Surgeries

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
Matthew Spann, MD, MMHC
February 2, 2023

Spann, Geiger move into new Surgical Sciences leadership roles

By Jill Clendening
January 19, 2023

Pediatric surgeon’s medical career began with a lucky catch

While he was in medical school, pediatric surgeon Joseph Fusco, MD, learned in an unusual way that he had thyroid cancer.

By Jessica Pasley
Dominic Gamez is resuming more activities since he received an expandable prosthesis to treat osteosarcoma in his left leg.
January 12, 2023

Expandable prosthesis gives young patient more mobility

To treat the osteosarcoma in his left leg, Dominic Gamez, 7, and his family chose to have a magnetic expandable prosthesis implanted that can be manipulated to grow incrementally as the child grows.

By Nancy Humphrey
January 12, 2023

Sharp named Southern Surgical Association president

Vanderbilt’s Kenneth Sharp, MD, has been named president of the Southern Surgical Association (SSA).

By Jill Clendening
The study team included, from left, David McIlroy, MD, Matthew Shotwell, PhD, Cassandra Hennessy, MS, and Frederic (Josh) Billings IV, MD. (photo by Donn Jones)
November 30, 2022

Study links excess oxygen during anesthesia to risk of organ injury

A Vanderbilt study found that higher levels of excess oxygen given to patients under general anesthesia add risk of injury to the kidneys, lungs and heart.

By Paul Govern
November 15, 2022

Lori Rolando sets an example of working hard but protecting work-life balance

For her work, the Occupational Health Clinic Director was recognized with a Five Pillar Leader Award.
By Jill Clendening
November 10, 2022

Study defines role of steroids in congenital heart disease surgery

Steroids are commonly given to infants during open-heart surgery to reduce inflammation, but whether the drugs significantly improve patient outcomes has not been settled — until now.
By Bill Snyder
October 13, 2022

VUH adopts enhanced recovery for sarcoma surgery

Vanderbilt's latest enhanced recovery after surgery clinical pathway was launched last month for adult patients receiving surgery to remove extremity soft tissue sarcomas, which are cancerous tumors that can arise in muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels and other connective tissue.
By Paul Govern
September 8, 2022

Study tests drug to illuminate cancer during surgery

A Vanderbilt study is testing drugs that provide a targeted fluorescent dye that clings to and illuminates cancer.
By Craig Boerner
August 17, 2022

VUMC launches enhanced recovery for total joint replacement

Vanderbilt's enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program recently expanded to include the 1,400 patients per year who receive total hip replacement or total knee replacement surgery.
By Paul Govern
June 14, 2022

Kathleen Gallagher is a surgical resident and former combat medic. She traveled to Ukraine to help train emergency response teams.

"With my background in combat medicine, it felt like there was something I could actually do to help.”
By Nancy Humphrey
June 2, 2022

Sister surgeons share a winding road that led to VUMC

From Canada to Florida to VUMC, the "Gillaspie Girls" are building careers after "falling in love with surgery."
By Jill Clendening