Vanderbilt University Medical Center recently held a Directorship Celebration to honor 23 leaders from across the enterprise in clinical care, research, education and administration.
“We welcome the opportunity to celebrate our newest directorship holders — extraordinary individuals who are having tremendous impact in their respective fields,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
“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.”
Many of these endowed directorships at VUMC are funded by generous donors who are passionate about making a meaningful difference in research and patient care.
The Brock family has generously supported many causes at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and VUMC, with the latest being the Brock Family Directorship for Applied Innovation.
“Bridging scientific discovery with application into the broader public market is something that we’re passionate about,” said Mary and John Brock III. “We are excited about the future of health care entrepreneurship and innovation with Dr. Ken Holroyd’s leadership at the Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation.”
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:
- Dawn Adams, MD, MS, holder of the Directorship for Celiac Disease — Established by anonymous donors.
- Walter Clair, MD, MPH, holder of the Directorship for Culture and Community — Established by VUMC.
- Roger Dmochowski, MD, MMHC, holder of the Barney Brooks Directorship in Surgery — Established by an anonymous donor.
- Mariu Carlo Duggan, MD, MPH, holder of the Victor Legner, MD, Directorship in Medicine — Established by an anonymous donor.
- Jill Gilbert, MD, holder of the Department of Medicine Professional Development Directorship — Established by VUMC.
- Kevin Haas, MD, PhD, holder of the Directorship in Epilepsy — Established by VUMC.
- Karen Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, holder of the Marilyn Dubree Chief Nursing Officer Directorship — Established by Marilyn Dubree.
- Reid Longmuir, MD, holder of the James Elliott Directorship in Resident Education — Established by VUMC.
- Ryan Merrell, MD, holder of the Directorship in Neuro-Oncology — Established by VUMC.
- Robert Naftel, MD, holder of the Directorship in Pediatric Neurosurgery Education — Established by VUMC and supported by Sarah and David Ingram.
- Matthew Pirotte, MD, holder of the Keith D. Wrenn Directorship for Emergency Medicine — Established by VUMC.
- Kevin Sexton, MD, holder of the Helen and Nicholas Abumrad Directorship — Established by Drs. Nada and Naji Abumrad in memory of Naji’s late parents.
- Julia Shelton, MD, MPH, holder of the Raúl M. Solórzano Directorship in Surgical Training — Established by Dr. Carmen C. Solórzano to honor the legacy of her late father, Raúl M. Solórzano.
- Paul Sternberg Jr., MD, holder of the Louise Adams Directorship in Ophthalmology — Established by the late Louise Adams.
- Melinda Aldrich, PhD, MPH, holder of the Robert A. Goodwin, Jr., MD, Directorship — Established by VUMC.
- Michael Freeman, PhD, holder of the Arnold Malcolm Directorship for Research Excellence in Radiation Oncology — Established by VUMC.
- Carlos Grijalva, MD, MPH, holder of the Directorship in Epidemiologic Research and Education — Established by VUMC.
- Kenneth Holroyd, MD, MBA, holder of the Brock Family Directorship for Applied Innovation — Established by Mary R. and John F. Brock III and their children Rebecca Brock Dixon, John F. Brock IV, and Major Brock.
- Adriana Hung, MD, MPH, holder of the William Stone Directorship in Kidney Research — Established by VUMC.
- Tae Hyun Hwang, PhD, holder of the Directorship in Artificial Intelligence Research — Established by VUMC.
- H. Keipp Talbot, MD, MPH, holder of the Directorship in Vaccinology Research — Established by VUMC.
- Nicole Werner, PhD, MA, holder of the Bradley E. Smith Directorship in Anesthesiology — Established by VUMC.
- Derek Williams, MD, MPH, holder of the Dr. William R. Long Directorship in Child Health Research — Established by Rebecca Long and family in memory of William R. Long, MD.
