Education

The ACGME accredited Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship program at UCSF started in 1966 and continues to follow the physiology-based teaching philosophy initially championed by Dr. Abraham Rudolph. Many alumni from our program have gone on to become leaders of Pediatric Cardiology Programs, including chairs and division chiefs.  

The three-year fellowship program involves training in all aspects of pediatric cardiology and its subspecialties, providing graduating trainees the tools to launch into a successful academic career and preparation for the American Board of Pediatrics Certifying Examination in Pediatric Cardiology. 

Categorical Fellowship 

Applications are processed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The application opens in July for positions starting in July of the following year. We participate in the NRMP match and typically schedule interviews from the end of August through early November. 

When submitting your application, please include at least 3 letters of recommendation addressed to our Program Director. We do not accept paper applications. 

To be eligible to apply for the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, candidates must be a graduate of a U.S. or Canadian medical school. ECFMG certificate, H-1B Scholars are accepted. The University does not sponsor new H-1B visas for clinical fellowship training; your visa status must be certain at the time of application. 

Benefits and salary information is included on the GME Resident and Fellow resources page. 

For questions about the application process or program, please contact our Program Coordinator.  

Advanced 4th Year Fellowship 

To be eligible to apply for an advanced 4th-year fellowship, candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited pediatric program. Only H-1B Scholars are considered at this time. 

A completed application for a 4th-year fellowship consists of: 

• Current CV 

• Two letters of recommendation 

• Letter outlining goals for 4th year and career interests 

Applications are typically due in late Spring, but please contact our Program Coordinator for more detailed information on the application process or any of our 4th-year fellowship offerings.  

We do not use ERAS to process 4th year applications, but please check with your current fellowship leadership as processes and deadlines in the various specialties are changing frequently. For non-invasive imaging and electrophysiology 4th year fellowships, we do participate in the match process. 

Candidates interested in a one-year non-ACGME fellowship program specializing in interventional cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, electrophysiology, or pulmonary hypertension should submit their completed applications to our Program Coordinator.  

UCSF has an additional non-ACGME Neonatal Cardiovascular Center of Excellence Advanced Fellowship 4th year training opportunity. It is open to those who have completed a fellowship in pediatric cardiology, pediatric critical care, neonatology, or similar fellowship. The program prepares trainees in caring for infants with congenital heart disease from fetus to infant and from diagnosis to long-term outcomes. Please reach out to the Fellowship Program Coordinator for additional details regarding this training option. 

Visit the Society of Pediatric Cardiology Training Program Directors website for up-to-date information regarding 4th year training opportunities.  

Clinical 

The first year of fellowship starts with a three-week orientation that includes high-yield didactics and “echo immersion” in which fellows learn how to perform a complete pediatric transthoracic echo.  

The first year includes rotations on inpatient service, night float, and cardiology subspecialties including cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, and electrophysiology.  

Second- and third-year fellows additionally rotate through the cardiac intensive care unit, heart failure/transplant service, pulmonary hypertension, and adult congenital cardiology.  

Fellows spend time in outpatient pediatric cardiology clinics each year, which can be adjusted based on the individual fellow’s career plans and learning needs.  

Research 

Each fellow has 12 months of dedicated research time over the three-year fellowship, starting with several weeks in the first year. The amount of dedicated research time increases each year, with decreased service time so fellows can focus on their own career path and professional development. Most fellows in the program are involved in multiple research projects and present their work at regional and national pediatric cardiology conferences. 

Fellows participate in monthly Works in Progress sessions, facilitated by Dr. Shabnam Peyvandi, Director of Cardiovascular Research for the Pediatric Heart Center. Fellows also attend didactic lectures throughout the year on clinical research topics.  

Two optional research tracks are available: 

• Basic science tracks in collaboration with the Gladstone Institute led by Dr. Deepak Srivastava and the Cardiovascular Research Institute led by Dr. Brian Black.  

• Clinical and population health research tracks in collaboration with the UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. This track includes potential opportunities for formal coursework to include obtaining a master's degree in clinical research, which will be supported by the newly formed Cardiovascular Research program.  

The division provides funding for an optional summer workshop as part of the Training in Clinical Research Program (TICR) from the UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, offering further training in clinical research methods.    

Fellows have opportunities to take advantage of funding and grants allocated to the division, program, and department, including:  

• American Heart Association (AHA) Second Century Clinical Fellow Research Education Program providing financial support for three UCSF Pediatric Cardiology fellows each year to attend AHA Scientific Sessions.  

• Newman Research Fund that supports senior pediatric cardiology fellow research projects and dissemination of information via publication and conference attendance.  

• T32 training options within the Department of Pediatrics.  

