Reporter July 30 2021

July 30, 2021

Kennedy Center efforts enhance inclusivity in clinical trials

Following the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s (VKC) renewal as a national Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center in 2020, the center underwent a shuffling of their four scientific cores that support basic and applied research on intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

By Emily Stembridge
Core Clinical Chemistry Lab staff members gathered recently to mark the launch of a faster, higher-volume automated chemistry line.
July 29, 2021

Automation brings in new era for Clinical Chemistry Lab

Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Core Clinical Chemistry Laboratory recently celebrated the launch of its faster, higher-volume automated chemistry line.

By Bill Snyder
A new policy on helium balloons outdoors at VUMC is intended to enhance safety for LifeFlight personnel and the patients they transport.
July 29, 2021

Ground versus air to transport stroke patients studied

For patients in need of acute ischemic stroke treatment, air transport to Vanderbilt University Medical Center is apt to be quicker than ground transport for interhospital transfers of 40 miles or more and for direct-from-scene transfers of 28 miles or more.

By Paul Govern
July 29, 2021

Transplant Center honored  for organ donation efforts

Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Transplant Center have won Platinum Recognition, the highest possible level of achievement, from the National Hospital Organ Donation Campaign of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

By Matt Batcheldor
July 29, 2021

Vanderbilt Prize winner Doudna advocates caution in human germline editing

It is now possible to “edit” the human germline — the genetic cargo carried in sperm and eggs and which is passed to the next generation — in a way that snips out the mutations which cause inherited disease.

By Bill Snyder
July 29, 2021

Kapu to direct VUSN’s clinical, community partnerships

April Kapu, DNP, APRN, has left her role as associate nursing officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center Advanced Practice and director of the Office of Advance Practice, and begun a new position as associate dean for Clinical and Community Partnerships at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN).

By Matt Batcheldor
July 29, 2021

Cortez named chair of Department of Biochemistry

David Cortez, PhD, Richard N. Armstrong, PhD, Professor of Innovation in Biochemistry and professor of Biochemistry, has been appointed chair of the Department of Biochemistry.
By Wendy Bindeman
July 28, 2021

Educational journey begins for incoming VUSM students

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine officially welcomed 96 first-year students to its ranks with its annual White Coat ceremony, held July 23.
By Kathy Whitney
July 28, 2021

Reddy to lead Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology

Following a national leadership search, Srijaya Reddy, MD, MBA, has been named chief of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology in the Department of Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Paul Govern
July 27, 2021

Using Patients’ Allergy History as Screening Tool for mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Works Well: Study

A report of more than 23,000 health care workers and employees at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine shows that a risk stratification screening mechanism for potential allergies to the vaccine worked exceedingly well as the vaccine program rolled out in December 2020.
By Nancy Humphrey
July 27, 2021

Pawlikowski named president of Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital

Mary Pawlikowski, MA, MEd, interim vice president and chief operating officer for Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH), has been named as the hospital’s new president after having held the position of president on an interim basis since November 2020.
By Kathy Whitney
July 26, 2021

Allergic reaction to first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should not keep people from getting the second dose: study

An immediate allergic reaction to the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine — those manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech — should not keep people from getting the second dose, a multi-hospital analysis shows.
By Nancy Humphrey
July 26, 2021

VUMC, NIH launch clinical trial to test novel therapies to protect host tissue against COVID-19

Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are leading a nationwide clinical trial to explore the safety and effectiveness of a group of novel drugs designed to protect patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at high risk of poor outcomes.
By Craig Boerner
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