Jess Gagen, MD, credits Vanderbilt Health and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt with helping shape her into the doctor she has become. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Jess Gagen, MD, loves helping those in need.
It’s an attribute that has framed Gagen’s three years as a pediatric resident at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
“One of my strengths is that I like to find people who need help, locate resources and connect them,” said Gagen. “As a pediatric resident, there are so many opportunities to provide that for patients and families.
“I want to be able to help people on their hard days.”
In her first year as a resident, Gagen showed her penchant for assisting others when she admitted a pair of siblings with significant nutritional deficiencies.
It is one of many encounters that led to her nomination and selection as a Spring 2026 Vanderbilt Health Credo Award recipient, highlighting her frequent displays of “identifying a need, taking ownership of patient care, communicating with interdisciplinary teams in a professional manner to deliver a high quality of care to patients in ways that are sensitive to the patients’ resources and needs.”
As Gagen developed a rapport with the patients’ family, she discovered that the children’s condition was most likely caused by homemade formula, a recipe obtained from an online blog.
Gagen took an extra step.
“Dr. Gagen wrote the blog editors about the harmful impact the promotion of the homemade formula had, which ultimately resulted in the blog deleting the post entirely,” reads the Credo nomination form. “Now, two and a half years later, both children are thriving. They are developmentally appropriate, at a healthy weight, and love their visits with Dr. Gagen.
“Dr. Gagen’s commitment to her patients is unmatched and extends beyond the walls of the hospital,” the nomination states.
Gagen recalls the encounter with the siblings.
“When I first met them, they were not walking. They were not talking,” said Gagen. “And now … they are doing incredibly well.
“In pediatrics, I don’t just take care of the patient but also the entire family. It’s a very rewarding journey.”
A Livingston, Montana, native, Gagen graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, with a degree in biology. The year before entering medical school at the University of Washington, she worked as an EMT. At the end of her residency in June, she will return to Montana to begin her job as a pediatric hospitalist and be closer to family. She will be joined by her husband, Jack, and their 3-year-old son, Maverick.
Learning of her Credo recognition took her by surprise.
“I was on vacation, celebrating my nephew’s 1st birthday when my husband handed me the laptop saying that my program director and chief residents wanted me to see a video,” she laughed.
“It’s such an honor to be recognized. Health care is the ultimate team sport because, without every single team member, none of us could do what we do.”
Gagen credits Vanderbilt Health with helping shape her into the doctor she has become.
“I had no idea how to be a doctor when I started,” she said. “My co-residents and attending doctors, the nurses, therapists, child life specialists, patients and families — all brought me through this experience. Learning from these kiddos over time is such a privilege and has helped me develop into a better pediatrician.”
View Jess Gagen’s Credo Award video.
If you are a VUMC employee, you can nominate a colleague for a Credo Award, C. Wright Pinson Leader Award, or Vanderbilt Health Team Award. Visit the Leadership Forum website to fill out a nomination form. Employees demonstrate credo behaviors when: They make those they serve the highest priority; respect privacy and confidentiality; communicate effectively; conduct themselves professionally; have a sense of ownership; and are committed to their colleagues. Elevate award nominations are accepted year-round. If a nomination is received after the cutoff for an award selection period, the nomination will be considered for the next period. VUMC VOICE will post stories on each of the award winners in the weeks following their announcement.
