Dr. Amir H. Ashrafi, Neonatology

Dr. Amir H. Ashrafi, Neonatology

  • Amir H Ashrafi MD
  • Office: 714-509-4373
  • Specialty: Neonatology
  • Board Certified: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

As an expert in neonatology and neonatal-cardiac physiology, Dr. Ashrafi’s primary focus is treating newborns with congenital heart disease. He holds the national distinction of being one of the few physicians to receive formal training in both neonatal intensive care and cardiac intensive care.

Dr. Ashrafi is the co-founder of the conference NeoHeart: Cardiovascular Management of the Neonate which is an international collaboration dedicated to advancing the care of newborns with complex heart disease..

Dr. Ashrafi attended medical school at the University of Utah and completed pediatric residency training at the Emory University in Atlanta. He spent time in the Emergency Dept at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles prior to completing his neonatal intensive care fellowship at UCLA, where he was recognized as the chief fellow. Dr. Ashrafi then completed a second fellowship in cardiac intensive care in Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard University.

Research Focus

Neonatal-cardiac physiology, non-invasive tissue perfusion monitoring, neurodevelopment outcomes in infants with congenital heart disease, targeted neonatal echocardiography

Amir H Ashrafi MD is on staff at CHOC Hospital in Orange and CHOC Mission Hospital.

Locations

CHOC Hospital
1201 W. La Veta Avenue
Orange, CA 92868

CHOC at Mission Hospital
27700 Medical Center Road
Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Education

  • Fellowship, Cardiac Intensive Care
    Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
  • Fellowship, Neonatal Intensive Care
    UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
  • Medical School
    University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Residency, Pediatrics
    Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Administrative Appointments

Neonatology, CHOC Specialists

Honors and Awards

  • Western Society for Clinical Investigation Research Award
    Western Regional Meeting

Publications

1. Left ventricular cardiac output is a reliable predictor of extracorporeal life support in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Gaffar S, Ellini AR, Ahmad I, Chen Y, Ashrafi AH.
J Perinatol. 2019 May;39(5):648-653. doi: 10.1038/s41372-019-0348-3. Epub 2019 Mar 5. PMID: 30837654

2. Management strategies for the preemie ductus.
Ashrafi AH, Levy VY.
Curr Opin Cardiol. 2019 Jan;34(1):41-45. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000580. PMID: 30394907

3. Effect of pump type on outcomes in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia requiring ECMO. Delaplain PT, Zhang L, Nguyen DV, Ashrafi AH, Yu PT, Di Nardo M, Chen Y, Starr J, Ford HR, Guner, YS. Perfusion. 2018 May;33(1_suppl):71-79. doi: 10.1177/0267659118766729. PMID: 29788843

4. Can We Confidently Define “Normal” for Our Neonatal Patients? Ashrafi AH, Lai WW.
J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2017 Mar;30(3):233-234. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2017.01.006. PMID: 28259303

Lectures and Presentations

6th Annual Neuro-ICU symposium at UCLA: Discussing the important gaps in knowledge for brain injury in the neonatal population
UCLA: Division of Neurosurgery and Division of Neonatology
Arrythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia

Art and Science of Neonatal Intubation
Pediatric Resident Noon Lecture: UCLA, Division of Neonatology
Arteriovenous Malformations and High-Output Heart Failure in the Neonate

Cardiothoracic Medical-Surgical Case Review
Boston Children’s Hospital, Dept of Cardiology and Dept of Cardiothoracic Surg
Cerebral Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease

Cerebral Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease
Neonatal Journal Club: UCLA, Division of Neonatology
How will the NICU look in 25 years?

Medical Outreach, Kern Medical Center NICU Quality Improvement for 2011
UCLA and Kern Medical Center
Neonatal Echocardiography: Just for the Pediatric Cardiologist?

Pathophysiology and Clinical Management of Neonatal Intraventricular and Cerebral Hemorrhage
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) monthly conference: UCLA
Pediatric EKG Interpretation
Resident Noon Conference: USC, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) in the Neonate

Restrictive Right Ventricular Physiology Following Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot

Restrictive Right Ventricular Physiology Following Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot
CICU Journal Club: Boston Children’s Hospital, Dept of Cardiology
Shock: Inotropes and Vasopressors in the Neonate

Shock: Inotropes and Vasopressors in the Neonate
Annual UCLA Neonatal Nursing Skills Day: 4 Part Series
Tetralogy of Fallot Interactive Teaching Module
Boston Children’s Hospital, Dept of Cardiology
To Feed or Not to Feed? Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease

Research Focus

Neonatal-cardiac physiology, non-invasive tissue perfusion monitoring, neurodevelopment outcomes in infants with congenital heart disease, targeted neonatal echocardiography

Our neonatologists commonly treat the following conditions in newborns and babies:

Videos

Neoheart presentation
NeoHeart: Cardiovascular Management of the Neonate

Many controversies exist in the cardiovascular management of neonates. This grand rounds video strives to fill the knowledge gaps by emphasizing the importance of multi-disciplinary interaction.