Patient Sekou Toure works on a painting during a Recovery Art Workshop at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Artwork created by Sekou Toure sits out for inspiration during the workshop. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Roz Baxter and Marcus Moore, patients, talk about their artwork during the workshop. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Roz Baxter works on her painting. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Patient Marcus Moore speaks with recovery coaches Dakota Austin, left, and Lillia Larson about his art. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Patient Sekou Toure works on a painting during a Recovery Art Workshop at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Mental Health

Healing Through Expression: Young Adults’ Journey in Recovery Art Workshop (slideshow)

The class was created by a specialty team that works with young adults who have experienced their first hospitalization or episode of psychosis within the past two years.
By Danny Bonvissuto
(iStock image)
Cancer

Study finds navigational bronchoscopy as effective and safer alternative to transthoracic biopsy for lung nodules  
By Craig Boerner and Holly Fletcher 
Christopher Wootten, MD, examines patient Jude Downer during an ear nose and throat visit. (photo by Jessica Pasley)
Pediatrics

Implantable device helps young patients with obstructive sleep apnea
By Jessica Pasley
First Person

“This could happen any day.” Volunteers and staff pitch in for the first large-scale mass casualty drill held at VUMC in 15 years.
By Evan Dorian
Imaging

Vanderbilt Imaging Services Bellevue opens, expands capabilities in West Nashville
By Holly Fletcher

News Releases

View All ›

New study highlights improved treatment approach for people with mild asthma

A multicenter trial found that adding budesonide, an inhaled steroid, to albuterol significantly reduced severe asthma attacks compared to using albuterol alone.

By Christina Echegaray
(iStock)

New clinic focuses on pediatric feeding and swallowing issues

Feeding and swallowing problems, known as dysphagia, occur in an estimated 25% to 45% of normally developing children.

By Jessica Pasley

Newer preventive options helping reduce RSV-associated hospitalization rates among infants

For decades no effective preventive options existed, and the tools now exist to prevent severe disease.

By Jessica Pasley

Veterans with depression have increased risk of heart failure: study

The findings give patients and clinicians have another reason to screen for and treat depression in order to prevent potential future heart failure.

By Matt Batcheldor

New study highlights improved treatment approach for people with mild asthma

A multicenter trial found that adding budesonide, an inhaled steroid, to albuterol significantly reduced severe asthma attacks compared to using albuterol alone.

By Christina Echegaray
(iStock)

New clinic focuses on pediatric feeding and swallowing issues

Feeding and swallowing problems, known as dysphagia, occur in an estimated 25% to 45% of normally developing children.

By Jessica Pasley

Newer preventive options helping reduce RSV-associated hospitalization rates among infants

For decades no effective preventive options existed, and the tools now exist to prevent severe disease.

By Jessica Pasley

Veterans with depression have increased risk of heart failure: study

The findings give patients and clinicians have another reason to screen for and treat depression in order to prevent potential future heart failure.

By Matt Batcheldor
View All

Explore VUSM’s pioneering history

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt turns 20🎉

In 2004, three floors moved out of Vanderbilt University Hospital and into a different building. Demand soared. Now, that building is a 12-floor, 325-bed state-of-the-art hospital, with more beds coming later this year. Middle Tennessee’s first full-service children’s hospital is commemorating its mission of caring for children and their families.

Read More
1 of 11
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt patient Arlo, joined by his twin brother, Luca, took the ice for the Feb. 27 Hockey Fights Cancer game to drop the puck for Predators’ forward Filip Forsberg, left, and Jets’ center Adam Lowry. (photo by John Russell)

Nashville Predators host second Hockey Fights Cancer night of the season

By Crystal Brownell
Facility dog Velour with Kaylor Glassman, MS, left, and Meredith George, MEd, CCLS. (photo by Susan Urmy)

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt welcomes new facility dog Velour

By Jessica Pasley

Primary Care Autism Team honored for developing new care pathway

By Leigh MacMillan
(photo by Erin O. Smith)

