Development of a Neonatal Cardiac Curriculum for Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Training

Abstract Background The topic of neonatal cardiovascular care in neonatal-perinatal fellowship training has continued to transform due to the increased complexity of patients, the development of specialized units, continued ACGME educational requirements, and clinical practice variation across centers that care for neonates with congenital heart disease. Methods We developed a formal neonatal cardiac curriculum, comprised of eight interactive sessions, with novel active learning concepts specific to our neonatal-perinatal fellows that were presented annually. Results There was an overall 10-point increase in the comfort level in managing infants with congenital heart disease among neonatal fellows. The average American Board of Pediatrics Subspecialty In-Training Exam scores improved from baseline in all years of the intervention. Conclusion Due to the variable clinical exposure and differing practice models of congenital heart disease a formal neonatal cardiac curriculum may be beneficial to neonatal-perinatal trainees.