Elizabeth “Tess” Vickers Saarel, MD, FAAP, FACC, FHRS is a pediatric cardiologist and electrophysiologist with special expertise in heart rhythm disorders, sports cardiology, and syncope. She treats patients of all ages, including newborns, children, teens, adults, and pregnant women. Her goal is to improve the quality and longevity of life for adults and children born with heart problems.

Prior to joining St. Luke’s, Dr. Saarel practiced cardiology at the University of Michigan, the University of Utah, Primary Children’s Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic. She is a professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at CWRU. Her academic research is in the prevention of sudden cardiac death in youth, the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders in children and adults with congenital heart disease, sports cardiology, and quality improvement.

Dr. Saarel now serves on the executive committees for the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society, the Section on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery for the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Cardiac Safety Research Consortium Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young Task Force, and the ACC National Cardiac Data IMPACT Registry. She also holds leadership positions at the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and the Pediatric Heart Network. Past activities have included leadership in the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics Executive Committee for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.