PCICS Podcast

Leadership in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit requires more than clinical expertise—it demands the ability to inspire teams, navigate complexity, and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous learning. In this episode, we explore what makes an effective leader in the cardiac ICU and discuss practical strategies for developing the next generation of leaders through mentorship, medi...

In this episode, Fostering the Spark, we dive into how ICU nurses can stay passionate, curious, and connected to their purpose through continual growth and learning. Because let’s be honest—nursing is intense, and CICU nursing brings an entirely different level of emotional, mental, and clinical demand. Without challenge, support, or opportunities to grow, it’s easy to feel burned out or stagnant...

Join us on this episode of PCICS NewsTalk, where we discuss the latest news in our field. In this episode, our PCICS leadership team discusses several updates going on in the society, including updates on our international expansions, upcoming member votes, and ways to get involved. Host/Editor/Producer: David Werho (UC San Diego/Rady Children's) Guests: Lillian Su (Children's National) and Lindse...

Please join special guests Heather Viamonte, MD (CHOA/Emory), Fawaaz Shaw, MD (CHOA/Emory) and Virginia Horan, PA (Intermountain Health/U. Utah) discussing the bidirectional partnership with Global Health Office of Pediatrics at Emory (GHOPE) and Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, a public national specialized cardiovascular teaching and research hospital within Muhimbili National Hospital affiliat...

Join host Maryam Naim, MD (CHOP) and guests Chitra Ravishankar, MD (CHOP), Kats Maeda, MD (CHOP) and Humera Ahmed, MD (CHOP) as they discuss the management of HLHS with severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. Host: Maryam Naim (CHOP) Editor/Producer: Deanna Todd Tzanetos, MD, MSCI (Norton Children's/U of Louisville) Episode sponsor: Cincinnati Children's Hospital

The second in a 4 part collaboration with Pediatrica Intensiva honoring 50 plus years of the Fontan-Kreutzer operation. Join hosts Dr. Greg Kelly (Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia) and Dr. Deanna Todd Tzanetos (Norton Children's Hospital/U of Louisville) with guest Dr. Peter Laussen (Boston Children's Hospital) as they discuss the history of the Fontan operation from its early beginnings...

This episode brings together voices from palliative care (PC), the cardiac ICU, and cardiac surgery to explore how a collaborative approach with PC can transform the care of children with congenital heart disease. Through shared perspectives and real-world insights & challenges, the team discusses how early integration of palliative care supports complex decision-making, enhances communication wit...

Our guests represent the top QI abstracts from the 2026 PCICS Conference in Austin, Texas. Guest: Catherine Allan MD (Cleveland Clinic) Abstract: Targeting Modification of Prescribing Practices in the ICU Setting to Reduce Central Line Entries Guest: Ashley Frankel MSN-Ed RN (Stanford Medicine Children's Health) Abstract: Practicing HAPI Habits - Take the Pressure Off!: Hospital Acquired Pressure...

The first in a 4 part collaboration with Pediatrica Intensiva honoring 50 plus years of the Fontan-Kreutzer Operation. Join hosts Dr. Greg Kelly (Children's Hospital at Westmead, Austrailia) and Dr. Deanna Todd Tzanetos (Norton Children's Hospital/U of Louisville) with guest Dr. Tom Glenn (Texas Children's Hospital) as they discuss the shifting focus from survival to quality of survival and then o...

Please join guests Drs. Nate Sznycer-Taub (UMichigan/C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital) and Asaad Beshish (Emory/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta) in discussing their landmark paper “Hyperoxia During Neonatal Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is Associated With Worse Clinical Outcomes: A Multi-Institutional Study” in JAHA 2025. Host: Dr. Maria Batsis (Stanford/Stanford Children’s Hospital). Co-host/Editor/Produc...

Join Niranjan Vijayakumar, MBBS (Children's Mercy, Kansas City) and Deanna Todd Tzanetos, MD, MSCI (Norton Children's Hospital/U of Louisville) as they speak with Bruna Cury, RN, MSN (CardioPedBrasil®️ – Children’s Heart Center, Hospital da Criança e Maternidade, Brasil) and Joram Nyandat, MMED (Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital/Tenwek Mission Hospital, Kenya) about their PCICS experience. We als...

Join hosts Kavi Komeswaran, MD (U of Mississippi) and Jennifer Gauntt, MD (Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University) as they discuss the recent article "Breastfeeding infants with CHD: an evidence summary and recommendations from the Cardiac Newborn Neuroprotective Network, a special interest group of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative" published in Cardiology in the...

Join hosts Natalie Pleiman (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital) and Laura Valido (Nationwide Children’s Hospital) as we explore the question: Is bedside nursing really just a stepping stone? In this episode of the PCICS Nursing Podcast, we challenge that narrative and rebrand bedside nursing as a powerful, lifelong career. Hear how a CICU bedside nurse, Becka Lyons co-leads an international partnershi...

