Nineteen leaders have been named as holders of directorships at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“Directorships help support the important work of these talented and dedicated individuals as they provide compassionate care, advance innovative research, and train future generations of leaders,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “The new directorship holders have a great deal in common — each is respected as a national leader in her or his field; each is incredibly passionate about their work; and each is vital to our mission to cultivate future leaders.”
Individuals and families who support VUMC’s mission are crucial philanthropic partners to fund directorships through gifts.
“My family and I feel so honored to play a part in recognizing these incredible physicians,” said Becky Long, who established the Dr. William R. Long Directorship in Pediatric Research and the Dr. William R. Long Directorship in Children’s Health Policy, in honor of her late husband, a longtime Nashville pediatrician.
“We have been fortunate to meet Dr. Jonathan Soslow and Dr. Stephen Patrick and learn about their important work. They share the same passion for helping children and their families as my husband did. He would be thrilled to support them in this way,” Long said.
The most recent directorships are spread throughout many different departments — highlighting individuals who impact patient care in myriad ways. Holders of VUMC’s newest directorships are:
Angela Jefferson, PhD, holder of the Herbert O. and Vineta Christopher Directorship — Established through support from Herbert O. Christopher in memory of his wife, Vineta Christopher.
Jonathan Soslow, MD, MSCI, holder of the Dr. William R. Long Directorship in Pediatric Research — Established through support from Rebecca (Becky) Long and family in memory of William R. Long, MD.
Paul Sternberg Jr., MD, holder of the Joan and Jack Jordan Directorship in Ocular Oncology — Established through support from Joan and Jack Jordan.
Muktar Aliyu, MBBS, DrPH, MPH, holder of the Directorship in Global Heath.
John Graves, PhD, holder of the Directorship in Public Health Research and Education.
Peter Embí, MD, MS, holder of the Endowed Directorship in Biomedical Informatics.
Lori Jordan, MD, PhD, holder of the Endowed Directorship in Pediatric Stroke Research.
Fabien Maldonado, MD, MSc, holder of the Pierre Massion Directorship in Lung Cancer Research.
Julie Lounds Taylor, PhD, holder of the Endowed Directorship in Autism Research.
Jonathan Brown, MD, holder of the Riven Family Directorship in Cardiovascular Medicine — Established through support from Jan and Stephen Riven in honor of his late father, Samuel S. Riven, MD.
Lori Ann Kehler, OD, holder of the Jean Ewing and James Randle Love Directorship in Ophthalmology — Established by the late Jean Ewing Love and James Randle Love through a gift in their will.
Janice Law, MD, holder of the Gloria M. Sternberg Directorship in Ophthalmology — Established through support from Gloria and Paul Sternberg Jr., MD.
Carrie Campbell McCoy Menser, MD, holder of the Trudy and Bill Carpenter Directorship for Patient Safety and Quality — Established through support from Trudy and Bill Carpenter.
Stephen Patrick, MD, MPH, MS, holder of the Dr. William R. Long Directorship in Children’s Health Policy — Established through support from Rebecca (Becky) Long and family in memory of William R. Long, MD.
Joshua Robinson, OD, holder of the Janet and Jim Ayers Directorship — Established through support from Janet and Jim Ayers.
Tracy Frech, MD, MSCI, holder of the Directorship in Rheumatology.
Harvey Murff, MD, MPH, holder of the Grant R. Wilkinson Directorship.
Meredith Pugh, MD, MSCI, holder of the John Newman Directorship for Education in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
Jill Simmons, MD, holder of the Directorship in Pediatric Metabolic Bone Diseases.