Pediatric Critical Care Division: Chief's Message
Dr. Kanwaljeet “Sunny” Anand: Division Chief of Critical Care Medicine, Pediatrics
The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at UTHSC, which incorporates the academic programs at Le Bonheur and St. Jude Children’s Hospitals, is at the threshold of unprecedented success and growth. The clinical program cares for 1,400-1,700 acutely ill patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), 150-200 patients with chronic medical conditions in the Transitional Care Unit (TCU), 300-350 postoperative cardiac patients in the Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, as well as 250-300 immune-compromised patients in the PICU at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The research program includes bench research on the neurobiology of pain/stress in early life, cellular physiology of pulmonary conditions like asthma, myocardial physiology in sepsis, and the immunobiology of bacterial infections, as well as a variety of clinical research projects.
Teaching activities include a vibrant fellowship program (one of the first in the country), the training of pediatric residents, as well as fellows from pediatric emergency medicine, pediatric surgery, pediatric anesthesiology, and other programs. Trainees in these programs are exposed to traditional bedside and didactic teaching, technical/procedural skills using ultrasound- or video-guidance, web-based learning modules, and hi-fidelity simulation programs.
Collectively, the CCM Division seeks to accomplish the following broad goals: (1) To build a cohesive and well-coordinated team, based on a shared vision and core values; (2) To focus the research efforts of faculty and fellows into theme-oriented, hypothesis-driven research, worthy of state or federal funding and publication in high-impact journals; and (3) To mature from regional to national prominence in the field of Pediatric Critical Care, by achieving excellence in clinical care, cutting-edge research, and innovative teaching programs. Later this year, our programs will be enhanced after we move into new, state-of-the-art facilities at Le Bonheur Children’s, including a 20-bed PICU, a 21-bed Intermediate Care Unit, and a 10-bed CVICU – supporting an expansion of clinical, research, and teaching programs.
Our philosophy is based on creative energy, enthusiasm, and optimism. “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.” We believe in seeing opportunity in every difficulty, rather than difficulty in every opportunity. Goals labeled as impossible, in fact, say “i’m-possible” to the positive thinker. Come visit us, or join us, to experience the camaraderie and creativity in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, as we “make miracles happen” in the lives of children.
