In the absence of a better forum for pediatric cardiologists (not going the pediheart route, if it still exists), I’m posting this note for comments from our PACES members about H1N1 and cardiac patients.

As far as I have seen, there are no more specific recommendations for who gets vaccine other than “congenital heart disease” and nothing beyond that for who should get attenuated nasal or injectable forms. I’ve been making the recommendation that we follow our Synagis guidelines to help prioritize, focusing on patients with shunts, cyanosis, heart failure.

Anyone have more insightful data and/or comments to help out?

Thanks,
Jim Perry
UC San Diego

Dear members…

 We hope that this new blog/bulletin board feature will be an excellent venue for posting announcements, soliciting collaboration and constructive criticism in the design and management of research projects, publicizing job opportunities and fellow positions, and in general sounding of on topics of interest to our membership.  I am glad to see that we already have information on a vacant position “Down Under” on the board.

 Please feel free to experiment with its use and value to you, even if you don’t have a particular categorized interest at present – just be aware that within our Society, this is a public forum, and that respect for patient and physician privacy and polite, civil discourse are first principles of participation.

 I hope this new forum for discussion will become a valuable resource for the Society;  feedback from all members is solicited.

John Triedman, MD

President, Pediatric and Congenital EP Society

The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

The Royal Children’s Hospital, as part of its commitment towards subspecialist paediatric cardiology services, wishes to appoint consultant paediatric cardiologists with subspecialty interests in electrophysiology, perinatal cardiology and interventional cardiology. The Royal Children’s Hospital provides the full range of diagnostic and treatment services for patients referred with congenital and acquired heart disease. The hospital manages infants and children from Victoria, interstate and South East Asia. The National Paediatric Heart transplant Centre is situated at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Approximately six hundred cardiac surgical operations are performed each year. Applicants must have outstanding qualifications in paediatric cardiology and have undertaken further subspecialist training in the designated areas. A strong background in clinical and/or laboratory-based research is required and a higher academic research degree is desirable. Salary and conditions of service will be negotiable with the successful applicant who will be eligible to participate in departmental private practice arrangements.

Enquiries: Professor Dan Penny, Director of Cardiology RCH Tel: 61-3-9345 5922, Fax 61-3-9345 6001 or
Email: dan.penny@rch.org.au
Closing Date: 02 April, 2007.

The Department of Cardiology at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne is planning to advertise in the near future for additional sub- specialty cardiologists including a position for a second pediatric electrophysiologist. We are the largest Pediatric Cardiac Center in Australia. The Unit performs a total of 700 cardiac surgeries each year.We are the Cardiac Transplant Centre for Australia. We have close ties with our adult EP colleagues. We would be seeking someone wishing to make a long term commitment who has skills not only in invasive electrophysiology and ablation but also in syncope management, non-invasive assessment of inherited cardiac disease and device management. Anyone who is interested should e-mail Andrew Davis on: andrew.davis@rch.org.au for a preliminary discussion.

This blog has been developed to provide an online venue for members of PACES to communicate to one another. Posts will be made by the executive committee and members will be encouraged to comment and provide responses. If you are interested in having an article or announcement posted to The Beat, e-mail jessica@trio-solutions.com.