University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Department of Pediatrics: Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program

Research

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.

Learn More

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

Recent Fellow Poster Presentations

  • Alsarrawi H, Masri A. Strangulation by hair, an uncommon cause of a common accident. Am J Med Sci. 2025;369(Suppl):S254-S255. doi:10.1016/S0002-9629(25)00406-9.
  • Abdelmagid K, Qasim A, Parashar N. Staged biventricular repair for D-transposition of the great arteries with a hypoplastic right ventricle. Poster presented at PCICS November 2024.
  • Nissen T, Chung S, Brown A, Rajab T, Qasim A. Non-invasive Monitoring of Partial Heart Transplants: Evaluation of Leaflet Length as Novel Echocardiographic Measure of Valve Growth. ASE 2024 Scientific Sessions; Portland, OR. June 2024.
  • Masri A, Qasim A, Rajab T. Long-term Outcomes of Aortic and Truncal Valve Replacement in Neonates and Infants. Arkansas Children’s Annual Fellow Research Forum, May 2024, Little Rock, AR.
  • James, D., Ehsan, L., Jasser, J., Fakhoury, J.D., The Mystery of Abdominal Distention and Rapidly Progressive Respiratory Failure: Surfactant Metabolism Dysfunction Diagnosed in Infancy. Poster presentation at Pediatric Academic Societies 2024 (PAS2024). Toronto, Canada, May 2-6 2024.
  • Almasri M, Ayyad M, Sanders E, Orcutt JW Jr, Masri A, Zakaria D. A rare case of neonatal ventricular tachycardia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024;83(13):3108. doi:10.1016/S0735-1097(24)05098-8.
  • Almasri M, Masri A, Dachepally R. Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantations in children in the United States: a 5-year analysis from the National Inpatient Sample. Am J Med Sci. 2024;367(Suppl):S88-S89. doi:10.1016/S0002-9629(24)00209-X.
  • 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 – Young Investigator Award competition finalist.
  • 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

  • Ismail A, Schmitt J, Bolin E, Ittleman B. UTILITY OF FETAL ECHOCARDIOGRAM IN FIRST DEGREE RELATIVES WITH BICUSPID AORTIC VALVE AND NORMAL THE OBSTRETRIC SCREENING ULTRASOUND . Oral Presentation in the 14th annual fetal cardiology symposium at Pheonix, November 2024.
  • 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

 

Links