Welcome to the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

Letter from the Director

Kristina Betters, MD

Welcome to the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt—where exceptional, evidence-based care, innovative research, and outstanding education come together to advance the care of critically ill children.

Our division provides highly specialized care for infants and children from birth through adulthood in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. The 42-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) serves children with complex medical conditions and those recovering from a wide range of surgical procedures, including trauma, neurosurgery, and otolaryngology. Monroe Carell is a Level 1 pediatric trauma center and a high-volume referral center with a robust solid organ transplant program, including liver and kidney transplantation, as well as nationally recognized programs in oncology, hematology, and burn care.

We are deeply committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based, patient- and family-centered care, guided by the latest scientific knowledge and best clinical practices. Our faculty partner closely with pediatric subspecialists and multidisciplinary care support across Vanderbilt to ensure coordinated, compassionate, and outcomes-driven care for every child.

Contact the Division of Critical Care Medicine

Mailing Address
Division of Critical Care Medicine
Doctors' Office Tower, Suite 5121
2200 Children's Way
Nashville, TN 37232

For Physician Patient Referrals: (615) 936-4444

    • Comprehensive Neurocritical Care for children with neurologic emergencies and brain injury
    • Critical care support for solid organ transplant and oncology/hematology patients, including management of complex immunologic and treatment-related complications
    • ICU liberation–focused care, emphasizing early mobilization, delirium prevention and management, sedation optimization, and family engagement to improve both short- and long-term outcomes
    • Rapid Response and Code Teams for hospital-wide emergencies
    • A pediatric-specific critical care transport program, providing specialized, high-acuity transport for critically ill infants and children
    • A pediatric critical care outreach team, facilitated by experienced critical care advanced practice providers and overseen by critical care faculty, extending critical care expertise beyond the PICU to enhance early recognition and management of patient deterioration

Pediatric Critical Care Research Team

Driving Innovation through Research

We maintain a strong portfolio of clinical and translational research programs aimed at improving both short- and long-term outcomes of critical illness. Faculty lead investigations in vascular biology, cytokine signaling, sepsis, acute neurologic therapies, ICU Liberation including delirium, sedation and early mobilization strategies. Our work reflects a commitment to translating scientific discovery into better, evidence-based care at the bedside.

Pediatric Critical Care Training

Training Future Leaders

Our Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship program recruits four fellows annually for comprehensive, three-year training. We cultivate a dynamic learning environment that emphasizes clinical excellence, scholarly inquiry, mentorship, empathy, leadership development, professionalism and life-long learning. Trainees benefit from close faculty collaboration, exposure to high-acuity and diverse clinical cases, and training in both the PICU and Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our clinical programs, research initiatives, and training opportunities. Please contact us to learn how we can collaborate in advancing the care of critically ill children.

Best regards,

Krisitna A. Betters, MD
Director, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Associate Professor of Pediatrics