University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in Iowa nationally ranked for pediatric care by U.S. News and World Report. Read our October 8, 2024 news release. 

• No. 21 in neonatology
• No. 25 in pediatric diabetes and endocrinology
• No. 32 in pediatric nephrology
• No. 34 in pediatric urology
• No. 40 in pediatric neurology and neurosurgery
• No. 41 in pediatric cancer
• No. 47 in pediatric cardiology, heart and vascular surgery
• No. 47 in pediatric orthopedics
• Top 50 in pediatric and adolescent behavioral health

The annual Best Children’s Hospitals rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the U.S. in 10 pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and lung surgery, and urology. 

University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics are recognized nationally for a number of achievements.

 

Pediatric researchers at the University of Iowa have a long history of breakthrough discoveries in both the clinical and laboratory setting. Meet members of our research team:

• Faculty Research Profiles
• Researchers in the News

Sample of Pediatrics Cardiology Fellow Schedules

Key goals of the fellow schedule are to provide well-rounded and comprehensive exposure to all aspects of pediatric cardiology. In addition to having ample time on the inpatient cardiology service, fellows have early exposure to our cardiac intensive care unit, and scheduled time in our catheterization and electrophysiology labs during all three years of fellowship. Fellows are scheduled with 12-months of dedicated research time and a substantial amount of elective time for exposure to unique experiences such as advanced cardiac imaging, adult congenital heart disease, cardiac transplant, neonatal hemodynamics, or additional time in our EP and Cath labs. Each fellow additionally has time in our on-site specialty clinic one day a week when not on their inpatient or ICU rotations.

Clinical rotations are arranged in 2 -week blocks with time divided between the inpatient service, the echocardiography lab, and the catheterization lab. Over the 3 year fellowship, fellows will spend approximately 8 months on the inpatient service, 2 months in the cardiac ICU, 5 months in the cath and EP labs, and 6 months in the echocardiography lab. There are 6 additional months of elective time that can be used to pursue clinical or research interests. General duties during each clinical block are listed below.

Clinical Service

• Daily rounds on all patients on the Pediatric Cardiology service
• Combined daily rounds on post-operative patients with the PCICU and surgical teams
• Perform consults throughout University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital as needed
• Weeknight home call
• Assist with resident and medical student education
• First call for all phone consults or patient questions
• Inpatient team also supported by dedicated ACHD, Heart Failure/Transplant, and Single-Ventricle teams

Catheterization Lab/Electrophysiology Service

• Assist with all cardiac catheterization performed during this rotation
• Assist with all EP procedures performed during this rotation
• Weeknight home call one night per week

Echocardiography

• First year fellows learn to perform and interpret transthoracic echocardiograms. This is accomplished during a protected 1-month echo rotation at the start of first year and then 3 additional months to help fellows master this skill. 
• Second and third year fellows learn advanced echocardiogram techniques and learn fetal and transesophageal echocardiograms during their dedicated echo blocks as senior level fellows. 
• There is ample opportunities to learn cardiac MRI and cardiac CT

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

• Four total 2-week blocks distributed in first and second year
• Integrated into the PCICU team 
• Increasing responsibility based on experience, interest, and comfort

Electives

• Fellows can elect to spend time in the following areas depending upon interest and career goals. A total of 6 months of elective time is available
• Electrophysiology
• Interventional cardiac catheterization
• Echocardiography (transthoracic, transesophageal, fetal)
• Cardiac MRI and Cardiac CT
• Transplant Cardiology
• Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (PCICU)
• Cardiothoracic surgery
• Neonatal Hemodynamics
• Research

Our curriculum is designed to create a comprehensive and well-rounded review of all topics within pediatric cardiology with didactic experiences every day of the week.

Pediatric Cardiology Fellow Core Curriculum Series

Twice weekly conferences for all fellows for comprehensive review of core topics in pediatric cardiology. This series includes interactive lectures from subspecialists in advanced imaging, electrophysiology, exercise science, heart failure/transplant, cardiogenetics, intensive care, interventional cardiology, neonatal hemodynamics, pathology, and POTS/syncope. There is also protected time in this series for Moss & Adams sessions and Board Prep Question Review.

