Gerald Riordan

I am a Paediatric Cardiology Fellow at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, passionate about improving the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Australia.

CHD is the most common major birth abnormality and one of the leading causes of infant death. Yet many people remain unaware of its significant impact on Australian families and communities. When CHD is detected only after birth (rather than a diagnosis made during pregnancy), babies face greater risks of neonatal death, heart failure and brain injury.

I came to truly appreciate the value of prenatal CHD diagnosis while working in the world’s largest refugee camp. Without access to adequate prenatal care, we were often treating critically ill infants with insufficient information about their condition. Some babies died from heart defects that we did not know they had until it was too late. That experience showed me the profound difference an early diagnosis can make.

Australia is fortunate to have widespread access to prenatal care, yet CHD is still frequently missed. I want to help reduce missed diagnoses and ensure Australian families have access to the best possible fetal cardiology services.

Advances in fetal echocardiography mean CHD can be diagnosed earlier in pregnancy, allowing medical teams to plan care, consider fetal cardiac interventions where appropriate, and connect families with vital psychosocial support. Through a Churchill Fellowship, I want to learn from international leaders in fetal cardiology and explore approaches to expanding and improving early fetal cardiac screening in Australia.

My goal is to bring that knowledge home to strengthen Australia’s fetal cardiology services, reduce missed diagnoses and help ensure babies with CHD receive the right care as early as possible. Ultimately, I want Australia to be at the forefront of fetal cardiology, so families have the information, support and treatment they need before their baby is born.