1. Residencies & Fellowships
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Pediatric/Congenital Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship

RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

The Pediatric/Congenital Advanced Cardiac Imaging (PACI) Fellowship at Mount Sinai Children’s Heart Center is a one-year program that combines high-volume clinical experience with mentorship and research opportunities. Fellows gain mastery across all imaging modalities—transthoracic, fetal, and transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and CT—while having the flexibility to develop expertise in their specific areas of interest.  

Our program stands out for its comprehensive imaging experience. Our echocardiography laboratory performs over 9,500 examinations yearly, including 2,500 fetal echocardiograms. Fellows benefit from hands-on experience with advanced techniques, including myocardial deformation imaging, blood vortex mapping, stress and 3D echocardiography, and early gestation fetal imaging. Our cardiac MRI service performs approximately 215 examinations per year in patients with a wide array of congenital and acquired cardiac lesions, and the congenital cardiac CT program scans more than 100 patients per year. Our integration of virtual reality reconstructions and 3D printed models for procedural planning puts fellows at the forefront of technological innovation in cardiac imaging.

The fellowship offers unique advantages through our robust surgical and interventional program, providing extensive experience in perioperative and intraprocedural transesophageal echocardiography. Fellows work with patients across the full age spectrum—from fetal to adult congenital heart disease—and collaborate with both pediatric and adult cardiac imaging teams, developing versatile skills applicable to any future path. Our dedicated pediatric anesthesiology service ensures optimal imaging conditions for young or uncooperative patients, maximizing learning opportunities.

The PACI fellow will gain valuable mentorship experience in supervising first-year cardiology fellows early on in their echocardiography rotations. As the year progresses, emphasis shifts to advanced echo interpretation and reporting skills. Within the comprehensive Fetal Heart Program, fellows master both scanning techniques and develop vital family counseling abilities. Surgical and interventional experience includes direct performance of transesophageal examinations.

In the MRI and CT suite, fellows take an active role operating scanners, performing image post-processing, and developing proficiency in reporting. Their clinical insights become integral to weekly medical-surgical case conferences, where they present advanced imaging findings that guide treatment decisions.

Throughout the year, fellows work collaboratively with categorical pediatric cardiology trainees while participating in a comprehensive didactic curriculum that reinforces clinical experience. This integration of hands-on practice, structured teaching, and interdisciplinary collaboration prepares fellows for independent practice in advanced cardiac imaging.

Mount Sinai Children's Heart Center maintains a strong academic focus, with our division actively participating in multiple collaborative organizations spanning echocardiography, fetal cardiology, and cross-sectional imaging. Fellows engage in academic projects throughout their fellowship year, with opportunities for multicenter investigations and collaborations. The program has established a track record of producing leaders in the field, supported by robust research mentorship and resources.

Fellows develop their teaching and presentation skills through various educational forums. These include delivering didactic sessions and case presentations to categorical pediatric cardiology fellows, obstetric and maternal-fetal medicine trainees, medical students, and pediatric residents. Regional engagement occurs through periodic New York-area pediatric cardiac imaging conferences, where fellows present to broader audiences of imaging specialists.

Fellows are expected to present their research findings at academic meetings, contributing to the field's advancement while building vital presentation and networking skills. These academic and teaching opportunities, combined with our collaborative relationships across institutions, create a rich environment for professional growth and scholarly achievement.

The Pediatric/Congenital Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship participates in the PACI match, administered by SF Match and sponsored by the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography.

Applicants should have completed, or be scheduled to complete, a categorical fellowship in pediatric cardiology in the United States or a comparable international program prior to the start of the PACI Fellowship. The application period generally starts in the summer, with the match occurring in the fall, for positions to start the following summer.

Applicants must apply through the SF Match Central Application Service (CAS), and include:

  • A completed CAS application
  • Curriculum vitae/CV
  • Personal statement
  • Transcripts from the United States Medical Licensing Examination, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination, or equivalent
  • Three letters of reference (one letter should be from your fellowship director or your institution’s echo lab director)
  • International applicants must also provide Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certification

Meet the Director

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Kenan Stern, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology

Dr. Stern specializes in the care of the fetus, child, and young adult with heart disease

Our Faculty

Nadine Choueiter, MD
Nadine Choueiter, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology
Jennifer Cohen, MD
Jennifer Cohen, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology
Son Duong, MD
Son Duong, MD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology
David Ezon, MD
David Ezon, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
Miwa Geiger, MD
Miwa Geiger, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
David Barris, MD
David Barris, MD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology
Kali Hopkins, MD
Kali Hopkins, MD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Medicine, Cardiology
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
Joseph Mahgerefteh, MD
Joseph Mahgerefteh, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Pediatrics
Kenan Stern, MD
Kenan Stern, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Pediatrics, Cardiology
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology
image of Grace Kong, MD

Grace Kong, MD

"During my fellowship, I gained several lifetime mentors, who guided me through critical career and life decisions, even after I completed fellowship. The cardiac imaging group at The Mount Sinai Hospital, including the physicians and sonographers, are wonderful and academically excellent, and I encourage any future candidate to strongly consider the program."

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Grace Kong, MD

"During my fellowship, I gained several lifetime mentors, who guided me through critical career and life decisions, even after I completed fellowship. The cardiac imaging group at The Mount Sinai Hospital, including the physicians and sonographers, are wonderful and academically excellent, and I encourage any future candidate to strongly consider the program."

Carousel Background Image 2

Jennifer Cohen, MD

“I absolutely loved my time as a fourth-year fellow. The fellowship had great flexibility to ensure I was maximizing my time on each modality. The program is very hands-on, and within weeks, I was able to scan MRIs and CTs almost independently. There is great mentorship, which allowed me to pursue being a principal investigator on a multi-center study through the Fetal Heart Society. It is such a warm and welcoming environment that made me feel at home right away. The echo techs here are truly extraordinary, and I learned so much from them regarding optimizing my images.”

image of Grace Kong, MD

Grace Kong, MD

"During my fellowship, I gained several lifetime mentors, who guided me through critical career and life decisions, even after I completed fellowship. The cardiac imaging group at The Mount Sinai Hospital, including the physicians and sonographers, are wonderful and academically excellent, and I encourage any future candidate to strongly consider the program."

imagre of Jennifer Cohen, MD

Jennifer Cohen, MD

“I absolutely loved my time as a fourth-year fellow. The fellowship had great flexibility to ensure I was maximizing my time on each modality. The program is very hands-on, and within weeks, I was able to scan MRIs and CTs almost independently. There is great mentorship, which allowed me to pursue being a principal investigator on a multi-center study through the Fetal Heart Society. It is such a warm and welcoming environment that made me feel at home right away. The echo techs here are truly extraordinary, and I learned so much from them regarding optimizing my images.”

image of Sonny Duong, MD, MS

Sonny Duong, MD, MS

“The fellowship provides exceptional, broad-based training that equips trainees to excel in diverse practice settings. The supportive, collaborative learning environment and outstanding team made my experience professionally enriching and personally rewarding.”

Exceptional Pediatric Clinical Care at Mount Sinai

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Exceptional Pediatric Clinical Care at Mount Sinai