The recent surge in flu cases is one of the top health stories locally and nationally, and VUMC experts have been in demand from reporters to help explain the situation to readers and viewers. William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, has given interviews about the flu to, among others, Prevention, NBC News, and Newsweek. Todd Rice, MD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care, and director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit, spoke about the flu to NBC News and WKRN News 2.
In addition to seasonal influenza, there is also a great deal of coverage of continuing bird flu outbreaks, including one in Nevada affecting cattle, and among the outlets Schaffner has spoken with about bird flu are Consumer Reports, Healthline, Salon, and CBS News.
Also, James Antoon, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of Pediatrics, was interviewed by WKRN News 2 about pediatric flu cases and best ways to keep children safe post a health department report of a flu-related pediatric death.
A Nashville Ledger column by writer Joe Rogers advocating ending the twice-yearly time change quotes Beth Malow, MD, director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Center.
Tennessean reporter Beth Warren interviewed Joseph Magliocca, MD, director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, and Heidi Schaefer, MD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and the mother of a 4-year-old liver transplant recipient, for a story about VUMC ranking third in the country for all transplants.
A Tennessean story by Brad Schmitt about Kim Betts, who had kidney failure, and Megan Connor, who became her living kidney donor, talks about how the transplant took place at VUMC.
Jeffrey Tosoian, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Urology, was quoted in a Reuters story about a study showing that a small group of kidney cancer patients who received a personalized vaccine had no recurrence of the cancer.
WKRN News 2 reporter Tori Gessner interviewed Jennifer Andrews, MD, MSc, Medical Director of VUMC’s Blood Bank, about a bill in the Tennessee legislature that would require blood donors to disclose whether they received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Health magazine reporter Korin Miller interviewed Erin Connors, PhD, HSP, licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Anesthesiology’s Division of Pain Medicine, for a story about anxiety linked to health monitoring devices.
Verywell Health reporter Gillian Mohoney interviewed Aaron Brinen, PsyD, assistant professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for a story about phone-free February.
