Melissa Y. Lee is a Pediatric Cardiologist based in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. She looks after children and young people who have heart problems, from babies to teens. Heart care for kids can be stressful, and a big part of her job is making things feel clear and calmer for families.
In her clinic and hospital work, she helps manage a range of congenital heart conditions. This can include things like coarctation of the aorta, interrupted aortic arch, and issues such as an aortopulmonary window. She also cares for children with heart rhythm and blood flow problems related to congenital heart disease (CHD), including ventricular septal defects and more complex conditions like transposition of the great arteries and truncus arteriosus.
Sometimes the concern is more than just the heart’s shape. Melissa also supports children where blood pressure becomes an issue, including high blood pressure in infants and ongoing hypertension. At times, children may have reduced oxygen to the brain (cerebral hypoxia) as part of their heart condition, and careful monitoring matters.
She also looks after kids with problems that affect the coronary arteries and heart muscle. This can include congenital coronary artery malformation, coronary artery aneurysm, and pediatric myocarditis. Kawasaki disease is another condition she commonly deals with, as it can affect the heart and blood vessels too.
For some children, heart care may involve more specialised treatment pathways. Melissa works with teams when a child has congenital cardiovascular shunts or complex flow connections. She also supports care in situations like heart transplant follow-up, where long-term monitoring is key. If there are other heart complications, she helps coordinate what needs to be checked and when, so care stays steady over time.
Families can also be dealing with symptoms that need prompt attention. These might include breathing issues, poor feeding in babies, unusual tiredness, fast or irregular heart rates, or swelling. In many cases, an early assessment helps guide the next steps, including tests and follow-up plans.
Melissa is based in Melbourne and works with local paediatric services to support children living with heart disease. The aim is simple: help kids get the right care, keep track of how they’re going, and support families through the process.