Special Interest Groups
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are a benefit of PCICS membership and provide a forum for members with common interests to network and explore specific topics among peers in clinical care, research, and public health, as well as enable the exchange of ideas and the development of collaborative clinical or research projects.
Each SIG meets regularly on a virtual platform to share resources and conversations.
Note: By electing to join a PCICS Special Interest Group(s), you consent to the release of your email address to the SIG Co-Chairs for the purpose of communicating SIG business. PCICS membership in good standing is required to participate in the SIGS.
Navigate to the Login button in the upper right corner of the PCICS website, and login to the Info Hub using your PCICS account user name and password.
From your Info Hub home page, select My Info, then click the plus (+) sign in the Lists/Committees column to see the list of groups you can join and make your selection(s).
PCICS membership in good standing is required to participate in the SIGS.
Once you join a SIG you will see it listed under Lists/Committees. Please allow up to 10 minutes for your selection(s) to sync with the Community Platform.
Be sure to check out a recorded overview and written instructions that are available in the Learning Management System (PCICS Community Platform under Courses).
Both the Learning Management System and Community Platform can be selected from the left side menu of your Info Hub home page.
The ACHD Special Interest Group (SIG) within PCICS serves as a collaborative forum for multidisciplinary dialogue focused on addressing gaps in the clinical care of adult patients with congenital heart disease who continue to receive treatment in Cardiac Intensive Care Units (CICUs). As the ACHD population grows, it is increasingly important to evaluate where these patients receive optimal care during acute episodes.
Care models across institutions vary widely—from dedicated ACHD units, to pediatric CICUs that include adult patients, to adult hospitals where individuals over 18 are managed alongside non-congenital populations. These diverse approaches present an opportunity to share best practices and develop a unified national standard that reflects the unique cardiac complexities and non-cardiac comorbidities of this population.
ACHD SIG is committed to:
- Identifying clinical and educational priorities to enhance care for this vulnerable group
- Facilitating cross-institutional sharing of protocols and experiences
- Supporting multi-center quality improvement initiatives for ACHD patients
- Defining core educational needs to ensure appropriate training for nurses, APPs, and physicians caring for adults with CHD
For more information on how you can become involved in the ACHD SIG, please contact Christopher Valle or Kiersten Betker.
The APP Special Interest Group (SIG) within PCICS provides a dedicated platform for networking, collaboration, and resource sharing among Advanced Practice Providers working in pediatric cardiac CICU and acute care settings. This community fosters dialogue around clinical practice, professional development, and program structure to support APPs in delivering high-quality care.
Ongoing initiatives and opportunities for involvement:
- Featuring institutional APP programs during monthly conference calls to highlight diverse models and successes
- Leading moderated discussions on emerging clinical issues and practice challenges to support real-time problem solving and change implementation
- Producing continuing education content tailored to APPs in pediatric cardiac intensive care
- Participating in the Connections Committee to enhance outreach and promote APP engagement across national and international communities
- Building a national mentorship network that connects APPs at all career stages—offering guidance on abstract and manuscript preparation, presentation skills, career advancement, and more
For more information on how you can become involved in the APP SIG, please contact Meghan Engler, Megan Matiasek or Claire Rizk.
The AWE SIG is dedicated to identifying and addressing gender bias in pediatric cardiac critical care through an intersectional lens. Our mission is to cultivate a safe, inclusive, and empowering learning community where every woman can thrive and reach her full potential.
Our core goals include:
- Building an interprofessional network of women within PCICS to foster support, inspiration, and collaboration through shared ideas, mentorship, and joint initiatives
- Designing and implementing actionable strategies and programs that directly benefit members
- Establishing a robust mentoring framework by leveraging the expertise of current PCICS members, while actively collaborating with the Early Career, DEI, and Education SIGs to align mentoring efforts
- Hosting educational workshops that strengthen professional relationships and promote knowledge exchange
- Creating and advancing practical solutions to confront and reduce gender discrimination in the field
For more information on how you can become involved in the AWE SIG, please contact Misty Ellis.
