Cardiology Fellows Research | UAMS Department of Pediatrics

Take your research to the next level

The Department of Pediatrics sponsors the Fellow Scholarly Advancement Program which helps participating fellows achieve a higher level of academic competence by providing additional individual and group mentorship and guidance to best position them for their first academic appointment.

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Nationally Recognized for Cardiology Research

The pediatric cardiology fellowship at UAMS/ACH provides diverse options for mentored research. Resources available to fellows include database projects (using the Pediatric Health Information System [PHIS] and National Birth Defects Prevention Study [NBDPS], to name a few), unique opportunities in fetal cardiology (including the use of fetal magnetocardiography, available at only several centers worldwide), and bench research through the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ranked among the top pediatric research institutes for NIH funding). Fellows frequently win awards for abstracts presented at national and international meetings; many graduating fellows have gone on to have successful careers as independent investigators at academic institutions nationwide.

Recent Fellow Publications

Almasri M, Salim H, Orcutt J, What is the diagnosis?, European Heart Journal – Case Reports, Volume 7, Issue 9, September 2023, ytad446, https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjcr/ytad446
Almasri M, Salim H, Dachepally R, Nissen T, Arthur L, Zakaria D, A 12-Year-Old with Sudden Cardiac Arrest. NEJM Evid 2023;2(7) DOI: 10.1056/EVIDmr2300063. VOL. 2 NO. 7
Almasri M, Dachepally R, Renno M, Reemtsen B, Greiten L et al. The importance of color doppler echocardiography and advanced imaging in evaluation of pediatric cardiac symptoms. Open J Clin Med Case Rep. 2023; 2013)
Almasri M, -Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with paediatric cancer in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, observational cohort study. Global Health Research Group on Children’s Non-Communicable Diseases Collaborative, BMJ Open 2022;12:e054690. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054690
Almasri M, -Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study. Global Health Research Group on Children’s Non-Communicable Diseases Collaborative, The Lancet Global Health, Volume 10, Issue 7, 2022, Pages e1003-e1011, ISSN 2214-109X, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00168-1.
Nissen T, Zaniletti I, Collins R, Greiten L, Prodhan P, Seib P, Bolin E. Comparison of Postoperative, In-Hospital Outcomes After Complete Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot Between 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome and Trisomy 21. Pediatr Cardiol. 2022 Feb;43(2):290-300. Doi: 10.1007/s00246-021-02683-1. Epub 2021 Jul 30. PMID: 34331082.
Dalby S, Moss M (2021). Severe Cyanosis in a Toddler. The Journal of Pediatrics. 241, 257-8.
Dalby S, Mitchell W, Greiten L, Reemtsen B, Eisenring C, Zakaria D (2021). Coronary Sinus Ostial Obstruction in Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease: Two Patients with Different Outcomes. JACC: Case Reports. 3(12), 1459-62.
Dalby S, Renno M, Greiten L, Reemtsen B, Eisenring C, Braden E, Bornemeier R, Zakaria D (2021). Development of a large venous collateral after post-operative ostial pulmonary vein atresia: An unusual clinical course. Progress in Pediatric Cardiology. 63, 101380.
Dalby S, Daily J, & Greiten L (2021). Circumaortic double left innominate vein: a rare echocardiographic diagnosis confirmed during congenital heart surgery. Cardiology in the Young, 31(3), 460-1. PMID: 33504402.
Brown, C, Garcia, X, Bhakta, R, T, Sanders, E, and Prodhan, P. Severe Acute Neurologic Involvement in Children with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Pediatrics. 2021.
Xu W, Merves S, Arthur L, Zakaria D, Reemtsen B, Greiten L. Rare Case of a Newborn with Heterotaxy Syndrome, Right Aortic Arch and an Isolated Left Brachiocephalic Artery Arising from a Left Ductus Arteriosus. J Angiol Vasc Surg 2021, 6: 064.
Sanders E, Brown C, Blaszak R, Crawford B, Prodhan P. Cardiac Manifestation among Children with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. J Pediatr. Epub 2021 Apr 2.
Ahmed A, Prodhan P, Spray B, Bolin E. Impact of Perioperative Tachydysrhythmias on Mortality and Length of Stay in Complete Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study from the Pediatric Health Information System. Cardiology. 2021;146(3):368-374. Epub 2021 Mar 18.
Arthur L, Schoeneberg L, Angtuaco M, Greenberg SB, Renno MS, Das S. Advanced imaging improves detection of baffle leaks and stenoses after atrial switch compared with transthoracic echocardiography. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. Epub 2021 Apr 17.
Crawford R, Bolin E, Prodhan P, Renno M, Knecht K. Variable Presentation of COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021 Feb 1;40(2):e88-e90.
Schoeneberg L, Prodhan P, Spray B, Akmyradov C, Zakaria D. Risk Factors for Increased Post-operative Length of Stay in Children with Coarctation of Aorta. Pediatr Cardiol. Epub 2021 May 29.
Schoeneberg L, Zakaria D, Bolin E, Eble B, Miquel-Verges F, Sandlin A, Bornemeier R. A Fetal Presentation of a Ruptured Right Ventricular Diverticulum. Pediatr Cardiol. 2021 Apr;42(4):978-980. Epub 2021 Mar 16.
Almasri M–Death following pulmonary complications of surgery before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. STARSurg Collaborative and COVIDSurg Collaborative, British Journal of Surgery, Volume 108, Issue 12, December 2021, Pages 1448–1464, https://
Almasri M--Impact of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination on postoperative mortality in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID Surg Collaborative. BJS Open. 2021 Nov 9;5(6):zrab131. doi: 10.1093/bjsopen
Almasri M-Effects of pre‐operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study. COVIDSurg Collaborative; GlobalSurg Collaborative. Anaesthesia. 2021 Nov;76(11):1454-1464. doi: 10.1111/anae.15560. Epub 2021 Aug 9. PMID: 34371522

