Christopher Wootten, M.D., has been named director of the Pediatric Otolaryngology Service, supervising the treatment of ear, nose and throat-related disorders in children at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“Over Dr. Wootten’s 12-year relationship with Vanderbilt he has demonstrated exceptional leadership traits,” said Ron Eavey, M.D., director of the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center and the Guy M. Maness Professor of Otolaryngology. “He has the energy, vision and professional relationship skills to create the next level for Vanderbilt Pediatric Otolaryngology.”
Wootten is directing a group of six clinicians, the second busiest operative service in the Medical Center, with multiple specialties and subspecialties. He speaks with passion about treating laryngotracheal problems. He and others perform life-changing procedures such as surgeries that allow tracheostomy-dependent children to breathe without an appliance.
“I’m very excited to be in this position of leadership because I think we have a tremendous talent pool,” Wootten said. “I think growth is not a question but a necessity. I’m very excited about continuing to develop unique multispecialty service lines but also taking what we do off campus, moving our reach more and more broadly in the Middle Tennessee area and, at the same time, doing quality research and publication that elevates our service to a global level.”
Wootten, a native of the Oklahoma City area, completed his undergraduate studies at Birmingham Southern College, and graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He came to Vanderbilt as a resident in 2002 before becoming a fellow at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 2007.
He rejoined Vanderbilt in 2009 as an assistant professor and member of the Pediatric Otolaryngology clinic. That year, the clinic moved to its new home on the seventh floor of the Doctors’ Office Tower at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Prior to his appointment as director, Wootten had been serving as interim director of Pediatric Otolaryngology.
“Chris has done an outstanding job as the interim division director and we are very fortunate to have him permanently take on this role for Pediatric Otolaryngology,” said John W. Brock III, M.D., surgeon-in-chief for Children’s Hospital, the Monroe Carell Jr. Professor and director of the Division of Pediatric Urology.
“He is the consummate professional committed to collaboration across disciplines to provide the very best in care for the children and families we serve. I look forward to working with him in this new position and building on the successes of the department.”
