Taylor’s Story
Taylor Hartzel Houlihan is a 24-year-old medical student, dancer, wife, daughter, and sister. She also happens to be a patient with Fontan circulation.
After her open-heart surgeries at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, she developed an interest in medicine and a passion for caring for others with congenital heart disease. Despite the challenges of growing up with CHD, Taylor refused to allow her condition to define her limits. She trained in classical ballet for 13 years, graduated as valedictorian from high school, and pursued the pre-medical track in college. Taylor is currently a third year medical student at Thomas Jefferson University and assists with Fontan research at CHOP. In addition to her studies, she maintains a rigorous exercise schedule reminiscent of her past ballet training. Recently, she started a social media account to share her medical journey, educate others about living as a Fontan, and offer hope to families with their own CHD stories.