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delving into Pediatric cardiology and electrophysiology L of medicine, pediatric cardiology involves serving an exciting population while facing changes and challenges. MD News spoke to Mohamad Al-Ahdab, M.D., (Dr. Mo) to gain some perspective. IKe aLL areas Q Can you describe your medical specialty and demographics of your specialists in Kansas? Mohamad Al-Ahdab, M.D., (Dr. Mo) A: Pediatric cardiology is a medical specialty that provides comprehensive evaluation and management for patients with a wide range of congenital and acquired heart disease. Care is provided to patients from fetal life through young adulthood, extending to the care of adults born with congenital heart disease. Pediatric electrophysiology is a subspecialty of pediatric cardiology that involves taking care of rhythm problems that are either acquired or congenital in nature, with performance of various diagnostic or therapeutic interventions for different diseases. I am one of three practicing pediatric cardiologists here in Wichita. I am the only pediatric electrophysiologist in Kansas. Q Give us some idea about the practice of your specialty in Wichita and the entire state of Kansas. 22 | Greater Kansas md news ��� mdnews.com A: In Wichita, we do not have a setup cardiovascular surgical program. Actually, we do not have a children���s hospital that would be the perfect setup to establish this program. The size of the town and its referral base would probably be able to support a small- to medium-sized cardiovascular surgical and medical program, but it will need a great commitment from the pediatricians in the community and the major hospitals (Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center) to work together to turn this dream into reality. Hopefully, it might happen one day. Q Can you tell us more about the dynamics of your practice and the pediatrics community in Wichita? A: I have been here in Wichita for about seven years after coming from Boston, where I did my last year of fellowship training. I started with a group of adult cardiologists, but I opened my own practice, Kansas Kids Heart Center, about three years ago. This came at a time when many local practices moved to be employed by large hospital systems. Obviously, the many changes in the new health care act, formation of special groups and cutbacks in medical reimbursement for doctors are all factors that would discourage initiation of new practices for newly graduating