New online publication for VUMC community debuts

VUMC Voice, a new online publication dedicated to news and features about members of the Medical Center community, is now live at http://voice.vu-mc.org/.

“Without question, the Medical Center’s greatest asset is its people. We created VUMC Voice as a platform to celebrate the diversity of our community and our unique culture,” said John Howser, chief communications officer for VUMC.

“Not only are our colleagues doing outstanding work, but we are often surprised to learn about other aspects of their lives that have shaped them, such as travel, previous careers, hobbies or memorable life events.”

VUMC Voice is produced by the Medical Center’s Office of News and Communications, and edited by Wayne Wood, who previously edited the longtime Medical Center employee magazine, House Organ.

Popular employee engagement features, including a Pet Photo Contest, are planned for the VUMC Voice.

VUMC Voice also has a section dedicated to news from VUMC Human Resources (HR), which will be provided by the HR communications staff.

Among the first features at the new site:

• An interview with Harold Jordan, M.D., who, in 1964, became the first African-American resident physician at VUMC.

• “Colonoscopy Confidential,” a look at a day in the work life of Ellen Williams, a nurse who works in the Vanderbilt GI Lab.

• The first in a regular series, “Life Questions,” in which VUMC employees talk about their lives outside work.

Employees are encouraged to use a feature on the VUMC Voice site to submit ideas for future stories about interesting co-workers, questions for features such as “Curious VUMC,” and patient stories.

“We want VUMC Voice to be a new way for all of us to engage and learn more about each other,” Howser said.