Cardiac Catheterization Conference 

A weekly conference for all fellows to review planned cases for the upcoming week in addition to cardiac catheterization and angiographic data from interesting cases the previous week. 

Surgical Conference

The pediatric cardiology staff, cardiovascular surgery staff and cardiovascular anesthesia staff meet jointly once a week to review upcoming surgical cases. The pediatric cardiology fellows present cases and participate in the discussions.

Echocardiography Conference

This one-hour conference is held weekly with the sonographers joining the fellows every other week. Combined conferences with the sonographers focus on technical aspects of echocardiography and anatomy, while sessions for fellows only delve deeper into clinical aspects of imaging and fellow-specific educational topics. 

Surgical Case Review

During this monthly session, one of our cardiac surgeons sits down with the fellows to review video recording of a recent surgery, detailing the surgical process and specific techniques involved in surgical repair and palliation. 

Pathology Conference

Regularly scheduled conference for fellows to review cardiac anatomy and pathology specimens with faculty trained in cardiac pathology.

Combined Neonatal Hemodynamics Conference

This monthly conference is held in conjunction with our neonatal ICU and neonatal hemodynamics teams to review challenging neonatal cases and the specific evaluation and management techniques used in neonates. 

M & M

This monthly conference is held in conjunction with the surgical and PCICU teams. 

Pediatrics Fellow Core Curriculum Series

This weekly lecture series is for all fellows in pediatrics at Stead Family Children’s Hospital and focuses on research and career development with topics covering research basics, REDCap, grant writing, collaborative research, mentorship, and research in progress presentations. 

Opened to patients in 2017, Stead Family Children’s Hospital is the only comprehensive children’s hospital in the state of Iowa. This 14-floor, 563,250-square-foot building provides our patients with a family-focused environment for healing with spacious rooms, increased natural light, and new state-of-the-art technology everywhere you look. 

Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Our most acutely ill patients are cared for in the third-floor pediatric intensive care unit with 14 rooms specifically dedicated for our cardiovascular intensive care team. These spacious rooms are equipped with live-in space for families and are specially designed to allow surgeons to perform in-room procedures without moving critically ill patients. 

Cardiology Floor 

Our more stable patients are cared for on the tenth floor which has natural lighting and expansive views of Iowa City and the surrounding area. As a part of one of the most touching traditions in all of sports, our patients also get the attention of more than 70,000 University of Iowa football fans as they turn and wave to the children in the hospital at the end of the first quarter of every home football game. Learn more about The Wave. 

Cardiac Interventional and Electrophysiology Labs

Our two newly renovated interventional and electrophysiology labs were opened in 2016 with state-of-the-art Siemens imaging technology, three-dimensional rotational angiography, and the ability to perform radiation-free electrophysiology studies with ablation. 

Pediatric Specialty Clinic

Directly adjacent to Stead Family Children’s Hospital is our pediatric specialty clinic, equipped with 5 echocardiography rooms, our accredited echocardiography lab, and a fully functional accredited pediatric exercise lab all directly connected to our cardiology clinic area.

Iowa City, Iowa is not only home to the University of Iowa and Stead Family Children’s Hospital. This city of 76,290 people has been named to Livability’s Top 100 overall best places to live list in addition to Top 10 College Towns, Top 10 Best Cities for Book Lovers, and Top 10 Best Cities for Affordable Health Care.

Get to see more of what Iowa City has to offer!

Post-Graduate Program in Translational Biomedicine

One of a few such clinical graduate programs in the U.S., the Post-Graduate Program in Translational Biomedicine trains scientists in the principles and techniques of scholarly, patient-oriented research, including epidemiological and translational research and clinical trials. The GPTB has attracted a stellar team of trainees from a multitude of diverse disciplines and backgrounds, and has proven unparalleled in providing a strong, interdisciplinary core curriculum and expansive cutting-edge research opportunities and mentoring.

College of Public Health

Iowa's College of Public Health helps society respond to new and emerging threats, as well as other long-standing public health concerns, including air and water quality, aging, cancer, health care quality and services, obesity, tobacco and substance abuse.

