Emergency & Trauma

John Morris Jr., MD. (photo by Susan Urmy)
April 18, 2025

Veteran Emergency Operations leader John Morris Jr. to pass torch to Tucker Anderson, Michael Smith

Anderson and Smith have been named co-medical directors and will succeed Morris, who is stepping down from the role after over a decade of leadership.

By Evan Dorian
April 17, 2025

On a spring night in 1987, teenager Mike Harper was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center pinned to a car seat with a fence post through his body. Here is one of the most amazing stories of survival in the history of VUMC.

Mike doesn’t remember the names of all the people who took care of him while he was at VUMC so long ago, but he does have a message for any of them who read this.

By Wayne Wood
April 9, 2025

VUMC partners with public safety groups to combat distracted driving

A crash involving a distracted driver occurs approximately every 43 minutes based on statistics from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

By Jill Clendening
March 27, 2025

Experts urge helmet use as peak trauma season arrives

For the past 12 months, ATV injuries rank as the No. 7 mechanism of injury of pediatric trauma trends at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

By Jessica Pasley
March 12, 2025

Melissa Smith is dedicated to advancing care for trauma patients

“Melissa Smith is the heart and soul of the trauma program and is involved in every aspect of the oversight and functioning of the trauma service.”

By Jill Clendening
Lis Henley, MSN, RN, APRN, FNP-BC, EMT
March 12, 2025

Lis Henley wins L. Gale Allen President’s Leadership Award at Mid-Winter Conference for Tennessee Ambulance Service Association

The award is presented to an individual who provides exemplary service and support to emergency medical services in Tennessee.

By Lindsay Anderson
March 7, 2025

Vanderbilt Health hosts intensive trauma course for military medical personnel

The course provides training for military medical personnel working in deployed environments, military treatment facilities, and Level 1 trauma treatment facilities.
By Jill Clendening
February 28, 2025

New education course launched to improve stroke identification and care

This class is one of the first of its kind offered in the region that blends online learning with hands-on practical application for staff to employ best practices to reduce stroke mortality and morbidity.
By Kylie Avery
February 18, 2025

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is consulting people in the Nashville area about participating in a study to investigate using fresh frozen plasma to treat traumatic brain injury

The goal of the research is to determine if this treatment reduces the amount their brain lesion (brain bruise) grows and leads to better long-term brain function.
By VUMC News and Communications
February 14, 2025

Emergency department hosts first VUMC EM Family Day 

Family and friends of emergency physicians and administrative staff were invited to experience a day in the life of an emergency physician.
By Evan Dorian
January 28, 2025

New Vanderbilt Health program aims to improve efficiency, quality of ‘unplanned care’

Unplanned care refers to medical care arising from unexpected health issues that require immediate or urgent attention.
By Bill Snyder
January 17, 2025

Vanderbilt University Hospital reverified as Level 1 adult trauma center

Trauma patients come to VUH from a region covering 80,000 square miles, and approximately 9,400 acute trauma patients are treated at the hospital annually.
By Jill Clendening
January 9, 2025

Sledding safety tips from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Whizzing along on snow and ice is fun, but be careful: Never pull a sled with a motorized vehicle or on streets and parking lots.
By Jessica Pasley
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