Matt Batcheldor

Pam Everett-Smith is the longest-surviving single-lung transplant patient known in the United States, having received her transplant 30 years ago.
February 3, 2021

Transplant patient celebrates milestone 30th anniversary

Pam Everett-Smith celebrated a milestone this past November — 30 years since she received a lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is the longest-surviving single-lung transplant patient known in the United States.

By Matt Batcheldor
January 28, 2021

Post-transplant coordinators serve as patients’ long-term advocate, supporter

When a patient receives a new heart at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, that person also gains a new family, so to speak — the heart transplant team. Among the patient’s biggest advocates and supporters on that team is his or her post-transplant coordinator.

By Matt Batcheldor
Emily Sandhaus, RN, and Chris Schwartz, RN, are pre-transplant coordinators for the Vanderbilt Transplant Center.
January 28, 2021

Pre-transplant coordinators ‘literally on call for something every single day’

Emily Sandhaus’ phone rings in the middle of the night. The voice on the other end tells her a donor heart is available, and it’s in El Paso, Texas. She should pack a bag and report to the Emergency Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A car will take her team to Nashville International Airport, where they will board a charter plane to recover, preserve and transport the heart back to VUMC for transplant.

By Matt Batcheldor
January 28, 2021

Several VUMC nurses elected to TNA leadership roles

Several Vanderbilt nurses have been elected to leadership of the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA), including president and vice president.

By Matt Batcheldor
January 28, 2021

Vanderbilt Transplant Center achieves new record for total transplants performed in 2020

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center (VTC) established a new record in 2020 for total solid organ transplants, performing 611 life-saving procedures among its adult and pediatric organ transplant programs.

By Matt Batcheldor
January 22, 2021

Fourth quarter DAISY Awards honor extraordinary nurses

DAISY Awards are given to great nurses all over the United States and in many other countries

By Matt Batcheldor
January 21, 2021

Congenital Heart Program gains accreditation from ACHA

The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) has awarded the Vanderbilt Adult Congenital Heart Program status as an Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Accredited Comprehensive Care Center — the first in Tennessee.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 12, 2021

VUMC now leads world in heart transplantation

Vanderbilt University Medical Center performed more heart transplants in 2020 than any other center in the world — 124 adult hearts, 23 pediatric hearts and VUMC’s first heart-lung transplant since 2006.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 7, 2021

Freedman named director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

Jane Freedman, MD, will join Vanderbilt University Medical Center as director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the physician-in-chief of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, effective Aug. 1.
By Matt Batcheldor
December 10, 2020

New approach helps conserve blood products for liver transplant patients

Liver transplants have traditionally required a high volume of transfusions of blood products, which comes with several downsides. The products are costly to patients — as high as $15,000 on top of the expense of a transplant. And they are sometimes not well accepted in patients because they degrade over time and are derived from multiple patients.
By Matt Batcheldor
December 10, 2020

School of Nursing names Steaban Honorary Alumna

Robin Steaban, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital (VUAH), has been honored by Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) with the school’s Honorary Alumna distinction. The award was presented during a virtual celebration on Oct. 20.
By Nancy Wise and Matt Batcheldor
December 10, 2020

VHVI’s Brown, Agrawal receive American Heart Association awards

Two Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute researchers are receiving awards from the American Heart Association.
By Matt Batcheldor