Reporter Jan 29 2021

January 28, 2021

Pre-surgery brain mapping helps ease patients’ concerns

Victoria Morgan, PhD, and Allen Timothy Newton, PhD, both biomedical engineers and faculty of the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, have teamed up with Stephen Wilson, PhD, associate professor of Hearing and Speech Sciences, to offer brain function mapping services to Vanderbilt brain surgeons and their patients.

By Emily Stembridge
January 28, 2021

Study’s findings may help eventually close the door on COVID-19

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston have discovered what may be the Achilles’ heel of the coronavirus, a finding that may help close the door on COVID-19 and possibly head off future pandemics.

By Bill Snyder
Philanthropists Steve and Judy Turner have endowed a new faculty chair in the Department of Neurology.
January 28, 2021

New faculty chair is latest gift from Steve and Judy Turner

Nashville philanthropists Steve and Judy Turner, adding generously to their longtime support of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University, have endowed a new faculty chair in the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine: the Judith Payne Turner Chair in Neurology.

By Paul Govern
January 28, 2021

Post-transplant coordinators serve as patients’ long-term advocate, supporter

When a patient receives a new heart at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, that person also gains a new family, so to speak — the heart transplant team. Among the patient’s biggest advocates and supporters on that team is his or her post-transplant coordinator.

By Matt Batcheldor
Emily Sandhaus, RN, and Chris Schwartz, RN, are pre-transplant coordinators for the Vanderbilt Transplant Center.
January 28, 2021

Pre-transplant coordinators ‘literally on call for something every single day’

Emily Sandhaus’ phone rings in the middle of the night. The voice on the other end tells her a donor heart is available, and it’s in El Paso, Texas. She should pack a bag and report to the Emergency Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A car will take her team to Nashville International Airport, where they will board a charter plane to recover, preserve and transport the heart back to VUMC for transplant.

By Matt Batcheldor
diabetes commemorative stamp
January 28, 2021

Diabetes Day focuses on diversity, inclusion in research

Vanderbilt Diabetes Day, an annual event which showcases the work of outstanding scholars and researchers in the fields of diabetes and endocrinology from throughout the United States, looked quite a bit different in November 2020 as the attendees connected virtually for sessions presented over two days.

By Jill Clendening
January 28, 2021

Several VUMC nurses elected to TNA leadership roles

Several Vanderbilt nurses have been elected to leadership of the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA), including president and vice president.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 28, 2021

Vanderbilt Transplant Center achieves new record for total transplants performed in 2020

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center (VTC) established a new record in 2020 for total solid organ transplants, performing 611 life-saving procedures among its adult and pediatric organ transplant programs.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 27, 2021

Nurse-led research helps usher in quieter PACU

At Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the post-anesthesia care unit, or PACU, is a hive of activity as patients are awakened from their operating room procedures. Given that each patient’s awakening is meant to be gentle, the general noise level in the PACU prompted concern from staff nurse Savannah Ramsey, RN.
By Paul Govern
January 27, 2021

Study shows healthy diet is associated with diverse and health-promoting microbiome

Scientists are just beginning to understand the impact of diet on the gut microbiome and how this interaction affects human health, but baselines must first be established to yield answers.
By Tom Wilemon
January 25, 2021

VUMC successfully implements HealthShare, replacing 30-year-old solution

Many of the projects led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s IT teams have significant user impact, such as the recent implementations of SECTRA (new imaging system), Cupid (Epic’s cardiology module) and Radiant (Epic’s radiology module).
By Madison Agee