About
Dr. Alejandra Iturralde Chávez
Pediatric cardiology and advanced echocardiography, explained clearly for every family.
Why pediatric cardiology
Dr. Iturralde Chávez chose pediatrics because she believes that caring for children is one of the most meaningful ways to improve the health and future of Mexico. During her pediatric training, she was drawn to cardiology for the balance it offers — the precision of a complex, technical specialty alongside the deeply personal, long-term relationships she gets to build with the families in her care.
How she cares for your child
Parents come to Dr. Iturralde Chávez for the full range of pediatric heart care — murmurs, congenital conditions, imaging follow-up, complex diagnoses. Her background combines clinical training at the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, a research fellowship at Texas Children's Hospital, and an advanced subspecialty in pediatric echocardiography. What those credentials mean for your child's visit is simpler than they sound: precise imaging, a diagnosis you can understand, and a plan that fits your child.
Education & Training
Medical School
- 2009–2016Doctor of Medicine (MD)Mexican School of Medicine, La Salle University — Mexico City
Postgraduate Training
- 2016–2019Pediatric ResidencyFederico Gómez Children's Hospital of Mexico, National Autonomous University of Mexico
- 2019–2021Pediatric Cardiology ResidencyNational Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, National Autonomous University of Mexico
- 2021–2022Advanced Fellowship in Pediatric EchocardiographyNational Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Research Training
- 2022–2023Research Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology and Advanced ImagingTexas Children's Hospital / Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, Texas, USA
Academic Work & Credentials
Publications, Book Chapters & Case Reports
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Norton DM, Iturralde Chávez A, Pignatelli RH, Patterson LW. Diagnosing Mitral Annular Disjunction in Patients ≤21 Years in a Large Pediatric and Congenital Echocardiographic Laboratory. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2026;39(2):225–228.
- Rao MY, Pignatelli RH, Iturralde Chávez A, Lara C, et al. Intervendor agreement for left atrial strain via speckle tracking echocardiography in pediatrics. The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging. 2025;41(12):2457–2467.
- Sanchez Parra C, Vaughan RM, Iturralde Chávez A, Miyake CY, et al. Mitral Annular Disjunction Is Associated With Ventricular Arrhythmias in Children With Marfan Syndrome. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2025.
- Iturralde Chávez A, Trujeque-Ruíz AL, Vázquez-Antona CA. Valoración del situs abdominal y atrial por ecocardiografía. Revista de Ecocardiografía Práctica y Otras Técnicas de Imagen Cardíaca (RETIC). 2025 Apr;8(1):58–62. DOI: 10.37615/retic.v8n1a14.
- Doan TT, Iturralde Chávez A, Valdes SO, Weigand JD, et al. Mitral Annular Disjunction and Its Progression during Childhood in Marfan Syndrome. European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging. 2024.
- Bishop RS, Doan TT, Craik NK, Iturralde Chávez A, et al. Mitral Annular Disjunction Associated with Ventricular Dilation in Pediatric Marfan Syndrome: A Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Study. Pediatric Cardiology. 2024;46(8):2398–2409. 🏆 Companion abstract received the Top 10 Investigators Award at the 34th American Society of Echocardiography Scientific Sessions, 2023.
- Kalustian AB, Spigel ZA, Greenleaf CE, Doan TT, Iturralde Chávez A, et al. Comparing palliation strategies for single ventricle anatomy with transposed great arteries and systemic outflow obstruction. JTCVS Techniques. 2023;21.
Book Chapters
- Vázquez Antona CA, Pignatelli RH, Romero Rivera I, Guzzo de Leon DF, Iturralde Chávez A. Síndrome de Válvula Pulmonar Ausente. Chapter 21 in Ecocardiografía en Cardiopatías Congénitas y Adquiridas: Del feto al adulto. Editorial Distribuna, 2023.
Case Reports
- Iturralde P, Arias-Godínez JA, Soulé-Egea M, Iturralde Chávez A. High-grade left atrial intimal sarcoma mimicking myxoma: The diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of tumor topography. Journal of Cardiology Cases. 2026.
Conferences & Presentations
- Iturralde-Chávez Alejandra, Bolaño-Esquirol Margarita, Trujeque-Ruíz AL, Sanchez-Cornelio MC, Fritche-Salazar JF, Vázquez-Antona CA. Analysis of left atrioventricular mechanics in the pediatric population with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Poster presentation, 9th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Hong Kong, China, December 2025.
- Iturralde Chávez A, Stephens S, Pignatelli RH, Penny DJ, et al. Left atrial strain is associated with cardiovascular outcomes in children with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries. European Society of Cardiology Congress, London, UK. 2024.
- Iturralde Chávez A, Weigand J, Morris SA, Doan TT, et al. Progression of Mitral Annular Disjunction on Echocardiography During Childhood in Pediatric Marfan Syndrome. Moderated poster presentation, American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session (ACC.24), Atlanta, Georgia, April 2024.
- Sanchez Mejía AA, Iturralde Chávez A, Doan TT, Wilkes K, Qasim A, Rodriguez M, Tsang R, Yilmez Furtun B. Left Atrial Reservoir and Conduit Function Are Impaired While Contraction Is Preserved in Children with Aortic Stenosis. Poster presentation, 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Washington DC, August 2023.
- Doan TT, Iturralde Chávez A, Weigand J, Valdes SO, et al. Mitral Annular Disjunction in Pediatric Marfan Syndrome: An Echocardiographic and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study. American Society of Echocardiography Scientific Sessions, National Harbor, MD. 2023. 🏆 Awarded Top 10 Investigators Award at the 34th American Society of Echocardiography Scientific Sessions.
Additional Credentials
Board Certifications
- Mexican Board of Pediatrics (2024–2029)
- Mexican Board of Cardiology — Pediatric Cardiology (2021–2026)
- Mexican Board of Cardiology — Pediatric Echocardiography (2022–2027)
Society Memberships
- Mexican Society of Cardiology (SMC)
- European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
- Mexican Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SOMEIC)
- American College of Cardiology (ACC)
Languages
- Spanish
- English