Welcome to the Pediatric Heart Institute at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Whether your child is currently a patient here or if you are trying to decide where to take your child for cardiac care, we hope this site will be helpful in educating you about our services and our expertise in pediatric cardiology care. As a parent, you want the very best for your child's future, and we look forward to working with you to make sure your child's heart is healthy.

Heart defects are among the most common birth defects, affecting about one in every 100 babies at birth. Fortunately, the defects are now routinely discovered and repaired early and with great success.We are a Center of Excellence for the treatment and research of children with congenital heart defects, and have the expertise to treat the most complicated cases.

Full-spectrum care for heart disease
Continuity of care across all ages of patients is provided by the close cooperation of the Pediatric Heart Institute and the adult Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute. An interdisciplinary group of physicians and staff are dedicated to the care of patients with heart disease. This team is focused on the complex interactions of congenital and acquired heart disease resulting in unique and individualized medical and surgical therapies.

Visit the links below to learn more about the Pediatric Heart Institute:

Our Vision
The Pediatric Heart Institute is committed to providing premier care for children and adults with CHD and to pioneer the development of novel therapeutic approaches and innovative diagnostics for evaluation and cure of cardiac disease in children.

Our Mission

• Service – To provide extraordinary care
• Quality – In the safest environment possible
• People – With the most talented multidisciplinary collaborators
• Discovery – developing new knowledge that transforms patient care
• Finance & Growth – In a fiscally responsible manner

"Look at You Now" Music Video Country singer-songwriter Mark O'Shea's hit song "Look at You Now," combined with video of pediatric heart patients treated by the Pediatric Heart Institute, illustrates the care and support these families received during their child's stay at Children's Hospital. Watch the "Look at You Now" music video!

Nathan's Special Heart A real life patient of the Pediatric Heart Institute was featured in a past annual report for Children's Hospital. The award-winning children's book is about 9-year-old Nathan Stickles. It follows Nathan's journey as he experienced a new minimally invasive surgery to treat a one-inch hole in his heart. Click here to view "Nathan's Special Heart" as a virtual book.

Ranked as one of the
country's top institutions
for heart and heart surgery