The Bedside Nursing SIG honors the critical role of bedside nurses as integral members of the pediatric cardiac care team. Their firsthand clinical insight is essential to advancing care quality and improving outcomes for patients in cardiac intensive and acute care settings.
Our goals include:
- Creating a collaborative forum to share evidence-based practices and clinical innovations in pediatric cardiac CICU/acute care nursing
- Promoting professionalism and recognizing bedside nurses as respected partners in multidisciplinary care
- Designing and implementing practical resources—including toolkits—to support best practices at the bedside
For more information on how you can become involved in the Bedside Nursing SIG, please contact Meena LaRonde or Sonia Almeida.
The CNS/Educator Nursing SIG brings together clinical nurse specialists and education leaders from pediatric cardiac intensive care and acute care programs across the globe. This group is committed to advancing nursing education, clinical excellence, and workforce sustainability in pediatric cardiac care.
Key goals of the CNS/Educator SIG include:
- Collaborating with national and international leaders to share effective strategies for continuing education, onboarding, and preceptor development
- Supporting clinical and education leaders in empowering bedside nurses through targeted resources and guidance
- Designing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practice changes to improve patient care in pediatric CICU/acute care settings
- Developing strategies to enhance recruitment and retention of highly skilled CICU/acute care nursing staff
Current initiatives and opportunities for engagement:
- Designing, piloting, and evaluating a simulation-based training program for bedside nurses
- Creating and maintaining a bedside procedure and guideline manual
- Developing and assessing pre- and post-curriculum tools to measure educational impact
- Launching a preceptor development and “survival” guide to support new and experienced mentors
- Identifying and implementing innovative approaches to improve nursing staff retention and recruitment
- Contributing to PCICS educational content through podcasts and webinars
For more information on how you can become involved in the CNS/Educator Nursing SIG, please contact co-chairs Giulia Maffei or Leigh Mohler.
As part of PCICS’s strategic commitment to expanding physician engagement across its committees and working groups, the Fellow/Early Career Physician Special Interest Group (SIG) was established in 2021. This SIG supports a vibrant community of trainees and early career faculty in pediatric critical care, pediatric cardiology, fourth-year advanced training, and congenital cardiac intensive care.
Our members are united by a shared passion for clinical excellence, professional development, and advancing the field of pediatric cardiac critical care.
The goals of the Fellow/Early Career Physician SIG include:
- Creating a supportive forum for mentorship—both to connect with experienced leaders and to grow into mentoring roles for junior colleagues
- Offering educational content and discussion spaces tailored to the unique needs of fellows and early career faculty
- Facilitating networking and collaboration among emerging leaders in the field
- Establishing a dedicated listserv to promote communication and idea-sharing among fellows and early career physicians
Ongoing initiatives and opportunities for involvement:
- Hosting bi-monthly one-hour meetings that alternate between educational offerings and collaborative working sessions
- Expanding national and international outreach to increase participation in PCICS and the Fellow/Early Career Physician SIG
- Partnering with mid- and late-career PCICS members to explore key professional development topics such as mentorship, teaching, research, academic pathways, conflict resolution, and financial literacy
For more information on how to become involved in the Fellow/Early Career Physician SIG, please contact co-chairs Ariya Chau, Victoria Surma, or Divya Nagarajan.
The Interdisciplinary Leadership SIG serves as a collaborative platform for pediatric cardiac CICU and acute care administrators to connect, share insights, and advance leadership practices across institutions. This group fosters dialogue around program development, operational challenges, and strategic innovations in pediatric cardiac care.
