John P. Scott

Dr. John P. Scott is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, serving as Division Chief of Pediatric Anesthesiology at Children's Wisconsin. He holds dual appointments in both the Department of Anesthesiology and the Department of Pediatrics, with specialization in Pediatric Critical Care. Dr. Scott directs the Pediatric Liver Transplant Anesthesia program and serves as Associate Program Director for the Combined Pediatrics and Anesthesiology Residency Training Program.

Dr. Scott's research focuses on improving outcomes for children undergoing congenital heart surgery, with particular expertise in hemostasis management during cardiopulmonary bypass, near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring, and the use of cell-free DNA as a biomarker for predicting adverse outcomes. His work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of inflammatory responses in infant heart surgery, most notably through his involvement in the landmark STRESS trial.

His publication record demonstrates a clear progression from foundational research on coagulation disorders and monitoring techniques to large-scale clinical trials and biomarker discovery. The most recent publications (2023-2025) focus on sub-analyses of the STRESS trial data, novel applications of cell-free DNA biomarkers, and optimization of anesthesia techniques for complex congenital heart conditions.

• Summa Cum Laude, University of Notre Dame (1995)
• Phi Beta Kappa (1996)
• Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (1999)
• Ernest O. Henschel MD Memorial Outstanding Resident Award (2004)
• James R. Schmidt MD Memorial Chief Resident Award (2006)
• Milwaukee Magazine's Top-Rated Doctors (2013-2014)
• Best Doctors (2015-2020)

Dr. Scott has successfully mentored numerous residents and fellows through the Combined Pediatrics and Anesthesiology Residency program. His research is supported by multiple grants including an NIH UO1-funded clinical trial and an AHW-Research and Education Program grant focused on cell-free DNA biomarkers. He has developed innovative clinical programs including the Pediatric Cardiac Surgical Home, which has improved postoperative outcomes for children with congenital heart disease.

As Division Chief of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Dr. Scott leads a multidisciplinary team focused on providing specialized anesthesia care for children undergoing complex surgical procedures, particularly in cardiac surgery and liver transplantation. His laboratory research focuses on identifying biomarkers that can predict adverse outcomes following pediatric cardiac surgery, with the goal of developing targeted interventions to improve patient safety.