Congenital Heart Surgery Fellowship Programme

The Congenital Heart Surgery Fellowship Programme at National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) provides advanced subspecialty training in paediatric and congenital cardiac surgery. Designed for cardiac surgeons seeking to develop expertise in the surgical management of congenital heart disease, the programme offers comprehensive exposure to patients across all age groups, from infants and children to adults with congenital heart conditions. 

The fellowship follows a competency-based educational framework that combines hands-on clinical experience, structured mentorship, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuous formative feedback. Fellows progressively develop the knowledge, technical skills, clinical judgement, and professional competencies required for independent practice in congenital heart surgery. 

The programme focuses on developing expertise across the full spectrum of congenital heart surgery and perioperative care, including:

• Surgical management of paediatric and congenital heart disease.
• Preoperative assessment and surgical planning.
• Perioperative and critical care management of congenital cardiac patients.
• Congenital cardiac imaging and clinical-anatomical correlation.
• Cardiopulmonary bypass and mechanical circulatory support.
• Postoperative care in the paediatric cardiac intensive care setting.
• Multidisciplinary decision-making and patient management.
• Outcomes analysis, quality improvement, and clinical research.
  

Fellows also gain exposure to related disciplines such as paediatric cardiology, paediatric cardiac intensive care, paediatric cardiac anaesthesia, perfusion, and thoracic surgery. 

This programme is intended for cardiac surgeons who wish to pursue advanced subspecialty training in congenital heart surgery. Applicants should have completed basic cardiac surgical training, with at least one year of prior cardiac surgery experience recommended. 

The fellowship caters to both junior and senior fellows, with training pathways tailored according to each fellow's experience, technical proficiency, and learning objectives. Fellows undergo an initial assessment and receive structured supervision that progressively advances towards greater clinical and surgical independence. 

Surgical Training

• Participation in all congenital cardiac surgical procedures performed within the division.
• Progressive development of operative skills under graduated supervision.
• Exposure to a wide range of open and closed congenital cardiac procedures.
• Training in cardiopulmonary bypass, cannulation techniques, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)/Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS), and surgical emergency management.
  

Clinical and Perioperative Training

• Daily ward rounds and participation in paediatric cardiac intensive care management.
• Pre-operative evaluation and preparation of congenital cardiac patients.
• Outpatient clinic experience alongside consultant surgeons.
• On-call experience in the management of congenital cardiac surgical patients.
  

Multidisciplinary Training

• Collaboration with paediatric cardiologists, intensivists, anaesthetists, perfusionists, and allied healthcare professionals.
• Participation in multidisciplinary case discussions, preoperative briefings, and joint cardiac conferences.
• Exposure to advanced cardiac imaging, including echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation, and CT angiography.
  

Academic and Research Development

• Participation in clinical research and outcomes analysis.
• Opportunities to publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at international scientific conferences.

Ever wondered what it's like to train in Paediatric Heart Surgery at the NUHCS?

Watch our clinical fellow, Dr Zara Shirazi, as she shares her learning journey, mentorship experience and clinical exposure in the Congenital Heart Surgery Fellowship Programme at NUHCS.

https://youtu.be/jNnolJm3BuQ

​For enquiries and applications**, please email to: fellowship_application@nuhs.edu.sg.

**Please note this mailbox only processes Honorary Fellowship positions. For a paid position, you may wish to explore the Career listing here.