A pediatric cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in children’s heart disease. These doctors spend the majority of their time treating children with congenital heart defects (CHDs), but they also treat children with acquired heart diseases. To become a pediatric cardiologist, as with many other pediatric specialties, it takes a lot of dedication, time, and effort.
To become a pediatric cardiologist, one must first earn a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in medical school. Medical school is followed by a three-year pediatric residency and a three-year pediatric cardiology fellowship, for a total of 14 years of training before board certification. Adult cardiologists do not complete pediatric residencies and focus solely on acquired adult heart disease, so this path differs from that of a pediatric cardiologist. With the increasing success of surgical interventions for children with serious heart defects, the two fields are becoming more integrated, and some pediatric cardiologists are now specializing in adult congenital heart disease. Cardiologists could also research CHDs in order to better serve an aging adult population.
Subspecialties in this field may pique the interest of a pediatric cardiologist. Catheterizations are used by some doctors for interventions and screening. Others use advanced echocardiograms for higher-level diagnostics, such as transesophageal echocardiograms or fetal echocardiograms. Another subspecialty is electrophysiology, which examines the electrical system of the heart and uses interventions to restore rhythm. Most pediatric cardiologists can perform basic catheterizations, electrical studies, and echoes, but when more complex tests or interventions are required, they defer to colleagues with more experience.
Pediatric cardiothoracic surgery is one subspecialty not covered by pediatric cardiologists. While surgeons and cardiologists frequently collaborate to determine patient treatment, their educational paths to their respective professions are quite different. A pediatric cardiologist is not a surgeon, but will assist in the selection of surgical options, provide pre- and post-operative care, and serve as the primary physician for children who have undergone surgical procedures.
The most common congenital defect is a heart defect, which affects about eight out of every 100 children born. Although many defects are minor and do not require surgery, children may need to see a pediatric cardiologist on a regular basis to ensure that their health is still good. Because many of these doctors work in tertiary hospitals with a full complement of pediatric specialists, most children will need to visit a major hospital to see a pediatric cardiologist.
Pediatric cardiologists see many patients only once and use their examinations to rule out the possibility of heart defects or problems. Other times, they’ll get to know children intimately, following them throughout their childhood and, in some cases, keeping them as adult patients if they have serious heart problems. The field is exciting, as advances in surgical and interventional techniques have improved the survivability of some of the most difficult defects and conditions. It is still characterized by a sense of optimism about what doctors might be able to do today, as well as about how future developments will lead to better patient care.