Vivien Thomas

Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, MSHA, center, with Seth Karp, MD, left, and Sunil Geevarghese, MD.
March 9, 2023

Lecture gives new insight on surgery icon Thomas

Vanderbilt’s recent H. William Scott Jr. Lecture in Surgical History offered unfiltered insight on the legacy of surgical pioneer Vivien Thomas.

By Jill Clendening
George C. Hill, PhD, delivered Tuesday’s Levi Watkins Jr. MD Lecture in Langford Auditorium.
October 6, 2021

Lecture details legacies of Levi Watkins, Vivien Thomas

At Tuesday’s Levi Watkins Jr. MD Lecture, George C. Hill, PhD, delivered the keynote address, “Dr. Levi Watkins and Mr. Vivien Thomas: Memories and Lessons Learned from Two Outstanding Lives of Service.”

By Kathy Whitney
April 1, 2021

Dixie Place renamed in honor of Vanderbilt surgical pioneer Vivien Thomas

Through a Vanderbilt University School of Medicine student-led effort, Dixie Place, the city street that runs between the Medical Center’s Central Garage and the Oxford House building on 21st Avenue South, is being renamed Vivien Thomas Way.

By Kathy Whitney
August 2, 2018

State honors life of legendary researcher Thomas

The General Assembly of the State of Tennessee is honoring the life and accomplishments of Vivien Thomas, an African-Am- erican laboratory assistant at Vanderbilt from 1930-1941 who developed several operative techniques, designed surgical instruments, supervised surgical laboratories, and instructed at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for more than 35 years.

By Kathy Whitney
May 18, 2017

Portrait unveiling honors three medical pioneers

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) honored three pioneers for their historic contributions to education, science and medicine during a formal portrait unveiling at Langford Auditorium this week. The event, hosted by the Office of Diversity Affairs, was held as part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) commitment to diversity and inclusion.

By Jill Clendening