Recent Fellow Poster Presentations

Almasri, M et al. Characteristics and Complications Among Neonates Undergoing Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Procedures in the United States; An Insight from the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample. Accepted in the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference, Washington D.C, October 2023 – Qualified for Young Investigator Award competition.
Chamlagain R, Almasri M et al. Predictors of Cardiac Arrest and Mortality Among Neonates with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome in the United States. Accepted in the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference, Washington D.C, October 2023.
Almasri, M et al. Gender Disparities in Children Undergoing Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices Procedures in the United States. Poster Presentation at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery in Washington DC, August 2023.
Almasri, M et al. Cardiac Ablation In Children Aged 5 Years And Younger In The United States; An Insight From The Kids’ Inpatient Database. Poster Presentation at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery in Washington DC, August 2023.
Almasri, M et al. COVID-19 Is Associated With Worse Cardiac Function On Echocardiography Compared To Influenza In Pediatric Patients Admitted To The Intensive Care Unit. Poster Presentation at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery in Washington DC, August 2023.
Ramphul K, Almasri, M et al. Pediatric Cardiac Transplantation In The United States; A Study Of 2030 Cases Between 2016 – 2020. Poster Presentation at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery in Washington DC, August 2023.
Sanders E, Merves S, Renno M, Qasim A. Giant Intramyocardial Dissecting Hematoma Compressing the Left Coronary System Resolves Spontaneously

