Shifa Turan, MD

Gabbay-Benziv R, Cetinkaya Demir B, Crimmins S, Esin S, Turan OM, Turan S. Retrospective case series examining the clinical significance of subjective fetal cardiac ventricular disproportion. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2016 Oct;135(1):28-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2016.03.016. PubMed PMID: 27350224.

Crimmins S, Vashit S, Doyle L, Harman C, Turan O, Turan S. A multidisciplinary approach to prenatal treatment of congenital long QT syndrome. J Clin Ultrasound. 2016 Aug 5. doi: 10.1002/jcu.22386. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27492745.

Gabbay-Benziv R, Turan OM, Harman C, Turan S. Nomograms for Fetal Cardiac Ventricular Width and Right-to-Left Ventricular Ratio. J Ultrasound Med. 2015 Nov;34(11):2049-55. doi: 10.7863/ultra.14.10022. PubMed PMID: 26446818.

Turan OM, Turan S, Sanapo L, Rosenbloom JI, Baschat AA. Semiquantitative classification of ductus venosus blood flow patterns. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2014 May;43(5):508-14. doi: 10.1002/uog.13207. PubMed PMID: 24014047.

Sanapo L, Turan OM, Turan S, Ton J, Atlas M, Baschat AA. Correlation analysis of ductus venosus velocity indices and fetal cardiac function. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2014 May;43(5):515-9. doi: 10.1002/uog.13242. PubMed PMID: 24186154.

Turan OM, Turan S, Sanapo L, Willruth A, Berg C, Gembruch U, Harman CR, Baschat AA. Reference ranges for ductus venosus velocity ratios in pregnancies with normal outcomes.J Ultrasound Med. 2014 Feb;33(2):329-36. doi: 10.7863/ultra.33.2.329. Erratum in: J Ultrasound Med. 2015 Dec;34(12):2286. Wilruth, Arne [corrected to Willruth, Arne]. PubMed PMID: 24449737.

Miller JL, de Veciana M, Turan S, Kush M, Manogura A, Harman CR, Baschat AA. First-trimester detection of fetal anomalies in pregestational diabetes using nuchal translucency, ductus venosus Doppler, and maternal glycosylated hemoglobin. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013 May;208(5):385.e1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.01.041. PubMed PMID: 23353022.

Turan S, Turan OM, Salim M, Berg C, Gembruch U, Harman CR, Baschat AA. Cardiovascular transition to extrauterine life in growth-restricted neonates: relationship with prenatal Doppler findings. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2013;33(2):103-9. doi: 10.1159/000345092. PubMed PMID: 23235457.

Turan OM, Turan S, Buhimschi IA, Funai EF, Campbell KH, Bahtiyar OM, Harman CR, Copel JA, Baschat AA, Buhimschi CS. Comparative analysis of 2-D versus 3-D ultrasound estimation of the fetal adrenal gland volume and prediction of preterm birth. Am J Perinatol. 2012 Oct;29(9):673-80. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1314887. PubMed PMID: 22644825; PubMed Central PMCID:

Baschat AA, Turan OM, Turan S. Ductus venosus blood-flow patterns: more than meets the eye? Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2012 May;39(5):598-9. doi: 10.1002/uog.10151. PubMed PMID: 22223470.

Turan OM, Turan S, Berg C, Gembruch U, Nicolaides KH, Harman CR, Baschat AA. Duration of persistent abnormal ductus venosus flow and its impact on perinatal outcome in fetal growth restriction. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Sep;38(3):295-302. doi: 10.1002/uog.9011. PubMed PMID: 21465604.

I have broad background and experience on fetal ultrasound imaging of the fetal heart. I have also extensive training and hands-on experience on use of 3-4 dimensional ultrasound since 2002. I described a standardized technique to demonstrate structural fetal heart defects at first trimester when the fetal heart size is less than 10 mm, using 3-4 dimensional ultrasound, spatio-temporal image correlation and tomographic ultrasound imaging.

In the light of these experiences, I have clinical research interest in diagnosing congenital heart defects starting from 12 weeks of gestation by using advanced ultrasound image modalities. I have special interests on Diabetic mothers and effect of the diabetes in the heart development. And currently I have been working on to develop miRNA profiles for specific congenital heart defects by using maternal blood at the time of first trimester scan. My basic science research interests are application of new imaging modalities ( 17.6 T MRI)  in diabetic mice model to describe cardiac defects and I also work on identifying differences in cardiac structure and function between hypoxic and normoxic pregnant guinea pig model.

Prenatal diagnosis - Sonologist at the Center for Advanced Fetal Care with special expertise in fetal echocardiography, first trimester high-resolution ultrasound.and 3-D and 4-D ultrasound.

First trimester fetal echocardiography – Developed a screening method for congenital cardiac abnormalities using 4-D ultrasound tehniques.

Fetal Cardiology Program – Developed a Fetal Cardiac Program which made the Center for Advance Fetal Care at the University of Maryland a primary diagnostic and referral center for women at high risk for fetal cardiac abnormalities.

Since 2006 at the University of Maryland, in addition to teaching and mentoring students, I have been developing a Fetal Cardiology Program. This Program represents a critical stage along the way to lifelong preventive and interventional health care. Fetal cardiac health -- or dysfunction – results from the complex interaction of genetics, environment, and maternal health.

As our understanding of these factors grows, so should our ability to recognize and manage fetal abnormalities. The Center aims to perform the earliest possible echocardiographic screening, with the goal of diagnosing heart problems as early as the 12th week of gestation, during the first trimester screening. This information allows for early treatment, where feasible, and for parents to make well-informed medical decisions at critical times. 

• Cyprus Medical Association
• Turkish Medical Association
• General Medical Council in UK
• International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG)
• American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
• Fetal Medicine Foundation ( FMF)

DOD Peer Reviewed Medical Discovery Award
Title: Fetal cardiac biomarkers of congenital heart disease in maternal serum.
The goals are to develop a biomarker assay using small RNA sequencing for detection of microRNAs in maternal serum and in an hypoxic guinea pig animal model.