Masters in Clinical Investigation

A two year interdisciplinary program designed for post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty from the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, and Pharmacy pursuing careers in clinical research. This program is supported by Iowa’s NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award and provides a structured didactic curriculum in research methods in the context of a mentored research experience.

Masters in Medical Education

A two year program coordinated through the Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education (OCRME). The program requires the completion of 30 semester hours and is designed for post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty from the College of Medicine wishing to pursue careers in medical education. The program includes all facets of medical education, including the practice and principles of educational research.

Certificate in Bioinformatics

A two year interdisciplinary program design for postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty from the Colleges of Medicine, Engineering, and Public Health to combine the latest scientific techniques in human genetics, computer hardware and software to analyze large databases related to human health and disease.

During the first year, each fellow selects members of the faculty to serve on as their personal Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC). In addition to the program director, the SOC includes a research mentor, a career mentor, and an additional faculty member from outside the division of pediatric cardiology. Fellows meet with their SOC at least twice a year to help guide scholarly work, help with scholarly project completion, and provide overall mentorship to the fellow.   

Generally, second-year fellows pursue more intense academic training.  Under the guidance of their SOC, independent research is undertaken. In addition to the independent research, the fellow may select courses in developmental biology, embryology, biostatistics, bioassay, experimental design, or any other course that would provide the necessary academic background to perform as an independent investigator.  Fellows are encouraged to write abstracts, manuscripts, and grants.

During the third year, a fellow will complete the independent project and present academic endeavors at national meetings, thus providing the necessary visibility for successful job placement upon completion of their training.

Travel to national meetings is provided yearly to each trainee.  Fellows have always been encouraged to submit their research findings to Young Investigator competitions of the Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology or Society for Pediatric Research during their second and third years of training.  Previous trainees have successfully competed in these programs.

Current research interests of the division faculty include cardiac catheterization interventions, adult congenital, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, animal research (toxicity, and fatty acid heart defects), fetal neurocardiac development, Fontan palliation, conduction and rhythm disturbances, developmental aspects of cardiac muscle and cardiac contractile proteins, cardiac embryology, echocardiography, and virtual reality with 3D prints for surgical planning.

Department of Pediatrics faculty members are in key national leadership positions across the disciplines of academic pediatrics and biomedical research. In 2019, our department ranked twenty seventh in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding among pediatric departments located within medical schools. That year our department received $12.8 million in direct costs (direct costs from all extramural research funding totaled $18.7 million). The number of NIH awards and associated direct costs was comparable in fiscal year 2018, i.e., $12.4 million in direct costs from 60 total NIH awards, with direct costs from all extramural research funding totaling $19.6 million.

The Carver College of Medicine is internationally recognized for its excellence and leadership in biomedical research. In 2019, the Carver College of Medicine received $232.2 million in research funding, including $130 million from the NIH, ranking it 41 in the nation among public medical schools. Six University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine programs nationally ranked- with 2  in the top 5.

In its 2021 edition of “Best Graduate Schools,” U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in the following categories:

• Physical Therapy: No. 4
• Family Medicine: No. 15
• Primary Care: No. 20
• Internal Medicine: No. 29
• Research: No. 34

Carver College of Medicine faculty have been awarded approximately half of the University's total research funding and more than 80 percent of its National Institutes of Health funding. The University of Iowa is at the forefront among research universities in this country, and its contribution has been nationally recognized by such eminent authorities as the Carnegie Foundation, which classified The University of Iowa as having "very high research activity" among research universities. In the most recent medical school rankings by U.S. News and World Report, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine ranked 20th for primary care training and 34th as a research institution.

Number of fellows accepted each year: 1-2

Total number of fellows in the program: 5

Procedural volume (fiscal year 2019):

• 268 Congenital heart surgeries
• 7 Heart transplants
• 350 Cardiac catheterizations
• 200 Electrophysiologic procedures
• 9,273 Echocardiograms
• 585 Fetal echocardiogram
• 150 Cardiac CTs
• 300 Cardiac MRI’s

Advanced fellowships (fourth year) are available to eligible candidates in cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology, and advanced imaging based on availability of funding.

Will I receive excellent clinical training at the University of Iowa?

