Researchers will study the validity of near-infrared autofluorescence to improve detection of parathyroid glands during endocrine neck surgery, now looking at pediatric patients.

Patdy Leong, BSN, RN, works in the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.

Emily Dunn, BSN, RN, works in the Pediatric Medicine Acute Care unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.

Treatment options are limited for the more than 500,000 people in the U.S. who are diagnosed annually with C. diff infections, but researchers are working on potential vaccines, therapeutic antibodies and — most recently — nanobodies, to prevent and treat C. diff infections.

Alaina Curry, BSN, RN, works in the Pediatric Intensive Care unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.

When Briceton Latta was born in 2006, the average life expectancy of a patient with CF was 37. Today, that expectancy is 65 and beyond.

“Burn found me — I didn’t really find it. It popped up in my life; I flew with it; and I don’t want to go back,” says the Credo Award winner.