Rami Kharouf, MD

Biography

Rami M. Kharouf, MD, MBBS, is an associate professor of pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and serves as associate director of the Pediatric Echocardiography Laboratory at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. He is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist with specialized expertise in multimodality cardiovascular imaging, including echocardiography, fetal echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cardiovascular computed tomography (CT).

Dr. Kharouf earned his medical degree from the University of Jordan before completing pediatric residency training in Jerusalem and at the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center. He subsequently completed fellowship training in pediatric cardiology at the University of Chicago, with advanced subspecialty training at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. He later pursued dedicated training in pediatric cardiac MRI and cardiovascular CT, establishing a career focused on advanced cardiovascular imaging in children with congenital and acquired heart disease.

Prior to joining UTHealth Houston in 2020, Dr. Kharouf held leadership positions at Nemours Cardiac Center, where he served as medical director of the Echocardiography Laboratory and Director of Cardiac MRI. At UTHealth Houston, he provides comprehensive care in pediatric cardiology clinics, fetal cardiology clinics, and inpatient cardiac services while leading advanced cardiac imaging initiatives.

An accomplished educator, Dr. Kharouf is deeply involved in the education and mentorship of medical students, pediatric residents, pediatric cardiology fellows, and advanced imaging fellows. He directs imaging conferences, leads echocardiography educational sessions, and has developed multiple educational curricula in cardiac MRI, CT, echocardiography, and congenital heart disease. In recognition of his outstanding commitment to education, he received the McGovern Medical School Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2024.

Dr. Kharouf’s scholarly work includes peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, invited lectures, and national presentations focused on congenital heart disease, pediatric echocardiography, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, ventricular function, and pediatric cardiovascular imaging. His research and quality improvement efforts have contributed to advancing imaging protocols, standardizing echocardiographic practices, and improving the diagnosis and management of children with congenital heart disease.

Through his clinical expertise, educational leadership, and dedication to innovation in pediatric cardiovascular imaging, Dr. Kharouf continues to advance the care of children with congenital and acquired heart disease while training the next generation of pediatric cardiologists.