The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is a place to hope and place to heal for patients and their families. In 2007, Children’s Hospital was recognized as one of the premier children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. We care for the sickest patients in the region and beyond.

Children’s Hospital is the most comprehensive children’s hospital in the state, with services from cancer treatments, organ and bone marrow transplants to repairing broken legs and everything in between, while providing family-centered care every step of the way.We treat all children regardless of ability to pay. Children’s Hospital has the only Pediatric Emergency Department in Middle Tennessee with more than 40,000 visits in 2006. More than 140,000 patients were seen in outpatient clinics the same year.

Constructed in 2004, the freestanding children’s hospital is filled with the latest state-of-the art equipment and information systems to provide the best treatments for patients and offers a variety of family accommodations to help fulfill its mission of family-centered care. Children’s Hospital is a non-profit teaching and research hospital, and relies on the support of individuals and others to help children get well and on their way.

Our History:
Our hospital began as a dream, partnering with an existing facility for children and committed volunteers, and ultimately laying a strong foundation to become the state-of-the-art, stand-alone facility that opened in early 2004.The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt's story begins in 1968 and like any masterful work, its progress has occurred in marked phases. Visit our Historical Timeline page for more details.

Vanderbilt Medical School faculty member David T. Karzon, M.D., had a vision to create an entire hospital that would serve the healthcare needs of children and pioneer significant change in the area of pediatrics. Karzon, who eventually chaired the Pediatrics Department of Vanderbilt Hospital, developed the mind-set of a "hospital within a hospital" model and established various centers within the main hospital that specialized in children's services. Within two years, the brand-new Children's Regional Medical Center was formed, adopting a three-prong vision:

To deliver the highest quality medical care to children
To create a special environment for children and their families.
To serve as a resource that is responsive to the community.

In the Fall of 1971, a group of community-minded women approached Dr. Karzon about forming a support group of volunteers who would raise funds and create public awareness, and the Friends of Children's Hospital was made official one year later.

The Dream Continues:
In order for a dream to have a lasting effect, there must be a committed, focused team that understands its goal. In 1980, this team met its goal when the Children’s Hospital facility was completed, and all patients residing in the Children’s Hospital and Junior League Home were housed under one roof. Click on the following link for information on the relationship between the Junior League of Nashville and Children's Hospital.

The founding medical director for Children's Hospital was the man who held tight to the dream longer than anyone: Dr. David Karzon. He served for many years and was succeeded in 1988 by Ian Burr, M.D.Under Dr. Burr’s leadership, Children's Hospital grew to include more than 29 sub-specialties. Currently, he serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Children’s Health Services and played a vital role in planning the new Children’s Hospital.

In August 2000, we were fortunate to add Dr. Arnold Strauss as chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital. Dr. Strauss is a renowned pediatric cardiologist; nationally recognized for his basic and applied research. Today, Children’s Hospital offers more than 32 subspecialty divisions.

Our Facilities
The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt opened for patient care in February 2004. The building project is the largest in Vanderbilt University’s history, as well as one of the largest in Nashville.

Although construction of the new Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt started in 2000, it took several more years to build the design of the overall project. It started in 1998 with more than 200 people and nearly 30 committees.

It took many people to help develop and create this new family-centered facility. Physicians, nurses, hospital staff, families, patients and members of the community worked with the planning team to iron out the details.

Contact Us
Main Number / Patient Information
615.936.1000
Pediatric Emergency Department
615.343.2996
Patient Referral
615.322.3000
800.288.5000 (toll free)
Physician Admissions/Transfers
615.936.4444
866.936.7811 (toll free)

Address
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
2200 Children's Way
Nashville, TN 37232   More detail...