Dr. Karla Jean Godw Christian, MD

Dr. Karla Christian is a thoracic surgeon who also specializes in plastic surgery, bringing 45 years of experience to her practice. She earned her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine and has dedicated her career to complex surgical procedures. Dr. Christian is fluent in both English and Spanish, enabling her to communicate effectively with diverse patient populations.

Dr. Christian practices at Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, where she focuses on treating children with congenital heart disease and heart wall defects. She performs specialized procedures including heart defect repairs and the placement of arterial lines for monitoring. Her expertise extends to treating conditions such as patent foramen ovale, a heart opening that sometimes requires surgical intervention. Patients have given Dr. Christian an average rating of 4.0, reflecting their confidence in her surgical skills and patient care.