YES!  While we have traditionally been known as a research institution, we are a full service clinical division of Pediatric Cardiology.  We have busy catheterization and electrophysiology, transplant, and echocardiography services.  We are utilizing cutting edge techniques and technology including percutaneous placement of pulmonary valves, advanced arrhythmia mapping and ablation techniques, 3D echocardiography, Advanced CT and MRI techniques and ventricular assist devices.

Do you have a congenital cardiac surgical team?

YES!  Dr. Marco Ricci, Dr. Mohsen Karimi and Dr. Yuki Nakamura are trained in congenital heart surgery and perform all of the pediatric and adult congenital cardiac procedures at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. This program also runs the ECMO and the Ventricular assist device program. They collaborate with the interventional cardiologists in hybrid procedures and adult cardiac surgeons for collaborative care of the ACHD population.

How will I identify a research mentor and project?

During the first research elective, fellows are encouraged to meet with several clinical and basic science investigators who have ongoing projects that match their own interests. Should a fellow enter the program with a strong background in research or an identified project, a mentor with similar interests will be identified. A strong mentor-fellow relationship is imperative to success in research!

Will I have protected time to perform a research project and meet board eligibility requirements?

Research blocks are protected time! There are no clinical call duties during the week. It is requested that fellows attend their weekly outpatient clinic and educational conferences. All other activities should be dedicated to research.

What is the call schedule?

Weekday “after hours” call is covered by the fellow assigned to clinical service a few nights of the week. Cross coverage relief is typically performed by a co-fellow. Research and echo months are typically call free during the week. Weekend call is split evenly amongst the fellows.

Where is Iowa City?

Iowa City is 220 miles directly west of Chicago on Interstate 80. It's also within a 4-5 hour drive to Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis. It has the cultural, educational, social and political opportunities of a bigger city with the values and ambiance of a midwestern town. Its clean, safe, nothing is farther than a 15 minute car ride, it has a great city bus system (with bike racks!), wonderful parks, sports, schools and even sailing. Those who have lived here and left, frequently return because what they were looking for was in their own back yard. How ethnically diverse are the patients?

How ethnically diverse are the patients?

Like a lot of university towns, we have a large international community. Growing cultural diversity is another reason Iowa City is an interesting place to live. Diversity is embraced and celebrated with city and university events, festivals, clubs and programs. The University works hard to recruit and retain minorities with its affirmative action policies. About 13% of Iowa Citians are non-white as similar amount of the patients represent the clinic mix.

What’s the weather like in Iowa City?

Iowa City gets to experience the full spectrum of the four seasons and has something to offer almost anyone. Our temperate climate gives us an early Spring and a long Fall with many enjoyable months to be outside. We also get plenty of hot summer days for swimming and even a few weeks every winter with snow. We have a lot of sunny days - on average 199 per year. Our average snowfall is 27", average rainfall is 37", average high temperature in July is 85°F and in January is 30°F.

What is there to do in Iowa City when you're not working?

There are 15 different festivals and art fairs, plus concerts and race events. There are many music venues, sports events and neighborhood street fairs and garden walks. We also have a really big mall and several smaller ones, 41 parks, 9 golf courses, 6 public tennis courts, 6 public pools, some lakes and a reservoir with trails, camping & boating. There are bike trails, some famous bookstores, a ton of galleries and excellent museums. There are half a dozen or more performing arts venues including Hancher Auditorium. There's always something going on. Find more information from the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

What's Iowa City like for kids and families?

Iowa city has 50 public parks, miniature golf, a great public library, a toy library, ice skating, bowling, organized sports, fun centers, swimming pools and 3 beaches, 9 museums including a children's museum, dance companies and public recreation centers that feature many activities for kids and families at little or no cost. We also have 20 movie screens and 50-licensed daycare providers. The Iowa City schools are perennially ranked among the top schools in the nation. Iowa City is unique in the facilities and services available for individuals with disabilities. Many families who have a family member with a disability are reluctant to leave Iowa City because they cannot duplicate those services in another location.

Are there any job opportunities for my spouse/significant other?

Yes, in March 2020, Iowa City had an average of 2.7% unemployment. Also check out The University of Iowa's Dual Career Network.

