Juan Carlos Salazar, MD, MPH, professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Executive Vice President and physician-in-chief at Connecticut Children’s, has been named the chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and physician-in-chief for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Effective Aug. 15, his appointment will include professor of Pediatrics and the James C. Overall endowed chair.

A nationally and internationally recognized pediatric infectious diseases specialist and investigator, Salazar joins VUMC with more than three decades of experience in academic leadership, medical education and NIH-funded research. During his tenure with Connecticut Children’s and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, his leadership team has driven significant growth in clinical care, established a foundation for a new pediatric research institute and spearheaded significant increases in health services and research funding.

“Monroe Carell is a destination of hope for children and families throughout our region and across the nation seeking the highest level of care and is anchored by the broad and cutting-edge programs in our nation-leading Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Salazar, having served for more than a decade in leadership roles with Connecticut Children’s, is ideally suited to help us further advance our ambitious goals for child health,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
“As we welcome Dr. Salazar, I want to express my gratitude to Dr. William Cooper for his excellent service as interim chair and to the members of the search committee for their outstanding work.”

Vanderbilt’s Department of Pediatrics currently comprises some 460 primary faculty, 270 community-based volunteer faculty, 82 clinical fellows, 127 residents and over 300 administrative and research staff. The department is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation for NIH funding among departments of pediatrics.

The department provides care at 31 off-campus locations in a statewide network that includes clinics, after-hours care, emergency room coverage, specialty care, and support for several nurseries and neonatal intensive care units located within other hospitals across Tennessee. The department’s training programs continue to attract the best and brightest trainees from across the country and internationally.

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