Swapna Sivadas Thilakam
Toronto,Canada
Summary
Dynamic pediatric cardiologist with extensive experience at The Hospital for Sick Children, excelling in echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Proven ability in patient assessment and interdisciplinary collaboration, contributing to improved outcomes in heart failure management. Actively engaged in clinical research, enhancing skills in advanced echocardiography techniques and fostering a collaborative environment.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Core Cardiology Clinical Fellow
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Canada
07.2024 - Current
- Performing echocardiography in outpatient, inpatient, and ICU settings
- Training in fetal echocardiography and prenatal counselling of parents
- Performing transesophageal echocardiography in the operating room
- Interpretation and reporting of echocardiograms, ECGs, Holter, and exercise tests
- Assessment and treatment of pediatric patients with heart disease
- Assisting in diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterizations; calculation of hemodynamics.
- Management of heart failure patients in the clinic and ward.
- Providing consult services to cardiac patients in other departments
- Teaching cardiology trainees and residents as part of the academic curriculum
- Participation in a research project.
DrNB Pediatric Cardiology
Apollo Hospitals
Chennai, India
12.2020 - 12.2023
- Performed Echocardiography and diagnosis of various congenital heart diseases
- Interpretation of ECG
- Performed and assisted with various diagnostic cardiac catheterization and interventions, including device closures, stenting, percutaneous transluminal balloon valvuloplasty, and pulmonary valve implantation.
- Performed epicardial and transesophageal echocardiography
- Pre and postoperative management in the CTICU and wards
- Management of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension patients
- Counselling parents regarding the condition of the child, management, complications, and outcome
- Management of various Grown-Up congenital heart diseases (ACHD)
- Participated in twice-weekly multi-disciplinary Cath-meet discussions with surgeons.
- Daily ward rounds.
Registrar in NICU
Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre
Chennai, India
07.2020 - 12.2020
- Attended deliveries in the labor room and OT, and resuscitated high-risk and sick newborns.
- Treated high-risk babies with intubation, surfactant therapy, and cooling for HIE.
- Performed IV cannulations, central line insertion, PICC line placement, and ICD insertion for pneumothorax.
- Counseled mothers regarding baby care, breastfeeding, Kangaroo mother care, and preterm care.
- Normal newborn care and counseling of parents.
Senior Resident, Pediatrics
Medical College, Baroda
Baroda, India
07.2019 - 02.2020
- Management of children in the outpatient clinic and wards.
- Newborn resuscitation, treated various neonatal conditions, intubation, surfactant administration, etc.
- Management of emergency cases presented to the emergency room.
- Management of PICU and NICU patients.
- Performed lumbar puncture, ICD tube insertion, Ascitic fluid tapping, IV cannulations, and central line insertion.
- Attended the Well-Baby clinic, the Nephrology clinic, the Asthma clinic, the Adolescent clinic, and the Epilepsy clinic.
Education
Core Cardiology Clinical Fellow -
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada02.2026
DrNB Pediatric Cardiology -
Apollo Hospitals
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India12.2023
MD Pediatrics -
Medical College
Baroda, Gujarat, India04.2019
MBBS -
Dr. Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College
Karakonam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India04.2012
Skills
- Pediatric cardiology
- Echocardiography techniques
- Patient assessment
- Cardiac catheterization
- Clinical research participation
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
Rearch
1) Ongoing project - Outcome of prenatally diagnosed single ventricle heart disease through 18 years of age: a single-center retrospective study
PI – Dr. Lindsay Freud
Section Head, Fetal Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Toronto
2) Assessment of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Behavior in children post cardiac surgery in early childhood– a prospective observational study
Guide – Dr. C S Muthukumaran
Head of the Department
Pediatric Cardiology
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, India
3) Study of respiratory complications and outcomes in Meconium-stained deliveries.
Guide – Dr. Omprakash Shukla
Head of the Department
Department of Pediatrics
Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India
Publications
- Study of respiratory complications & outcome in Meconium-stained deliveries in the International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics on 06/05/2019
- Study of risk factors, clinical profile & outcome in Meconium-stained deliveries in the Indian Journal of Child Health on 20/05/2019
- Assessment of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and behavior in children post cardiac surgery in early childhood – a prospective observational study in the Asian Journal of Cardiology Research on 29/07/2023.
Conference Attended
1) NEOCON 2018
2) Pediatric Cardiac Society of India Conference 2022
3) Pediatric Cardiac Society of India Conference 2023
4) 4th Toronto advanced fetal cardiology symposium 2024
5) Fundamentals of fetal cardiac screening conference 2025
Presentations
- Development outcome of patients of severe acute malnutrition after nutritional rehabilitation.
- Neonatal ECMO post arterial switch operation with ventricular septal defect closure – challenges faced [PCSI 2022]
- Transcatheter Fontan with fenestration without presurgical conditioning or custom-made stent [PCSI 2023]
E-Poster Presentation
1) Transluminal pulmonary valve implantation with bilateral branch pulmonary
artery stenting – a case report.
2) Emergency rescue Glenn stent in the immediate post-operative period
Awards
Pediatric quiz competition winner in college, state, and zone levels in 2018
Personal Information
Name: Swapna Sivadas Thilakam
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: 30/06/1988
Religion: Christian
Present address: 77 Elm Street,Toronto, Ontario – M5G 1H4
Permanent Address: Dimple Cottage, Ayira PO,Parassala, Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala, India -695502
Phone: +1 6472241037
Email: swapna.sivadasthilakam@sickkids.ca
Declaration
I hereby declare that the above-mentioned details are true to the best of my belief and knowledge.
Timeline
Core Cardiology Clinical Fellow
The Hospital for Sick Children
07.2024 - Current
DrNB Pediatric Cardiology
Apollo Hospitals
12.2020 - 12.2023
Registrar in NICU
Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre
07.2020 - 12.2020
Senior Resident, Pediatrics
Medical College, Baroda
07.2019 - 02.2020
Core Cardiology Clinical Fellow -
The Hospital for Sick Children
DrNB Pediatric Cardiology -
Apollo Hospitals
MD Pediatrics -
Medical College
MBBS -
Dr. Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College