Children's Hospital at Erlanger
Getting to the Heart
of the Matter
For Dr. Wesley Davis, no two days are alike. As a pediatric cardiologist, he juggles inpatient and hospital duties with seeing patients in the clinic – and it’s his patients that make his job so special. “Getting to work with children is fun because they are resilient when they’re sick and make me laugh when they’re well,” Dr. Davis says. “And then the anatomy and physiology of congenital heart disease is challenging and interesting; there is always something different to figure out.” Dr. Davis has been practicing pediatric cardiology since 2011, and over the years, he’s learned that while awards are appreciated, he prefers a different kind of reward at the end of the day. “If a child and their family feel like they get good care when they come to our clinic, and they leave with all their questions answered, I am happy,” he says.
I try to do for my patients what I would want somebody to do for my own kids."
My Credentials
Medical Degree:
Medical College of Georgia – Augusta, GA
Certifications:
General Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology, American Board of Pediatrics
Recognitions:
Baroness Award for Teaching Excellence, 2018
Top 5 Pediatrics Faculty Teaching Award, 2018 – 2019
My Specialties
General Non-Invasive Pediatric Cardiology
1. What sets your practice apart?
We see a wide age range of patients with heart disease, from prior to their birth all the way into adulthood. We also have several in-office tests, such as EKG and echocardiograms, that help us take care of these children.
2. What do you love most about your profession?
I’ve always enjoyed the detective work of getting to diagnose congenital heart disease, helping to plan what needs to be done – whether it’s medications or interventions – and then getting to see the child grow up healthy afterward.
3. What is your best advice for patients?
Nobody knows your child better than you do. If you think there is something going on, get it checked out.
4. What do you see as the most exciting new development for your profession?
Over the last 5-10 years, there have been a lot of great technological advances with echocardiography. We are now able to see amazing detail of small hearts and some 3D capabilities. In addition, there are many interventional procedures that can now be done in the catheterization lab instead of open-heart surgery.
5. What’s the key to making a great first impression?
I think it’s important to show the patient and their family that you are willing to listen to their concerns and validate why they are in your office to see you. Even if it is nothing major, worrying that your child could have a heart problem can be a scary thing.
- 423.778.5437
- 900 East 3rd Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403
- childrensaterlanger.org
