When Jerry Hughes, a Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) valet attendant, takes the car keys of Vanderbilt patients, he leaves a piece of his kind spirit with them as they venture into the hospital to face their day.

Terry McHollin checks the coffee cups along with the trash cans in patients’ rooms. Serving coffee isn’t part of her job description as an environmental service tech, but if someone needs a fresh pour she will stop what she’s doing, wash her hands then head for the coffee pot — and still stay on schedule.

“Today I will be happier than a bird with a french fry” reads a sign next to the door as you exit Stacy Jones’ office on the 8th floor of Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital (VUAH). As a social worker on the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Vanderbilt, the sign’s wording fits Jones’ personality.

As part of the enterprise-wide VUMC employee celebration event — Celebrate the Difference YOU Make Every Day! — staff and faculty are encouraged to get creative and develop a short (2-minute) video that reflects the difference that happens when a team comes together.

A special Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) employee celebration event — Celebrate the Difference YOU Make Every Day! — will be held in three sessions April 20-21 to acknowledge the many contributions of the Medical Center’s people.