The EVMS Fetal Cardiovascular Center provides state-of-the-art, coordinated clinical care for families with prenatal congenital heart disease. We collaborate with various specialties, including maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology, pediatric cardiology and pediatric cardiovascular surgery.
Why you might need EVMS Fetal Cardiovascular Center
- According to the American Heart Association, in the U.S., 36,000 babies are born with heart defects each year. These congenital heart defects, which occur soon after conception, are structural problems within the heart that result when a mishap occurs during heart development, often before the mother is even aware she is pregnant.
- EVMS Fetal Cardiovascular Center was developed to help families facing this struggle identify what the problem is as soon as possible, provide supportive counseling and plan management strategies.
- We work with each family's individual needs to develop the most comprehensive treatment plan to care for families and their unborn children.
Our location
Fetal Cardiovascular Center
Hofheimer Hall825 Fairfax Avenue, Suite 310
Norfolk, VA 23507 757.446.7900
Why to consider our program
- We have extensive experience.
- EVMS Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) — a division of EVMS Obstetrics and Gynecology — is internationally recognized for its extensive expertise in prenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital heart disease.
- We partner with providers at the forefront of their fields.
- The Center brings together specialists from MFM who provide advanced prenatal care through collaboration with the neonatology, pediatric cardiology and pediatric cardiovascular surgery specialists at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD).
Our work
EVMS Fetal Cardiovascular Center offers continuing education for ultrasound and fetal assessment to regional and national care providers.
We accomplish our education and community outreach goals through:
- Annual training through educational CME (Continuing Medical Education) in order to increase effectiveness of screenings and improve prenatal detection of congenital heart disease.
- A national educational course on fetal echocardiography with topics related to screening, diagnosis and management of pregnancies with congenital heart disease.
- A regional support program for families with fetal cardiac abnormalities.
- Educational materials and brochures distributed at local and national meetings.
- Information in local and regional newsletters and publications regarding the prevention of fetal cardiovascular malformations.
- Visiting fellowships for physicians and sonographers from various countries for training in fetal echocardiography.
EVMS Fetal Cardiovascular Center combines the clinical aspect of fetal cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment with advances in research and discovery.
We can not only diagnose and treat fetal abnormalities, but also conduct cutting-edge research studies on fetal cardiovascular diseases and placental function.
Our ongoing research initiatives include:
- Placental structure and function as markers of high-risk pregnancies
- Diabetic pregnancies and fetal cardiovascular abnormalities
- Diagnosis of congenital heart disease in early gestation
- Fetal cardiac function in normal and abnormal pregnancies
Our specialists are renowned for their use of ultrasound technology to diagnose fetal congenital heart disease. We are one of the few institutions in the country to integrate ultrasound technology into our curriculum.
EVMS Maternal-Fetal Medicine achievements include:
- Partnering with industry leaders to develop software for the advancement in ultrasound detection of congenital heart disease.
- Partnering with Toshiba Medical on an NIH-funded study using novel ultrasound tools on the placenta during early pregnancy to predict poor outcomes.
- Serving as an international training site for prenatal ultrasound and fetal echocardiography.
- One of the only institutions in the country to have integrated ultrasound technology into its student curriculum.