Children's Hospital Gets New Pediatric Cardiology Chief

Stony Brook Long Island Children's Hospital has named as its pediatric cardiology chief a doctor who is an international pediatric heart disease imaging specialist, the hospital announced Monday.

Dr. James Nielsen has been named clinical associate professor of pediatrics and radiology at the Stony Brook University School of Medicine and chief of pediatric cardiology for Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital.

Nielsen's focus is pediatric and congenital heart disease. Among those areas of focus is fetal echocardiography; he works with cases of high-risk pregnancy to pinpoint problems and plan accordingly for delivery.

Nielsen, known as "a gifted educator and renowned researcher" according to the hospital, has taught cardiac experts internationally and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters since 2002. He received his M.D. from Tulane University, where he completed a pediatrics residency in and served as Pediatric Chief Resident.

Dr. Margaret McGovern, chief physician at Stony Brook Long Island Children's Hospital, called Nielsen "a true leader and dedicated clinician."

"Dr. Nielsen is a wonderful addition not only to Stony Brook Children’s, but also to Suffolk County,” she said in a statement. “His experience and training bring a new standard of care in pediatric cardiac imaging to the community.”