Emergency & Trauma Archive — Page 4 of 14

A smiling person in a black flight suit holds a Distinguished CFRN Award plaque in front of a Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter.
April 28, 2025

New celebration photos: Michael Gooch wins award for excellence in emergency nursing and education

The award recognizes exceptional emergency nurses who are board certified and demonstrate a commitment to championing continuous learning and excellence in patient care through nursing certification.

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.

Surreal collage featuring a black-and-white portrait of a long-haired man, a red heartbeat waveform, a blue moon, a helicopter above a modern building, medical imagery, and a newspaper clipping reading “IMPALED BY A FENCE POST—AND HE LIVES.”
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.

Driver holding a smartphone while steering a car, illustrating distracted driving.
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.

Helmeted rider driving a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle through deep sand, with trees in the background.
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.

Woman standing with folded arms beside a wall sign reading “Division of Acute Care Surgery” and “Trauma, Emergency Surgery, Critical Care, Burn.”
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.”