Educational Opportunities 

During training, pediatric cardiology fellows spend time learning through direct patient care, didactic teaching sessions, and participation in UCSF Pediatric Heart Center conferences. Schedules provide flexibility for each fellow to tailor their rotations to meet their learning needs and professional development goals.  

Additional elective rotations are available in pediatric cardiac anesthesia and palliative care, as well as time to participate in GME Pathways, short courses in multidisciplinary and interprofessional topics.   

Ongoing didactic teaching sessions include echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, fetal cardiology, clinical case conference, electrophysiology, pathology, cardiac MRI, pediatric cardiac surgery, cardiac critical care, and adult congenital cardiology. 

 

Program Director 

Nicole M. Cresalia, MD 
Associate Professor of Pediatrics 
[email protected] 

Associate Program Director 

Mike Brook, MD 
Professor of Pediatrics 
[email protected] 

Elena Amin, MD 
Associate Professor of Pediatrics 
[email protected] 

Flora Nunes-Gallegos, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics 
[email protected] 

Emilio Quezada, MD 
Associate Professor of Pediatrics 
[email protected] 

Division Chief   

Phil Moore, MD, MBA 
Professor of Pediatrics 
[email protected] 

Program Coordinator

Natalie Maria 
Education Program Manager 
[email protected]  

Isabella “Bella” Louisa Lopez, MD 

Training Period: 2025-2028 
Medical School: USF Health Morsani College of Medicine 
Residency: University of California, San Francisco 
Title of Research: TBD 
Mentor: TBD 

Cynthia Alice Smith

Training Period: 2025-2029 
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School 
Residency: Stanford University 
Title of Research: TBD 
Mentor: TBD 

Thomas Sequeira Przybycien, MD 

Training Period: 2025-2028 
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine 
Title of Research: TBD 
Mentor: TBD 

Mishaal Ather, MBBS

Training Period: 2024-2027 
Medical School: Aga Khan University Medical College 
Residency: Indiana University 
Title of Research: TBD 
Mentor: TBD 

Joseph “Trey” McHale, MD

Training Period: 2024-2027 
Medical School: University of Queensland School of Medicine 
Residency: University of Louisville 
Title of Research: TBD 
Mentor: TBD 

Hala Mostafa, MD 

Training Period: 2024-2027 
Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine 
Residency: University of Kentucky 
Title of Research: TBD 
Mentor: TBD 

Phil Cheng, MD, MBA 

Training Period: 2023-2025 
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine 
Residency: UCSF Fresno 
Prior Fellowship: Neonatology at University of California San Diego 
Title of Research: Neonatal Cardiology 
Mentor: Jeff Meadows 

Scott Klein, MD, MS 

Training Period: 2023-2026 
Medical School: New York Medical College 
Residency: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland 
Title of Research: TBD 
Mentor: Michael Brook 

Mansi Mandhani, MBBS 

Training Period: 2023-2026 
Medical School: Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha, India 
Residency: Tucson Hospitals Medical Education Program, Tucson Medical Center for Children 
Title of Research: TBD 
Mentor: Ronn Tanel 

Anuja Shikhare, MBBS 

Training Period: 2022-2025 
Medical School: B.J. Medical College, Pune 
Residency: William Beaumont Hospital (Med/Peds) 
Title of Research: The relation of right ventricular volume and function to exercise capacity between tetralogy of Fallot versus pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum 
Mentor: Mark Cocalis 

Liliam Aquino Cristano, MD 

Training Period: 2022-2025 
Medical School: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado 
Residency: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital 
Title of Research: Frequency and associations of pulmonary vein collaterals in pediatric patients with pulmonary vein stenosis 
Mentor: Elena Amin 

Lesje DeRose, MD 

Training Period: 2022-2025 
Medical School: State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine 
Residency: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland 
Title of Research: Fetal Socioeconomic and Environmental Exposures Influence Fetal Brain Growth and Risk of Neonatal Brain Injury in Congenital Heart Disease
Mentor: Shab Peyvandi 

Aneela Reddy, MD 

Training Period: 2020-2023 (Categorical), 2023-2024 (4th year Neonatal Cardiovascular Center of Excellence Advanced Fellowship) 
Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine 
Residency: UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital 
Title of Research: Improving prenatal detection of congenital heart disease with deep learning 
Post-fellowship Plans: Pediatric Cardiology / Imaging Faculty position at UCSF 

Surbhi Gupta, MD, MS 

Training Period: 2020-2023 (Categorical), 2023-2024 (4th year Non-invasive Imaging and Cardiac MRI) 
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine 
Residency: UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital 
Title of Research: Transcatheter PDA device closures in patients with PVR > 3.5 
Post-fellowship Plans: Pediatric Cardiology / Imaging Faculty position at Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington

