Strengthening Pediatric Cardiology in Latin America

May 26, 2025

The 2025 OMI MEX Seminar on Pediatric Cardiology, held from May 19-21, 2025, marked the first collaboration of the year between the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the OMI in Mexico. Gathering 46 fellows from six countries in Latin America — Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico — the seminar highlighted the importance of cross-regional interaction for medical education and development.

Led by Dr. Chitra Ravishankar, professor of pediatrics at CHOP, the seminar focused on the diagnosis and management of congenital and acquired heart defects (CHD), long-term effects of CHD, and the recognition and management of heart failure, arrhythmias, and pulmonary hypertension in children. Dr. Ravishankar collaborated closely with Dr. Alexis Javier Palacios Macedo, chief of the cardiovascular surgery division at the Mexican National Institute of Pediatrics (INP), in selecting topics for the lectures.

“Our overarching goal is to share our knowledge and experience with fellows and colleagues in Latin America,” stated Dr. Ravishankar. “We always look forward to learning from the local faculty and the fellows, who share our passion for caring for children with heart disease. It is an important reminder that it is possible to care for these children using limited resources, but it takes leadership and commitment from the local physicians and other health care providers to accomplish this.”

The seminar featured faculty from CHOP, including Dr. Elizabeth Goldmuntz, pediatric cardiologist; Dr. Joseph W. Rossano, chief of cardiology and executive co-director of the cardiac center; and Dr. Chandra Srinivasan, pediatric cardiologist. Local expertise was provided by Dr. Andrés González Ortiz, assistant professor of pediatric echocardiography; Dr. Alexis Javier Palacios Macedo; and Dr. Fabiola Pérez Juárez, head professor of the pediatric echocardiography fellowship at INP.

The seminar’s focus on Latin American collaboration is particularly important given the disparities in pediatric cardiology resources across the region. According to Francis and Corno (2024), Ecuador has just 10 congenital cardiac surgeons for a pediatric population of approximately 4.6 million, equating to about 2.15 surgeons per million children under 15. These statistics underscore the critical need for specialized training programs and cross-border collaboration to improve pediatric cardiac care in Latin America.

The seminar concluded with a shared commitment to ongoing collaboration and education in pediatric cardiology across Latin America. “The highlights of the seminar are the one-to-one interactions with the fellows over the past 3 days and the cases presented by them,” Dr. Ravishankar noted. “We look forward to lifelong collaboration with the Pediatric Cardiology community in Latin America.”

The seminar was an amazingly enriching experience. Connecting not only with the speakers but also with fellow pediatric cardiologists from other Latin American countries allowed us to continue building our network and expanding our knowledge and experience in the field. I learned about many topics that I will incorporate into my daily practice and share with my colleagues back home.

Carlos Alomia, MD

OMI MEX fellow from Ecuador

I am confident in how much the seminar has contributed to my professional development. I exchanged many current practices and ideas with fellow pediatric cardiologists from other regions of Mexico and was surprised by what other Latin American countries are doing. It was truly an invaluable experience.

Tania Carrillo Lima, MD

OMI MEX fellow from Mexico

This experience strengthened my knowledge in key clinical areas such as heart failure management, mechanical support, and the use of inotropes — topics I encounter regularly in my practice. Sharing perspectives and building professional relationships added a meaningful dimension to the seminar. I left feeling inspired, more confident, and motivated to continue developing as a physician.

Rolando Paul Chuyes, MD

OMI MEX fellow from Peru

My favorite lecture was ‘Management of Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease’ by Dr. Ravishankar. Overall, the lectures covered the history, current management, and future technologies. This comprehensive approach, along with the exclusive networking opportunities, made the seminar unique. I was able to establish valuable connections and learn from other Latin American fellows.

Juan Camilo Vargas, MD

OMI MEX fellow from Colombia

We extend our deepest gratitude to the faculty from CHOP and the dedicated fellows from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Their participation and enthusiasm were crucial in the work towards better pediatric cardiology training and care throughout Latin America. Through continued education and collaboration, we can make significant change in the outcomes for children with heart disease across the region.

Reference: Francis J, Peng E, Corno AF. Beyond borders: an appraisal of the global congenital cardiac surgery workforce. Transl Pediatr 2024;13(6):897-907. doi: 10.21037/tp-24-38

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