Pediatric Cardiology participates in the Subspecialty Match through NRMP. Applications will be accepted through ERAS and will be reviewed starting in July each year.

Interviews for 2025 will be done virtually via Zoom.

Orientation for all new fellows will be on July 1. Please be available for orientation July 1 and be licensed in the state of Iowa by June 30.

 

U.S. Allopathic Medical School Graduates

• Passing all three levels of USMLEs with no more than one failure.
• Application via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) including:< >A minimum of three letters of recommendation (letters from pediatric supervisors are preferable if possible);Dean’s letter;Medical school transcript verifying appropriate medical education to train in a large teaching hospital;Personal statement (there are no specific requirements for the personal statement but in general it should explain why you are interested in a pediatric cardiology fellowship and argue why you would be a good candidate); andphotograph.We do not require a “Chairman’s Letter.”
• History of and commitment to treating and/or advocating for and/or conducting research for children and/or adolescents.

Osteopathic Medical School Graduates

• COMLEX Step 1 and Step 2 scores of at least 500 or USMLE Step 1 score of at least 200 on the first attempt.
• Application via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) including:< >A minimum of three letters of recommendation (letters from pediatric supervisors are preferable if possible);Dean’s letter;Medical school transcript verifying appropriate medical education to train in a large teaching hospital;Personal statement (there are no specific requirements for the personal statement but in general it should explain why you are interested in a pediatric cardiology fellowship and argue why you would be a good candidate); andphotograph.We do not require a “Chairman’s Letter.”
• History of and commitment to treating and/or advocating for and/or conducting research for children and/or adolescents.

International Medical School Graduates

• USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores of at least 225 on first attempt. Scores must be available before you can be considered for an interview.
• Passing grade on the CSA or USMLE Step 2 CS on the first attempt.
• Previous degree in U.S., (i.e. MPH) is also desirable.
• Application via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) including:< >A minimum of 3 letters of recommendation (letters from pediatric supervisors are preferable if possible);Dean’s letter;Medical school transcript verifying appropriate medical education to train in a large teaching hospital;Personal statement (there are no specific requirements for the personal statement but in general it should explain why you are interested in a pediatric cardiology fellowship and argue why you would be a good candidate); andphotograph.We do not require a “Chairman’s Letter.”History of and commitment to treating and/or advocating for and/or conducting research for children and/or adolescents.

Medical specialty certification in the United States is a voluntary process which serves multiple purposes for the trainee and the public.

Certification is

• One mission of the training program to produce trainees who meet board eligibility criteria
• Distinguishes a physician as someone with a distinct level of expertise
• Provides more opportunities when applying for employment
• Presents resources and tools by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
• A commitment to life-long improvement for providing the best patient care
• Elevates physicians into the ranks of doctors committed to the highest standards of healthcare

For more information visit the American Board of Pediatrics for specifics on board certification requirements.

Uzoego Chibuzo, MD (2024-2027)

Medical School: University of Maiduguri College of Medical Sciences, Nigeria
Residency: Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Flushing, NY

Aaron “AJ” Heaps, MD (2023-2026)

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL
Residency: Brown University Pediatrics, Providence, RI

Peter Barrale, MD (2022-2025)

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine, Barbados
Residency: Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA

Moeez Hassan, MD (2022-2025)

Medical School: Khyber Medical College, Pakistan
Residency: Beaumont Children's Hospital, Royal Oak, MI

2024 Graduates

Bayan Issa, MD (2021-2024)

Medical School: Kalamoon University Faculty of Medicine, Syria
Residency: University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL

2023 Graduates

Kamel Shibbani, MD (2020-2023) 

Medical School:  American University, Beirut, Lebanon
Residency:  University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA

Krista Young, MD (2020-2023) 

Medical School: University of Texas School of Medicine, San Antonio
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

 

2022 Graduates

Kurt Bjorkman, MD (2019-2022)

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Mich.
Residency: Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.

Janelle Buysse, DO (2019-2022)

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pa.
Residency: Advocate Children’s Hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill.

2021 Graduates

Omar Abu Anza, MBChB (2018-2021)

Medical School: Cairo University, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo
Residency: University at Buffalo, Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y.
Research: Doppler estimated pressure gradient after stent repair of coarctation of aorta
Current Position: Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatric Cardiology, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Okla.

