The pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists work closely with nurse anesthetists who have been extensively trained in cardiac care, and who have many years experience working with these patients. The division also trains pediatric and cardiothoracic clinical fellows how to care for these unique and challenging patients. Research interests of the faculty include the physiology and management of patients with congenital heart disease, airway management, perioperative genomics, and perioperative quality and safety impact of team communication. The division also provides expert assistance and consultative services for children with congenital heart disease and who are undergoing non-cardiac surgery/procedures.Children with heart defects represent a complex group of patients whom often require intensive surgical repairs to thrive or even survive into adulthood. The Division of Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology was formed in 2007 to support the growth of the program that cares for these patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt. Led by Dr. Suanne Daves, the divisions faculty provide intraoperative and catheterization laboratory anesthesia care, in addition to participating in the postoperative ICU management.

Faculty members are active participants in the annual meetings of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesia, the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, and the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society, and the divisions members are heavily involved in education and quality improvement at the national level.