularly interested in advancing our field to delay the need for heart transplant and improving the outcomes for those who require it.

Clinical Interests:

Heart Transplantation, Heart Failure, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Ventricular Assist Device

Research Interests:

Mechanical Circulatory Support, Transplant immunology and infectious disease, Intestinal Microbiome, Iron Deficiency

Organizations

Organization Name Role
Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network Member
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Member
American Academy of Pediatrics Member
American College of Cardiology Member
American Heart Association Member
Gold Humanism Honor Society Member
International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation Member
Pediatric Heart Transplant Society Member
Texas Pediatric Society Member

Selected Publications

Spinner JA, Denfield SW. Immunosuppressant Drugs and Their Effects on Children Undergoing Solid Organ Transplant. Pediatr Rev. 2022 Feb 1;43(2):71-86. doi: 10.1542/pir.2020-000620. PMID: 35102401.

Spinner JA, Julien CL, Olayinka L, Dreyer WJ, Bocchini CE, Munoz FM, Devaraj S. SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibodies after vaccination in pediatric heart transplantation: A first report. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2022 Feb;41(2):133-136. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2021.11.001. Epub 2021 Nov 14. PMID: 34911654; PMCID: PMC8590844.

Spinner JA, Tunuguntla HP, Tume SC, Elias BA, Mcmullen J, John R, Choudhry S, Price JF, Denfield SW, Dreyer WJ, Adachi I. "Compassionate" Cases of the Jarvik 2015 Ventricular Assist Device. ASAIO J. 2021 Sep 1;67(9):1036-1043. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000001351. PMID: 33470634.

Spinner JA, Denfield SW, Puri K, Morris SA, Costello JM, Moffett BS, Wang Y, Shekerdemian LS, Tunuguntla HP, Price JF, Heinle JS, Adachi I, Dreyer WJ, Cabrera AG. Hospital outcomes for pediatric heart transplant recipients undergoing tracheostomy: A multi-institutional analysis. Pediatr Transplant. 2021 May;25(3):e13904. doi: 10.1111/petr.13904. Epub 2020 Nov 11. PMID: 33179431.

Spinner JA, Bocchini CE, Luna RA, Thapa S, Balderas MA, Denfield SW, Dreyer WJ, Nagy-Szakal D, Ihekweazu FD, Versalovic J, Savidge T, Kellermayer R. Fecal microbiota transplantation in a toddler after heart transplant was a safe and effective treatment for recurrent Clostridiodes difficile infection: A case report. Pediatr Transplant. 2020 Feb;24(1):e13598. doi: 10.1111/petr.13598. Epub 2019 Oct 16. PMID: 31617299; PMCID: PMC6982574.

Spinner JA, Morris SA, Nandi D, Costarino AT, Marino BS, Rossano JW, Shamszad P. Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Associated Mortality in Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease A Multi-Institutional Study. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Mar;21(3):228-234. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002133. PMID: 31568264.

Spinner JA, Noel CV, Denfield SW, Krishnamurthy R, Jeewa A, Dreyer WJ, Maskatia SA. Association of Late Gadolinium Enhancement and Degree of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Assessed on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Ventricular Tachycardia in Children With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 2016 Apr 15;117(8):1342-8. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2016.01.032. Epub 2016 Jan 28. PMID: 26892450.

View PubMed Publications

View VIICTR Publications

Awards & Honors

2023 - Early Career Faculty Award for Excellence in Patient Care

2019 Texas Children’s Hospital Heart Center Innovation Award - Novel Noninvasive Detection of Cardiac Allograft Rejection After Pediatric Heart Transplantation

2019 Top Abstract – American Society for Artificial Internal Organs 65th Annual Conference

2018 Best Abstract – International Pediatric VAD and Heart Failure Summit 2018

2018 Dan G. McNamara Pediatric Cardiology Fellow of the Year

2017 – 2018 Chief Fellow – Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program

2017 – 2018 Adeline B. Landa Endowed Fellow – Texas Children’s Hospital

2016 – 2017 Adeline B. Landa Endowed Fellow – Texas Children’s Hospital

2015 – 2016 Adeline B. Landa Endowed Fellow – Texas Children’s Hospital

2014 – 2015 Chief Resident – Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics

2013 – 2014 Resident of the Year in the Department of Pediatrics - Baylor College of Medicine

2012 – 2013 Resident of the Year in the Division of Adolescent Medicine - Baylor College of Medicine

2011 – 2012 Intern of the Year in the Department of Pediatrics - Baylor College of Medicine

2011 – present Gold Humanism Honor Society

2010 – present Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society 



* Texas Children's Hospital physicians' licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician's office and were not verified by Texas Children's Hospital.