Dr. Steve Muyskens grew up in Des Moines, IA, and quickly developed an interest in the sciences and medicine. He attended the University of Kansas for undergraduate training and graduated with a B.A. in biology. He spent his free time volunteering through the United Way of Douglas County and in local emergency rooms. More importantly, he realized his passion for Kansas basketball and spent the cold Kansas winters attending basketball games.

After graduation, he attended medical school at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. During his third and fourth years of medical school he became interested in pediatric cardiology and the care of these patients in underserved countries. Subsequently, he traveled to Efate, Vanuatu, in the south pacific to volunteer at a local hospital. The experience of working with sick children, especially those with heart disease, with limited resources shaped his practice and passion for cardiology.

Dr. Muyskens trained in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology at Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, MO. During these six years he developed his interest in non-invasive imaging and pursued additional training in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (known as cardiac MRI or CMR) through the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University. He also met his wife, Melissa, a pediatric cardiovascular intensive care nurse. Following his graduation he spent three months at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard School of Medicine, increasing his knowledge and experience in CMR.

While at Cook Children’s Medical Center, Dr. Muyskens developed the CMR program, as well as a practicing pediatric cardiologist with an interest in all forms of non-invasive imaging (transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography).