What Makes An Effective Chief of Pediatric Cardiology: Insights From Chiefs of Programs Globally

Background While the position of a pediatric cardiology chief is seen as the apex of one’s academic career, its roles, responsibilities, and qualifications are not well defined in literature. We previously surveyed North American pediatric cardiology chiefs to characterize these qualities. It is not known if these findings apply across programs around the world. Objective This study was done to gain further insight of the role and attributes of a pediatric cardiology chief beyond North American programs by surveying those who are currently serving the position around the world. Methods This was a mixed-methods study that sent a survey out to pediatric cardiology chiefs from around the world. The survey was a semi-structured questionnaire independently reviewed by three cardiologists. The survey included items rated on a 5-point Likert scale, open-ended prompts, and targeted questions regarding the chief’s role and qualifications. Results 31 pediatric cardiology chiefs from 22 countries completed the survey. The 4 most important traits for the role of chief included communication, honesty, work ethic, and management skills. 60–75% of responses reported a change in faculty and trainee work ethic. 50–60% of responses also reported increased expectations from patient families and hospital administration. Thematic analysis on the challenges and success of running a department revealed the importance of developing a team and needing a strong sense of self and responsibility for the team. Conclusion We gathered information directly from current pediatric cardiology chiefs from around the globe examining the current era of its role. Awareness of such key attributes may help promote effective leadership skills as chiefs of pediatric cardiology.