Core goals of the SIG include:
- Developing CEU-accredited educational resources—including webinars, podcasts, and toolkits—on topics relevant to pediatric cardiac CICU/acute care administration
- Establishing outreach channels to engage administrators in discussions around program structure and leadership models
- Creating a forum to explore variability in administrative practices, address challenges, and share solutions
- Launching a listserv and evidence-based resource repository, including an online journal club
- Expanding the use of social media to promote SIG initiatives and enhance communication
Ongoing initiatives and opportunities for engagement:
- Hosting bi-monthly calls that provide a space for real-time discussion of practice challenges and collaborative problem solving
- Facilitating an online journal club focused on evidence-based administrative topics
- Maintaining a dedicated committee workspace for ongoing member dialogue between meetings
- Producing continuing education content tailored to the needs of pediatric cardiac CICU/acute care administrators
For more information on how to become involved in the Interdisciplinary Leadership SIG, please contact co-chairs Erin Dugan or Genevieve Frey-Moylan.
The NeuroCardiac SIG serves as a multidisciplinary forum dedicated to advancing neurologic and neurodevelopmental care for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) in the cardiac ICU. By bringing together providers from diverse specialties, the group fosters collaboration, education, and innovation to improve outcomes and standardize care for this complex patient population.
Key goals of the NeuroCardiac SIG include:
- Creating educational resources—including webinars, podcasts, and journal clubs—focused on neurologic and neurodevelopmental care in pediatric cardiac intensive care
- Developing clinical consensus guidelines to support standardized neurologic and neurodevelopmental management of children with CHD
- Establishing research and quality improvement agendas to better understand neurologic changes and promote best practices in neurodevelopmental support
- Providing a platform to explore variability in monitoring and care practices across institutions
- Facilitating multi-institutional collaboration on research and quality improvement initiatives in NeuroCardiac care
Current initiatives and opportunities for engagement:
- Monthly conference calls and ongoing online communication to encourage active participation and collaboration
- Development of educational materials, practice recommendations, and consensus guidelines
- Production of CEU-accredited podcasts and webinars tailored to NeuroCardiac care in the pediatric CICU
- Multidisciplinary discussions on emerging interventions and best practices to inform local care strategies
- Hosting and participating in journal clubs focused on neurologic and neurodevelopmental care for children with CHD
For more information on how to become involved in the PCICS NeuroCardiac SIG, please contact Kristi Glotzbach, or Molly McGetrick.
The Nutrition SIG provides a collaborative forum for registered dietitians working in pediatric cardiac intensive care and acute care settings. Through networking, education, and shared expertise, the group supports clinical excellence and promotes best practices in nutrition for children with congenital heart disease.
Key goals of the Nutrition SIG include:
- Recruiting dietitians to actively participate in both PCICS and the Nutrition SIG
- Facilitating knowledge exchange through expert panels, case presentations, and quality improvement discussions
- Establishing a listserv and centralized repository of evidence-based nutrition resources
- Creating CEU-accredited educational materials, guidelines, and webinars tailored to pediatric cardiac CICU/acute care nutrition
- Integrating nutrition-focused content into PCICS Annual Meetings
Ongoing initiatives and opportunities for engagement:
- Monthly conference calls and online updates to support active participation and collaboration
- Discussions on emerging nutrition interventions and best practices that may inform local care strategies
- Online access to meeting minutes, expert discussions, and center highlights
- Development of continuing education webinars specific to RD practice in pediatric cardiac CICU/acute care
- Collaboration with other PCICS SIGs to advance multidisciplinary nutrition initiatives
- Launch of a national mentorship program connecting dietitians at all career stages, with guidance on abstract and poster preparation, manuscript writing, career development, and more
For more information on how to become involved in the PCICS Nutrition SIG, please contact co-chairs Megan Horsley or Melanie Savoca.
The OT/PT/ST/Child Life Specialist SIG provides a dedicated forum for therapists and child life professionals working in pediatric cardiac intensive and acute care settings. This multidisciplinary group fosters connection, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing to advance therapeutic care for children with congenital heart disease.