2020 Graduates

Nikola Dragisic, MD (2017-2020)

Medical School: American University of the Caribbean, School of Medicine, Coral Gables, Fla.
Residency: Atlantic Health Systems, Morristown, N.J.
Research: Evaluating the in vivo role of cyclin C in mammalian hearts
Current Position: Associate, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa

Natasha Gonzalez Estevez, MD (2017-2020)

Medical School: University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Research: The use of novel MRI analysis model for evaluation of the RVOT in patients with congenital heart disease
Post Fellowship Training: Advanced Imaging Fellowship, University of California Los Angeles 

2019 Graduates

Jess Randall, MD (2016-2019)

Medical School: University of Kansas, School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kan.
Residency: Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix
Research Interests: Novel targets for treatment of pediatric pulmonary hypertension
Post Fellowship Training: Interventional Cardiology, Colorado Children’s Hospital, Denver, 2019-2020
Current Position: Group practice interventional cardiologist Rochester, N.Y., 2020-Present

2018 Graduates

Randi Durden (Parker), MD (2015-2018)

Medical School: Ross University, School of Medicine, Roseau, Dominica
Residency: Memorial University Medical Center, Savannah, Ga.
Research Interests: Childhood obesity and obesity prevention: looking into identifiable risk factors for obesity with the goal of implementation of early childhood interventions to prevent childhood obesity
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiology Associates of Houston, Houston

Deidra Ansah, MD (2015-2018)

Medical School: East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, N.C.
Residency: Emory University Hospital, Atlanta
Research Interests: Determination of cardiac size and function in SSRI exposed infants
Post Fellowship Training: Advanced Imaging Fellowship, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago

2017 Graduates

 

Omar Rodriguez, MD (2014-2017)

Medical School: State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, New York
Residency: Northwell Health, New York
Chief Residency: Northwell Health, New York
Research Interests: Thrombosis prevention in children with congenital heart disease
Current Position: Critical Care Fellowship, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa 
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Critical Care, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa

2016 Graduates

Derek Hoyme, MD (2013-2016)

Medical School: University of Buffalo, State University of New York School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, N.Y.
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Research Interests: Resuscitation outcomes and outcomes of resuscitation education programs in Iowa High Schools
Current Position: University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Madison, Wis.

Sonya Kirmani, MD (2013-2016)

Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Interests: Dilated cardiomyopathy results in dilated ventricles with depressed systolic function
Additional Training: Heart failure and transplant, Washington University, St. Louis
Current Position: Duke Children’s Health Center; Cardiac Transplant, Durham, N.C.
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis

2015 Graduates

Govinda Paudel, MD (2012-2015)

Medical School: B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Residency: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, New York
Research Interests: Computational Fluid Dynamics in Cardiovascular Diseases
Additional Training: Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellow, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Current Position: LeBonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.
Area of Expertise: Cardiac Imaging
Post Fellowship Training: Imaging Fellowship, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

2014 Graduates

Luis Ochoa, MD (2011-2014)

Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Colorado, Denver / The Children's Hospital; Aurora, Colo.
Research Interests: Regulation of Epithelial Sodium Channel Gating in Hypertension
Additional Training: Electrophysiology, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
Current Position: University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa
Area of Expertise: Electrophysiology
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Electrophysiology, Duke University, Durham, N.C.

M. Santiago Restrepo, MD (2011-2014)

Medical School: University of Antioquia, Medical School, Medellín, Colombia
Residency: Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center, New York
Research Interests: In-vivo delivery of a viral vector for gene therapy in cystic fibrosis
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiologist, Children's Hospital Central California, Madera, Calif.
Area of Expertise: General Cardiology

2013 Graduates

Lindsey Malloy, DO, MPH (2010-2013)

Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Kansas City, Mo.
Residency: Children’s Mercy, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo.
Research Interests: Biochemical changes caused by aortic aneurysm actin mutations. 
Additional Training: Fourth year EP Fellowship, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, Calif.
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiologist, Children’s Mercy, Kansas City, Mo.
Area of Expertise: Pediatric Electrophysiology
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Electrophysiology, Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, Calif.

