Sebastian C. Tume, MD

Dr Tume is a Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. He serves as Medical Director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Texas Children's Hospital where he leads multidisciplinary initiatives focused on improving outcomes for children with complex congenital and acquired heart disease.

Dr. Tume's clinical and academic interests include pediatric cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support, hemodynamic monitoring, quality improvement, and the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence in critical care. He has led the development of innovative programs designed to enhance the recognition and management of cardiovascular instability and to advance collaborative care across cardiology, cardiac surgery, and intensive care disciplines.

In addition to his clinical leadership, Dr. Tume is actively involved in research, medical education, and faculty development. He mentors trainees and junior faculty, leads multidisciplinary quality and research initiatives, and has contributed extensively to the scientific literature in pediatric cardiac critical care. His work focuses on translating data-driven insights into practical strategies that improve patient care, support clinician decision-making, and advance the field of pediatric cardiovascular critical care.

Personal Statement

I am committed to advancing the care of children with critical cardiac illness through a high-performance, multidisciplinary approach grounded in collective intelligence and science-driven decision making. I believe that the best outcomes are achieved when diverse expertise is brought together. My philosophy of care is centered on building teams that leverage the strengths of physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, therapists, surgeons, cardiologists, and other health care professionals to make thoughtful, data-informed decisions for every patient and family we serve.

I view health care as a team sport and believe that no single individual possesses all the knowledge required to solve the increasingly complex challenges facing critically ill children. By fostering psychological safety, open communication, and multidisciplinary engagement, I strive to create systems that harness collective wisdom and translate evidence into meaningful improvements in patient outcomes. I am passionate about developing innovative approaches to the recognition and management of cardiovascular instability and ensuring that emerging evidence is rapidly integrated into clinical practice.

Outside of medicine, I cherish time with my family and enjoy outdoor activities, including skiing, hiking, and exploring nature. I am also proud to support TriWithHeart, a foundation dedicated to advancing research and education in pediatric cardiac critical care. Through fundraising and community engagement, I am honored to contribute to efforts that expand opportunities for discovery, innovation, and improved outcomes for children with heart disease.

Ultimately, my goal is to help build learning health systems that combine clinical excellence, scientific rigor, teamwork, and innovation to deliver the best possible care for children and families while advancing the future of pediatric cardiac critical care.

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Clinical Interests

Advanced hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical circulatory support, critical care imaging, cardiovascular physiology

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Education

School	Education	Degree	Year
University of Chicago	Fellowship	Pediatric Critical Care	2013
New York Methodist Hospital	Residency	Pediatrics	2010
Poznan University of Medical Sciences	Medical School	Doctor of Medicine	2006
Hofstra University	Bachelors	Bachelor of Science in Biology	2002

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Organizations

Organization Name	Role
American Academy of Pediatrics	Member

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Board Certification

Title
American Board of Pediatrics, Certification in Pediatric Bronchoscopy

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Honors and awards

2020

Shamrock Award for Promotion of Excellence in Quality and Safety, Texas Children's Hospital

2020

Star Award for Excellence in Patient Care, Baylor College of Medicine

2019

Heart Center Leadership Award, Texas Children’s Hospital

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* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.

Research interests

Use of advanced hemodynamics monitoring to optimize cardiac recovery, strategies to optimize clinical outcomes in patient supported with ventricular assist devices.

Tume SC, O’Byrne ML, Fudge C, Anders MM, Gupta D. Validation of minimally invasive and noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring in adolescents: The Pediatric Cardiac Output Monitoring Observational (POGO) Study. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 2026 Aug 1;27(8):986-997. PMID: 42560156

Rabinowitz EJ, Ghanayem N, Wright L, Bigelow AM, Govardhan SV, Neumayr TM, Perry T, Patel MD, Niebler RA, Engelhardt KP, Diaz I, Philip J, Butto A, Adachi I, Peng DM, Kwiatkowski D, Tume SC. Critical care management of right ventricular failure in pediatric left ventricular assist devices: An advanced cardiac therapies improving outcomes network (ACTION) endorsed statement. JHLT Open. 2025 Aug 5;10:100361. PMID: 40979520

Bronicki RA, Tume SC, Flores S, Loomba RS, Borges NM, Penny DJ, Burkhoff D. Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support: Insight from a Cardiovascular Simulator. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 2024 Dec 19. PMID: 39699282

Shugh SB, Tume SC, Bansal N, Dykes JC, Esch JJ, Jeewa A, Law S, O'Connor M, Parent JJ, Said AS, Scholl FG, Shezad MF, Morray BH; ACTION Investigators. Transcatheter Axial Pump Use in Pediatric Patients on Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An ACTION Collaborative Experience. ASAIO Journal. 2024 Jul 1;70(7):602-608. PMID: 38949774

Cho J, Tunuguntla HP, Tume SC, Spinner JA, Bocchini CE, Teruya J, Heinle JS, Hickey EJ, Adachi I. Long-term implantable ventricular assist device support in children. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2024 Apr;167(4):1417-1426 PMID: 37913838

Puri K, Jentzer JC, Spinner JA, Hope KD, Adachi I, Tume SC, Tunuguntla HP, Choudhry S, Cabrera AG, Price JF. Clinical Presentation, Classification, and Outcomes of Cardiogenic Shock in Children. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2024 Feb 6;83(5):595-608. PMID: 38296404

Bronicki RA, Tume SC, Flores S, Loomba RS, Borges NM, Penny DJ, Burkhoff D. The Cardiovascular System in Cardiogenic Shock: Insight From a Cardiovascular Simulator. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 2023 Sep 13. PMID: 37702585

Tume SC, Fuentes-Baldemar AA, Anders M, Spinner JA, Tunuguntla H, Imamura M, Razavi A, Hickey E, Stapleton G, Qureshi AM, Adachi I. Temporary ventricular assist device support with a catheter-based axial pump: Changing the paradigm at a pediatric heart center. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2022 Dec 24 PubMed PMID: 36681561