The Fetal Heart Program team at The University of Maryland Medical Center, is made up of doctors, sonographers, genetic counselors, nurses and social workers.
Multidisplinary Core Member Team
Shifa Turan, MD - Director, Fetal Heart Program
Dr. Turan is specialized in taking care of fetus with higher than normal risks for complications. She has extensive experience in fetal cardiology and can evaluate the fetal heart in the womb as early as 12 weeks of gestation. She also assesses the baby for other problems and will help you during your pregnancy.
Christopher Harman, MD - Maternal Fetal Specialist
Dr. Harman is specialized in taking care of the mother and fetus with higher than normal risks for complications. He will be available to assess the baby's heart as well as the whole fetus giving information about other abnormalities if present. He will be responsible for follow-ups and delivery plans.
Learn more about the perinatologists and Center for Advanced Fetal Care at UMMC
Alicia Chaves, MD - Pediatric Cardiologist
Pediatric cardiologists take care of children with any kind of heart problem. Dr. Chaves is trained to evaluate heart problems before birth. The information that is discovered by a fetal echocardiogram helps the cardiologist to predict what will happen after birth. Dr. Chaves or one of the other pediatric cardiologists will follow your baby after birth and throughout childhood.
Learn more about the Children’s Heart Program at UMMC
Nicholas Pietris, MD - Pediatric Cardiologist
Pediatric cardiologists take care of children with any kind of heart problem. Dr. Peitris is trained to evaluate heart problems before birth. The information that is discovered by a fetal echocardiogram helps the cardiologist to predict what will happen after birth. Dr. Peitris or one of the other pediatric cardiologists will follow your baby after birth and throughout childhood.
Learn more about the Children’s Heart Program at UMMC
Geoffrey Rosenthal, MD - Pediatric Cardiologist
Pediatric cardiologists take care of children with any kind of heart problem. Dr. Rosenthal is trained to evaluate heart problems before birth. The information that is discovered by a fetal echocardiogram helps the cardiologist to predict what will happen after birth. Dr. Rosenthal or one of the other pediatric cardiologists will follow your baby after birth and throughout their childhood.
Learn more about the Children’s Heart Program at UMMC
Sunjay Kaushal, MD - Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon
Dr. Kaushal specializes in operating on the types of heart problems that happen in babies and children. He works closely with the team to care for infants with congenital heart defects both before and after surgery. Before birth or before the surgery, the he will explain all the details about the operation and what the expected outcome is.
Learn more about the Children’s Heart Program and pediatric cardiac surgery at UMMC
Colleen Driscoll, MD - Neonatologist
Dr. Driscoll specializes in taking care of newborns with serious medical problems. She and her team will monitor and stabilize your baby while the heart doctors and surgeons evaluate your baby's heart. They are able to care for any other health problems that your baby may have. They will focus on the daily needs of your baby and organize the care your baby needs when he or she is ready to leave the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Dr. Driscoll and her team will help plan the safest time and place to deliver your baby. They will meet with you before birth about what the your experience in the NICU will be like.
Learn more about the neonatologists and NICU at UMMC
Jen MacHamer, RNC, CCE - Labor & Delivery/CARE Coordinator
Jen works with the Fetal Heart Program to assist with preparations for the birth, providing personalized tours of Labor and Delivery, where the staff will be available to answer questions, allowing you as much time as you need. She offers Childbirth Education Programs covering topics such as Childbirth Preparation, Breastfeeding, Infant Care and Infant Safety & CPR.
Amanda Higgs - Genetic Counselor
Amanda is an expert in genetic syndromes and chromosomal abnormalities. She will explain to you the risk of your baby having a genetic problem associated with a heart defect. She will counsel you about the types of testing available before and after birth, as well as review the results of any testing you have. She is also able explain the risk of recurrence of genetic problems in future pregnancies.
Kim Greve, RNC, BSN - Program Nurse Coordinator
Kim is an expert cardiac nurse coordinator. She will arrange all of your appointments with high risk obstetrics, genetics, pediatric cardiology, Neonatal intensive care unit and cardiac surgery. She will guide you through the process of transferring your care to University of Maryland and she will be your primary contact person.
Fetal Sonographers
Suzanne Jefferies, Kim Monagle, Pragati Sidh, Shohreh Nassiri, Brittany Bolinger, Lindsey Bonomo, and Peccina Maisel, RDCS, FE (Pediatric Cardiology)
Social Work Team
Catherine Miller, Ashley Langmead
Our Nursing Team
Nicole Pedersen, Debbie Kirby, Kim Greve
Shifa Turan, MD and Kim Greve, RNC, BSN