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Ruchika Karnik, MBBS, FAAP, FASE

she/her/hers
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology)
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Additional Titles

SEAL, Pediatrics

Associate Program Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, Pediatrics

Contact Info

Yale School of Medicine

333 Cedar Street, New Haven CT 06520

New Haven, Connecticut 06520

United States

About

Titles

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology)

SEAL, Pediatrics; Associate Program Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, Pediatrics

Biography

Dr. Karnik's clinical practice involves diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease from fetus to adolescents with additional focus on non-invasive imaging which includes transthoracic, transesophageal and fetal echocardiograms.In addition she provides care to children with acquired heart diseases in both outpatient and inpatient setting. Her outpatient clinics are located at the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital and Old Saybrook Medical Center.

Dr. Karnik completed her pediatric residency at New York Presbyterian -Weill-Cornell Medical Center in New York. She completed her Pediatric Cardiology training at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York prior to joining the Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics at Yale in 2017.




Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellow
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2017)
Resident
NewYork Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center (2014)
Resident
Jackson Memorial Hospital at University of Miami (2013)
Intern
Jackson Memorial Hospital at University of Miami (2012)
MBBS
Rajiv Gandhi Medical College (2009)

Research

Overview

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Fetal Heart; Heart Defects, Congenital

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Ruchika Karnik's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

2022

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    Inozyme Advisory Board for Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infants

  • activity

    Association of Pediatric Program Directors Subspecialty Investigator Network

  • activity

    New England Journal of Medicine Resident 360 Prep

  • activity

    New England Congenital Cardiology Association

  • activity

    New England Congenital Cardiology Association

Clinical Care

Overview

Ruchika Karnik, MBBS, (a medical degree awarded in several countries outside of the U.S.), is a general pediatric cardiologist who diagnoses and manages congenital and acquired heart disease for pediatric patients from newborn stage to adolescence. She has an additional focus on fetal cardiology, including fetal echocardiography (ultrasound) which encompasses care for pregnant women who are at high risk to give birth to a baby with a heart defect, or who are carrying a fetus with suspected heart disease.

Many patients are referred to Dr. Karnik by obstetricians who suspect a fetus has a heart defect or arrhythmia (an abnormal heart beat or rhythm). She starts by taking an image of the structural components of the tiny heart, and makes sure the heart rate is normal for the gestational age. “Sometimes when they do have issues with fetal arrhythmias, we have to treat them through the mother. So, then we are kind of taking care of two patients at the same time,” she says.

Families often walk into a pediatric cardiologist's office with a lot of anxiety, Dr. Karnik says. “Usually, I find drawing pictures of a heart with the heart defects is very helpful,” she adds. “I think just the simple hand-drawn pictures go a long way toward connecting them with what I'm seeing. Then, I can help them navigate through the whole process of what it means for the child. Does this need surgery? Does this need any other intervention? What does it mean in the long term for the child?”

Some cases are complex and difficult, but many children are treated and go on to enjoy a normal life, Dr. Karnik says. “It's so gratifying. I find that children are so resilient. In spite of all of the worries and concerns, they often prove us wrong, and they leave the hospital smiling and playing. I go home very happy on the days when that happens.”

Clinical Specialties

Pediatric Cardiology

Fact Sheets

Yale Medicine News

Get In Touch

Contacts

Appointment Number
Mailing Address

Yale School of Medicine

333 Cedar Street, New Haven CT 06520

New Haven, Connecticut 06520

United States

Locations

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