Key goals of the SIG include:
- Recruiting occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and child life specialists to actively engage in PCICS and the SIG
- Creating opportunities for learning and discussion through expert panels, case presentations, and quality improvement showcases
- Establishing a listserv and centralized repository of evidence-based resources to support clinical practice
- Developing CEU-accredited educational materials, guidelines, and webinars tailored to therapy professionals in pediatric CICU/acute care
- Promoting therapy-focused content at PCICS Annual Meetings
Proposed initiatives and opportunities for engagement:
- Monthly conference calls and ongoing online communication to support active participation and collaboration
- Discussions on emerging therapeutic interventions and best practices that may inform care strategies at local institutions
- Online access to meeting minutes, expert discussions, and center highlights
- Development of continuing education webinars specific to therapy practice in pediatric cardiac intensive care
- Collaboration with other PCICS SIGs to promote integrated, multidisciplinary care approaches
- Exploring future mentorship opportunities to support professional growth across all therapy disciplines
For more information on how to become involved in the OT/PT/OT/CLS SIG, please contact Christy O'Brien.
The Palliative Care SIG is a multidisciplinary community of clinicians and allied health professionals dedicated to addressing gaps in palliative care for pediatric cardiac patients. Through research, education, quality improvement, and advocacy, we aim to integrate value-aligned care throughout the entire patient journey—from diagnosis to end-of-life and beyond.
As innovation continues to shape pediatric cardiology, it is essential to ensure that the expanding array of medical and surgical therapies is matched by thoughtful, goal-concordant care. We welcome participation from all disciplines, including cardiac ICU, heart failure, adult congenital heart disease, palliative care, psychology, ethics, and more.
Our mission is to ensure that every patient and family in the cardiac ICU receives care that reflects their goals and values, supported by:
- Timely and honest prognostication
- Clear, empathic communication
- Access to advanced care planning rooted in shared decision-making
We pursue this mission through:
- Collaboration across disciplines and institutions
- Education to build skills and awareness
- Quality Improvement to enhance care delivery
- Research to advance the field and inform best practices
- Research
For more information on how to become involved in the Palliative Care SIG, please contact co-chairs Christine Gallagher or Anjuli Sinha.
The Pharmacy SIG provides a collaborative forum for pediatric CICU and acute care pharmacists to connect, share expertise, and advance pharmacologic care for children with congenital heart disease. Through education, discussion, and multidisciplinary engagement, the group supports clinical excellence and promotes best practices across institutions.
Key goals of the Pharmacy SIG include:
- Recruiting pharmacists to actively participate in PCICS and the Pharmacy SIG
- Facilitating knowledge exchange through expert panels, case presentations, and quality improvement discussions
- Establishing a listserv and online repository of evidence-based pharmacologic resources
- Creating CEU-accredited educational materials, guidelines, and webinars tailored to pediatric CICU/acute care pharmacy practice
- Promoting pharmacy-focused content at PCICS Annual Meetings
Ongoing initiatives and opportunities for engagement:
- Monthly conference calls and online updates to support active participation and collaboration
- Discussions on emerging pharmacologic interventions and best practices that may inform care strategies at local centers
- Online access to meeting minutes, expert opinion discussions, and center highlights
- Development of continuing education webinars specific to pharmacy practice in pediatric cardiac intensive care
- Collaboration with other PCICS SIGs to promote integrated, multidisciplinary care approaches
For more information on how to become involved in the Pharmacy SIG, please contact co-chairs Esther Bae or Bronwyn Crandall.
The Respiratory Therapy SIG provides an open and inclusive forum for respiratory therapists working in pediatric cardiac intensive care units to connect, collaborate, and advance clinical practice. By fostering cross-institutional relationships and sharing expertise, the group supports the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based respiratory care for children with congenital heart disease.
Key goals of the SIG include:
- Building a national network of respiratory therapists across pediatric cardiac programs
- Promoting discussion of current evidence-based practices and emerging clinical approaches
- Developing collaborative projects to support standardization and innovation in respiratory care
- Creating educational resources tailored to the needs of respiratory therapists in the CICU
- Elevating respiratory therapy topics within the PCICS Annual Meeting program
To support these goals, the SIG hosts regular meetings and maintains ongoing communication to encourage participation in current and future initiatives.
For more information on how to become involved in the Respiratory Therapy SIG, please contact co-chairs Duncan Geddes, Jamie Rice or Ginger Weido.