Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship

The goal of our fellowship is to develop academic leaders in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology (PCA).  The objective is to provide clinical training in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology (incorporating the proposal by DiNardo et al1 in 2010, and recommendations by the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society2 in 2018) with emphasis on extensive exposures with an interdisciplinary approach to the care of the pediatric patient with cardiac diseases, and scholarly activities with a committed mentoring team.

Upon completion of the program, PCA fellows are expected to be experts in the care of infants, children, and adults with congenital or acquired heart disease for open heart surgeries requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, diagnostic and interventional procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab, and related procedures.

The NewYork Presbyterian-Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York is one of the largest and highest volume centers for congenital cardiac surgery in the area, performing over 500 open heart procedures and over 1200 catheterization procedures per year. Our institution provides care for complex single-ventricle patients across their lifespan for a variety of cardiac and noncardiac procedures.  In addition, we are the highest volume center in the country for heart transplantation and a high-volume center for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ventricular assist devices. The complexity and acuity of our patient population makes for an unparalleled learning experience. 

Expectations include:

  • Communicating effectively and becoming a part of a multidisciplinary team (surgeons, nurses, perfusionists, cardiologists, and cardiac intensivists) to provide care for complex cardiac patients
  • Providing emergency and elective anesthesia care for complex patients with congenital or acquired heart disease
  • Gaining a comprehensive understanding of congenital cardiac lesions and their physiologic characteristics and anesthetic implications
  • Caring for patients with mechanical assist devices including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ventricular assist devices
  • Participating in complex medical decision making with surgeons and intensivists regarding patient care
  • Contributing to the field in the form of scholarly activity

1. DiNardo JA, Andropoulos DB, and Baum VC: A Proposal for Training in Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia. Anesth Analg 2010; 110:1121-1125. 

2.  Nasr V, Guzzetta N, Miller-Hance WC, Twite M, Latham GL, Zabala L, Nicholson SC, Mossad E, DiNardo JA: Consensus Statement by the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society: Milestones for the Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship. Anesth Analg 2018;126:198–207.

Fellowship Overview

ACGME accreditation: anticipated 2026
Program start date: July/August (flexible options for start dates)
Number of positions: 1
Duration of training: 12 months (flexible)

Clinical Experience

Pediatric cardiac anesthesiology fellows provide perioperative care for pediatric patients undergoing noninvasive and invasive diagnostic and therapeutic congenital cardiac procedures, including echocardiography, cardiac imaging, cardiac catheterization, electrophysiological testing and therapeutic intervention, and cardiopulmonary bypass procedures.

Fellows will have several months of clinical elective rotations related to the care of the pediatric cardiac patient, such as inpatient cardiology, cardiac critical care, echocardiography, and extracorporeal perfusion.

Our fellows perform most of their cases as primary providers, with progressive autonomy throughout the year. They are given opportunities for supervision of junior residents to prepare for independent and academic practice.

Didactic Curriculum

Our education program combines the benefits of both experiential, hands-on learning and formal didactic education. Our curriculum combines lecture series, problem-based discussions, journal clubs, and case reviews, given by faculty from multiple disciplines including cardiology, congenital cardiac surgery, imaging, and pediatric critical care.  

Research Opportunities

The Department of Anesthesiology supports the research productivity of our fellows, who conduct scholarly projects suitable for publication. Fellows interested in exploring specific research opportunities can choose to participate in one of our ongoing research projects or can develop their own research proposals with the guidance of faculty mentors.

Benefits

In addition to textbooks and subscriptions to online learning modules, PCA fellows are provided an educational stipend to be used at their discretion.  Furthermore, our fellows are given the time and financial support needed to participate in regional or national conferences.

Core Competencies and Milestones

Patient Care

  • Perioperative assessment, planning and management
  • Technical/procedural skills
  • Understanding cardiovascular surgical procedures
  • Understanding cardiac catheter–based therapeutic procedures and electrophysiologic studies

Medical Knowledge

  • Congenital and acquired cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal circulation, and circulatory assist device principles
  • Understanding cardiac diagnostic procedures (e.g., echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac catheterization, computerized tomography)

Systems-based Practice

  • Coordination of care
  • Incorporation of patient safety and quality improvement into clinical practice
  • Understanding of health care economics; cost awareness and cost-benefit analysis

Practice-based Learning and Improvement

  • Self-directed learning and scholarly activity
  • Education of team members and other health care providers

Professionalism

  • Commitment to institution, department, and colleagues
  • Receiving and giving feedback
  • Responsibility to maintain personal, emotional, physical and mental health

Interpersonal and Communications Skills

  • Communication with patients and families
  • Interprofessional communication and transitions of care

 

How to Apply

Individuals interested in the fellowship program must have successfully completed an ACGME–accredited residency training program in anesthesiology prior to the start of the fellowship AND either a) a fellowship program in pediatric anesthesiology OR b) a fellowship in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology. Fellows entering from adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology should have taken a minimum of one month of pediatric anesthesiology during the adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship.

To apply to the Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship program or for more detailed information on the fellowship application process, please e-mail Anthony Habib, MD at ah3071@cumc.columbia.edu.

Fellowship Contacts

Fellowship Director
Anthony Habib, MD
ah3071@cumc.columbia.edu

Fellowship Administrator
Vicki Risser
vr2274@cumc.columbia.edu
212-305-2413