Monroe Carell has been featured on the Best Children’s Hospitals list for 19 consecutive years, dating back to the rankings’ launch in 2007.

The gift, provided through Ballerini’s Feel Your Way Through Charitable Fund, will benefit the hospital’s efforts to keep the children of Tennessee and beyond safe.

Squid, 7, is a part of the Canine Clinicians Facility Dog Program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. He provides support, comfort, motivation and care to patients and families.

There has been a growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents in Tennessee, where the suicide death rate among youth (ages 5-17) is 13.6% higher than the national average.

The new chair celebrated the department’s achievements and growth for the past year and set a vision for the future.

The Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Program is one of the largest in the country treating patients with heart problems from before birth through adulthood.