Matt Batcheldor

May 21, 2024

DAISY Award spotlight: “Kindness, creativity and relentless pursuit of excellent patient care”

Shana Parks works in the Colorectal Surgery Clinic and she is one of the latest group of DAISY Award winners at VUMC.

By Matt Batcheldor
Melissia Boynton speaks with a visitor a few days after her heart transplant. (photo by Kylie Avery)
May 17, 2024

A Mother’s Day to remember

Melissia Boynton got the call about 3 a.m. on Mother’s Day that her new heart was available. Immediately, her plans changed from a barbecue around the family pool to a middle-of-the-night drive to Nashville to get her new heart.

By Matt Batcheldor
Recovery team members included, from left, Will Tucker, MD, Stephen DeVries, DMSc, PA-C, and Christopher Schwartz, RN.
May 17, 2024

VUMC team travels to Alaska to recover a donor heart

The 5,704 nautical-mile trip is the farthest VUMC has traveled for an organ. The remarkable journey illustrates how new technologies make it possible to preserve organs longer, allowing Vanderbilt to look farther for a match.

By Matt Batcheldor
May 13, 2024

DAISY Award spotlight: “Nurse Rhonda went out of her way to make my husband feel at ease”

Rhonda Bryant, LPN, works in in the inpatient unit at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital. She is one of the latest group of DAISY Award winners at VUMC.

By Matt Batcheldor
May 10, 2024

Audrey Kuntz won an award. Her colleagues gifted her a tool belt.

For her ability to problem solve and advocate for patients and staff, Kuntz was a named a Credo Award winner.

By Matt Batcheldor
May 9, 2024

Inaugural Nursing Grand Rounds kicks off Nurses Week celebrations 

The presentation focused on the essential value of fundamental nursing care, connecting and being present with patients, and attending to their basic care needs, such as nutrition, mobility and oral health.

By Matt Batcheldor
May 7, 2024

A team approach to care 

LSU baseball fan sporting a new set of lungs after VUMC transplant
By Matt Batcheldor
May 1, 2024

DAISY Award spotlight: “Maddy was so compassionate and caring the entire time.”

Maddy Barber, BSN, RN, works in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She is one of the latest group of DAISY Award winners at VUMC.
By Matt Batcheldor
April 24, 2024

The stars look very different today: Eiman Jahangir to realize lifelong dream to fly to space

"It's been a goal and a dream for a long time," he said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity.”
By Matt Batcheldor
April 23, 2024

DAISY Award spotlight: “God’s gift to the nursing profession.”

Angela Adetunji, RN, works in the Medical Center East Recovery area, part of Vanderbilt University Hospital, and she is one of the latest group of DAISY Award winners at VUMC.
By Matt Batcheldor
April 23, 2024

Events honor those involved in organ donation

Sixty-nine individuals donated their organs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2023, and they and their families were saluted on April 17 at the annual Donate Life Ceremony.
By Matt Batcheldor
April 16, 2024

Peter Reese named to lead newly created Vanderbilt Center for Transplant Science

Peter Reese, MD, PhD, has been named the inaugural director of the Vanderbilt Center for Transplant Science.
By Matt Batcheldor