2012 Graduates

Benton Ng, MD (2009-2012)

Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas
Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wis.
Research Interests: Heart rate variability in newborns
Additional Training: Completion of Masters in clinical investigation. Three-month observership at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for cardiac MRI.
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiologist, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Area of Expertise: Imaging, including transthoracic echo, transesophageal echo, and cardiac MRI
Post Fellowship Training: Completion of Masters in Clinical Investigation, Cardiac MRI Observership, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia

2011 Graduates

Scott (Jared) Bentley, DO (2008-2011)

Medical School: University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine
Residency: Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va.
Research Interests: Obstructive sleep apnea (clinical markers of and cardiovascular changes associated with OSA) and childhood obesity
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Major in the United States Air Force, San Antonio
Area of Expertise: General Pediatric Cardiology

Susan Haynes, MD (2008-2011)

Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C.
Residency: University of South Alabama, University Hospital, Mobile, Ala.
Research Interests: Hypertension in preterm infants
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Greenville Health System, Greenville, S.C.
Area of Expertise: General cardiology and imaging

2010 Graduates

Melissa M. Agoudemos, MD, PhD (2007-2010)

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Interests: Cardiovascular effects in offspring of diabetic mothers
Additional Training: None
Current Position: St. Luke's Children's Cardiology, Boise, Idaho
Area of Expertise: Pediatric Echocardiography

Ryan Johnson, MD (2007-2010)

Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Ore.
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Research Interests: Development of novel indices of right and left ventricular morphology/motion and aortic morphology/motion using 4D MR imaging in pediatric patients with tetralogy of Fallot and connective tissue disorders.
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson, Ariz.
Area of Expertise: General pediatric cardiology

2009 Graduates

Sonali Patel, MD, PhD (2006-2009)

Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Interests: Epidemiology of atherosclerotic heart disease in pediatric patients
Additional Training: Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship, PhD Thesis in Epidemiology
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Director, Hypertension Program, Co-Director, Preventive Cardiology, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Denver
Area of Expertise: Preventive cardiology
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship, PhD Thesis in Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa

2008 Graduates

Priti Patel, MBBS, MD (2005-2008)

Medical School: Sri M.P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, India
Residency: John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago
Research Interests: Genetic determinants of patent ductus arteriosus in term infants; Gene linkage analysis for familial atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and/or cardiomyopathy
Additional Training: Pediatric Cardiology (interventional cardiac catheterization), Baylor University, College of Medicine, Houston
Current Position: Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Peoria, Ill.
Area of Expertise: Interventional cardiac catheterization Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Cardiology (interventional cardiac catheterization), Baylor University, College of Medicine, Houston
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Cardiology (interventional cardiac catheterization), Baylor University, College of Medicine, Houston

Nicholas Von Bergen, MD (2005-2008)

Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Interests: Alterations of heart rate variability as a predictor of sudden cardiac death in the Norwood population; Alterations in reactive oxygen species production in ovine coronary artery smooth muscle cells, mitochondrial and sub-mitochondrial particles in early gestation dexamethasone programmed ewes; Effectiveness of ICDs by indication in children and young adults with congenital heart disease; Exercise related syncope in pediatrics
Additional Training: Pediatric Cardiology, Visiting Scholar in Pediatric Electrophysiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Madison, Wis.
Area of Expertise: Pediatric electrophysiology Post Fellowship Training:Pediatric Cardiology, Visiting Scholar in Pediatric Electrophysiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Cardiology, Visiting Scholar in Pediatric Electrophysiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

2007 Graduates

Robert Escalera, MD (2004-2007)

Medical School: Georgetown University, School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
Residency: University of California, San Francisco
Research Interests: The role of early genetic determinants of Xenopus heart development
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiology Associates, Fairfax, Va.
Area of Expertise: General Pediatric Cardiology

2006 Graduates

Benjamin Reinking, MD (2003-2006)

Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Research Interests: Using high resolution ultrasound to define the cardiac phenotype of small animal models
Additional Training: Echocardiography, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, Calif.
Current Position: Director Pediatric Echocardiography Laboratory, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Iowa City, Iowa
Area of Expertise: Pediatric echocardiography Post Fellowship Training:Echocardiography, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, Calif.
Post Fellowship Training: Echocardiography, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, Calif.

