Pediatrics

July 7, 2023

Pediatric Heart Transplant Program medical director Debra Dodd retiring

After nearly 40 years and being involved in more than 300 lifesaving transplantations at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Debra Dodd, MD, is retiring.

By Jessica Pasley
June 29, 2023

Persistent inflammatory state found in half of pediatric sepsis deaths: study

New research shows that about half of pediatric patients who died of sepsis over the past 20 years at Vanderbilt University Medical Center had evidence of an inflammatory state called persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome.

By Leigh MacMillan
June 29, 2023

Safe Stars expanding to include private schools

The Safe Stars youth sports safety rating system is expanding to include private schools and community youth sports organizations participating on public property.

By Jessica Pasley
Vanderbilt’s pediatric neurocritical care team treated patient Will Terry after he suffered a traumatic brain injury when he flipped over the handlebars of a kick scooter. (photo by Susan Urmy)
June 22, 2023

Neurocritical care team helps boy survive severe brain injury

Vanderbilt’s pediatric neurocritical care team combines experts from different areas of pediatric medicine to care for each child according to individual needs to maximize that child’s quality recovery.

By Christina Echegaray
May 24, 2023

Child Health Poll: more than 1 in 4 Tennessee parents worried their kids have undiagnosed depression, anxiety

The latest analysis of the 2023 Tennessee Child Health Poll, released during National Mental Health Awareness Month, has found that roughly 29% of Tennessee parents are concerned their child has undiagnosed anxiety or depression.

By Jake Lowary
May 17, 2023

Poll shows more than 1 in 4 Tennessee parents worried their kids have undiagnosed depression, anxiety

The latest analysis of the 2023 Tennessee Child Health Poll, released during National Mental Health Awareness Month, has found that roughly 29% of Tennessee parents are concerned their child has undiagnosed anxiety or depression.

By Jake Lowary
May 11, 2023

Procedure uses patient’s own growth to treat scoliosis

Vanderbilt pediatric orthopaedic surgeons are the first in Tennessee to perform an innovative procedure to treat scoliosis that uses the patient’s own growth to correct the curve.
By Jessica Pasley
May 4, 2023

Pediatric Oral Immunotherapy Clinic launched

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has launched a new pediatric Oral Immunotherapy Clinic, which offers a special therapy to peanut-allergic children to reduce risk of a harmful immune response in the event of accidental exposure to peanuts.
By Christina Echegaray
May 1, 2023

Study highlights risks for self-harm events in children and adolescents

A Vanderbilt study has identified four separate profiles to help medical professionals better assess children at elevated risk for a self-harm event.
By Jessica Pasley
April 24, 2023

Study finds early RSV infection linked to significantly increased risk of asthma in children

A Vanderbilt study has found that RSV infection in the first year of life is associated with a significantly increased risk of asthma in children.
By Nancy Humphrey
April 13, 2023

Children’s mystery symptoms may be alpha-gal syndrome

A Vanderbilt study found that some children with mystery digestive symptoms may actually have undiagnosed alpha-gal syndrome, commonly known as the red meat allergy linked to tick bites.
By Nancy Humphrey
April 13, 2023

Predators’ support in battling childhood cancer stays strong

The Nashville Predators, including retired goalie Pekka Rinne, recently visited Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to present hospital leaders with the proceeds raised throughout the year from the team’s 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Twice Daily.
By Christina Echegaray
April 12, 2023

Poll finds most most Tennessee parents agree on evidence-based safe firearm storage

A new Vanderbilt poll finds that most Tennessee parents who own firearms agree with ways to safely store their firearms that have been shown through peer-reviewed research to reduce the risk of unintended harm to children.
By Jake Lowary