Riley Hospital for Children’s pediatric heart program is ranked 18th overall by U.S. News & World Report and is designated among the best hospitals for children with severe congenital heart disease. Over 20,000 pediatric anesthetics are performed each year, with over 600 of those being cardiac surgical cases and over 700 cardiac catheterization procedures.
The advanced fellowship in pediatric cardiac anesthesia is associated with the ACGME-accredited core pediatric fellowship at Riley Hospital. The cardiac fellowship is ACGME-accredited with one 12-month fellowship position available each year. Advanced fellows are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the six competency areas, and they are evaluated regularly on this basis.
Fellows gain appropriate knowledge of the pediatric cardiovascular system and develop a systematic comprehension of the various forms of congenital heart disease. Clinical training, didactic instruction and opportunities for research or quality improvement projects are essential components of the program curriculum. Fellows become expert consultants in anesthetic care for patients with a wide variety of congenital cardiac defects, as well as for ECMO, VAD devices, and heart transplantation. Skills for the preoperative evaluation of patients presenting for cardiac surgery, including experience with echocardiography, are developed. Mastery of essentials of patient monitoring and appropriate pre-bypass, bypass and post-bypass anesthetic management is emphasized.
Rotation Schedule
- 9.5 months clinical exposure in operating room/cardiac catheterization laboratory
- 1 month cardiovascular intensive care unit
- 1.5 months elective (two weeks per elective)
- Options include echocardiography, extracorporeal perfusion, cardiology, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology or research
Clinical Experience
The fellow’s primary educational exposure will be via hands-on learning in the cardiac operating room and catheterization laboratory. Fellows typically perform cases one-on-one with the attending anesthesiologist, but opportunities for supervision of residents and junior fellows will be available.
The fellowship adheres to the case minimums set forth by the ACGME requirements.
Care of cardiac patients for non-cardiac surgeries will be provided.
Didactic Experience
- Twice monthly lecture series on Wednesday mornings led by program faculty and visiting lecturers
- Quarterly journal club led by fellow and faculty
- Morbidity and mortality conferences
- Multidisciplinary simulation sessions in the cardiac operating room and catheterization laboratory
- Department of Anesthesia grand rounds
- Pediatric cardiac service line lectures including morbidity and mortality conferences and weekly case discussions
Application Information
Fellows for this training program must have completed an ACGME-accredited anesthesia residency as well as an ACGME-accredited pediatric anesthesia fellowship. Additionally, applicants who have completed an adult cardiac anesthesia fellowship will be considered. Applicants must have participated in a minimum of 25 pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass cases.
Please submit the application form, CV and three letters of recommendation by email to Clayre Tanis-Arens, DO.
