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Anita L. Szwast, MD

About Anita L. Szwast, MD

Titles

Attending Cardiologist

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Certifications

Internal Medicine – American Board of Internal Medicine

Pediatric Cardiology – American Board of Pediatrics

Pediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics

Awards and Honors

2007, Clinical Research Award in CHOP Fellow's Research Day
2005-2007, NIH Institutional National Research Service Award Training Grant (T32HL07915)
1995-1999, Samuel L. Abrams Foundation Scholarship
1994-1995, Pre-Doctoral Intramural Research Training Award from NIH-NIDDK
1993-1994, Howard Hughes Foundation Scholar

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

2007-present, American Society of Echocardiography
2007-present, American Heart Association
2007-present, American College of Cardiology

Editorial and Academic Positions

Editorial Positions

2015-present, Reviewer, Pediatric Research
2012-present, Reviewer, Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
2011-present, Reviewer, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine
2011-present, Reviewer, Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging
2010-present, Reviewer, American Journal of Cardiology
2009-present, Reviewer, Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
2009-present, Reviewer, Prenatal Diagnosis

Academic and Institutional Committees

2013-present, Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring Program

Education & training

Medical Degree

MD - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

Internship

Internal Medicine/Pediatrics - Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Residency

Internal Medicine/Pediatrics - Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Fellowship

Pediatric Cardiology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Advanced Echo/Fetal Echo Fellowship, Pediatric Cardiology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Team affiliations

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Publications

Publications

2020

Brian R White, Jill J Savla, Danielle S Burstein, Christopher E Mascio, Matthew J O'Connor, Anita L Szwast, Lindsay S Rogers. : Interventricular septal hematoma complicating placement of a ventricular assist device in an infant and support with bi-atrial cannulation. JTCVS Tech.  1: 90-92, Mar 2020.

Lindsay R. Freud, MD; Doff B. McElhinney, MD; Brian T. Kalish, MD; Maria C. Escobar-Diaz, M; Rukmini Komarlu, MD; Anita L. Szwast, MD; et al: Risk Factors for Mortality and Circulatory Outcome among Neonates Prenatally Diagnosed with Ebstein Anomaly or Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia: a Multi-Center Study. JAHA  9(21): e016684, Nov 3 2020.

Shuo Wang, Lindsay R Freud, Jon Detterich, Anita J Moon-Grady, Mary T Donofrio, Edgar T Jaeggi, Anita L Szwast, et al: Extracardiac Doppler indices predict perinatal mortality in fetuses with Ebstein anomaly and tricuspid valve dysplasia. Prenat Diagn. Page: 5873, Nov 26 2020 Notes: Online ahead of print.

2019

Monique M Gardner MD, Laura Mercer-Rosa MD, Michael P DiLorenzo MD, Katherine E Bates MD, Anita Szwast MD, et al: Association of a Home Monitoring Program with Interstage and Stage 2 Outcomes. J Am Heart Assoc.  21(10): e010783, May 2019.

2018

Cuneo, BF, Sonesson SE, Levasseur S, Moon-Grady AJ, Krishnan A, Donofrio MT, Raboisson MJ, Hornberger LK, Van Eerden P, Sinkovskaya E, Abuhamad A, Arya B, Szwast A, Gardiner H, Jacobs K, Freire G, Howley L, Lam A, Kaizer AM, Benson DW, Jaeggi E. : Home Monitoring for Fetal Heart Rhythm During Anti-Ro Pregnancies. J Am Coll Cardiol.  72(16): 1940-1951, Oct 16 2018.

2017

Cuneo BF, Moon-Grady AJ, Sonesson SE, Levasseur S, Hornberger L, Donofrio MT, Krishnan A, Szwast A, Howley L, Benson DW, Jaeggi E. : Heart Sounds at Home: Feasibility of an ambulatory fetal heart rhythm surveillance program for anti-SSA positive pregnancies  J Perinatol.  37(3): 226-230, Mar 2017.

Szwast A, Putt M, Gaynor JW, Licht D, Rychik J.: Cerebrovascular Response to Maternal Hyperoxygenation (MH) in Fetuses with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) Depends Upon Gestational Age (GA) and Baseline Cerebrovascular Resistance. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. Oct 2017 Notes: Epub ahead of print.

2016

Hahn, E, Szwast A, Cnota J wnd, Levine JC, Fifer CG, Jaeggi E, Andrews H, Williams IA. : Association of fetal growth, cerebral blood flow, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in single ventricle fetuses. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 47(4): 460-5. April 2016.

