Dr. Debra Dodd, the medical director of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, is retiring after nearly 40 years of service. She played a pivotal role in establishing the program, which began in 1987 and has since become one of the largest of its kind in the country. Dr. Dodd’s decision to stay in Nashville was influenced by the Southern hospitality she experienced during a visit and residency program search. Her love for children and the ever-evolving field of cardiology interventions kept her at Monroe Carell. She emphasized the importance of personalized care for each patient, finding the best solutions to significantly improve their lives. Dr. Dodd’s dedication and vision for transplanting infants and children helped propel the program into new territories, defying initial skepticism about transplants being viable options for the youngest patients. She leaves behind a legacy of training additional transplant doctors, as well as providing leadership, support, and a source of good judgment for colleagues and patients.
Throughout her career, Dr. Dodd has witnessed significant advancements in her field, from the use of echocardiograms to detect heart conditions to the ability to do genetic testing for diagnosis and therapeutic treatments. Excited about what lies ahead for pediatric cardiology and transplantation, she looks forward to hearing about the progress in the future. However, the time has come for Dr. Dodd to step back and focus on her own future. While she hasn’t decided what she will do next, she expresses a desire to explore activities outside of the hospital and continue her gardening and outdoor pursuits. Although she will miss her hospital life and patients, she remains forever connected to the hospital and the impact she has made on the lives of countless children and their families.
