Reporter March 4 2022

March 3, 2022

Study shows little variance in overdose deaths when sorting by Medicaid expansion status

A study by researchers from Vanderbilt and Boston University found that the increase in drug or opioid overdose deaths experienced during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was similar in states with and without Medicaid expansion.

By Jill Clendening
Crystal Wix, RN, foreground, and care partner Carolyn Forgac work with a patient in the COVID intensive care unit in September 2021.
March 3, 2022

COVID-19: two years of challenges, lessons, victories

Two years ago this week, the cataclysmic coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 arrived in Middle Tennessee.

By Bill Snyder
Alex Harrison is one of the young patients helped by Children’s Hospital’s Complex Aerodigestive Evaluation Team.
March 3, 2022

Multidisciplinary team helps treat airway, upper GI issues in children

Vanderbilt’s Complex Aerodigestive Evaluation Team focuses on complicated airway and upper digestive issues for chronically ill children.

By Jessica Pasley
March 3, 2022

Four named associate chiefs of staff for VUH

As part of an enhanced structure at Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH), four new associate chiefs of staff have been named who are tightly connected with the hospital’s Patient Care Centers.

By VUMC News and Communications
March 3, 2022

Chest Pain Center receives reaccreditation from ACC

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been reaccredited as a Chest Pain Center with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Resuscitation.

By Kristin Smart
Kelli Stewart, center, discusses her ideas during last week’s Mental Health Innovation Challenge and Hackathon.
March 3, 2022

Chatbot takes first prize in Mental Health Innovation challenge

A chatbot — a computer program that simulates and processes human conversation — was the winning entrant in Vanderbilt’s recent Mental Health Innovation Challenge and Hackathon.

By Paul Govern
February 28, 2022

VUMC mourns loss of former Psychopharmacology director Ban

Thomas Arthur Ban, MD, emeritus professor of Psychiatry and former director of Vanderbilt's Division of Psychopharmacology, died Feb. 4. He was 92.
By Kathy Whitney
February 28, 2022

Rinne’s long history of supporting Children’s Hospital celebrated

Last week, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt celebrated retired Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne's long history of strong support.
By Christina Echegaray
February 28, 2022

Mencio named President of ABOS

Vanderbilt's Gregory Mencio, MD, has been named president of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) following a year as president-elect.
By Emily Stembridge
February 28, 2022

New Clinician Spotlight: Avni Finn

Avni Finn, MD, MBA, a retina surgeon, has joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Eye Institute as assistant professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
By VUMC News and Communications
February 28, 2022

Study finds azithromycin use during RSV not useful in preventing recurrent wheezing, may cause harm

Vanderbilt research on the impact of the antibiotic azithromycin during severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis overwhelmingly support current national bronchiolitis guidelines, which recommend against antibiotics during acute bronchiolitis due to lack of effect on the acute illness.
By Jessica Pasley
February 25, 2022

Study shows young, healthy adults died from COVID-19 due to ECMO shortage

Vanderbilt research found that nearly 90 percent of COVID-19 patients who qualified for, but did not receive, ECMO due to a shortage of resources during the height of the pandemic died in the hospital, despite being young with few other health issues
By Craig Boerner