Training Highlights
Faculty
We are a vibrant and expanding division with expertise across the full spectrum of pediatric cardiology. Our faculty are not only dedicated clinicians but also committed educators and researchers, each holding academic appointments within the UNMC Pediatric Cardiology division of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Clinically, our team provides care at Children’s Nebraska and UNMC, where we are deeply integrated into the multidisciplinary pediatric heart team. Together, we strive to offer a rigorous, supportive training environment rooted in collaboration, mentorship and a shared commitment to the well-being of our patients and fellows.
General Overview
Our fellowship offers comprehensive clinical training across the full scope of pediatric cardiology. Fellows primarily train at Children’s Nebraska, with additional experience at UNMC, allowing for exposure to diverse patient populations and practice settings.
We benefit from strong clinical and procedural volumes, offering fellows ample opportunities for hands-on learning and direct involvement in patient care. Trainees gain experience managing a broad range of congenital and acquired heart conditions across inpatient, outpatient and procedural settings.
This immersive clinical experience is supported by a robust didactic curriculum that complements bedside learning. Core topics include congenital and acquired cardiology, along with essential training in communication, ethics, professionalism, healthcare finance and practice management—ensuring our fellows are well-prepared for both clinical excellence and leadership in the field.
Clinical Schedule & Structure
Each academic year is divided into 13 four-week blocks. Fellows take night call from home, with responsibilities distributed in a graduated fashion and decreasing over the three years of training. Weekend coverage includes both daytime and overnight shifts on Saturday and Sunday. Fellows receive four weeks of paid vacation annually, which may be taken during most rotations outside of inpatient service.
The majority of clinical training takes place at Children’s Nebraska, with additional time at the University of Nebraska Medical Center during Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) rotations. Each fellow completes 26 blocks of clinical service and 12 blocks dedicated to research or scholarly activity. We prioritize flexibility within the schedule and work closely with fellows to tailor block assignments based on their individual interests and long-term career goals.
Continuity of care is a central component of training. Each fellow is assigned a weekly continuity clinic with a dedicated faculty preceptor who helps guide the outpatient experience. Fellows participate in both co-managed visits and their own primary patient panel, allowing them to build lasting relationships with families and grow in clinical independence. Fellows are also encouraged to join our outreach clinics across Nebraska, gaining valuable experience in community-based pediatric cardiology.
Rotations
| Rotation | 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echocardiography | 3 blocks | - | - |
| Cardiac Catheterization | 2 blocks | 1 block | - |
| Electrophysiology | 1 block | 1 block | 1 block |
| Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) | 1 block | 1 block | 1 block |
| Inpatient Service (Step-down / Consult) | 2 blocks | 2 blocks | 2 blocks |
| Imaging/Advanced Cardiac Imaging | - | l block | 1 block |
| Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) | - | 1 block | 1 block |
| Multidisciplinary* | 1 block | - | 1 block |
| Elective | - | 1 block | 1 block |
| Research / Scholarly Activity | 2 blocks | 5 blocks | 5 blocks |
Additional Fellowship Details
Fellows participate in a half-day continuity clinic each week under the guidance of an assigned faculty mentor. During the first six months, fellows gain experience through co-managed visits; thereafter, they begin building their own patient panel and serve as the primary cardiologist for those children and families. This structure is designed to provide a true continuity-of-care experience, allowing fellows to follow patients over time, witness the natural course of disease and recovery, and develop long-term therapeutic relationships. As fellows progress through training, their clinic panels grow to match their expanding knowledge, skills, and independence.
Outreach & Community
For fellows interested in broadening their experience, opportunities exist to participate in outreach cardiology clinics across Nebraska. These clinics bring specialized care to children and families in community settings outside Omaha, while offering fellows valuable perspective on regional healthcare delivery and the role of the pediatric cardiologist in serving diverse populations.
Fellows benefit from a comprehensive and well-structured series of conferences designed to strengthen clinical knowledge, critical thinking, and professional development. Regular educational opportunities include:
- Cardiac Catheterization & Hemodynamics Conference
- Echocardiography Conference
- ECG Conference
- Small-group surgical lectures with pediatric cardiac surgeons
- Fellow-led Journal Club (bimonthly)
- Moss & Adams Book Review series
- Board Review sessions tailored for exam preparation
In addition, fellows join the monthly Pediatric Fellow Academy, a cross-specialty forum for all pediatric subspecialty fellows at UNMC. Topics range from medical malpractice and career development to personal finance, wellness, and burnout prevention.
Our program also emphasizes collaboration and reflection. Fellows participate in weekly multidisciplinary case management conferences for both general cardiology and ACHD patients, and they play an active role in Cardiac Morbidity and Mortality Conferences—learning from challenging cases and contributing to ongoing efforts to improve patient outcomes across the Heart Center.
Research is an important component of fellowship training, and our program supports fellows in developing projects that are both meaningful and achievable within their training. While most scholarly work within our Heart Center is clinical in nature—such as outcomes research, imaging, interventional cardiology, or quality improvement—fellows are encouraged to explore areas that align with their interests and career goals.
Early in fellowship, each trainee is paired with a research mentor and develops an individualized plan to guide their scholarly work. A Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC), composed of faculty from within and outside cardiology, is then formed around the fellow’s project to provide direction, mentorship, and feedback in accordance with American Board of Pediatrics requirements.
Fellows also have access to institutional resources through the Child Health Research Institute (CHRI), which provides support, collaboration opportunities, and potential funding for pediatric-focused projects. Additional training in research skills is available through the Pediatric Fellow Academy and through UNMC’s broader educational offerings. Together, these resources ensure fellows have the structure and guidance to complete a successful scholarly project and to grow as clinician-scholars.
Quality improvement is an integral part of training and practice at the Criss Heart Center and Children’s Nebraska. Fellows are encouraged to participate in ongoing initiatives and learn how collaborative data sharing drives better outcomes for children with heart disease.
Our program actively participates in several national registries and collaboratives, including:
- Joint Council on Congenital Heart Disease National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC)
- Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Project on Outcomes (C3PO)
- Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium (PC⁴)
- Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC³)
Through these partnerships, fellows gain exposure to QI methodology, data-driven practice improvement, and the culture of teamwork that underpins high-quality pediatric cardiac care. Fellows are also encouraged to pursue their own QI projects during training, fostering skills they will carry forward into their careers.