Zach Hutchinson, MD

Training Period: 2021-2024 
Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine 
Residency: Oregon Health and Science University 
Title of Research: Screening for pulmonary hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction, and pericardial effusion for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant 
Mentor: Michael Brook 
Post-fellowship Plans: 4th year Heart Failure / Transplant at Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington 

Paola Cota Phelan, DO 

Training Period: 2021-2024 
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific 
Residency: UC Irvine, Children’s Hospital Orange County 
Title of Research: Role of Child Opportunity Index on Neonatal and 1-Year Mortality in Infant Congenital Heart Disease: A Contemporary Population-Based Report
Mentor: Ronn Tanel
Post-fellowship Plans: CICU Hospitalist then Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship 

Karen Carr, MD 

Training Period: 2021-2024 
Medical School: San Juan Bautista School of Medicine 
Residency: UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital 
Title of Research: ASD Device Closure in Patients Weighing 0-10kg from 2013-2023 
Mentor: Ronn Tanel 
Post-fellowship Plans: 4th year Interventional Cardiology at UCSF 

Publications

Zachary Hutchinson, PGY6:

• Huang J, Hutchinson Z, Kelly B, Burch G, Madriago E. Echocardiographically derived septal position angle (EDSPA) as a measure of elevated right ventricular systolic pressure. Progress in Pediatric Cardiology. 2023 Sept; (70). Available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppedcard.2023.101659.

Liliam Aquino, PGY5:

• Aquino L, Amin K E. Frequency, and associations of pulmonary venous collaterals in pediatric patients with pulmonary vein stenosis. Abstract published in Pulmonary Circulation, April 2024, 14(2), e12369. https://doi.org/10.1002/pul2.12369

 

Awards (including grants, do not include T32) 

Mariam Taleb, PGY7:

• Top three finalist among Fetal Oral Abstracts at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, August 2023.

 

Lesje DeRose, PGY5:

• 2024 Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council Travel Grant; ASE Scientific Sessions, upcoming June 2024

 

UCSF Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program

• American Heart Association’s Second Century of Science Clinical Fellow Research Education: Program provides funding for cardiology fellows to attend AHA Scientific Sessions; $12,000 per year for three years (2024-2026)

 

Presentations 

Aneela Reddy, PGY7:

Oral presentation at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, August 2023. The Fetal and Neonatal Brain in CHD: Case Presentation by Junior Faculty.

Mariam Taleb, PGY7:

• Oral presentation at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, August 2023. Fetal Cerebrovascular Response to Maternal Hyperoxia Testing and Association with Brain Growth and Postnatal Injury in Congenital Heart Disease
• Poster at AHA Scientific Sessions, November 2023. Driving Distance to a Primary Cardiac Center is Associated with Mortality in Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot Undergoing Neonatal Interventions. Nunez Gallegos, et al.

 

Zachary Hutchinson, PGY6:

• Poster at 2023 AHA Conference in Philadelphia, PA: Screening for pulmonary hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction, and pericardial effusion for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Karen Carr, PGY6:

• Poster at PICS 2023, August 2023. Balloon Atrial Septostomy in a Premature Infant Weighing Less than 1.5 kg.
• Poster at 2024 SCAI Scientific Sessions, May 2024; ASD Device Closure in Patients Weighing 0-10 kg from 2013-2023: Modified Delivery Techniques and Outcomes.

 

Lesje DeRose, PGY5:

• Poster at AHA Scientific Sessions, November 2023. Availability of PGE1 in Northern California Hospitals: Before and After Routine CCHD Screening.
• Poster at ASE Conference, upcoming June 2024. Performance of a Novel Customized Multimodal Generator Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) in Pediatric Echocardiography

 

Anuja Shikhare, PGY5:

• Poster at ACC Scientific Sessions, April 2024. “The Relation of Right Ventricular Volume   and Function to Exercise Capacity between Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum versus Tetralogy of Fallot.” Faculty Mentors: Anita Moon-Grady, Anu Agarwal and Alison Meadows

 

Liliam Aquino, PGY5:

• Poster at 2024 SCAI Scientific Sessions, May 2024. Frequency and associations of pulmonary venous collaterals in pediatric patients with pulmonary vein stenosis

 

Multiple fellows:

• Poster at ASE Scientific Sessions, upcoming June 2024. Transthoracic Echocardiographic Guidance for Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defects in Children under 15 kg. Fellow authors: Anuja Shikhare (PGY5), Mariam Taleb (PGY7), Karen Carr (PGY6), Lesje DeRose (PGY5), Liliam Aquino (PGY5); Faculty Mentors: Elena Amin, Doaa Aly