Medical Director, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU)

The Division of Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt seeks an experienced Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist to serve as Medical Director of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU). This leadership opportunity is available on the Tenure, Clinician Educator, or Clinical Practice Track, with academic rank commensurate with experience.

The Medical Director will provide strategic and operational leadership for a 27-bed PCICU within the Pediatric Heart Institute, partnering closely with physician, nursing, APP, and administrative leaders to advance clinical excellence, patient outcomes, quality improvement, and program growth. The division includes 10 faculty members and supports an ACGME-accredited fellowship training program.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and operational leadership for the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU), overseeing patient flow, care delivery, and workforce planning.
• Partner with physician, nursing, APP, quality, and administrative leaders to advance patient outcomes, safety, and operational excellence across the Pediatric Heart Institute.
• Lead quality improvement, performance, and patient safety initiatives, utilizing data-driven approaches to improve clinical outcomes and patient experience.
• Represent the PCICU within institutional and Heart Institute committees and multidisciplinary programs, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and quality goals.
• Support strategic growth, program development, and future expansion initiatives within the Division of Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care and the Pediatric Heart Institute.
• Advance the academic mission through faculty development, education, mentorship, research, and scholarship.

Required Qualifications

• Board-certified in Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, or completion of advanced training in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care.
• Eligible for medical licensure in Tennessee.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of attending-level experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and commitment to clinical excellence, education, quality improvement, research, or program development.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and team-building skills.

About Vanderbilt and the Pediatric Heart Institute

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center Pediatric Heart Institute is one of the Southeast's leading programs for children with congenital and acquired heart disease and serves as a major regional referral center for complex cardiac care. The Division of Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care includes 10 faculty members staffing a 27-bed PCICU and supporting an ACGME-accredited fellowship training program. The program currently performs approximately 475 pediatric cardiac surgical cases annually, with projected growth to more than 600 cases per year over the next five years.

The Medical Director joins the program during a period of significant investment and growth. Recent leadership recruitment efforts include Dr. Carlos Mery as Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery and Dr. Larry Markham as Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, reflecting Vanderbilt's commitment to becoming a national leader in pediatric heart care. This position offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a rapidly expanding Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Division, drive transformative quality and operational initiatives, and contribute to the continued growth of the Pediatric Heart Institute.

As part of one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, physicians benefit from Vanderbilt's strong culture of innovation, collaboration, and discovery. The Department of Pediatrics consistently ranks among the top NIH-funded pediatric departments in the country and offers robust opportunities in clinical research, quality improvement, education, and leadership development.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.