Shobha S. Natarajan, MD
Areas of expertise: Echocardiography, Fetal cardiology, Vascular function, Inpatient cardiology
About Shobha S. Natarajan, MD
Shobha S. Natarajan, MD, is an attending cardiologist and the Director of the Cardiac Center Quality Improvement Core at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Titles
Attending Cardiologist
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Pediatric Cardiology – American Board of Pediatrics
Pediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics
Awards and Honors
1996, Peer Evaluation for Outstanding Collaborative Learning
1995, McGraw Hill Book Award for Outstanding Service
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
2019-present, Society of Pediatric Echocardiography
2012-present, National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative
2009-present, Pediatric Heart Network
- 2009-present, Scientific Writing Committee: Infants with Single Ventricle Stage 2
- 2099-present, Scientific Writing Committee: ACE AVSD Subtypes Comparison
- 2009-present, Scientific Writing Committee: VVV Dimension vs. Volume
2008-present, American Society of Echocardiography
2003-present, American College of Cardiology
- 2014-present, Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology Quality Metrics WG - Non-Invasive Imaging Team
- 2015-present, Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology Quality Metrics Work Group
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial positions
Reviewer
2015-present, Pediatric Research
2012-present, Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
2010-present, Journal of Pediatrics
2008-present, American Journal of Cardiology
2008-present, Pediatric Cardiology
Academic and institutional committees
2019-present, Cardiology Champion, Department of Pediatrics Quality and Patient Safety
2019-present, Director, Cardiac Center Quality Improvement Leadership Workgroup
2018-present, Cardiac Center Lead, Physician Wellbeing Working Group
2017-present, Cardiac Center Adverse Events Committee
2017-present, Cardiac Center Data Governance Committee
2016-present, The Cardiac Center Strategic Plan Subcommittee: Culture and People
2014-present, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program Application Review Committee
2014-present, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program Evaluation Committee
2014-present, Cardiology Team Member, CICU Chronic Care Service:
2009-present, Physician Leader, Echocardiography Laboratory Quality Assurance Committee
2008-present, Interviewer, Cardiology Fellowship Selection Committee
Education & training
Medical Degree
MD - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
Internship
Pediatrics - University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Residency
Pediatrics - University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (Chief Resident)
Fellowship
Pediatric Cardiology - University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Non-invasive Imaging/Research Fellow in Pediatric Cardiology - University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Publications
Publications
2020
Annavajjhala V, Valente AM, Lopez L, Sachdeva R, Glickstein JS, Natarajan S, Buddhe S, Altmann K, Soriano BD, Colquitt JL, Altman CA, Asaki N, Sakarovitch C, Tacy TA, Geva T, Selamet Tierney ES: Echocardiographic Surveillance in Children after Tetralogy of Fallot Repair: Adherence to Guidelines? International Journal of Cardiology May 2020.
Min J, Griffis HM, Mendoza M, Tam V, Kaplinski M, Kogon AJ, Hanson H, Meyers KE, Natarajan SS.: The Impact of Early Recognition and Treatment of Systemic Hypertension on Reducing Blood Pressure: The Hypertension and Vascular Evaluation Program. Clin Pediatr (Phila) June 2020.
Min J, Griffis HM, Tam V, Meyers KE, Natarajan SS.: Association of neighborhood-level socialdeterminants and food environments with pediatric hypertension care. Health Place Aug 2020.
Natarajan SS, Stagg A, Taylor AM, Griffis HM, Bosler CK, Cates M, Dewitt AG, Giglia TM, Mascio CE, Ravishankar C, Rossano JW, Taylor LC, Ware EP, Nicolson SC, Rome JJ.: Standardization of the Peri-Operative Management for Neonates Undergoing the Norwood Operation for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Related Heart Defects. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine 2020.
2019
Gardner MM, Mercer-Rosa L, Faerber J, DiLorenzo MP, Bates KE, Stagg A, Natarajan SS, Szwast A, Fuller F, Mascio CE, Fleck D, Torowicz DL, Giglia TM, Rome JJ, Ravishankar C.: Association of a Home Monitoring Program with Interstage and Stage 2 Outcomes. Journal of the American Heart Association 2019.
Allen KY, Jones S, Jackson T, DeCost G, Stephens Jr. P, Hanna BD, Cohen MS, Smith-Whitley K, Mercer-Rosa L, Natarajan SS. Echocardiographic Screening of Cardiovascular Status in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease. Pediatr Cardiol. 2019 Sep 21. doi: 10.1007/s00246-019-02202-3. [Epub ahead of print]
White BR, Ho DY, Rogers LS, Natarajan SS. A Standardized Imaging Protocol Improves Quality and Reduces Practice Variability in Echocardiographic Assessment of Ventricular Function by First‐Year Pediatric Cardiology Fellows. Echocardiography July 2019.
