Meet Our Board Member: Dr. Evan Zahn

6/13/2024

Gearing up for Father’s Day, we're thrilled to introduce you to an extraordinary member of our Board and proud father of 8 (think Brady Bunch): Dr. Evan Zahn, a pediatric cardiologist with a heart of gold (and a knack for fixing tiny ones)! As the director of the Guerin Family Congenital Heart Program at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, he has led 8 cardiac missions to Tanzania and Mauritius, sharing his expertise and compassion, mending hundreds of hearts, and saving the lives of children in need.

Dr. Zahn's journey into pediatric cardiology started with a passion for helping the littlest patients overcome the biggest challenges. With every tiny heartbeat he mends, Dr. Zahn instills hope, love, and a profound sense of relief to families in need, restoring not only the future of his patients but also that of their families and communities. Thanks to his lifesaving work, hundreds more fathers will be celebrating Father’s Day with their children this year.

When he's not busy saving lives, Dr. Zahn knows the importance of balancing work with play, running marathons and spending time with his family, which keeps his own heart happy. His colleagues describe him as a brilliant doctor with contagious enthusiasm. Patients and families see him as a superhero bringing hope during difficult times. Here at Mending Kids, we know him as a member who brings valuable and wise insights, along with an inspiring presence, to our board meetings.

Join us in celebrating Dr. Evan Zahn, a true hero with a heart for making a difference. We're honored to have him on our Board and grateful for the incredible work he does every day.

Get to know Dr. Zahn!

How many years have you been involved with Mending Kids & how many years have you been a board member?
I’ve been involved for 10 years, and a board member for 6 years..

How did you become involved with Mending Kids?
Soon after my family and I moved to LA, I bumped into someone at a fundraiser at one of my kid’s schools who thought I might be interested since I had done mission work in Russia and South America years before and it evolved organically from there.

What's the most impactful part of being involved with Mending Kids for you?
On an emotional level the most impactful part is being able to see all the beautiful smiles on the faces of the kids going home after we’ve mended their hearts. On a more global level, the most impactful part is knowing that we are training the local teams and impacting thousands of kids with heart disease who haven't even been born yet!

What is your idea of happiness?
My idea of happiness is having our whole giant crazy blended family together in one place laughing endlessly and enjoying each other... preferably poolside with a cocktail in hand

What are some things on your bucket list?
I must admit by this age and the amount of traveling I've done I've hit a bunch of them... Completing an Iron Man-check, diving with great white sharks-check, swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon-check. That being said, there's always more... I'd like to go on a long trek through the mountains in Bhutan, master woodworking, live a quiet life in the mountains, and paraglide….

If you could have dinner with 3 people, past present or future who would they be?
My father and my two best friends Michael and Bruce who all left way too soon.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"What could possibly go wrong? And a bunch of words I can't repeat here but suffice it to say I grew up in New York and we curse a lot.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I would give anything to play the guitar like Jerry Garcia

Ready to support our mission?

Your donation empowers Dr. Zahn and the Mending Kids team to transform lives and restore futures around the world. Join us and be a part of the superhero squad making a lasting difference in children's lives!

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