Meet Our Heart Institute Team
The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital uses the combined expertise of an advanced pediatric cardiac team to provide specialized care and pediatric cardiac surgery for children with congenital heart disease. Pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac intensivists, pediatric intensivists and anesthesiologists make up the Heart Institute. Advanced practice nurses, perfusionists, cardiac nurses, respiratory therapists and lab and imaging technicians are specially trained in pediatric cardiology care. Our pediatric cardiology specialists are specially trained, and Le Bonheur's Heart Institute is nationally recognized by "U.S. News & World Report" as a top pediatric cardiology program, with top 20 rankings in the past five years.
Heart Institute Leadership
Dr. Knott-Craig is the co-director of the Heart Institute, professor and chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and The Susan and Alan Graf Endowed Chair in Pediatric Heart Surgery at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and ¶¶ÒõÂþ». He is certified by the South African Medical & Dental Council in Cardiothoracic Surgery and specializes in minimally invasive valve surgery, infant cardiac surgery and has pioneered surgical treatments for Ebstein’s anomaly. Dr. Knott-Craig is a founding member of the World Society of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery and recipient of South Africa's Officio tua Dilligmus Award for humanitarian service in the field of medicine.
Dr. Towbin serves as executive co-director of Le Bonheur’s Heart Institute, chief of Pediatric Cardiology for ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and is the Bob and Paula McEniry Endowed Chair of Cardiology. Dr Towbin is also medical director of cardiomyopathy, heart failure, mechanical circulatory support (ventricular assist devices [VADs]), cardio-oncology, cardio-hematology and heart transplant at ¶¶ÒõÂþ», the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Dr. Towbin specializes in diagnostic and therapeutic advances for cardiomyopathies (heart muscle disease), heart failure, heart transplantation and cardiovascular genetics. His research work and clinical expertise in pediatric heart failure, which has generated over 580 published manuscripts, is internationally known, and he is widely considered a leader in pediatric cardiology specifically in the area of cardiomyopathy care for children. Dr. Towbin is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty.
Cardiology
Dr. Absi is a dual-specialty trained pediatric cardiologist and cardiac intensive care physician who trained at ¶¶ÒõÂþ». More recently, he received expert training in cardiomyopathy and mechanical circulation support (ventricular assist devices; VADs) at Texas Children's Hospital. Dr. Absi is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty and is an associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Absi is medical director of Mechanical Circulatory Support, which includes ventricular assist devices (VADs), at ¶¶ÒõÂþ».
Dr. Bhimani is a pediatric cardiologist with special expertise in advanced cardiac imaging. She completed her fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at Cleveland Clinic and in Advanced Cardiac Imaging at the University of Florida. Dr. Bhimani is a member of the American Society of Echocardiography, Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Fetal Heart Society and American Heart Association.
Dr. Guerrier is director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) Program and also directs the cardiac rhythm device management, pacemakers and automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) at Le Bonheur. She also is an interventional electrophysiologist with advanced training in this subspecialty. She completed her training in pediatric cardiology and pediatric electrophysiology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Guerrier is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty. She is an associate professor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Dr. Gutierrez is a pediatric cardiologist with special training in Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology. She is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She completed fellowships in Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Electrophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital.
Dr. Harvey is an assistant professor of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed his fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Harvey is a member of the American Heart Association.
Dr. Hendrickson is an assistant professor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the ¶¶ÒõÂþ» Heart Institute. He completed a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles Mattel Children's Hospital followed by a fellowship in Adult Congenital Heart Disease at the Ohio State University Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty, by the American Board of Internal Medicine with a cardiology subspecialty and by the American Board of Internal Medicine with a subspecialty in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.
Dr. Hussain is a pediatric cardiologist with the Heart Institute at Le Bonheur. He is a professor at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed fellowships in Pediatric Cardiology at Washington University at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and State University of New York at Buffalo Children's Hospital of Buffalo.
Dr. Johnson is the associate chief of Cardiology in the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty. He is an associate professor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. His areas of focus are non-invasive imaging including advanced echocardiography, fetal cardiology and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI). Dr. Johnson is also the director of the cMRI program at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Dr. Joshi is medical director of Noninvasive Cardiology in the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty and specializes in fetal cardiac imaging, echocardiography and sports-related cardiology.
Dr. Molloy is a pediatric cardiologist with the Heart Institute at Le Bonheur. She specializes in interventional cardiology. Dr. Molloy completed fellowships in Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Interventional Cardiology at ¶¶ÒõÂþ». She is an instructor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Dr. Merlocco is a pediatric cardiologist with expertise in pediatric cardiac imaging and special training in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI). He completed his Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital at Harvard Medical School and his advanced Cardiac Imaging and cMRI fellowship subspecialty training at Children's National Medical Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty. Dr. Merlocco is also an associate professor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ».
Dr. Miller is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She completed a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and in Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Dr. Naik is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty, is the director of the fetal cardiology program and is an associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Naik completed his Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and his Advanced Imaging in Cardiac MRI (cMRI) in the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ». He specializes in non-invasive imaging including cMRI, fetal echocardiography, advanced echocardiography and stress echocardiography. Dr. Naik is a member of the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Fetal Heart Society, American Society of Echocardiography and the American College of Cardiology.
Dr. Ranjit Philip is an associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Philip completed his fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He has expertise in general pediatric cardiology and non-invasive imaging and serves as director of the Pediatric Cardiology Outpatient Clinic in the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ». Dr. Philip is also team cardiologist for the University of Memphis.
