Pregnancy & Heart Disease
Cardio-Obstetrics: Specialized Care for High-Risk Pregnancy
Expert Cardio-Obstetrics Care
Pregnancy in women with heart disease requires specialized, multidisciplinary care to ensure the best outcomes for both mother and baby. As more women with congenital and acquired heart disease reach childbearing age, the need for expert cardio-obstetric services has never been greater.
Dr. Charla completed advanced fellowship training in Pregnancy & Heart Disease at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto—one of the world's leading cardio-obstetrics programs. He has extensive experience co-directing cardio-obstetrics programs at major academic medical centers, providing comprehensive care for women with cardiac conditions throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period.
Comprehensive Cardio-Obstetrics Services
Risk Assessment
Comprehensive pre-pregnancy evaluation to stratify risk and optimize maternal cardiac health before conception
Preconception Counseling
Evidence-based guidance on pregnancy risks, medication optimization, and timing to support informed decision-making
Multidisciplinary Team
Coordinated care with maternal-fetal medicine, obstetrics, anesthesiology, and neonatology specialists
Pregnancy Monitoring
Close surveillance throughout pregnancy with regular cardiac assessments and imaging to detect complications early
Delivery Planning
Strategic delivery planning including timing, mode, anesthesia, and monitoring to optimize safety for mother and baby
Postpartum Care
Continued monitoring and management in the critical postpartum period when cardiovascular complications are most common
Cardio-Obstetrics Training & Leadership
Specialized Fellowship Training
Mount Sinai Hospital / University of Toronto (2016-2018)
Completed fellowship training in Pregnancy & Heart Disease at Mount Sinai Hospital's renowned cardio-obstetrics program, one of the largest and most experienced centers globally for managing pregnant women with cardiac disease.
Program Leadership
Co-Director, Cardio-Obstetrics Program - University of Rochester (2022-2025)
Established and co-directed comprehensive cardio-obstetrics program, providing multidisciplinary care for women with cardiac conditions throughout pregnancy
Co-Director, Cardio-Obstetrics Program - University Hospitals Cleveland (2018-2020)
Built integrated cardio-obstetrics service with collaborative protocols between cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine
Cardiac Conditions in Pregnancy
Dr. Charla provides expert care for women with a wide range of cardiac conditions, including:
Congenital Heart Disease
- Repaired and unrepaired CHD
- Single ventricle physiology (Fontan)
- Cyanotic heart disease
- Eisenmenger syndrome
- Coarctation of the aorta
Acquired Heart Disease
- Valvular heart disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Coronary artery disease
- Arrhythmias
Research in Pregnancy & Heart Disease
Dr. Charla has contributed to research advancing care for pregnant women with cardiac disease:
- Systematic review of pregnancy outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (published in Pulmonary Circulation, 2021)
- Presentations on pregnancy outcomes and risk stratification in complex congenital heart disease
Planning Pregnancy with Heart Disease?
Preconception counseling and specialized care throughout pregnancy can optimize outcomes for you and your baby