Poster Presentation at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery in Washington DC, August 2023.
Sanders E, Renno M. Embryologically Unusual Vascular Ring. Poster Presentation at NASCI in Scottsdale, AZ, September 2023
Almasri M, Balkiranjit K,et al. Risk Factors for Supraventricular Tachycardia Among COVID-19 Positive Octogenarians and Potential Outcomes. The Heart Rhythm Society Conference (HRS2023). New Orleans, Louisiana, May 2023
Almasri, M, Renuka V et al. Cardiac arrhythmias among Myocarditis Patients Positive with COVID-19 and associated mortality risk; an analysis from the 2020 NATIONAL INPATIENT SAMPLE. NAME): .The Heart Rhythm Society Conference (HRS2023). New Orleans, Louisiana, May 2023
Almasri M, Zakaria D, et. al. Rare Site of Mixing in Newborn with D-Transposition of the great vessels. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Mar, 81 (8_Supplement) 3454. American College of Cardiology Conference 2023 (ACC23), March 2023
Almasri M, Anderson S., et. al Meta-analysis on QI initiatives to decrease rarely appropriate use of echocardiography in pediatrics. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Mar, 81 (8_Supplement) 1574, American College of Cardiology Conference 2023 (ACC23), March 2023
Almasri M, Zakaria D. et. al.Comparison Of Cardiac Dysfunction in Pediatric ICU Patients with COVID vs. Influenza. UAMS Student Research Day, March 2023.
Almasri M, Pumphrey L., Das,S. Implant and midterm outcomes of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) in pediatric population. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 365, S188. Southern Regional Meeting 2023 (SRM2023), New Orleans, Louisiana, February 2023.
Almasri M, Das S. et. al. Clinical profile of 110 young patients with sinus node dysfunction who required a pacemaker. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 365, S187-S188, Southern Regional Meeting 2023 (SRM2023), New Orleans, Louisiana, February 2023
Almasri M, Prodhan P,et al. Factors associated with prolonged length of stay after balloon aortic valvuloplasty for congenital aortic stenosis. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 365, S188-S189, Southern Regional Meeting 2023 (SRM2023), New Orleans, Louisiana, February 2023.
Sanders,E, Almasri, M, and Zakaria, D. A Rare Echocardiographic Finding in a Teenager Presenting with Acute Chest Pain. Poster presentation at American Society of Echocardiography in Seattle, WA. June 2022.
Almasri, M, Sanders, E, Zakaria, D. An Unusual Case of Infantile Failure to Thrive. Poster presentation at American College of Cardiology conference in Washington, DC. April 2022.
Almasri M, Hussain S, Best T et al. Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion Index (iMAPSE): An Easy And Simple Tool For Assessment Of Left Ventricular Systolic Function In Pediatric Patients With COVID-19. European Society of Cardiology (ESC Congress 2022), August 2022
Almasri M, Sadawi M, Hussain S, et al. Meta-analysis on QI initiatives to decrease rarely appropriate use of echocardiography in pediatrics. European Society of Cardiology (ESC Congress 2022), August 2022.
Almasri M, Pumphrey L, Das S. Implant and midterm outcomes of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) in pediatric population. European Society of Cardiology, August 2022.
Almasri M, Allen B, Pumphrey L, et al. Clinical profile of 110 young patients with sinus node dysfunction who required a pacemaker. European Society of Cardiology (ESC Congress 2022), August 2022.
Almasri M,Mohamed Elsisy, Yasser Radwan.Outcomes of Cardiac Surgery in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Circulation. 2022;146:A9967. American Heart Association scientific sessions (AHA22), Chicago, Illinois, November 2022.
Almasri M, Dossey A, Zakaria D. “Does the right coronary artery have an abnormal origin?” European Society of Cardiology, EuroEcho2021, December 2021.
Dalby ST, Zakaria D. Differential Cyanosis in a Neonate with D-Transposition of the Great Arteries: Role of Comprehensive Transthoracic Echocardiography in Solving a Clinical Dilemma. Poster presentation at American Society of Echocardiography, Annual Scientific Session, June 2021.
Zabih, A. Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return to Coronary Sinus with Coronary Sinus Ostial Atresia and a Left Superior Vena Cava [Poster Presentation]. ASE 2021.(2021, June 18–21)

Recent Fellow Oral Presentations

Almasri M. Trends In Mortality and Morbidity After Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials Between 1980-2019. Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Mar, 81 (8_Supplement) 1112, American College of Cardiology Conference 2023 (ACC23), March 2023
Dalby S, Angtuaco M. Device Closure of a Coronary Fistula in a Pediatric Heart Transplant Patient. Podium presentation at Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Annual Scientific Session. Atlanta, GA, May 19-22, 2022.
Xu W. Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Pediatric Heart Transplant Outcomes in the Era of Anti-Thymocyte Globulin Induction. Oral Presentation at ISHLT 2022.
Zabih, A. Partial Pulmonary Venous Return With and Without Atrial Septal Defects: A Multicenter Analysis. American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference; October 2021.

Recent Fellow Awards

Lubaina Ehsan: Travel Grant, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP24), Orlando, Florida, September 2024.
Murad Almasri: Young Investigator Award Finalist, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP23), October 2023
Murad Almasri: Best Research Poster, Fellow’s Day, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, May 2022
Murad Almasri: Travel Grant, American College of Cardiology (ACC22), Washington D.C., April 2022
Emily Sanders: Runner Up Best Research Poster, Fellow’s Day, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, May 2022
Emily Sanders: Recipient of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Scholarship program, July 2022
Lindsay Arthur: Arkansas Children’s Hospital Fellow of the Year 2021