Dr. Rebolledo has expertise in general pediatric cardiology and non-invasive imaging, including transthoracic, transesophageal and fetal echocardiography. He is an associate professor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty. Dr. Rebolledo is the director of the Pediatric Fellowship Office at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and ¶¶ÒõÂþ».
Dr. Ryan is a specially-trained pediatric cardiologist with advanced training in cardiomyopathy, heart failure and heart transplant care. She completed her fellowship training in Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» Heart Institute. She is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty.
Dr. Sathanandam is the director of Cardiac Catheterization and Cardiac Intervention in the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty. He specializes in interventional cardiology, and he developed transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) at the bedside in extremely low birthweight premature infants. He also has expertise in heart valve implantation and catheter-based interventions for complex congenital heart disease. Dr. Sathanandam is an associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Dr. Surendran is a member of the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» with expertise in general pediatric cardiology and non-invasive imaging and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty. She is an assistant professor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Dr. Swaminathan is an associate professor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She is a member of the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» with expertise in general pediatric cardiology and non-invasive imaging and specializes in fetal echocardiography. Dr. Swaminathan is the associate program director of the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship for the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty. Prior to joining the Heart Institute faculty, Dr. Swaminathan completed her Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is member of the American Society of Echocardiography, Fetal Heart Society, American Academy of Pediatrics and Association of Pediatric Program Directors.
Dr. Tailor is a pediatric cardiologist with specialty training in cardiac catheterization and intervention and is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Tailor completed his fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» before doing his specialty training in Cardiac Catheterization and Intervention at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center in New York.
Dr. Waller is the medical director of Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) within the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and is dual certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty and an ACHD specialty. Dr. Waller also specializes in interventional pediatric cardiology. He is a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Dr. Walsh is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dr. Walsh is a member of the International Pediatric Hypertension Association, associate member of the National Lipid Association and a member of the American Heart Association.
Dr. Yohannan specializes in general pediatric cardiology and non-invasive imaging. Dr. Yohannan is the medical director of inpatient pediatric cardiology within the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and the director of the pediatric cardiology fellowship for the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty and is an associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Pediatric Cardiac Intensivists
Dr. Briceno-Medina is a pediatric cardiac intensivist in the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ». He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, and is an assistant professor with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Briceno-Medina completed his Pediatric Cardiology fellowship and advanced specialty training in Cardiac Intensive care at ¶¶ÒõÂþ».
Dr. Chakraborty is an assistant professor of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed fellowships in Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, followed by Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology. He is a pediatric cardiac intensivist and a pediatric cardiologist at the single ventricle clinic. Dr. Chakraborty is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Cardiology. He is also a member of the American Heart Association, the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society and the Society of Pediatric Research.
Dr. Kramer is a dual-trained, triple-boarded cardiac critical care intensivist who is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatrics, with a cardiology subspecialty and a critical care subspecialty. Dr. Kramer completed fellowships in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and Pediatric Cardiology at Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland before joining the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ».
Dr. Karki is a dual-trained, double-boarded pediatric cardiac critical care intensivist and assistant professor of Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed his Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» before joining the Le Bonheur Children's Heart Institute. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine and is a member of the Pediatrics Cardiac Intensive Care Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Karikari is a pediatric cardiac critical care intensivist. She completed her Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois and her Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care fellowship at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a cardiology subspecialty.
Dr. Nelson is the director of the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Program and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) for Le Bonheur's Heart Institute and a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at the University of Washington. He completed fellowships in Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Critical Care at Harvard University, Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Nelson is a member of the American Heart Association, Society of Critical Care Medicine and Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Dr. Boston is the surgical director of the Heart Transplant and Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program, as well as surgical director of Le Bonheur's Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Program, within the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ». He specializes in the surgical care of infants, children and young adults with complex congenital heart disease and in mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation of infants, children and young adults with all forms of heart failure, whether caused by heart muscle disease or complex congenital heart disease. Dr. Boston is a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
Lindsey Bird is a doctor of Nursing Practice and an acute care nurse practitioner in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at ¶¶ÒõÂþ». She is board certified in Pediatric Acute Care and is a certified nurse educator. Lindsey earned a Master of Science from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (with highest honors) and a post-Master's certificate in Pediatric Acute Care from Vanderbilt University. She earned her doctor of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University.
Ryan Stephens is a nurse practitioner for the Adolescent-Adult Congenital Heart Disease (AACHD) Program at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» and a faculty member of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing. Stephens is also the primary nurse practitioner for Adolescent Cardiology, Sports and Exercise Cardiology and directs the Transition Education Clinic (TEC) for patients moving from pediatric cardiac care to adult congenital cardiac care.
Jenny Strelsin is a pediatric acute care nurse practitioner in the Heart Institute at ¶¶ÒõÂþ» with clinical expertise in the care of infants, children, teens and young adults with cardiomyopathy, heart failure, mechanical circulatory support/ventricular assist devices (MCS/VADs) and heart transplantation. Streslin is an associate instructor at the University of Tennessee Health Science College of Nursing. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing and Pediatric Acute Care -BC from the University of South Alabama.
Perfusionists and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
Perfusionists
Jerry Allen, CCP, Chief Perfusionist
Eliot Paschalis, CCP
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
Gordon Corder, CRNA
Genevieve DuPuis, CRNA
Kim Graves, CRNA
Janet Sessums, CRNA