Decades ago Halloween meant visiting a handful of houses, always prepared to earn a treat with a clever homemade costume and a friendly Halloween greeting. Today many families feel trick-or-treating is an exercise in excess at a time when obesity is one of the nation's top health concerns.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers are launching a clinical trial of Herpavac, a new genital herpes vaccine that has proven effective in previous clinical trials in preventing the spread of the herpes simplex virus in women.

Richard Woodcock, a world-renowned researcher of learning ability assessment, will present a lecture on historical advances in cognitive assessment on Thursday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m. at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development. The lecture will take place in Room 241 of the Kennedy Center/MRL Building and is free and open to the public.

At a time when parents, schools and physicians still struggle with the perceived overuse of the medication Ritalin to treat children with attention difficulties, a new study suggests the potential for another controversy.

A GROWING NUMBER OF ADOLESCENT CHILDREN EITHER INSURED OR COVERED BY A MANAGED CARE PROGRAM IN TENNESSEE WERE BEING PRESCRIBED NEW ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS FOR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS A-D-H-D. REPORTER HEATHER HALL EXPLAINS.

Calling it "one of the best [helicopter programs] in the world," Metro Councilman Buck Dozier introduced legislation honoring Vanderbilt LifeFlight for their 20 years of service to Middle Tennessee.