Employee Spotlight

June 12, 2025

From professional photographer to pediatric nurse, Mel Firebaugh is focused on bringing joy

“Being a photographer taught me to treasure the good memories and hold tight through the tough times. This is useful in nursing because there are a lot of tough times.”

By Jessica Pasley
May 19, 2025

Saved by an angel — in Aldi

Steve Glaeser fell in an Aldi supermarket; a Vanderbilt Health critical care nurse saved his life.

By John Howser
May 13, 2025

VUMC volunteer Nicholas Joy wins Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award

The Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award recognizes individuals or groups who have made a lasting impact on the community through their volunteerism.

By Wayne Wood
April 23, 2025

Straight from her heart: gratitude and gems

Vanderbilt Clinical Research Center nurse Sherri Hails, RN, shares messages of gratitude through heart-shaped reminders.

By Jill Clendening
April 18, 2025

VUMC volunteer Nicholas Joy is finalist for Strobel Award; he and all volunteers recognized during Volunteer Appreciation Week

By Wayne Wood
Janet Cross, MEd, CCLS, CPXP, right, with Med Rush, MD, at a recent event celebrating Cross’ career. (photo by Susan Urmy)
January 31, 2025

Janet Cross retiring from Vanderbilt after four decades of attending to children’s psychological, emotional and developmental needs

Cross spent her entire career dedicated to helping lay the foundation locally and nationally to solidify child life specialists as part of the health care team.

By Christina Echegaray
January 23, 2025

Terrell Smith retiring after distinguished career at Vanderbilt

Smith was at the forefront of creating patient and family councils that advise individual Vanderbilt hospital entities from the patient/family perspective.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 20, 2025

Edie Vaughn retires after 52 years of service at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Edie Vaughn began her career at VUMC in the fall of 1972, and after 52 years of service she retired from her role as a nurse in the Surgical Specialties unit.
By Kylie Avery
November 25, 2024

Vanessa Cameron is a nurse educator who has always been passionate about accommodations to help people learn. But a rock-climbing fall left her paraplegic, and she now says: ‘I thought I understood what ableism was, and I was wrong.’

Cameron, who co-leads the VUMC Disability Employee Resource Group, has led a team to develop algorithmic tools intended for anyone with a goal of supporting all participants at educational events.
By Matt Batcheldor
November 5, 2024

VUMC has long record of supporting military on Veterans Day — and every day

“Vanderbilt is an extremely welcoming environment for military personnel, and you see that all over campus.”
By Jill Clendening
September 24, 2024

Numerous activities mark VUMC’s observance for advanced practice providers

From Sept. 23-27, VUMC is observing Advanced Practice Providers week with various activities; read profiles of two of these dedicated professionals
By Christina Echegaray
September 19, 2024

One year ago, VUMC nurse Susie Stephens was thrown from a horse and suffered a broken neck. The story of her injury, her recovery — and the day she got back on the horse.

“I wake up every day and wonder why I didn’t die.”
By Wayne Wood
August 26, 2024

Eiman Jahangir on doing a plank without gravity, and seeing Earth’s curvature, colors and ‘the darkness we never appreciate’

Eiman Jahangir joins a select group of about 700 people who have gone to space. Listen to him talk about the experience, why he wants this experience to be more widely available, and what he’s thinking about being back in clinic on Sept. 3.
By Matt Batcheldor
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