Gardner MM, Mercer-Rosa L, DiLorenzo MP, Bates KE, Stagg A, Natarajan S, Szwast A, Tang J, Fuller S, Mascio CM, Fleck D, Torowicz DL, Giglia TM, Rome JJ, Ravishankar C. Association of a Home Monitoring Program with Interstage and Stage 2 Outcomes. Journal of the American Heart Association 8(10), May 2019.
Bates KE, Glatz AC, Giglia TG, Natarajan SS, Ravishankar C, Stagg A, Rome JJ. Evaluating the Utility of Routine Screening Catheterization Before Interstage Discharge of Infants with Single Ventricle Physiology. Cardiology in the Young 29(5), May 2019.
2017
Tierney ES, Hollenbeck-Pringle D, Lee CK, Altmann K, Dunbar-Masterson C, Golding F, Lu M, Miller SG, Molina K, Natarajan S, Taylor CL, Trachtenberg F, Colan SD. Reproducibility of Left Ventricular Dimension Versus Area Versus Volume Measurements in Pediatric Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging 10(11), Nov 2017.
2015
Rychik J, Cohen D, Tran KM, Szwast A, Natarajan S, Johnson MP, Moldenhauer JS, Khalek N, Martinez-Poyer J, Flake AW, Hedrick HL, Adzick NS. The Role of Echocardiography in the Intraoperative Management of the Fetus Undergoing Myelomeningocele Repair. Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy 37(3): 172-8, 2015.
Patel JK, Glatz AC, Ghosh RM, Jones SM, Natarajan S, Ravishankar C, Mascio CE, Spray TL, Cohen MS. Intramural Ventricular Septal Defect is a Distinct Clinical Entity Associated with Postoperative Morbidity in Children after Repair of Conotruncal Anomalies. Circulation 132(15): 1387-94, Aug 2015.
Channing A, Szwast A, Natarajan S, Degenhardt K, Tian T, Rychik J. Maternal Hyperoxygenation Improves Left Heart Filling in The Fetus with Atrial Septal Aneurysm Causing Impediment to Left Ventricular Inflow. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 45(6): 664-9, Jun 2015.
2013
Schwartz MC, Wellen S, Rome JJ, Ravishankar C, Natarajan S. Chest Pain with Elevated Troponin Assay in Healthy Adolescents. Cardiology in the Young 23(3): 353-60, Jun 2013.
Natarajan S, Szwast A, Tian Z, McCann M, Soffer D, Rychik J: Right Ventricular Mechanics in the Fetus with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography 26(5): 515-20, May 2013.
Cnota JF, Allen KR, Colan S, Covitz W, Graham EM, Hehir DA, Levine JC, Margossian R, McCrindle BW, Minich LL, Natarajan S, Richmond ME, Hsu DT for the Pediatric Heart Network Investigators: Superior Cavopulmonary Anastomosis Timing and Outcomes in Infants with Single Ventricle. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 145(5): 1288-96, May 2013.
2012
Rychik J, Zeng S, Bebbington M, Szwast A, Quartermain M, Natarajan S, et al. Speckle-tracking derived myocardial tissue deformation imaging in twin-twin transfusion syndrome: differences in strain and strain rate between donor and recipient twins. Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy In press.
2011
Kaza AK, Colan SD, Jaggers J, Lu M, Atz AM, Sleeper LA, et al. Surgical interventions for atrioventricular septal defect subtypes: the pediatric heart network experience. Ann Thorac Surg. 2011 Oct;92(4):1468-75; discussion 1475. Epub 2011 Aug 26. Cited in PubMed; PMID 21872212.
2010
Rychik J, Szwast A, Natarajan S, Quartermain M, Donaghue DD, Combs J, et al. Perinatal and early surgical outcome for the fetus with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: a five-year single institutional experience. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Oct;36(4):465-70. Cited in PubMed; PMID 0499409.
2009
Natarajan S, Heiss C, Yeghiazarians Y, Fineman JR, Teitel DF, Tacy TA. Peripheral arterial function in infants and young children with one-ventricle physiology and hypoxemia. Am J Cardiol. 2009 Mar 15;103(6):862-6. Cited in PubMed; PMID 19268746.
