Fetal Cardiology for Obstetricians & Fetal Medicine Specialists 2020

Professor Carvalho is a paediatric cardiologist who specialises in imaging and managing abnormalities of the fetal heart during pregnancy. She works in London, at the Royal Brompton and St George’s NHS Foundation Trusts and is Professor of Practice at St George’s University of London.

Professor Carvalho graduated with Honours in Brazil (MB BS) and initiated her Cardiology training in São Paulo. She obtained her PhD and completed her specialist training in paediatric cardiology in London. Since 1999, she has focused her interest in imaging the fetal heart throughout pregnancy and managing high-risk pregnancies (fetal cardiology). She is Head of ‘Brompton Centre for Fetal Cardiology’ at the Royal Brompton Hospital, Lead Fetal Cardiologist at St George’s Hospital and Professor of Practice at St George’s University of London.

She is Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), Fellow of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG), and Chairperson of ISUOG Fetal Heart Special Interest Group.  She was ISUOG Board Member and Trustee (2009-2016), Editor for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (2011-2014) and Council Member of the British Congenital Cardiac Association (BCCA, 2016-2019).

She is known internationally for her clinical, educational and research interests in Fetal Cardiology and lectures regularly at national and international conferences.

Country: UK

Field: Obstetrics/Fetal and Pediatric Cardiology

Specialties: Fetal heart

Languages: English; Portuguese

Dr Fred Ushakov is a highly experienced fetal medicine professional with unique expertise in practical implications of ultrasound. He has more than 25 years of international practice within the world's leading institutions. His main research interest is diagnosis of anomalies at 11-13 weeks, which includes early fetal echocardiography and neurosonography, along with detection of spina bifida, other serious anomalies and genetic syndromes during the first trimester of pregnancy. 

He has exceptional knowledge in development and implementation of advanced interactive ultrasound courses with a solid track record in organisation of practical-oriented training in fetal echo, 3D/4D scan, neurosonography, and courses about facial, abdominal, renal, skeletal and other anomalies.

Notable publications:

Ushakov, F., Fernandez, M., Lesmes Heredia, C. and Pandya, P. (2014), OP06.08: “Crash sign”: displacement and deformation of mesencephalon against occipital bone in the diagnosis of spina bifida at 11–13 weeks. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 44: 80.

Loureiro, T., Ushakov, F., Montenegro, N., Gielchinsky, Y. and Nicolaides, K. H. (2012), Cerebral ventricular system in fetuses with open spina bifida at 11–13 weeks' gestation. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 39: 620–624.

Country: United Kingdom

Field: Obstetrics; Fetal Medicine

Specialties: Fetal anomaly screening 1st trimester and 2nd trimester; fetal biometry and wellbeing; fetal anomalies screening; aneuploidy screening; fetal anomalies; fetal heart; fetal growth restriction; maternal and fetal Doppler; 3D & 4D ultrasound; basic training; early pregnancy; 11-13 weeks echocardiography; neurosonography; anomalies  

Languages: English; Russian; Hebrew

"I am motivated to train and support doctors in other countries and to help them to protect and preserve the health of mothers and unborn babies. I run many ultrasound and fetal medicine courses in the UK (ISUOG supported courses), Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Peru, Portugal, Russia (ISUOG supported courses), Turkey and Ukraine.  Many of my colleagues (especially young specialists) have no opportunity to participate in expensive international congresses and courses. The emerging role of ISUOG is to develop low cost, high quality courses and to local medical communities by providing friendly, responsive and effective programs of ultrasound training and assistance."