Author: Nancy Humphrey

Using Patients’ Allergy History as Screening Tool for mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Works Well: Study

Jul. 27, 2021—A report of more than 23,000 health care workers and employees at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine shows that a risk stratification screening mechanism for potential allergies to the vaccine worked exceedingly well as the vaccine program rolled out in December 2020.

Allergic reaction to first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should not keep people from getting the second dose: study

Jul. 26, 2021—An immediate allergic reaction to the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine — those manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech — should not keep people from getting the second dose, a multi-hospital analysis shows.

The study team included, from left, Danielle Orsagh-Yentis, MD, Lauren Klein, MD, Michael Dole, MD, and Katherine Black, MD. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Study finds children ingested small objects like coins and batteries more frequently during the pandemic

Jul. 14, 2021—Foreign bodies, like coins, button batteries, tiny magnets and sharp objects, were more frequently ingested by children during the coronavirus pandemic than in the same months the year before, according to a single-center study conducted at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The new multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children clinic team includes, from left, Sophie Katz, MD, MPH, Natasha Halasa, MD, MPH, Anna Patrick, MD, PhD, and David Parra, MD.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) clinic opens at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Apr. 20, 2021—Children who have experienced the rare and potentially life-threatening multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which can develop within four weeks of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19, are being followed closely in a multidisciplinary clinic at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Members of the Vanderbilt Undiagnosed Diseases Program include (front row, from left) Mary Kuziura, DNP, Anna Bican, John Fahrenholz, MD, Kevin Byram, MD, Lisa Bastarache, MS, (back row, from left) Joy Cogan, PhD, John Phillips III, MD, and Rizwan Hamid, MD, PhD.

VUMC offers new program for undiagnosed diseases

Apr. 15, 2021—Vanderbilt University Medical Center, an original member institution of the National Institutes of Health’s Undiagnosed Diseases Network, (UDN) is launching its own program, the Vanderbilt Undiagnosed Diseases Program (VUDP), which will operate alongside the UDN. The VUDP goal is to expand services to many more patients who are living with the often-dire consequences of an undiagnosed disease.

Eight named to hold VUMC endowed directorships

Mar. 25, 2021—Eight leaders from across Vanderbilt University Medical Center have been named as holders of endowed directorships.

Tinsley Bellar’s motor skills improved dramatically after being treated at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital’s multidisciplinary clinic for young patients with cerebral palsy.

Clinic helps children with cerebral palsy regain mobility

Mar. 18, 2021—Seven-year-old Tinsley Bellar loves to dance — her mother describes it as TikTok dancing with cheerleader moves. She also loves to run. She completed her school’s fun run last year with the whole school cheering her on.

The care team at the Vanderbilt Adolescent and Young Adult Health Care Transition Clinic includes DeWayne Parker, LBSW, left, Neerav Desai, MD, and Aima Ahonkhai, MD, MPH.

Clinic helps prepare young HIV patients for adult care

Mar. 4, 2021—Adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Middle Tennessee are being ushered into adult care through a special transition clinic that focuses on adult skill-building and individualized therapy and discussions.

Julie Carell Stadler, left, Kathryn Carell Brown and Edie Carell Johnson are endowing a new chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Carells to endow chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Feb. 11, 2021—Julie Carell Stadler, Kathryn Carell Brown and Edie Carell Johnson have made a commitment to endow a new chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The inaugural chair holder of the Edie Carell Johnson Chair in Pediatrics will be announced this spring.

A new medical device called the Zephyr Valve offers a minimally invasive alternative to lung surgery for emphysema patients.

Device offers less invasive option to treat emphysema

Feb. 4, 2021—Life with emphysema, a lung condition that causes shortness of breath, can be miserable. People with advanced emphysema, a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are so short of breath they may need supplemental oxygen just to walk from room to room. They often have trouble with everyday tasks like bathing or cooking a meal.

Physician volunteers assisting families of COVID patients

Jan. 21, 2021—Physicians from all specialties across Vanderbilt University Medical Center are volunteering their time to communicate daily with family members of patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.

Vanderbilt Health Belle Meade is located at 6002 Highway 100 in Nashville, near the Highway 70 and Highway 100 split.

Vanderbilt Health Belle Meade opens Jan. 18

Jan. 18, 2021—Vanderbilt Health Belle Meade, a 50,000-square-foot outpatient facility that offers additional space for urology, orthopaedic and oncology services, along with cancer infusion therapy, opens Jan. 18.

VUMC Reporter