Education

We offer a comprehensive, three-year ACGME-accredited fellowship in pediatric cardiology. The program provides flexibility and strong mentorship in both clinical and research training, helping fellows achieve their professional goals. Graduates are prepared for the American Board of Pediatrics Certifying Examination in Pediatric Cardiology and for successful academic careers.

Program Highlights:

• 12 months of protected research time
   
• Diverse and immersive clinical rotations across all aspects of pediatric cardiology and its subspecialties
   
• World-class mentorship from renowned faculty
   
• Opportunities for advanced degrees and research tracks
   
• Strong support for career development and grant funding

Our fellowship aims to develop the next generation of pediatric cardiology leaders through a balanced foundation of clinical excellence, research innovation, and academic leadership. Fellows graduate with the skills, experience, and mentorship necessary to drive impactful change in heart health for children worldwide.

Program Goals:

• Deliver outstanding, hands-on clinical training across the full spectrum of pediatric cardiology.
   
• Foster a research-rich environment that promotes scientific discovery and inquiry.
   
• Support individualized career development through mentorship, advanced degree options, and grant opportunities.
   

Learning Objectives:

• Achieve proficiency in diagnosing and managing complex congenital and acquired heart diseases.
   
• Develop critical research and scholarly skills to contribute to advancements in pediatric cardiology.
   
• Gain leadership and teaching experience to thrive in academic and clinical settings.
   
• Cultivate a collaborative, compassionate, and equitable approach to patient care and team-based practice.

Clinical 

Clinical Training

Our fellows receive comprehensive hands-on clinical training across all core areas of pediatric cardiology. The program balances inpatient, outpatient, and subspecialty experiences, with flexibility to support each fellow’s career goals.

Year 1 Highlights:

• Three-week orientation including high-yield didactics and echo immersion — learning to perform a complete pediatric transthoracic echocardiogram
   
• Rotations in:
   
  • Inpatient cardiology service
     
  • Cardiology consult service
     
  • Night float
     
  • Cardiac catheterization
     
  • Echocardiography
     
  • Electrophysiology

Years 2 & 3 Highlights:

 

• Advanced clinical rotations in:
   
  • Cardiac intensive care unit (CICU)
     
  • Heart failure and transplant service
     
  • Pulmonary hypertension
     
  • Adult congenital cardiology
     
• Outpatient pediatric cardiology clinic rotations each year, tailored to each fellow’s individual career plans and learning needs

 

Research Opportunities

Fellows receive 12 months of dedicated research time across the three-year fellowship, starting with several weeks in Year 1 and increasing each year as service time decreases. Fellows typically lead or collaborate on multiple projects and present their work at both regional and national pediatric cardiology conferences. 

Research Tracks:

• Basic science: Collaborate with the Gladstone Institute or the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI)  

• Clinical & Population Health: Work with the UCSF Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, with opportunities for formal coursework and an optional Master’s in Clinical Research supported by the newly formed Cardiovascular Research program  

Additional Resources:

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:  

• Monthly Works in Progress sessions, facilitated by Dr. Shabnam Peyvandi, Director of Cardiovascular Research

• Second year fellowship summer workshop through the Training in Clinical Research (TICR) Program

• American Heart Association (AHA) Second Century Clinical Fellow Research Education Program Grant, supporting attendance at AHA Scientific Sessions
   
• Newman Research Fund, supporting senior fellow research and dissemination
   
• Access to T32 training programs through the UCSF Department of Pediatrics

Educational Development 

During training, fellows learn through direct patient care, didactic sessions, and participation in UCSF Pediatric Heart Center conferences. The program offers flexible scheduling, allowing each fellow to tailor their rotations to match their individual learning needs and career goals.

Core Conferences & Didactic Topics:

• Echocardiography & Imaging
   
• Cardiac Catheterization
   
• Electrophysiology
   
• Fetal Cardiology
   
• Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
   
• Cardiac MRI
   
• Cardiac Pathology
   
• Adult Congenital Cardiology
   
• Clinical Case Conference
   
• Cardiac Critical Care
   
• Board Review

Elective Opportunities:

• Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia
   
• Palliative Care
   
• GME Pathways: Short courses in multidisciplinary and interprofessional topics (skills & leadership development)

 

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

 

Categorical Fellowship 

We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) system. Applications open in July for positions beginning the following July. 

To apply, you’ll need:

• ERAS application
   
• At least 3 letters of recommendation addressed to our Program Director
   
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.: applicants must be graduates of a U.S. or Canadian medical school. ECFMG-certified graduates are eligible. H-1B scholars are accepted; however, UCSF does not sponsor new H-1B visas for clinical fellowship training. Your visa status must be finalized at the time of application.

Note: Paper applications are not accepted.
 

Interview season: Late August through early November
 

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

Questions? Please contact our Program Coordinator.  

Advanced 4th Year Fellowship 

We offer advanced, non-ACGME training opportunities for those who have completed an ACGME-accredited pediatric cardiology fellowship.

Options include:

• Cardiac Catheterization
   
• Echocardiography
   
• Electrophysiology
   
• Pulmonary Hypertension
   
• Neonatal Cardiovascular Center of Excellence
   

  Application typically includes:

• CV
   
• 2 letters of recommendation
   
• Personal statement outlining 4th-year goals and career interests

Deadlines: Typically due in late Spring, but please contact our Program Coordinator for more detailed information.

Important notes:

• For non-invasive imaging and electrophysiology fellowships, we participate in the match process.
   
• Other specialties may accept direct applications — check with your current fellowship leadership, as processes and deadlines vary by specialty.
   

Neonatal Cardiovascular Center of Excellence:
This additional non-ACGME 4th-year opportunity is open to graduates of pediatric cardiology, pediatric critical care, neonatology, or related fellowships. The program focuses on comprehensive care for infants with congenital heart disease — from fetal diagnosis through long-term outcomes. Please contact the Fellowship Program Coordinator for further details.

For the latest information on 4th-year training opportunities, visit the Society of Pediatric Cardiology Training Program Directors website