From the groundbreaking cardiovascular research of Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas at Vanderbilt in the 1930s to the division’s modern achievements in pediatric heart transplantation and complex congenital heart surgery, our program has been built on a legacy of innovation and discovery. Their early work laid the scientific foundation for lifesaving congenital heart procedures and set a standard for curiosity, collaboration, and excellence that continues to guide us today.
Milestones in Care
Vanderbilt has a long history of innovation and excellence in pediatric heart care, marked by groundbreaking achievements that continue to shape the field.
| 1930s | Alfred Blalock and Viven Thomas connect the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery, laying out the foundation for the future "blue baby" operation. |
| 1987 | Vanderbilt's first pediatric heart transplant. |
| 1989 | The first pediatric patient to receive Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) at Vanderbilt and in the state of Tennessee. |
| 2005 | Vanderbilt surgeons perform the 100th pediatric heart transplant at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. |
| 2009 | Establishment of the Vanderbilt Heart Biorepository, marking the beginning of genomic research on congenital heart defects at Vanderbilt. |
| 2010 | Tennessee's first pediatric Berlin Heart implantation at Vanderbilt. |
| 2013 | Tennessee's first ABO incompatible heart transplant in a 2-month-old patient at Vanderbilt. |
| 2022 | Tennessee's first pediatric Impella 5.5 implantation at Vanderbilt. |
| 2026 | Completed the first pediatric REUP DCD heart transplant, setting a new milestone in cardiac transplantation. |