Kutty S, Whitehead KK, Natarajan S, Harris MA, Wernovsky G, Fogel MA. Qualitative echocardiographic assessment of aortic valve regurgitation with quantitative cardiac magnetic resonance: a comparative study. Pediatr Cardiol. 2009 Oct;30(7):971-7. Epub 2009 Jul 28. Cited in PubMed; PMID 19636486.
2008
Heiss C, Sievers RE, Amabile N, Momma TY, Chen Q, Natarajan S,et al. In vivo measurement of flow-mediated vasodilation in living rats using high-resolution ultrasound. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008 Feb;294(2):H1086-93. Epub 2007 Nov 30. Cited in PubMed; PMID 18055528.
2007
Anagnostopoulos P, Azakie A, Alphanso N, Natarajan S, Brook MM, Karl T. Pulmonary valve cusp augmentation with autologous pericardium may improve early outcome for Tetralogy of Fallot. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 133(3): 640-7, Mar 2007. Cited in PubMed; PMID 17320558.
Lectures by Invitation
2020
Natarajan S. "Lunchtime Roundtable II: Implementing Quality Improvement within the Various Venues of Pediatric Cardiovascular Care Jeffrey Anderson; Carol Lannon; Shobha Natarajan; Susan Schachtner" Cardiology 2020: 23rd Annual Update of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease: Vision 20/20 Pediatric & Congenital Heart Disease Lessons From the Past, Bold Look Toward the Future, Orlando, FL. Feb 2020.
Natarajan S. "Influence of Systems Quality Improvement Strategies on Improving Quality of Life: Philadelphia Experience" Cardiology 2020: 23rd Annual Update of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease: Vision 20/20 Pediatric & Congenital Heart Disease Lessons From the Past, Bold Look Toward the Future, Orlando, FL. Feb 2020.
2019
Natarajan S. “Have QI Metrics Made Your Lab Better?” The American Society of Echocardiography, 30th Annual Scientific Sessions, Portland, OR. June 2019.
Natarajan S. “Building a Comprehensive QI Effort: The CHOP Cardiac Center Experience” Cardiology 2019: 22nd Annual Update of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions, Huntington Beach, CA. Feb 2019.
2018
Natarajan S. "Pediatric Hypertension and the 2017 Guidelines", Center City Pediatrics, Philadelphia, PA. Aug 2018.
Natarajan S. "Optimizing Perioperative Care for patients Undergoing Norwood Operation”, Surgical and ICU Learning Lab Webinar, NPCQIC. Feb 2018.
Natarajan S. "Advanced Imaging in Specific Condition: Tetralogy of Fallot and Truncus Arteriosus". Cardiology 2018: 21st Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease: Effective teams, Improving Outcomes, Scottsdale, AZ. Feb 2018.
Natarajan S. "Quality Improvement in Congenital Heart Care", Cardiology 2018: 21st Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease: Effective teams, Improving Outcomes, Scottsdale, AZ. Feb 2018.
Natarajan S. "Understanding the Benefits and Limitations of Echocardiography for the Frontline Provider", Cardiology 2018: 21st Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease: Effective teams, Improving Outcomes, Scottsdale, AZ. Feb 2018.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2020
Natarajan S, Cohen MS: Ventricular Septal Defects. Echocardiography in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease: From Fetus to Adult 3rd Edition. Lai WW, Mertens LL, Cohen MS and Geva T (eds.). Wiley-Blackwell (eds.). 2020.
2016
Natarajan S, Cohen MS. Ventricular Septal Defects. Echocardiography in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease: From Fetus to Adult 2nd Edition. Lai WW, Mertens LL, Cohen MS and Geva T (eds.). Wiley-Blackwell, Page: 215-230, 2016.
2012
Natarajan S, Rogers L, Weinberg P. Vascular anomalies. In: Allen HD, Driscoll DJ, Shaddy RE, Feltes TF. Moss and Adams heart disease in infants, children, and adolescents: including the fetus and young adult. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; in press.
Wellen S, Glatz A, Natarajan S. Acyanotic shunt lesions. In: Gleason M, Shaddy R, Rychik, editors. Pediatric practice cardiology. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2012
Natarajan S. Malalignment of conal septum with aortic arch obstruction. In: Rychik J, Tian Z, editors. Fetal cardiovascular imaging. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2012.
Natarajan S. Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries. In: Rychik J, Tian Z, editors. Fetal cardiovascular imaging. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2012.
2010
Szwast A, Natarajan S, Rychik, J. Fetal echocardiography. In: Eidem BW, Cetta F, O'Leary PW, editors. Echocardiography in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010.