Task Force 7: Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Training in Pulmonary Hypertension, Advanced Heart Failure, and Transplantation

### 1.1. Document Development Process The Society of Pediatric Cardiology Training Program Directors (SPCTPD) board assembled a Steering Committee that nominated 2 chairs, 1 SPCTPD Steering Committee member, and 5 additional members from a wide range of program sizes, geographic regions, and subspecialty focuses. Representatives from the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Heart Association (AHA) participated. The Steering Committee member was added to provide perspective to each Task Force as a “nonexpert” in that field. Relationships with industry and other entities were not deemed relevant to the creation of a general cardiology training statement; however, employment and affiliation information for authors and peer reviewers are provided in Appendixes 1 and 2, respectively, along with disclosure reporting categories. Comprehensive disclosure information for all authors, including relationships with industry and other entities, is available as an online supplement to this document. The writing committee developed the document, approved it for review by individuals selected by the participating organizations (Appendix 2), and addressed their comments. The final document was approved by the SPCTPD, AAP, and AHA in February 2015 and approved by the ACC in March 2015. This document is considered current until the SPCTPD revises or withdraws it. ### 1.2. Background and Scope The availability of effective pharmacological and surgical treatments for children with pulmonary hypertension (PH) or advanced heart failure has grown rapidly over the past decade.1–3 Although the care of children with these diseases is often coordinated by specialized centers, pediatric cardiologists are increasingly called upon to evaluate and participate in the care of children with PH or advanced heart failure and those who have undergone thoracic organ transplantation. Thus, core training in pediatric cardiology must include sufficient clinical exposure and didactic opportunities for the trainee to gain competency in the evaluation and management of children with these diseases. …