Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital achieves ‘Straight A’ safety designation From The Leapfrog Group

This achievement awards VBH the “Straight A” designation, highlighting its continuous commitment to safeguarding patients from preventable harm and enhancing their quality of care.

By VUMC News and Communications

Only half of young cancer patients report discussing fertility preservation

Young patients with thyroid, lung, ovarian and colorectal cancers reported the lowest prevalence of a fertility preservation discussion.

By Tom Wilemon

Southern Environmental Health Study recruiting participants 

People who sign up can help researchers assess whether environmental factors may be the culprits behind the region’s higher cancer burden.

By Tom Wilemon

People with schizophrenia show distinct brain activity when faced with conflicting information

Researchers introduce a biomarker to indicate whether someone is struggling with the inflexible thinking associated with the disorder.

By Joseph Caputo

Patient voices critical to success of artificial intelligence in health care

Sponsored by the Department of Biomedical Informatics, the symposium showcased the work of the department’s center for AI Discovery and Vigilance to Accelerate Innovation and Clinical Excellence.

By Bill Snyder

VUMC plays active role in training today’s military medical personnel

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is extensively involved in partnerships with the military that both assist individuals as they transition out of service to be civilian veterans and help active-duty military medical personnel maintain their critical skills needed during deployment.

By Jill Clendening

Vanderbilt’s Laurie Novak elected fellow of ACMI

Novak is an anthropologist specializing in the cultural intersection of technology with everyday life and work. Her projects currently focus on the implementation of artificial intelligence in medicine.

By Mia Garchitorena-Scancarelli

Pediatric Gene Therapy Workgroup honored for defining personalized care for children

“The focus and dedication of this team has driven the early success of our program and has put us at the forefront among centers offering these innovative therapies across the country.”

By Nancy Humphrey

Genetic risk, sexual trauma associated with mental illness: study

Evaluating how genetic risk interacts with environmental risk factors such as sexual trauma is important for understanding how mental illness develops and identifying high-risk groups for early intervention.

By Leigh MacMillan

Blockbuster obesity drugs also may slow kidney disease

The report supports previous clinical trials that found the GLP-1 receptor agonist drug semaglutide reduced kidney disease progression in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

By Bill Snyder

VUMC, Nigeria teaching hospital to study genetic risk of fibroids based on regional African ancestry

The research team will analyze existing genome-wide association study data and RNA sequencing to compare fibroid development patterns in Nigerian women and U.S. Black women, which could point to targeted therapies and management strategies for affected women.

By Kristin Centers

All of Us tour stops at VUMC Oct. 22-25

The All of Us Research Program brings the future of health to VUMC and Nashville. 

Award program celebrates improvement work across the VUMC enterprise

The overall winner was a project at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to prevent peripheral IV infiltrations and extravasations.

By Paul Govern

Anna Person honored for teaching by Infectious Diseases Society of America

Person, an award citation reads in part, “has been a champion for empathy and equity in caring for patients. … She models for her learners how to compassionately care and advocate for marginalized populations.”

By Paul Govern

Grant bolsters nursing workforce retention programs

The new grant will incorporate a two-hour training session that focuses on an aspect of healthy work environments and health equity.

By Matt Batcheldor

Kimberlyn Ellis selected as 2024 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar

Ellis is a computational geneticist with a long-term goal of bridging genomics, bioethics and health policy to promote equitable precision medicine for minority populations.

By Leigh MacMillan