Heart Health Program

What is It?

The Heart Health Program is both the pediatric weight management program and lipid disorder treatment center for MUSC's Children’s Health. As a family-centered, lifestyle-oriented program, the Heart Health Program is appropriate for any child or adolescent ages two through 21 who has abnormal weight gain or any child or adolescent with any type of lipid disorder, regardless of weight status (high cholesterol, high triglycerides, familial hypercholesterolemia, etc.). If you're not sure if the program is a good fit for your child, please call 843-792-4717 with questions.

What Do I Get?

• Regular clinic visits with a registered dietitian who has a certificate in training in pediatric and adult weight management and a clinical lipid specialist
• Physical examinations with the program’s attending Medical Director
• Structured program with nutrition, activity, and behavioral education
• Personalized coaching and health recommendations
• Weekly group sessions
• Weekday and Saturday fitness sessions
• Monthly newsletters

How Do I Enroll?

We currently offer both in-person and virtual appointments. You may choose a virtual video visit (via Doxy.me) or an in-person visit (Mount Pleasant, Summerville, or North Charleston). Please specify your choice when scheduling an appointment with central scheduling.

To schedule an appointment, please call central scheduling at 843-876-0444. For more information regarding the program, please call our office at 843-792-4717. Fax: 843-876-0442.

Fit Kids

Fit Kids exercise sessions are now offered both in person and virtually for active Heart Health participants. In person sessions are on Monday, Wednesday and, Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at 1125 E Montague Avenue, North Charleston. Sessions are held in the grass lot across the street from the church. Please park in front of the church or in the lot itself (please leave room for the kids to exercise). Meet the volunteers who will be wearing yellow shirts.

Note: You must reserve your child's spot by 5:00 p.m. on Fridays by sending an email request to hhexercise@musc.edu or by leaving a detailed voicemail to 843-792-4717. We will not call back to confirm.

Virtual Fit Kids exercise sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

Note: There is no appointment needed for virtual sessions. Active Heart Health Program participants may join our private Facebook group to obtain the link.

If you are not a Heart Health Program participant but would like to join, please schedule an appointment to enroll.

Our Team

Janet Carter, MS, RD, LD, CLS, FNLA
Heart Health Lead Dietitian and Program Manager

Briann Weishar, MS, RD, LD
Heart Health Dietitian

Christine San Giovanni, M.D., MSCR
Heart Health Physician

Kristal Matlock, M.D.
Heart Health Physician

Kaitlyn Burke, PT, DPT, PCS
Physical Therapist

Lillian Christon, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist  

Are You Looking For an Additional Weight Loss Resource?

Eligible adolescents and adults may benefit from the MUSC Bariatric Surgery program, which includes experienced mental health professionals, dietitians, nurses and physicians, and is dedicated to helping patients safely realize weight loss success.

News & Announcements

Meal Planning Boot Camp

Do you struggle with meal planning? You're not alone! Please join us for an informative session that will include many tips and tricks.

The session will take place virtually on Monday, May 15, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can join the session on Microsoft Teams.

Monthly Newsletters (PDFs)

June 2023

May 2023

April 2023

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

December 2022

November 2022

October 2022

September 2022

August 2022

July 2022