Teaching preventive cardiology in the pediatric setting

This article presents both the rationale behind and a framework for incorporating pediatric preventive cardiology into undergraduate medical education and pediatric residency training. Such education of physicians in the practice of preventive cardiology requires provision of not only didactic information but also training and practice in clinical skills. A combination of didactic lectures, small group discussions, interactive programs utilizing video tapes and computer programs, family and patient simulation, preventive cardiology clinics, and community cardiovascular health promotion activities all help to provide the optimal framework for an effective medical student and pediatric resident training program in pediatric preventive cardiology. Since pediatricians are in the best position to practice true primary prevention of cardiovascular disease beginning in childhood, it is essential that physicians in training understand the concepts and learn the skills needed to practice this critical component of pediatric medicine.