Practical Fetal Heart Screening:
THE FIVE ESSENTIAL VIEWS

Board Member, Tiny Hearts Project

*Will also serve as faculty

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Ultrasound Research and Education Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School

I have had a strong interest in clinical ultrasound and research since being a medical student at Russian State Medical University in Moscow, Russian Federation. After successful graduation in 2000 and receiving combined a MD degree and Science degree in Biophysics and Medical Cybernetics, I have continued my training in residency in Cardiology with a special focus on Pediatric Cardiac Imaging including prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects at Bakoulev Center for Cardiovascular Surgery in Moscow, Russian Federation. I received a PhD degree in Cardiology and Radiology in 2005 from the same institution. In 2005, I was awarded an educational grant from German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD) and moved to Germany to complete a Fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at University of Bonn and have been working in the Center for Perinatal Medicine. After graduation and returning to the Russian Federation, I completed internships in Internal Medicine and Clinical Ultrasound at Moscow Institute of Medical Clinical Science. In 2008, I moved to the US as a postdoctoral fellow and have been working in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) until now. In 2009, I successfully passed multiple American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography board exams and carry credentials as a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (OB/GYN) and Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (Adult, Pediatric and Fetal Echocardiography – AE, PE, FE). I joined the full-time EVMS faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor in 2011 and was promoted to the position of Associate Professor in 2016 and recently to the position of Professor of OB/GYN.

I have been committed to promote high quality patient care, research and education throughout my career and have over 20 years of experience in the field of clinical ultrasound. Within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at (EVMS), I hold a position of the Director of Ultrasound in Research and Education. I have a unique background in both pediatric cardiology and fetal imaging. In this capacity, I have developed extraordinary skills, lead the fetal echocardiography team within the ultrasound unit, and have trained many physicians and sonographers from all over the world. I see my mission as a clinician, educator and researcher to promote safe and effective use of ultrasound in women’s health. This is accomplished through active involvement with national and international organizations and local committees within the department of OB/GYN and at the EVMS level.

Board member, Tiny Hearts Project
Kamas, UT
*Will also serve as faculty

Debbie worked at GE Healthcare for ten years, from 2013 to 2023, as Women’s Health Education Leader. While in this role she delivered over 250 ultrasound education courses as director and speaker.

Debbie served in a leadership role for 20 years at the University of California San Diego Medical Center, in the ultrasound department, retiring in 2013. She was a clinical instructor for the UCSD Sonographer Ultrasound Program, OB/GYN and Radiology residents as well as the maternal fetal medicine perinatal fellows. 

She has been an international and national speaker and an invited speaker for ISUOG, AIUM and other CME Programs since 2004. She is a Fellow in the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, has served on the AIUM Education Program Committee and is now serving on the AIUM Board of Governors.

Assistant Professor, Department of Women's Health
University of Texas Dell Medical School 
Austin, Texas

Dr Sheppard is an MFM physician with over 30 years' experience performing, reading, and teaching prenatal sonography.  She founded the nonprofit Tiny Hearts Project to improve fetal cardiac screening performance by offering courses and hands-on training available- and accessible- to sonographers and physicians.  She is particularly interested in discovering both why cardiac defects are missed and what strategies are the most effective to engage sonographers and physicians in this mission. She wishes she had more free time to travel, to read and to sleep.