News Releases

Recent and archived press releases with clinical and research news

October 27, 2020

Study finds areas without mask requirements have larger increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations

All areas of Tennessee have seen a resurgence in hospitalized COVID-19 patients since early October, but hospitals that draw patients from counties without masking requirements are experiencing much sharper increases, according to a new analysis from researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

By Jake Lowary
Liver transplant donor Sam Burnett with surgical team members, from left, Lee Gordon, MD, Lea Matsuoka, MD, Sophoclis Alexopoulos, MD, Martin Montenovo, MD, Ahlie Kerr, RN, and Joseph Awad, MD.
October 15, 2020

Living liver donor program performs first transplant

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center’s newly launched living liver donor program allows relatives to donate part of their liver to their loved one, something only possible at select centers in the country.

By Matt Batcheldor
October 8, 2020

COVID patient’s heart-lung transplant is world’s first

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has performed the world’s first dual heart-lung transplant of a COVID-19 patient.

By Matt Batcheldor
October 1, 2020

Transplant program reaches milestone 10,000th procedure

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has completed its 10,000th organ transplant, a monumental achievement representing nearly 60 years of life-saving work.

By Matt Batcheldor
September 17, 2020

HIV prevention medication not being prescribed routinely: study

Only about 54% of medical practitioners surveyed say they have prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, to HIV-vulnerable patients, according to a new study by a Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigator.

By Jake Lowary
September 10, 2020

Roumie to direct Master of Public Health program

Christianne Roumie, MD, MPH, has been named director of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Master of Public Health program, a two-year interdisciplinary program accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

By Jake Lowary
September 3, 2020

MPH students dive in to support COVID-19 response

Graduates from Vanderbilt’s Master in Public Health (MPH) program didn’t plan to become front-line soldiers against the COVID-19 global pandemic, but several have found themselves putting their training — and their career goals — front and center.
By Jake Lowary
August 10, 2020

New analysis finds association between masking requirements and slower growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations

In a new analysis, researchers from the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found a relationship between the growth of hospitalizations and masking requirements put in place across the state.
By Jake Lowary
August 6, 2020

Study finds Medicare Part D favors generic drugs over brand-name counterparts

Contrary to previous media reports, a new study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers finds that Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance plans largely favor generic drugs over brand-name counterparts.
By Jake Lowary
July 22, 2020

LifeFlight adds NPs, physicians to expand flight crew

Patients treated and transported by Vanderbilt LifeFlight are now receiving a higher level of care thanks to the credentialing of more than 20 flight nurses as nurse practitioners and the addition of a flight physician at several LifeFlight bases.
By Jerry Jones
July 16, 2020

Investments advance emergency medicine services at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital

On July 16, Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital’s (VWCH) Emergency Department transitioned to become part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Department of Emergency Medicine. The VWCH Emergency Department was previously staffed through physicians from a contracted agency.
By Kelsey Herbers
June 30, 2020

New study examines coronavirus transmission within households

Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators are leading a new study that examines the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, within households in Nashville.
By Jake Lowary
June 24, 2020

VUMC faculty receive grant to expand LGBTQ voices in biomedical research

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) Center for Biomedical Ethics & Society were recently awarded a grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes for Health (NIH) to explore LGBTQ+ perspectives on a range of issues related to biomedical research.
By Jake Lowary