Vanderbilt Health recently honored 17 new holders of endowed directorships.
Seven of these endowed directorships are funded by generous donors who are passionate about making a meaningful difference in research, training and patient care. One of these, the Carolyn Smith Directorship in Uveitis and Retinal Disorders, was created in gratitude for the caring team at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute.
“Carolyn was a generous person and excelled as an extraordinary wife, mother, businesswoman and leader. We miss her deeply but know she would be pleased that her legacy of giving lives on through her foundation,” said Randy Smith, Carolyn’s husband.
The Carolyn Smith Foundation continues her legacy by investing in organizations that better communities locally, nationally and globally.
Donald Brady, MD, Executive Vice President for Educational and Medical Staff Affairs at Vanderbilt Health and Executive Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said the newest directorship holders are more than just exceptional physicians and researchers.
“They also have incredible impact on their fields at large, offering hope for patients and families on a national and global stage,” he said. “Directorships help them to achieve this high bar.”
Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President for Research at Vanderbilt Health, as well as the holder of the Brock Family Directorship in Career Development, said research is foundational to every advancement in medicine, regardless of discipline.
“Pursuing the most challenging scientific questions is how we drive discovery and reach the next breakthrough,” Pietenpol said. “Directorships give our investigators the support and resources to pursue those questions and turn the answers into meaningful advances.”
The most recent directorships are spread throughout many departments — highlighting individuals who make an impact in myriad ways. Holders of Vanderbilt Health’s newest directorships are:
Milam Brantley, MD, PhD, holder of the International Retinal Research Foundation Directorship — Established by the International Retinal Research Foundation.
Katherine Cahill, MD, holder of the Directorship in Allergy and Immunology — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Jonathan Casey, MD, MSCI, holder of the Directorship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Kenneth C. Fletcher Jr., MD, holder of the Robert Ossoff Directorship for Music Engagement — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Sapna Gangaputra, MD, MPH, holder of the Carolyn Smith Directorship in Uveitis and Retinal Disorders — Established by the Carolyn Smith Foundation.
Laura Goff, MD, MSCI, MMHC, holder of the Katherine Jackson Johnston Directorship — Established by an anonymous donor.
Kathy Jabs, MD, holder of the Directorship in Pediatric Nephrology — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Amy Luckenbaugh, MD, holder of the Gail and Rich Kraemer Bladder Cancer Directorship — Established by Rich Kraemer and the late Gail Kraemer.
Elizabeth Martin, MD, MPH, MHS, holder of the Junior League of Nashville Directorship in Pediatric Rehabilitation — Established by the Junior League of Nashville.
Lindsay Mayberry, PhD, MS, holder of the Directorship in Community and Family Medicine — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Nicole Miller, MD, holder of the Directorship in Endourology — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Michelle Ormseth, MD, MSCI, holder of the Rheumatology Clinical Research Directorship — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Edward Siew, MD, MSCI, holder of the Raymond M. Hakim Directorship in Nephrology— Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Eric Skaar, PhD, MPH, holder of the PMI Research Directorship — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
Rachel Sobel, MD, holder of the Joan and Jack Jordan Directorship in Ocular Oncology — Established by Joan Jordan and the late Jack Jordan.
Jeffrey Tosoian, MD, MPH, holder of the Alan and Sally Sefton Directorship in Prostate Cancer — Established by Alan and Sally Sefton.
Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, holder of the Directorship for Research in Radiation Oncology — Established by Vanderbilt Health.
