Bridging the Gap: A Condensed Fetal Cardiology Curriculum Improves Pediatric Cardiology Fellow Performance and Confidence
By
Nia Choi
Shreya S. Sheth
Tam T. Doan
William Buck Kyle
BriAnna Souder
Aura Sanchez
Deidra Ansah
Emily Lawrence
Hasti Sanandajifar
James Chris Wilkinson
Betul Yilmaz Furtun
June 3, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Enhancing Pediatric Cardiology Fellow Skills and Confidence Through an Intensive Fetal Cardiology Training Program
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Prenatal Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Key Mechanisms Fetal echocardiography for diagnosis and management of CHD Target Population Categorical pediatric cardiology fellows Care Setting Pediatric cardiology fellowship programs
Key Highlights
Curriculum developed to standardize fetal cardiology training for pediatric cardiology fellows Mandatory participation with a focus on case-based learning and didactic sessions Improvement in fellows' confidence and knowledge in fetal cardiac imaging post-curriculum Curriculum aligns with American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) board certification examination requirements Feedback utilized to optimize future iterations of the curriculum Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize fetal echocardiography for prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease Management
Implement structured fetal cardiology curriculum in pediatric cardiology fellowships Monitoring & Follow-up
Assess fellows' knowledge and skills through self-reported surveys and board examination scores Risks
Limited exposure to fetal cardiac imaging may affect fellows' preparedness for board certification Patient & Prescribing Data
Fetuses diagnosed with congenital heart disease
Enhanced training may lead to improved prenatal management and outcomes
Clinical Best Practices
Incorporate case-based learning in fetal cardiology training Ensure consistent access to educational materials for fellows Schedule curriculum to follow core transthoracic echocardiography rotations Related Resources & Content
