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Successfully matching into a pediatric cardiology fellowship program is difficult, and there is currently a paucity of helpful material for prospective applicants. To address this gap and to guide pediatric cardiology fellowship applicants in navigating this process, three fellowship program directors have compiled a list of recommendations on how residents can improve their chances for a successful match. Detailed descriptions of the following recommendations are provided: become a great pediatrician, show consistent interest in pediatric cardiology, complete a research project, ensure great letters of recommendation, don't botch the personal statement, and apply wisely and interview effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We agree that there would be great value in developing standardized, accredited pediatric cardiology NP fellowships and a clear pathway to demonstrate pediatric cardiology competency, as this would not only ensure that NPs are able to provide high-quality cardiology care but may also facilitate a favorable shift in perceptions from referring clinicians. B To the Editor, b Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the letter from Gigli and Barnes [[1]] about our article "Referring Provider Opinions of Pediatric Cardiology Evaluations Performed by Nurse Practitioners" [[2]]. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: We sought to describe characteristics of children admitted with pericardial effusion (PCE) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and determine the association between PCE and outcomes of interest. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients 18 years of age or younger with an International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision code for SLE from 2004 to 2015 in the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS). Children with congenital heart disease or who had undergone heart surgery were excluded. Multivariable analysis evaluated the effect of PCE on mortality, length of stay (LOS), and readmission within 30 days. Results: There were 5679 admissions, in which 705 (12.4%) had PCE. Median age at admission was 15 years (interquartile range: 13-17). There were no differences in age or sex between patients with or without PCE. The percentage of black children was higher in the PCE group (43% vs. 31%, p < 0.001). The odds of a black patient having PCE were 1.7 higher than non-black patients (p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was 2.5 times higher in children with PCE (p = 0.027). Those with PCE had 1.5 greater odds of readmission within 30 days (p < 0.001). PCE was not associated with increased LOS (0.99, p = 0.753). Conclusion: PCE is common in admissions of children with SLE. There are disproportionately more black patients with SLE affected by PCE. PCE is associated with significantly higher mortality and rates of readmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]