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Specialization in Pediatric Cardiology

Why study a Specialization in Pediatric Cardiology?

The increase in the number and complexity of congenital heart disease corrective surgeries in children is a reality. Because of this, it is necessary to have specialized areas and personnel that is highly trained to conduct these pathologies and their post-operation procedures.

As the number of patients with suspected congenital heart diseases increased, pediatric cardiologists aimed at diagnosing (echocardiography and hemodynamics) these patients and post-operation care was transferred to pediatricians with an interest in pediatric intensive care. Some centers sent some pediatricians to complete short training sessions in cardiovascular port-operation care in order to cater to this increasing need.

Currently, in the majority of centers in Colombia, pediatric cardiovascular surgery post-operation care is managed by pediatricians and not by intensive pediatricians or pediatric cardiologists. A large part of this issue is a result of the only recent start of training programs for the Pediatric Intensive Care specialization in the country.

As more specialists in the area of pediatric intensive care and pediatric cardiology arise, a potentially higher number of specialists that are dedicated to the care of these children may also arise.

Degree

Especialista en Cardiología Pediátrica

Length of program

2 years

Investment (semester)

$ 13.530.000 COP

Director

Dr. Darío Hernando Cobo Medina

Coordinator

Dr. Walter Mosquera Alvarez

FEATURED STRENGTHS

Candidate profile

A Pediatrician with capacity and motivation for training as a clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of cardiology and its different subspecialties.

Graduate profile

A graduate of the Pediatric Cardiology Specialization program will have the competences to: clinically manage patients with cardiological diseases, hospitalized patients and outpatients (patient care); exercise ethically, respecting the autonomy and dignity of the patient (professionalism); communicate with, support and direct the patient, his/her family and the medical and paramedical team.

Institutional Accreditation

In the Resolution, the Ministry states: "It has been shown that Universidad Icesi has achieved sufficient quality levels so that, in accordance with the norms that govern the matter, this fact is publicly recognized through a formal act of institutional accreditation". We are the first private university in southwestern Colombia to obtain the highest recognition of quality provided by the Colombian Government. This is a recognition of the quality of the academic programs, their operation and the fulfillment of the social function of the university. Universidad Icesi was accredited in May 2010 by the Ministry of Education through the National Accreditation Committee (CNA), making it the first accredited private university in Cali and the region. In the Resolution, the Ministry states: "It has been demonstrated that Universidad Icesi has achieved sufficient quality levels so that, in accordance with the rules that govern the matter, this fact is publicly recognized through a formal act of institutional accreditation".

Icesi and the Fundación Valle del Lili

The Fundación Valle del Lili and Universidad Icesi have become allies through an agreement that has been called: a deep alliance for life. With this agreement the region is strengthened by the union of two well reputed institutions, which will now work together for the well-being and the health of people and for maintaining a leadership position thanks to their constant advances in the academic, social, humanistic and scientific fields. The Fundación Valle del Lili is the university hospital with the best conditions, both in terms of infrastructure, human resources and technology, and it will provide clinical training and medical practice to future students. This alliance allows both institutions to establish a synergy in all their activities, through coordination for work, preservation of excellence in performance, already widely recognized in both institutions, and consolidates the social projection of both institutions in one of the most important sectors for the community - health. For both institutions this agreement is a strategic step. Scholarship support to resident doctors is an internal process of the Fundación Valle del Lili, whose process will be informed in a timely manner to those who are admitted.

WHY COMPLETE THIS MASTER AT UNIVERSITY ICESI?

University Icesi and the Fundación Valle del Lili Foundation signed an exclusive framework agreement with an initial validity of 50 years, to train undergraduate students started with  the School of Health Sciences and the inauguration of the Medical program in 2009. This alliance has strengthened with the creation of post graduate level programs; both for the Fundación Valle del Lili Foundation and for University Icesi, this is a strategic step in the consolidation of an excellent array of options in health programs. The Fundación Valle del Lili Foundation offers surgical techniques that correct cardiac issues and guarantee the improvement of quality of life for patients that require intervention in this area. The Fundación Valle del Lili Foundation is a precursor and leader in Colombia in terms of the use of the latest devices, thanks to the level of specialization treatment reached of heart diseases. Characterized by the quality of the service it provides and the security standards in the use of developed technologies that suitable surgeons use, the Foundation performs heart surgeries with and without the use of extracorporeal circulation equipment. In the Pediatric Unit, patients receive comprehensive care in children’s health in multiple areas of medicine, such as urgent care, general pediatric outpatient clinic, and subspecializations, hospitalization, pediatric intensive care, neonatal intensive care, and pediatric surgery. It offers among other services for Pediatric Cardiology, those for Pediatric Pulmonology, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Nephrology, Neonatology, Pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care Units (UCI), Pediatric Psychiatry, Pediatric Urology, and vaccination.

Duration and Methodology

Duration

The program has a duration of 2 years with exclusive full time commitment.

Methodology

The methodology used to develop skills in doctors of this specialization is founded according to the educational project proposed by University Icesi and the Fundación Valle del Lili Foundation, based on active learning with several strategies:

  • PBL (problem-based learning)
  • Journals club (critical reading of publications and medicine based on evidence)
  • Hospital education medical review
  • Hospital and outpatient clinic assistance
  • Discussion of difficult cases
  • Multidisciplinary medical meetingss

Everything under the education-service University Icesi - university hospital Fundación Valle del Lili Foundation, according to which, doctors at the foundation follow up the learning of students in the specialty by directly interacting with patients and hospital cases.