Joshua Hermsen, MD, is a UW Health Kids pediatric cardiac surgeon and an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Surgery. He treats children born with heart defects, which can range from a hole in the heart to a heart that hasn’t formed correctly or isn’t functioning properly.
Dr. Hermsen’s role is unique in that he cares for patients not only throughout their childhood, but also as they become adults.
His own experience with surgery early in life left Dr. Hermsen fascinated with the idea of becoming a surgeon. He kept that dream to himself and even completed a year of college as a business major before recommitting himself to a career in medicine.
Dr. Hermsen enjoys the unpredictability and problem-solving he faces daily. He finds it rewarding to work with an expert team to help someone feel better. He also recognizes the importance of listening to patients and families and finding ways to connect. This, he says, keeps everyone on the same page.
In his free time, he enjoys seasonal activities like swimming, hunting and skiing.
Sometimes we do planned surgery to prevent a patient’s heart disease from really affecting them. We describe this as ‘preventive maintenance.’ At the other extreme is urgent or emergency surgery to save someone’s life in that moment. Any opportunity we have to give patients back to their families alive and healthy are pretty rewarding.
Languages spoken
- English
University affiliation
American Family Children's Hospital Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic
University Hospital Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
American Family Children's Hospital Pediatric Heart Transplant Clinic
University Hospital Heart Transplant Clinic
Board certifications
- Congenital Cardiac Surgery
- Surgery
- Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Medical School
- Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Charleston, SC
Fellowships
Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA
Residencies
- University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, WI
Internships
- University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, WI
- Adult congenital heart disease
- Atrial septal defect
- Fetal Echocardiography
- Fontan procedure
- Heart Transplant Surgery
- Heart transplant
- Left Ventricular Assist Device
- Newborn heart surgery
- Pediatric heart transplant
- Ross procedure