Join hosts Rambod Amirnovin (Miller Children’s, Elevance Health) and Jennifer Gauntt, MD (Nationwide Children's / Ohio State University SOM), as they interview Mathew Mills, a former military pilot and current aeronautics lab pilot; delving into the culture and process of safety. They uncover the evolution of systems built to ensure safety in military and commercial aviation, and how medical pract...

Please enjoy a live interview podcast recording at the 2025 PCICS annual conference with our guest speakers, inspired by topics from the top 3 listened-to podcasts: #TakeBackTime Part 1 and 2 (episode 41 and 42) - Dawna Ballard, PhD (University of Texas at Austin); The Bedside Nurse - Rescuing an Endangered Species (episode 81) - Monica Mafla MS, PNP-AC (Lucile Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford...

Missed PCICS 2025? Join hosts Deanna Tzanetos MD (Norton Children's Hospital/U of Louisville), Kavipriya Komeswaran MD (U of Mississippi) and Maria Batsis MD (Lucile Packard Children's/Stanford University) as they interview two of the speakers from the PCICS 2025 session on the challenges of Shone's Complex- Michael DiMaria MD (Rocky Mountain Children's Hospital) and Jessica Barreto MD, MS (Boston...

PCICS NewsTalk - The 2025 PCICS Annual Meeting Recap - Join a live unfiltered recording of the NewsTalk team and special guests as they discuss and recap the 2025 PCICS Annual Meeting in Austin, TX. Guests: Jill Zender (Children's Health), Carly Scahill (Children's Hospital Colorado), Amy Hemingway (Dell Children's), Saidie Rodriguez (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta), Kim DiMaria (Rocky Mountain...

Join us on this episode of the PCICS podcast for a discussion about the innovative and essential roles that Child Psychologists play in the care of children with congenital heart defects. As we aim for the best clinical outcomes for our patients, Dr. Mejia (Phoenix Children's) and Dr. Harley (Stanford Medicine Children's Health) describe their holistic and multidisciplinary interventions to help p...

Join us on this PCICS podcast episode as we chat about nursing resilience in the CVICU with our guest, Stacy Stravitz, DNP, PNP-AC, and how she has learned to meet the many challenges of bedside nursing head-on. With years of clinical experience, Stacy shares her tips and tricks on how to navigate the often-impossible task of being a frontline provider in a pediatric CVICU. Guest: Stacy Stravitz,...

Join hosts Rambod Amirnovin (Miller Children’s, Elevance Health), and Melody Turner (HCA Healthcare), as they interview quality experts in the areas of sedation, withdrawal, and mobilization management. Guests Barbara-Jo Achuff, MD (Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital), Sean Barnes, MD (John’s Hopkins Children’s Center) and Bronwyn Crandall PharmD, BCPPS (C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital). We cover simple...

Join host David Werho (UC San Diego/Rady Children's) and guests Carly Scahill (Colorado Children's), Lillian Su (Phoenix Children's), and Yaeji Kim (IG: @chd_doodles) as they discuss the upcoming 2025 PCICS Annual Meeting in Austin, TX, co-hosted by The Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease at Dell Children's Hospital. We speak about many of the plenary sessions, breakouts, socia...

Please join this multi-disciplinary discussion exploring the nuances of building bedside nursing autonomy and trust. Guest: Jennifer Gauntt, MD, FAAP, FCCM. (Nationwide Children’s Hospital/Ohio State U). Hosts: Laura Valido, BSN RN and Cardiothoracic IUC Clinical Leader-Educator (Nationwide Children’s Hospital/Ohio State U) and Natalie Pleiman MSN, RNIII, CCRN, CPN (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital...

Join us for a continuation of our conversation with perfusionist Jordan Brimhall and Brandon Lowe, RRT, NPS, lead ECMO specialist at Emory in Atlanta. We discuss multidisciplinary collaboration in pediatric ECMO programs. Hosts: Deanna Todd Tzanetos, MD, MSCI (Norton Children's/UofL) and Chris Knoll, MD (Phoenix Children's). Guests Jordan Brimhall MS, CPP, FPP (Phoenix Children's) Brandon Lowe, RR...

Everything you wanted to know about perfusion but were afraid to ask. Join us for a conversation with Jordan Brimhall, MS, CCP, FPP Chief Perfusionist at Phoenix Children's Hospital. We discuss what really happens in the OR and what intensivists should know and understand about cardiopulmonary bypass. Hosts: Deanna Todd Tzanetos, MD, MSCI Norton Children's/ U of Louisville and Chris Knoll, MD Phoe...

Please join this conversation regarding career advancement for CICU nurses with guests: Bonnie Miller, MBA, BSN, RN, CPN, CNML Director of Cardiac Critical Care and Surgical Services, CHOA; Katie Gibson, MSN, RN, NE-BC Manager of Clinical Operations – CICU, CHOA and Andie Cantrell, BSN, RN, CCRN, Cardiac Clinical and Simulation Educator, CHOA. Host and editor: Abbie Patera, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN-K...