Author: Mimi Eckhard
Study explores race differences of lung cancer risk
Aug. 1, 2013—Vanderbilt research scientist Melinda Aldrich, Ph.D., MPH, has been awarded a National Institutes of Health Academic Career Award to investigate some of the genetic secrets behind a greater risk of lung cancer among African-Americans compared with other racial and ethnic groups.
VU to lead prostate cancer treatment research effort
May. 23, 2013—David Penson, M.D., MPH, professor of Urologic Surgery, has received a $2 million research award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study localized prostate cancer, the second leading cause of death among American men.
VU expands surgical options for patients with aortic aneurysms
May. 23, 2013—Vanderbilt University Medical Center recently performed Tennessee’s first fenestrated aortic stent graft surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm that was previously considered too close to the kidney for minimally invasive surgery.
Spine surgeons tailoring treatment to each patient
Mar. 21, 2013—When 55-year-old Neader Williams first learned that she might need spine surgery to treat her excruciating back and leg pain, she was more than a little scared and wasn’t even sure surgery was the answer.
Petracek named interim chair of Cardiac Surgery
Jan. 24, 2013—Michael Petracek, M.D., has been named interim chair of Vanderbilt’s Department of Cardiac Surgery.
Pediatric Neurosurgery expands research efforts
Jan. 24, 2013—Vanderbilt is expanding its role in the future treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus by recruiting Chevis Shannon, MBA, MPH, Dr.PH., to serve as director of the Vanderbilt Pediatric Neurosurgery Clinical Research Initiative.
Gates Foundation grant aids pediatric nutrition research
Jan. 24, 2013—Using a SmartPhone platform and a $100,000 grant from Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Vanderbilt Pediatric Surgeon John Pietsch, M.D., and fourth-year medical student Katherine Allen may revolutionize the way infants and children all over the world are assessed and treated for proper nutrition.
Group again honors life-support program
Jan. 10, 2013—For the third straight time, Vanderbilt’s heart and lung life-support program has received the ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO).
American Board of Thoracic Surgery honors two from VU
Nov. 15, 2012—The American Board of Thoracic Surgery has elected two Vanderbilt surgeons to its 17-member board of directors.
International medicine, ethics focus of resident’s book
Sep. 27, 2012—Second-year General Surgery resident Anji Wall, M.D., Ph.D., hasn’t yet decided her surgical specialty, but she’s already written the book on ethics and international medicine, literally.
Wellons named chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery
Sep. 20, 2012—The Department of Neurological Surgery has recruited John “Jay” Wellons III, M.D., MSPH, to serve as chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery.
Bogota stint gives oral surgery resident glimpse of global need
Aug. 23, 2012—While Benjamin Foley, D.D.S., was on a two-week surgical rotation in Bogota, Colombia, the impact of limited access to health care was as clear as the fused jaw of a 6-year-old child.
