Shifa Turan

Dr. Shifa Turan is a Professor and Director of the Fetal Heart Program in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She specializes in prenatal diagnosis of fetal cardiac abnormalities using advanced 3D/4D ultrasound techniques, with particular expertise in first-trimester detection of congenital heart defects.

Education:

• National Medical University, Kiev (1991)
• University of Istanbul, Istanbul Medical School, MD (1995)
• Suleymaniye Maternity and Women Health Hospital, Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology (2000)
• Harris Birthright Research Center for Fetal Medicine, King’s College Hospital, Clinical Research Fellowship in Fetal Medicine (2005)

Her pioneering research focuses on first-trimester fetal echocardiography, where she developed a standardized 4D ultrasound method for diagnosing heart defects at 12 weeks gestation. Clinical investigations examine maternal diabetes effects on fetal cardiac development, while basic science employs 17.6 Tesla MRI in diabetic mouse models and hypoxic guinea pig studies to understand cardiac pathophysiology. Current work develops miRNA biomarkers from maternal blood for early congenital heart disease detection.

Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate consistent innovation in fetal cardiac imaging, with key contributions to standardizing first-trimester echocardiography, establishing ductus venosus flow parameters, and investigating cardiac impacts of maternal diabetes. The work spans clinical applications in high-risk pregnancies and translational animal model research.

Scientific Awards:

• DOD Peer Reviewed Medical Discovery Award for developing fetal cardiac biomarkers using maternal serum miRNA profiling

Dr. Turan mentors medical students, residents, and fellows in maternal-fetal medicine while leading NIH and DOD-funded research. Her Fetal Cardiology Program at the Center for Advanced Fetal Care serves as a primary diagnostic and referral center for complex cases, integrating clinical care with research innovation.

The program operates as a multidisciplinary hub involving maternal-fetal medicine specialists, pediatric cardiologists, sonographers, and researchers focused on advancing early detection protocols and understanding developmental mechanisms of congenital heart disease.