Administrative and Academic Office: 314-577-5633
Clinical Office and Appointments: 314-577-5674
800-366-6119 (out of area)
314-268-4141 (fax)

Divisional Overview
The Division of Cardiology provides comprehensive patient care related to cardiovascular diseases in neonates, children, adolescents and adults with congenital and acquired heart disease. The faculty also provide medical student and resident teaching, and participate in clinical and translational research. Fetal cardiology services are provided with support from Neonatology, Perinatology and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Clinical Services
Outpatient care encompasses initial evaluation and follow-up in the Dorothy and Larry Dallas Heart Center at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, with clinics being held on a daily basis. In addition, numerous outreach clinics provide services to other areas in central and eastern Missouri as well as southern Illinois, providing pediatric cardiology support to those areas that are without local expertise. Procedures performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory include diagnostic catheterizations as well as the complete spectrum of interventional and therapeutic procedures, including balloon valvuloplasty, vascular stenting, and device closure of anatomic defects. Outpatient pacemaker and electrophysiology services are provided, as well as inpatient electrophysiologic evaluation and catheter ablation therapy of arrhythmias. Inpatient services include management of patients admitted with congenital and acquired cardiac conditions, cardiac consultation, and post-operative management of congenital heart disease. The Cardiac Transplantation Service evaluates patients for transplantation and manages these patients before and after transplant. Specialized clinics caring for patients with lipid disorders and adults with congenital heart disease exist. Fetal echocardiography services are provided through the Dallas Heart Center and in collaboration with the Cardinal Glennon Fetal Care Institute.

Medical Education
Teaching of introductory pediatric cardiology is provided by cardiology faculty and includes education of medical students and residents both in the inpatient and outpatient setting. Cardiology topics are regularly presented to community physicians via Pediatric Grand Rounds and online presentations. The division also provides education to nurses and other allied health providers. Teaching settings include inpatient rotations and daily ward rounds, outpatient clinics, and didactic lectures.

Clinical and Research Interests
Clinical and translational research projects are a focus of the Cardiology Division, and the faculty have been active in producing abstracts leading to regional and national presentations, as well as published manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. Faculty members work closely with students and residents who are interested in carrying out clinical research projects.

Dr. Kenneth Schowengerdt serves as the Division Director of Pediatric Cardiology. His clinical responsibilities include inpatient and outpatient cardiology, and participation in non-invasive imaging. Dr. Schowengerdt is also the Medical Director of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Program. His research interests include: Diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathy and heart failure; clinical cardiac transplantation; study of non-invasive methods of rejection surveillance; and investigation of immunologic mechanisms contributing to transplant vasculopathy. Dr. Schowengerdt is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and a member of the American Pediatric Society and Society for Pediatric Research.

Dr. Burt Bromberg provides expertise in the area of electrophysiology, arrhythmia management, and invasive electrophysiologic assessment and ablation therapy. Dr. Bromberg also manages the outpatient arrhythmia and pacemaker clinic.

Dr. Saadeh Jureidini is the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. His clinical and research interests include: Interventional therapies and device placement; assessment of coronary artery flow dynamics by Doppler echocardiography and abnormal variations seen in congenital and acquired heart disease; efficacy of thrombolytic therapy for thrombosis of the heart and great vessels; and assessment of pulmonary hypertension.

Dr. Renuka Peterson is the Director of Non-Invasive Imaging. She specializes in non-invasive cardiology to include echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and fetal cardiology. Dr. Peterson’s research interests include fetal echocardiographic assessment of infants with congenital heart disease.

Dr. Babak Rahimi is the divisional coordinator of outpatient services. He also participates in the non-invasive imaging lab to include echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography. Dr. Rahimi’s current research interest includes the identification and echocardiographic assessment of congenital coronary artery abnormalities.

Dr. Jamie Sutherell maintains clinical responsibilities within the outpatient cardiology clinic and noninvasive imaging lab. His primary clinical interest is echocardiography, especially transesophageal echocardiography. Dr. Sutherell’s specific teaching interest is curriculum development and evaluation, and he is completing a Masters in Education (MEd) through the University of Cincinnati School of Education. He serves as the Associate Director of Pediatric Education for the medical school and is a member of the clinical Simulation Education Team (SET).

Division Administrator
Sue Yates, RN

Cardiology Nursing Staff

Michael Czajka, PNP
Elizabeth Eller, RN
Shannon Halloran, RN
Lynn Hauver, RN
Jodie Hundly, RN
Donna Marshall, RN
Mary Pat Spillane, RN
Pam Helfrich-Amcis, RN

Cardiovascular Surgery Staff
Mary Hohenberg, PA
Barb Kountzman, RN
Kelly Murawski, PNP
Stephanie Morrow, PNP

Cath Lab Staff
Kathy Tinker, LPN
Elizabeth Price, RN
David Bash, RT
Lisa Bade, RT

Echo Lab
Cindy Marino, RDCS
David Bash, RT
Chrissy Gee, RDCS
Lisa Hohmann
Ermina Keric, RDCS
Mike Patterson
Joel Rhodes

ECG Lab
Terra Hollins
Vince Butano
Barry Rolland

Clinic Support Staff
Cheryl Doeschot
Crystal Goff
Kim McHenry

Academic Support Staff
Shelly Ayers
Barb Bequette

Kenneth Schowengerdt, Jr, MD Professor Division Director Division of Cardiology

Saadeh Al-Jureidini, MD Professor Division of Cardiology

Burt I. Bromberg, MD Adjunct Professor Division of Cardiology

Su-chiung Chen, MD Professor Division of Cardiology

Saar Danon, MD Assistant Professor Division of Cardiology

Susan E. Haynes, MD Assistant Professor Division of Cardiology

Wilson T. King, MD Assistant Professor Division of Cardiology

Renuka E. Peterson, MD Assistant Professor Division of Cardiology

Mohammad Rahimi, MD Assistant Professor Division of Cardiology

Angela M. Sharkey, MD Professor Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development Division of Cardiology