Rare pancreas diagnosis, rare treatment: Surgeons perform robotic Whipple procedure for pediatric patient

By Jessica Pasley

Expanded space enhances care for pediatric cancer patients

By Nancy Humphrey

Juan Carlos Salazar named chair of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

By John Howser
Janet Cross, MEd, CCLS, CPXP, right, with Med Rush, MD, at a recent event celebrating Cross’ career. (photo by Susan Urmy)

Janet Cross retiring from Vanderbilt after four decades of attending to children’s psychological, emotional and developmental needs

By Christina Echegaray

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘She devoted every second to saving my daughter’s life, and she did so with grace, love and a smile.’

By Kylie Avery
The Puricelli family hosted A Night of Harmony for Healing to raise funds for the Webb of Hope Fund at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Pictured here, from left, are Eleanor, Anne, Charlotte, Webb and Steve Puricelli. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Special night supports pediatric rare lung disease research efforts

By Sarah Thornton

There goes the sun

By Paul Govern
Pediatric gaming and technology specialist Graden Knapp. (photo by Donn Jones)

Employee ‘levels up’ skills to enhance pediatric hospital experience

By Jessica Pasley
Read More

Research

View All ›
Monica Santisteban, PhD

Monica Santisteban awarded grant from BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program

Santisteban’s research project will investigate whether the renin angiotensin system plays an important role in the progression of pathology in Alzheimer’s disease.

Study reveals sedentary behavior is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers found that increased sedentary behavior in aging adults was associated with worse cognition and brain shrinkage in areas related to risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

By Stephanie Bryan

VoLo Foundation grant supports Southern Environmental Health Study

The grant will allow investigators to recruit additional participants and conduct methylation- and proteomics-based biological aging assays to check for biomarkers of early disease risk.

By Tom Wilemon
Jill Simmons, MD, and John Shelley found that adding a genetic measure of height to the evaluation of children with short stature might improve diagnosis and clinical outcomes. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Polygenic score for height could improve diagnosis for children with short stature: study

Even after comprehensive testing, about 30% of children with short stature — height below the third percentile on a growth chart — do not have a definitive diagnosis, leading to extended surveillance, testing and anxiety.

By Leigh MacMillan
Monica Santisteban, PhD

Monica Santisteban awarded grant from BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program

Santisteban’s research project will investigate whether the renin angiotensin system plays an important role in the progression of pathology in Alzheimer’s disease.

Study reveals sedentary behavior is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers found that increased sedentary behavior in aging adults was associated with worse cognition and brain shrinkage in areas related to risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

By Stephanie Bryan

VoLo Foundation grant supports Southern Environmental Health Study

The grant will allow investigators to recruit additional participants and conduct methylation- and proteomics-based biological aging assays to check for biomarkers of early disease risk.

By Tom Wilemon
Jill Simmons, MD, and John Shelley found that adding a genetic measure of height to the evaluation of children with short stature might improve diagnosis and clinical outcomes. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Polygenic score for height could improve diagnosis for children with short stature: study

Even after comprehensive testing, about 30% of children with short stature — height below the third percentile on a growth chart — do not have a definitive diagnosis, leading to extended surveillance, testing and anxiety.

By Leigh MacMillan
View All

Community & Giving

View All ›

VUMC volunteer Nicholas Joy wins Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award

The Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award recognizes individuals or groups who have made a lasting impact on the community through their volunteerism.

By Wayne Wood
Team Vanderbilt turned out in force for the 2025 Wilson County Heart Walk. (photo by Donn Jones)

Photo gallery: Wilson County Heart Walk

The event supported heart health awareness and benefited the American Heart Association.

By Donn Jones
After being diagnosed with severe preeclampsia thanks to a blood pressure check at the 2024 Celebration of Motherhood, Jamye and Austin Willé spent a month in VUH and 89 days in the NICU at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt with their daughter, Akemi.

