Patient Spotlight

February 2, 2026

Pom-poms for a new era: Briceton Latta’s next cystic fibrosis chapter

When Briceton Latta was born in 2006, the average life expectancy of a patient with CF was 37. Today, that expectancy is 65 and beyond.

By Christina Echegaray
Lili Tao, MD, PhD, medical director of Mycology and Immunoserology, shows Maggie Weiss a culture plate on which the fungus that causes histoplasmosis is growing. (photo by Susan Urmy)
January 22, 2026

A grateful patient says ‘thank you’ to Vanderbilt Medical Laboratories

The infection can result from inhaling spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which grows in soil throughout Middle Tennessee, especially in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings. Previously, blood samples had to be sent to a reference lab in Utah.

By Bill Snyder
Traumatic brain injury patient Mark Ogorodnik. (photo by Donn Jones)
January 20, 2026

From tragedy to triumph: How a 6-year-old beat the odds after a devastating brain injury

A fall from a tree left Mark Ogorodnik fighting for his life. Thanks to faith, family and cutting-edge neurocritical care at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, his story became a testament to resilience and hope.

By Christina Echegaray
December 12, 2025

How Scott Smith beat the odds to live a full life with hydrocephalus through over a dozen surgeries at Vanderbilt Health

The Tullahoma, Tennessee, native turned 60 this year — something that would’ve seemed like an impossibility when he was growing up with a neurological condition.

By Evan Dorian
Sebastian Brook is what his parents call ‘the exception.’
December 8, 2025

Minutes to hours, to weeks, months and years … How a patient defied the odds

Born at 34 weeks gestation June 8, 2023, Sebastian Brook was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with severe hydrocephalus and tetralogy of Fallot.

By Jessica Pasley
November 18, 2025

A renowned music producer needed a laryngectomy. His VUMC team helped him achieve the ‘Cadillac’ of vocal recovery.

Dan Hannon’s music industry accomplishments include over a billion streams, more than 4 million albums sold and multiple No. 1 albums and songs. Doing it all without his voice wasn’t an option.

By Evan Dorian
November 3, 2025

A walking miracle — patient receives three major surgeries sequentially

The patient, Theresa Stratman of Louisville, Kentucky, is now able to get to her continuing medical appointments and live without medical oxygen.
By Matt Batcheldor
October 27, 2025

Macon County father’s voice restored following oral cancer surgery

After surgical removal of a rare tumor left a sizable hole inside Nick Schrock’s mouth, he could only speak in a muffled, lispy whisper. Tyler Ames, a dentist at VUMC, fashioned a prosthetic device to close the hole and allow Schrock to speak more clearly.
By Jill Clendening
August 28, 2025

Jennifer Pack, a mother and a real estate agent, wanted to better hear the voices of her children and her clients; how VUMC research audiologist Jonathan Neukam helped that happen

“My preconceived idea was that cochlear implants are for deaf people, and I didn’t understand that they’re also for hearing-impaired people.”
By Evan Dorian
July 31, 2025

Turn left for the plan, turn right for the miracle: when triplets couldn’t wait for Nashville

Triplets decided to enter the world at 26 weeks. The plan was Nashville, but it was a left turn and an hour away. Would choosing the local hospital be right?
By Danny Bonvissuto
July 21, 2025

Jonesborough nurse’s heart attack-pregnancy journey leads to Vanderbilt Women’s Heart Center

Her care illustrates the multidisciplinary expertise of the Vanderbilt Women’s Heart Center, Cardiac OB/High-Risk Pregnancy Team and maternal-fetal medicine specialists.
By Matt Batcheldor
July 7, 2025

Quick action to treat young dancer’s rare heart condition a testament to what multidisciplinary teams can do

Bystanders assumed the healthy teen — who has danced for nine years, six of those competitively — was overheated or exhausted. Conscious, though unresponsive to questions, Zoe quickly worsened.
By Christina Echegaray
June 26, 2025

John White’s medical team has spent decades helping him achieve goals in life — and on the soccer field

His different heart didn’t mean accepting limits
By Evan Dorian
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