September 19, 2008

Graham named to direct Pediatric Rheumatology

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Brent Graham, M.D.

Graham named to direct Pediatric Rheumatology

Brent Graham, M.D., has been named director of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Graham previously served as clinical director of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. He joined the faculty there in 1998 after serving a three year fellowship.

Graham, who grew up in Nashville and graduated from Vanderbilt's School of Medicine, is the son of Thomas Graham, M.D., professor of Pediatrics, Emeritus.

“We are indeed most fortunate to recruit Brent home to Vanderbilt,” said Jonathan Gitlin, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief at Children's Hospital.

“He is a gifted clinician with extraordinary compassion and thoughtfulness in his care of children with complex and chronic rheumatologic diseases. Such skilled pediatricians are few, and we and all our patients and their families are now so much the better because he is here with us.”

Graham's plans for the division include program development and collaboration with other divisions for treating patients with specialized diseases to enhance their outcomes, as well as enhancing computerized data collection to enhance participation in clinical trials and measure quality outcomes.

He also hopes to recruit more faculty, develop a fellowship program, and continue to foster educational opportunities for medical students and residents.

“It's very exciting to be here,” Graham said. “I spent a lot of time around Vanderbilt growing up. It's great to see several of my mentors from medical school are still here.”

Graham has authored or co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts. His research interests include musculoskeletal imaging and juvenile fibromyalgia.

“I'm incredibly proud of him. He has done very well in Cincinnati in the Pediatric Rheumatology world, and he will do a great job here,” said his father, Thomas Graham, M.D.