For Professionals

We are on a mission to train sonographers

Most major congenital heart defects can be detected at the time of the fetal anatomy scan. Systematic evaluation of the fetal heart has been demonstrated to improve detection of abnormal heart development. Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of systematic imaging and to train sonographers to obtain the recommended views. Sonographer training translates directly into improved detection of congenital heart disease.

Tiny Hearts Project Events

OB/GYN Sonographers, Sonography Students, OB/GYN Physicians and Radiologists are encouraged to register for any of the following training opportunities.

Mastering the Detection of Critical Congenital Heart Disease with 5 Essential Views

Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 8:00am to 5:00pm
Dell Medical School Health Discovery Building | Austin, Texas
7.5 SDMS credits
Sonography Students: $50 | Sonographers: $100 | Physicians: $200
Register Today

The 5 Essential Views for Fetal Heart Screening: Hands-On Tutorials

Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 9:00am to 12:00pm -OR- 
Saturday, December 6, 2025 | 9:00am to 12:00pm
Medical Park Tower | Austin, Texas
2.75 SDMS credits
Registration Fees: $100
Register Today

Practical Fetal Heart Screening: Identifying Cardiac Anomalies

Friday & Saturday, February 27-28, 2026 
Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA
Registration Details Coming Soon!

Partner with Us to Save Lives with 5 Essential Views!

Want to bring Tiny Hearts Project to your institution, practice or school? Tiny Hearts Projects offers a variety of customizable fetal heart screening training opportunities:

♥️ Practical Fetal Heart Screening Course: Full-day, CME-approved lecture and hands-on scanning practice with live models. For teams of 25-85. Held at the host partner’s site. 

♥️ Fetal Heart Screening: The 5 Essential Views Online Course: Half-day, CME-approved lecture presented live and virtually with optional demo of scanning techniques. For teams of up to 250 and held online. 

♥️ In-Office Training and Coaching: Customized lecture and hands-on scanning, held at the host practice’s site. 

Email Ann Starr at ann@tinyheartsproject.org to inquire about availability, rates and customization ideas.

Image
ImageTwo clinicians looking at an ultrasound with a pregnant woman.

Guidelines for Ultrasound Exams

AIUM-ACR-ACOG-SMFM Practice Parameter for basic ultrasound exams

ISUOG Practice Guidelines for cardiac screening

ISUOG Practice Guidelines for routine midtrimester fetal ultrasound

Why is Training Important?

Sonographers performing prenatal sonograms often find imaging the fetal heart quite a challenge. After all, the heart is a complex structure that is constantly beating in the chest of an active fetus! However, by mastering a few techniques, sonographers can improve their detection of these defects and contribute directly to improved outcomes for these babies.

Importance of Systematic Screening

In many areas in medicine, the use of checklists, time-outs and algorithms has improved the quality of care. Similarly, the use of a systematic approach to fetal cardiac imaging is associated with more complete and reliable assessment of fetal anatomy. This leads to a higher rate of prenatal detection of major cardiac anomalies, which benefits the families and infants affected. A stepwise method of fetal heart examination allows the sonographer to be more deliberate in assessing details that might be otherwise overlooked. Following a sequence of views helps train the eye to recognize the moment when a view “just doesn’t look right.” For cardiac screening, this is the crucial moment of discovery that can alter this fetus’s life forever.

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Donate today to support bringing these important training programs to communities everywhere. 100% of your contribution goes toward our efforts to improve the prenatal detection of congenital heart disease.
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