Goldberg DJ, French B, Szwast AL, McBride MG, Paridon SM, Rychik J, Mercer-Rosa L. : Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion correlates with exercise capacity in a cohort of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome after Fontan operation. Echocardiography 33(12): 1897-1902, Dec 2016.

2015

Margossian R, Chen S, Sleeper LA, Tani LY, Shirali G, Golding F, Selamet Tierney ES, Altmann K, Campbell MJ, Szwast A, Sharkey A, Radojewski E, Colan SD; Pediatric Heart Network Investigators. : The Reproducibility and Absolute Values of Echocardiographic Measurements of Left Ventricular Size and Function in Children Are Algorithm Dependent. J Am Soc Echocardiogr.  28(5): 549-558, May 2015.

Channing A, Szwast A, Natarajan S, Degenhardt K, Tian Z, 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.

Rychik J, Cohen D, Tran KM, Szwast A, Natarajan SS, Johnson MP, Moldenhauser 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 Diagn Ther. 37(3): 172-8, Jul  2015.

Freud LR, Escobar-Diaz MC, Kalish BT, Komarlu R, Puchalski MD, Jaeggi ET, Szwast AL, et al: Outcomes and Predictors of Perinatal Mortality in Fetuses with Ebstein Anomaly or Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia in the Current Era: A Multi-Center Study. Circulation  132(6): 481-9, Aug 11 2015.

2014

Peyvandi S, McCann M, Soffer D, Tian Z, Rychik J, and Szwast A: Pulmonary Blood Flow Patterns in Fetuses with Pulmonary Outflow Tract Obstruction. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology 43(3): 297-302, Mar 2014.

Lee CK, Margossian R, Sleeper LA, Canter CE, Chen S, Tani LY, Shirali G, Szwast A, Tierney ES, Campbell MJ, Golding F, Wang Y, Altmann K, Colan SD; Pediatric Heart Network Investigators. : Variability of m-mode versus two-dimensional echocardiography measurements in children with dilated cardiomyopathy. Pediatr Cardiol.  35(4): 658-67.  Apr 2014.

Butts RJ, Zak V, Hsu D, Cnota J, Colan SD, Hehir D, Kantor P, Levine JC, Margossian R, Richmond M, Szwast A, Williams D, Williams R, Atz AM.: Factors Associated with Serum B-Type Natiuretic Peptide in Infants with Single Ventricles.  Pediatr Cardiol. 35(5): 879-87, Jun 2014.

Szwast A, Tian Z, McCann M, Soffer D, Combs J, Donaghue D, and Rychik J. : Anatomic Variability and Outcome in Prenatally Diagnosed Absent Pulmonary Valve Syndrome. Ann of Thorac Surg 98(1): 152-8, Jul 2014.

Davey BT, Donofrio MT, Moon-Grady AJ, Fifer CG, Cuneo BF, Falkensammer CB, Szwast AL, Rychik J.: Development and Validation of a Fetal Cardiovascular Disease Severity Scale. Pediatr Cardiol. 35(7): 1174-80, October 2014.

2013

Rychik J, Donaghue DD, Levy S, Fajardo C, Combs J, Zhang X, Szwast A, Diamond GS. : Maternal Psychological Stress After Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease. J Pediatr. 162(2): 302-7.e1, Feb 2013.

Williams I, Fifer C, Jaeggi E, Levine J, Michelfelder E, Garfinkel R, and Szwast A.: The Association of Fetal Cerebrovascular Resistance With Early Childhood Neurodevelopment in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Other Single Ventricle Anomalies. Am Heart J. 165(4): 544-550.e1, April  2013.

Natarajan S, Szwast A, Tian Z, McCann M, Soffer D, and Rychik J.: Right Ventricular Mechanics in the Fetus with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. J Am Soc Echocardiogr.  26(5): 515-20, May 2013.

2012

Szwast A, Tian Z, McCann M, Soffer D, and Rychik J. : Comparative Analysis of Cerebrovascular Resistance in the Fetus with Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 40(1): 62-7, March 2012.

Rychik J, Zeng S, Bebbington M, Szwast A, Quartermain M, Natarajan S, Johnson M, and Tian Z: Speckle-Tracking Derived Myocardial Tissue Deformation Imaging in Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: Differences in Strain and Strain Rate Between Donor and Recipient Twins. Fetal Diagn Ther. 32(1-2): 131-7, May 2012.

Goldberg DJ, Szwast AL, Marino BS, Franch B, Mirachi N, McBride MG, Paridon SM, Hanna BD, Wernovsky G, Rychik R.: Impact of Sildenafil on Echocardiographic Indices of Myocardial Performance After the Fontan Operation. Pediatric Cardiol. 33(5): 689-96. Jun 2012.

