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1
Pediatric Specialty Center
Yale New Haven Hospital - West Pavilion
1 Park Street, Fl 2nd
New Haven, CT 06510
1 of 3
  • Pediatric Specialty Center
    Yale New Haven Hospital - West Pavilion
    1 Park Street, Fl 2nd
    New Haven, CT 06510
  • Old Saybrook Medical Center
    633 Middlesex Turnpike
    Old Saybrook, CT 06475
  • Pediatric Specialty Center
    Park Avenue Medical Center
    5520 Park Avenue
    Trumbull, CT 06611

Ruchika Karnik, MBBS, FAAP, FASE

she/her/hers
Pediatric Cardiology
Patient type treated
Child
Accepting new patients
Yes
Referral required
From patients or physicians
Board Certified in
Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology

Biography

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.”

Titles

  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology)
  • SEAL, Pediatrics
  • Associate Program Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, Pediatrics

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)

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • मराठी (Marathi)

Additional Information

Locations
1
Pediatric Specialty Center
Yale New Haven Hospital - West Pavilion
1 Park Street, Fl 2nd
New Haven, CT 06510
1 of 3
  • Pediatric Specialty Center
    Yale New Haven Hospital - West Pavilion
    1 Park Street, Fl 2nd
    New Haven, CT 06510
  • Old Saybrook Medical Center
    633 Middlesex Turnpike
    Old Saybrook, CT 06475
  • Pediatric Specialty Center
    Park Avenue Medical Center
    5520 Park Avenue
    Trumbull, CT 06611

Biography

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.”

Titles

  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology)
  • SEAL, Pediatrics
  • Associate Program Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, Pediatrics

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)

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • मराठी (Marathi)

Additional Information

Locations
1
Pediatric Specialty Center
Yale New Haven Hospital - West Pavilion
1 Park Street, Fl 2nd
New Haven, CT 06510
1 of 3
  • Pediatric Specialty Center
    Yale New Haven Hospital - West Pavilion
    1 Park Street, Fl 2nd
    New Haven, CT 06510
  • Old Saybrook Medical Center
    633 Middlesex Turnpike
    Old Saybrook, CT 06475
  • Pediatric Specialty Center
    Park Avenue Medical Center
    5520 Park Avenue
    Trumbull, CT 06611
1
Pediatric Specialty Center
Yale New Haven Hospital - West Pavilion
1 Park Street, Fl 2nd
New Haven, CT 06510
1 of 3
  • Pediatric Specialty Center
    Yale New Haven Hospital - West Pavilion
    1 Park Street, Fl 2nd
    New Haven, CT 06510
  • Old Saybrook Medical Center
    633 Middlesex Turnpike
    Old Saybrook, CT 06475
  • Pediatric Specialty Center
    Park Avenue Medical Center
    5520 Park Avenue
    Trumbull, CT 06611