Dr. Tim Watson is no stranger to Northeast Ohio. He received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed his specialty pediatrics residency at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. After spending time in Atlanta, GA, Dr. Watson is excited to be a part of the team of cardiologists at Akron Children’s Heart Center.
Dr. Watson began practicing medicine in 2013 and is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in Pediatric Cardiology and General Pediatrics.
Why did you choose Akron Children’s Hospital?
I was fortunate to start my career at a high volume/acuity center in Atlanta. I was able to meet and learn from some of the best cardiologists in the field. It became clear to me that the value of family time is paramount for young kids after the height of the COVID pandemic. Fortunately, Akron Children’s had an available opportunity to join a great team, pursue my clinical interests, and allow my wife and daughters to be closer to extended family. It was evident during my interview that the Heart Center was a cohesive team with excellent diversity in expertise.
Describe your role and what you hope to accomplish.
I will be part of the outreach efforts of the Heart Center providing outpatient care close to home for families throughout Ohio. I will serve families with my experience in general cardiology, preventive cardiology and fetal echocardiography. I will also provide inpatient echo support for our clinical services, cath lab team and cardiac surgeons. I will contribute to the cardiac informatics efforts of the heart center to improve medical documentation, provider efficiency, and patient education.
Why did you choose your area of expertise?
I chose pediatric cardiology due to the privilege to take care of the brave heart warriors that I encounter each day at work. I take pride in guiding families through their heart journey from prenatal life and watching kids grow up. The variety and complexity of congenital heart disease offers clinical challenges that consistently keeps things interesting from a clinical perspective.
What impression do you hope to leave with your patients each day?
I do my best to ensure that every patient and family have an informative and honest evaluation in my office. I always address the patient before I address the caregivers, so the child knows they are the focus of the visit. I know I must work for a patient/families trust and will be a true advocate for them.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Norfolk, VA with a Navy veteran father and my mother was a teacher/librarian. I played multiple sports growing up and was a drum major for my high school band.
Who makes up your family?
I have a wonderful wife who is the foundation for our family. I have two wonderful daughters. Our family has a dog who was bred by one of my former patients in Atlanta and his name is “Potter.” Our family loves reading Harry Potter together at night. We have an adopted cat “Jovie” two years ago and she is known to snuggle with every member of the family at some point throughout the night when we are sleeping.
What do you do when you are not working?
I enjoy exploring new technology, participating in electric vehicle discussions/podcasts, visiting new cities with my family. I am also an avid BBQ fan and enjoy cooking for other people.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
I would love to go on a several month international cruise to explore the world.
What question would you most like to know the answer to?
I would like to know what the cheapest and most stable battery formulation is to allow our world to transition to a sustainable future with unlimited storage of solar energy. This will set generations up for a fossil fuel free economy and provide energy security for any weather situation.