2011

Szwast AL, Marino BS, Rychik J, Gaynor JW, Spray TL, Cohen MS.: Usefulness of left ventricular inflow index to predict successful biventricular repair in right-dominant unbalanced atrioventricular canal. Am J Cardiol. 107(1): 103-9.  Jan 2011.

2010

Szwast A, Tian Z, McCann M, Donaghue D, Rychik J. : Vasoreactive Response to Maternal Hyperoxygenation(MH)in the Fetus with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 3(2): 172-8, March 2010.

Rychik J, Szwast A, Natarajan S, Quartermain M, Donaghue DD, Combs J, Gaynor JW, Gruber PJ, Spray TL, Bebbington M, Johnson MP. : Perinatal and early surgical outcome for the fetus with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: a 5-year single institutional experience. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 36(4): 465-70. October 2010.

2009

Szwast A, Tian Z, McCann M, Donaghue D, and Rychik J. : Right ventricular performance in the fetus with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Ann Thorac Surg. 87(4): 1214-9. Apr 2009.

2007

Seliem MA, Fedec A,Szwast A, Farrell PE, Ewing S, Gruber P, and Spray TL.: Atrio-Ventricular Valve Morphology and Dynamics in Congenital Heart Disease as Imaged with Real-Time 3 Dimensional Matrix Array Echocardiography: Comparison with 2D Imaging and Surgical Findings. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 20(7): 896-76. July 2007.

Szwast A, Tian Z, McCann M, Donaghue D, BebbingtonM, Johnson M, Wilson RD, and Rychik J.: Impact of altered loading conditions on ventricular performance in fetuses with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation and twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 7(20): 869-76. Jul 2007.

Szwast A, Hanna B, and Shah M. : Atrial Fibrillation and Pulmonary Embolism. Pediatr Emerg Care. 23(11): 826-8, November 2007.

Lectures by Invitation

2020

Szwast A. "Using Doppler in the Fetal Circulation, Normal and Abnormal", The 12th Philadelphia Prenatal Conference, Philadelphia, PA. June 2020.

2018

Szwast A. "Fetal Arrhythmias: Fast and Slow," The 10th Philadelphia Prenatal Conference, Philadelphia, PA. June 2018.

Editorials, Reviews, Chapters

2019

A. Szwast and J. Rychik : Fetal Echocardiography  PAEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY, Fourth Edition. RH Anderson, EJ Baker, D Penny, AN Redington, ML Rigby, and G. Wernovsky (eds.). 2019.

2012

Goff D, Quartermain M, and Szwast A.: Fetal Echocardiography. Pediatric Practice: Cardiology. M Gleason, R Shaddy, and J Rychik.  (eds.). 2012.

2011

Szwast A: Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum. Fetal Cardiovascular Imaging: A Disease Based Approach. J Rychik and Z Tian (eds.). 2011.

Szwast A: Ebstein's Anomaly and Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia. Fetal Cardiovascular Imaging: A Disease Based Approach. J Rychik and Z Tian (eds.). 2011

Szwast A: Pulmonary Stenosis. Fetal Cardiovascular Imaging: A Disease Based Approach. J Rychik and Z Tian (eds.). 2011.

Szwast A: Tricuspid Atresia. Fetal Cardiovascular Imaging: A Disease Based Approach. J Rychik and Z Tian (eds.). 2011.

2010

Szwast A and Rychik J.: Fetal Echocardiography. PAEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY, Third Edition. RH Anderson, EJ Baker, D Penny, AN Redington, ML Rigby, and G. Wernovsky (eds.). 2010.

2009

Szwast A, Natarajan S, and Rychik J. : Fetal Echocardiography. In: Echocardiography in Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Disease. Eidem, O'Leary, and Cetta.  (eds.). 2009.

Patient experience rating

(based on 51 submissions)

  • Clear Explanation
    4.8 of 5
  • Showed Concern
    4.8 of 5
  • Included in decisions
    4.8 of 5
  • Would recommend
    4.8 of 5
  • Discussion of Proposed Treatment
    4.8 of 5
Learn about the patient experience rating system

About the Patient Experience Rating System

The Patient Experience Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown above from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score. We are committed to true transparency. However, to ensure the comments are fair and correctly attributed, we review each one before posting to the website. We exclude entire comments that disclose patient’s protected health information, are off-topic, or include other confidential or inappropriate content. Comments will appear on provider bios only if providers have a minimum number of comments. Comments are shared internally for education purposes to ensure that we are doing our very best for the patients and families for whom we are privileged to care. The comments are submitted by patients and families and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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