2005 Graduates

Aaron Olson, MD (2002-2005)

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis and University of Minnesota, School of Medicine, Duluth, Minn.
Residency: University of Chicago Hospital and Clinics, Chicago
Research Interests: Signaling pathways in fetal cardiac hypertrophy
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Seattle
Area of Expertise: General pediatric cardiology

2004 Graduates

Jeffrey Frazer, MD (2001-2004)

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Research Interests: Delineating the metabolic and physiologic alterations in cardiovascular function induced by deletion of the gene for the voltage-dependent chloride channel CIC-3
Additional Training: Interventional Cardiology, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of San Diego, University of California, San Diego
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of California, Pediatric Cardiology, San Diego
Area of Expertise: Interventional cardiac catheterization
Post Fellowship Training:Interventional Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of San Diego, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of California, San Diego

Kaitlin Carr, PA-C
Clinical Interests
Cardiac Catheterization
Training
University of Iowa, Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Diana Knoedel, PA-C
Clinical Interests
Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Echocardiography
General Pediatric Cardiology
Training
University of Iowa, Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Mark Olson, PA-C
Clinical interests
“I have an active interested in cardiac catheterization and cardiac electrophysiology procedures and their related devices (stents, closure devices, ICD’s, pacemakers, etc.). My role is to assist in and help coordinate these procedures. I primarily follow patients of these types in clinic, and perform pacemaker and ICD interrogation. I also participate in clinical education by creating     simulation for staff.”
Training
University of Iowa, Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Trudy Pierick, ARNP
Clinical interests
Inpatient Care Coordinator 
Interests: single ventricle patients, feeding issues, anticoagulation, chylothorax, patient/family education, parent support group
Training
BSN, University of Iowa College of Nursing
MSN, University of Iowa College of Nursing
Outside interests
Cooking/baking, music, vinyl décor

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

Michelle Staron, MMS, PA-C
Clinical Interests
Physicians Assistant
Cardiac transplantation, heart failure and myocardial dysfunction

Natalie VanWaning, ARNP
Clinical Interests
Outpatient Care
Syncope
General Pediatric Cardiology
Training
BSN, University of Iowa College of Nursing
MSN, University of Iowa College of Nursing
Outside Interests
“I love to run, read, and spend time with family and friends.”

"Blame no one, expect nothing, do something." – Lloyd Carr

Gary Beasley, MD
Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program Director
Email: gary-beasley@uiowa.edu
Phone: 319-356-4995

Stephanie Acosta, MD
Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Assistant Program Director
Email: stephanie-acosta@uiowa.edu
Phone: 319-356-7303

Alexander G. Bassuk, MD, PhD

Chair and Department Executive Officer

Welcome to the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital. We are proud to showcase our extraordinary clinical care, dedication to the education of students and young physicians, and our world-class research programs.

Our comprehensive medical, surgical, and nursing services span the full spectrum of pediatric care. The consistently high rankings we receive on national and international benchmarks attest to the exceptional quality of care we provide. With more than 127,000 annual outpatient visits and more than 10,000 admissions to the 165 beds at University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital, we draw patients regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our commitment to family-centered care and our outstanding facilities have been praised for their innovative and patient-friendly design.

We are dedicated to excellence in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, as reflected by a competency-based curriculum that is designed to provide practitioners with comprehensive knowledge and outstanding skills. The clinical and research efforts of trainees are closely mentored and nurtured. Our graduates move on to successful careers in clinical practice and academic pediatrics.

From genomics to cancer biology, from clinical trials to outcomes research, the department consistently ranks among the top National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Pediatric Departments nationally. Our faculty and staff are engaged in cutting edge basic science and patient-oriented research in our unwavering quest to improve the health and well-being of all children.

We have a diverse faculty with wide-ranging clinical and research interests. Many are internationally known and have been in the department for many years. We also have bright young faculty who bring new interests and enthusiasm to the practice and teaching of neurology. All clinical faculty participate in resident training, clinical practice, and research.

• Division Faculty
• Research Faculty
• Division Head
• Department Directory A-Z