Bio

Esmeralda Morales, MD is a Board-Certified Pediatric Pulmonologist who earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. She completed her subspecialty training in Pediatric Pulmonology at the University of Arizona/Arizona Respiratory Center known for its excellence in asthma care and research. She practiced in the southwestern United States for 7 years including a year as Interim Chief of the Pediatric Pulmonary Division at the University of New Mexico and was a former University of New Mexico Cystic Fibrosis Center Director, as well as co-chair of the New Mexico Council on Asthma. She has been a member of the Pediatric Pulmonary Division through the Stanford University School of Medicine for the past 7 years and is leading asthma clinical efforts in the division. Her main areas of interest are childhood asthma, aerodigestive disorders in children, respiratory disorders in children with complex healthcare needs and the care of historically marginalized patient populations.

Clinical Focus

  • Asthma
  • Aerodigestive
  • technology dependent patients
  • Pediatric Pulmonology

Academic Appointments

Professional Education

  • Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatric Pulmonology (2008)
  • Medical Education: Baylor College of Medicine (2000) TX
  • Fellowship: University of Arizona (2007) AZ
  • Residency: Children's Medical Center of Dallas/University of Texas Southwestern (2003) TX
  • Internship: University of Texas Southwestern (2001) TX United States of America
  • Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics (2003)

Contact

  • Clinical (Primary)  Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine Department 770 Welch Rd Ste 100 3rd Fl Palo Alto, CA 94304 (650) 497-8791 (fax)

Additional Clinical Info

All Publications

  • Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation and Heart Transplantation in a Young Man With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Pediatric transplantation Hollander, S. A., Dykes, J., Dayan, J., Morales, E., Steffes, L., Klotz, J. M., Murray, J. M., Ma, M., Martin, E., Rosenthal, D. N., Kaufman, B. D. 2025; 29 (6): e70162

    Abstract

    With advances in respiratory care allowing for improved survival, cardiomyopathy has emerged as the leading cause of death in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). As end-stage heart failure emerges as the primary life-limiting complication in DMD patients, their consideration for advanced heart failure therapies, including ventricular assist devices (VADs) and/or heart transplantation (HT), is increasing. To date, however, there are few published reports of HT in DMD patients.We report a case of HT in an 18-year-old young man with DMD, end-stage heart failure, respiratory insufficiency requiring nocturnal noninvasive ventilation, and retained ambulation with the use of a cane, who was declined for VAD and HT at an adult heart transplant center; he then received an LVAD, followed by HT after 362 days of support at a pediatric center.At 3.5 years of follow-up, the patient has excellent graft function and modestly improved pulmonary mechanics, though has experienced a functional decline from ambulatory status to the need for full assistance with activities of daily living.This case underscores the importance of individual consideration for HT in patients with DMD, provides additional insight into the unique risks of VAD support in these patients, and further builds upon the existing experience that acceptable post-HT outcomes are achievable in this population.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/petr.70162

    View details for PubMedID 40820401