Celebration of Motherhood was a life-changing experience for one expectant mother and her baby

The community event on Saturday, April 12, celebrates the courage and beauty of motherhood.

By Danny Bonvissuto
Each room of the new space at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt allows for rooming-in options for families seeking overnight accommodations. (photo by Susan Urmy)

Final floor’s opening completes expansion of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Monroe Carell now has a footprint of more than 1 million square feet and 363 beds, making it the largest pediatric hospital in Tennessee.

By Christina Echegaray

VUMC volunteer Nicholas Joy wins Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award

The Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award recognizes individuals or groups who have made a lasting impact on the community through their volunteerism.

By Wayne Wood
Team Vanderbilt turned out in force for the 2025 Wilson County Heart Walk. (photo by Donn Jones)

Photo gallery: Wilson County Heart Walk

The event supported heart health awareness and benefited the American Heart Association.

By Donn Jones
After being diagnosed with severe preeclampsia thanks to a blood pressure check at the 2024 Celebration of Motherhood, Jamye and Austin Willé spent a month in VUH and 89 days in the NICU at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt with their daughter, Akemi.

Celebration of Motherhood was a life-changing experience for one expectant mother and her baby

The community event on Saturday, April 12, celebrates the courage and beauty of motherhood.

By Danny Bonvissuto
Each room of the new space at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt allows for rooming-in options for families seeking overnight accommodations. (photo by Susan Urmy)

Final floor’s opening completes expansion of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Monroe Carell now has a footprint of more than 1 million square feet and 363 beds, making it the largest pediatric hospital in Tennessee.

By Christina Echegaray
View All

Tech & Health

View All ›

Where are all the Alzheimer’s drugs?

A new study will use innovative methods developed at VUMC to look for drugs already approved for other uses that could potentially be repurposed to treat Alzheimer’s.

By Paul Govern

VUMC to develop AI technology for therapeutic antibody discovery

The approach will address “bottlenecks” that slow the traditional antibody discovery process, and it aims to make it possible to generate monoclonal antibody therapies against any target of interest.

By Leigh MacMillan

Team finds a better way to identify newborns at risk for opioid withdrawal

By 2017, on the back of the opioid crisis, the rate of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in the U.S. was estimated to have reached 7.3 per 1000 deliveries. Meanwhile, many newborns exposed to opioids in utero never develop the syndrome and must undergo needless monitoring in the hospital after birth.

By Paul Govern

Digital pathology aims to unlock secrets hidden in tissue samples

The pilot project, which is expected to digitize 500,000 slides over three years, aims to open avenues for research, assist with access to whole-slide images for education and clinical meetings (of tumor boards, for example), and facilitate planning for the implementation of digital pathology for diagnostic purposes. 

By Leigh MacMillan (video by Erin O. Smith and Donn Jones)

Where are all the Alzheimer’s drugs?

A new study will use innovative methods developed at VUMC to look for drugs already approved for other uses that could potentially be repurposed to treat Alzheimer’s.

By Paul Govern

VUMC to develop AI technology for therapeutic antibody discovery

The approach will address “bottlenecks” that slow the traditional antibody discovery process, and it aims to make it possible to generate monoclonal antibody therapies against any target of interest.

By Leigh MacMillan

Team finds a better way to identify newborns at risk for opioid withdrawal

By 2017, on the back of the opioid crisis, the rate of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in the U.S. was estimated to have reached 7.3 per 1000 deliveries. Meanwhile, many newborns exposed to opioids in utero never develop the syndrome and must undergo needless monitoring in the hospital after birth.

By Paul Govern

Digital pathology aims to unlock secrets hidden in tissue samples

The pilot project, which is expected to digitize 500,000 slides over three years, aims to open avenues for research, assist with access to whole-slide images for education and clinical meetings (of tumor boards, for example), and facilitate planning for the implementation of digital pathology for diagnostic purposes. 

By Leigh MacMillan (video by Erin O. Smith and Donn Jones)
View All