Jeff Balser

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) now ranks No. 8 in the nation among U.S. medical schools in total grant support provided through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The new ranking raises VUSM’s standing two spots from the No. 10 position it held last year.

Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center together contributed $9.5 billion to Tennessee’s economy during 2015–16, according to a biennial independent analysis.

I am relieved that the recent mumps outbreak here at Vanderbilt impacted only a small number of our students, as larger outbreaks over the past year in locations around the U.S. have been a cause for concern. The notice reminded me of the importance of vaccination, and the vital role our Medical Center plays in public safety. And it caused me to think about how fragile that safety can be, and what we can do to assure it.

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has surpassed its fundraising goal of $40 million in support of a four-floor building expansion that will help advance the size and scope of the hospital’s specialized pediatric health care programs.

The 2017 class of Chancellor Faculty Fellows comprises highly accomplished, recently tenured faculty from across the university.

I write to thank you for your incredible dedication to our missions, for so many wonderful accomplishments in 2016 and to share some aspirations for 2017 and beyond.