Texas Children's and Oxford Cultivate Cardiac Connection

Although Texas Children's Hospital and England's Oxford University are thousands of miles apart, they have formed a successful partnership which enhances training opportunities for pediatric cardiologists from both institutions.

When Dr. Nick Archer, chief of pediatric cardiology at Oxford, asked Dr. Tim Bricker, chief of pediatric cardiology at Texas Children's Hospital, for the opportunity to send an Oxford fellow to train in Houston, a reciprocal offer was extended to Texas Children's fellows. With Dr. Bricker's and Dr. Archer's interest, what began as an isolated request developed into a long-standing commitment.

"Although Oxford has a highly regarded fellowship training program in pediatric cardiology, they wanted an opportunity to provide better clinical and research training in electrophysiology," says Dr. Bricker, also a professor and chief of pediatric cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine. "This is the specialty that deals with heart rhythm disorders in childhood and prevention of sudden cardiac death. Many of the world's leaders in this specialty have been trained at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine."

Dr. Bricker explains that no doctors in England have had the opportunity to complete training in pediatric cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology.

"The leading specialist in the care of children with cardiac arrhythmias in London was trained in adult cardiology before coming to Texas Children's for his training," he says. "He is looking forward to having more expertise available in England, especially for tiny babies."

Senior postdoctoral pediatric cardiology trainees in Texas Children's program have the option of completing a four- to eight-week clinical or research elective at Oxford, England's oldest university.

"Practicing academic pediatric cardiology at John Radcliffe Hospital and teaching Oxford medical students and pediatric residents will provide Texas Children's fellows an additional opportunity for intellectual enrichment during their medical training," Dr. Bricker adds.

Texas Children's Hospital fellows who will be studying and working at Oxford this year include Drs. Deneen Heath and Christopher Snyder. Dr. Heath, who will spend four weeks in England, is a fourth-year pediatric cardiology fellow specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of fetal heart disease at Texas Children's. Dr. Snyder's long-term academic goal is to specialize in the management of cardiac rhythm abnormalities in children.

- CATHY MASTRANTUONO

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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