Patient Spotlight Archive — Page 1 of 12

Selfie of Joy Autin and her fiancé James Davis standing together under a covered outdoor structure; Autin wears glasses and a pink top, while Davis has long gray hair, a beard, and a cross necklace.
October 14, 2026

Scoliosis can affect people at all stages of life. But with the best spinal surgeons available, one patient got the best outcome

Joy Autin of Blountville, Tennessee, needed the best surgeon to correct a severe spinal deformity. A referral to Scott Zuckerman, MD, did the trick.

By Evan Dorian
Harold Scott was the first patient at Vanderbilt Health to receive a transplant of an HIV-positive organ into a HIV-positive recipient. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
September 17, 2026

Vanderbilt Health transplants first HIV-positive organ into HIV-positive recipient

Harold Scott of Lebanon, Tennessee, received the kidney transplant from a deceased donor in July. He is doing well and wants to spread the word about this new frontier in organ transplantation.

By Matt Batcheldor
Melissa Glass of Morgantown, Kentucky, had single-port robotic surgery at Vanderbilt Health to remove a cancerous tumor in her colon. The minimally invasive procedure allowed her to recover more quickly and return to activities she loves. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
September 17, 2026

Single-port, robotic colorectal surgery means patients go home, heal faster

Vanderbilt Health is among the highest volume single-port robotic colorectal surgery programs in the nation. Dozens of established surgeons from around the U.S. have come to train with this team.

By Jill Clendening
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt patient Nolan Queener plays with his beads of courage. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
August 7, 2026

One bead at a time, strung together, tells story of pediatric patients’ health journeys

The Beads of Courage Program provides innovative arts-in-medicine programs for children coping with serious illness, their families, and the clinicians who care for them.

By Jessica Pasley
Jason Colee is all smiles after finishing the Great Smoky Mountains 16.2-mile challenge, one of several races he completed following surgery to remove a rare tumor from his spinal cord.
August 6, 2026

Born to run and be there for his family, Jason Colee underwent a high-stakes spinal surgery so he could do both

The procedure was necessary to remove a rare tumorous mass that was nestled inside his spinal cord.

By Evan Dorian
Dixie Watt sits on a striped sofa in her living room, wearing a floral blouse and green pants.
August 3, 2026

New minimally invasive option available for patients with mitral valve disorders

Minimally invasive procedures are relatively quick and painless compared to surgical alternatives, and patients typically require a significantly shorter stay in the hospital to recover.

By Matt Batcheldor