Division of Pediatric Cardiology

The Children’s Heart Program is committed to providing comprehensive cardiac care for children, from fetal life into adulthood, with congenital heart disease, and for children with acquired heart disease.

Our mission is to expand our services to meet the diverse needs of those in the state of Maryland, so that no one needs to leave the state to seek heart care.

A wide spectrum of cardiology subspecialties and services are offered here at the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital including:

Interventional Cardiology
Non-Invasive Imaging
Fetal Cardiology
Electrophysiology and pacing
Cardiovascular/Genetics
Preventive Cardiology
Ambulatory Cardiology
Cardiac Intensive Care
Adult Congenital Cardiology
Cardiovascular Research
Quality Improvement (QI)

Comprehensive Evaluations

The program offers cardiac evaluations using the most advanced technology to diagnose and treat structural and functional cardiac abnormalities.

Echocardiography

Transthoracic Echocardiograms
Transesophageal Echocardiograms
Fetal Echocardiograms

Electrocardiography

12 and 15 lead electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
Holter Monitor
Event Monitor
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise Pulmonary Function Test
Electrophysiology Study

Specialized Care

Interventional Cardiac Catheterization

In October 2010, the Children’s Heart Program opened the Pediatric Hybrid Cardiac Catheterization Suite. This state-of-the-art suite is the first of its kind in the mid-Atlantic region. The hybrid suite serves as both a fully dedicated pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratory and surgical suite.

Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic test that seeks to acquire additional information about the structure and function of a person’s heart.

Some cardiac catheterization procedures also allow the interventional cardiologist to improve or even fix an underlying heart defect. Procedures include:

Closing a hole in the heart
Opening a narrow valve
Placing a device to block a blood vessel or stent open a channel.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

State-of-the-art cardiac MRI technology is available to non-invasively diagnose even the most complex forms of congenital heart disease.

Pacemaker/Defibrillator Implantation and Follow-Up

The Children’s Heart Program has expertise in the management and treatment of heart rhythm abnormalities, including placement and programming of pacemakers in children.

Sub-Specialty Clinics

The Children’s Heart Program offers several comprehensive sub-specialty clinics with the goal of providing individualized treatment and education for specific patient populations.

Preventive Cardiology

The Children’s Heart Program Lipid Clinic offers evaluation and treatment of lipid disorders in children and adolescents. This program is designed to help children and adolescents prevent the development of heart disease through diet, exercise, and weight management techniques.

Cardiologists assess risk factors for atherosclerosis including, cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes and then partner with families to create an individualized plan to encourage a healthy lifestyle and to manage risk factors. Services offered include:

BMI Screening
Lipid Testing
Hypertension Management
Nutrition Counseling
Psychosocial Support

Cardiovascular/Genetics Clinic

This specialized clinic is a collaborative effort between the Children’s Heart Program and the Division of Pediatric Genetics. This program is dedicated to children who may have a family history of heart disease or a genetic abnormality known to influence cardiovascular health.

A team composed of a cardiologist, geneticist, and genetic counselor work together to diagnose and manage heritable cardiovascular disease and genetic conditions. The team provides clinical care, information, anticipatory guidance, and resources for children and their family members who may also be at risk for cardiovascular-genetic disorders.

Outreach Clinics

The Children’s Heart Program has outreach clinics located in outlying areas to better meet the needs of all children who need cardiac care in the state and to bring needed clinical services closer to home.

UM Children’s Hospital
22 South Green Street, N5W72
Baltimore MD 21201
UM Pediatrics at Hanover
7556 Teague Rd, Suite 420
Hanover, MD 21076
UM FPI Multi-Specialty Practice
510 Upper Chesapeake Drive
Physicians Pavilion II, Suite 509
Bel Air, MD 21014
UM Shore Medical at Queenstown
125 Shoreway Drive, Suite 210
Queenstown, MD 21658
UM Pediatrics at Lutherville
1302 Bellona Avenue
Lutherville MD 21093
UM Shore Medical pavilion at Easton
500 Cadmus Lane, Suite 207
Easton MD 21601
UM Pediatircs at Bowie
14999 Health Center Drive, Suite 108
Bowie MD 20716
UM Specialty Care at Waldorf
3540 Old Washington Road, Suite 202|
Waldorf MD 20603

Community & Government Programs

Baltimore Running Festival - Children’s Heart Program Running Team

The Children’s Heart Program organizes a Charity Running Team to participate in the Baltimore Running Festival, which takes place each year in October. The team is led by avid runner and Program Director, Geoffrey Rosenthal, M.D., Ph.D., and works to raise awareness and funds for the Children’s Heart Program.

National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC)

Geoffrey Rosenthal, M.D., Ph.D. is a founding member and current task force member of this national collaborative dedicated to quality improvement among medical institutions. The NPC-QIC developed a national database, which monitors the quality of care and provides best practice guidelines for the care of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. In 2010, the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital became a member of the collaborative, joining close to 50 hospitals.

National Cardiovascular Data Registry’s (NCDR) Improving Pediatric and Adult Congenital Treatment (IMPACT) Registry

The American College of Cardiology Foundation's IMPACT Registry (Improving Pediatric and Adult Congenital Treatment) is a national clinical data registry that assesses the prevalence, demographics, management, and outcomes of pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease who are undergoing diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterizations. The University of Maryland Children’s Hospital is a member of the IMPACT Registry, which will provide significant contributions toward tracking outcomes and improving care for children and adults with congenital heart disease who are undergoing catheterization based treatments.

Quality Metrics Working Group

Geoffrey Rosenthal, M.D., Ph.D is the Co-Chair of the Quality Metrics Working Group (QMWG). The group, made up of more than 80 members is focused on defining and developing quality measures in eight areas: heart failure/transplantation, imaging, adult Congenital Heart Disease, general pediatric cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiac intervention, critical care and nursing. The QMWG is dedicated to the continual monitoring and improvement of clinical care and patient outcomes.

Pediatric Advisory Committee to the Federal Drug Administration (PAC-FDA)

The University of Maryland School of Medicine and the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital are dedicated to medication safety for children. Dr. Geoffrey Rosenthal is the Chair of the PAC and has been a member since 2007.