Women’s Health

Jennifer Gaddy, PhD
July 11, 2024

Jennifer Gaddy receives grants from March of Dimes, Burroughs Wellcome Fund

She studies infection of the female reproductive tract in the context of pregnancy.

By Paul Govern
June 24, 2024

From ‘what happened’ to ‘what now:’ How one VUMC News & Communications writer became part of her own story about the Vanderbilt Health Coaching Program

Danny Bonvissuto set out to write about the Vanderbilt Health Coaching Program. Then the program manager offered to show her how health coaches draw out intrinsic motivation in their clients, aka patients, to get to what Danny dubbed the Next Right Thing.

Source: Tennessee Department of Health (graphic by Diana Duren)
May 22, 2024

Rising syphilis cases prompt more testing during pregnancy

When found and treated early with antibiotics, syphilis is curable. Untreated syphilis can cause deafness, blindness and irreversible heart and brain damage.

By Danny Bonvissuto
Kewanna Frierson and her daughter, Kennedi.
April 9, 2024

Lifting up voices to celebrate healthy Black births 

Celebration of Black Motherhood on April 20 elevates positive stories and experiences around Black births

By Danny Bonvissuto
March 18, 2024

First baby born in the new Labor and Delivery Rooms on 4 North

The new rooms are the latest in a series of obstetrical enhancements, including the Vanderbilt University Hospital Labor and Delivery Entrance, that provide more space for the increased volume of mothers delivering at VUH.

By Danny Bonvissuto
March 11, 2024

New Vanderbilt University Hospital Labor and Delivery entrance helps patients bypass Emergency Department

Pregnant patients who are more than 20 weeks along with a pregnancy-related health issue have a dedicated drop-off location. The VUH Labor and Delivery Entrance, located off 21st Avenue at the new Vivian Thomas Way stoplight, offers quick access to OB triage at Medical Center East’s second-floor entrance in the north tower.

By Danny Bonvissuto
March 11, 2024

Phase 3 CELLEBRATE trial testing regenerative stem cell-based therapy to improve urinary control for women

The Phase 3 CELLEBRATE trial to test a regenerative stem cell-based therapy in treating patients with stress urinary incontinence is continuing to recruit additional subjects after changing its study protocol to include only patients who have already tried surgery. 
By Craig Boerner
March 8, 2024

Scalp cooling allows woman to keep hair during chemotherapy

The Food and Drug Administration first granted marketing approval for the DigniCap system for patients with breast cancer in 2015, then in 2017 the FDA expanded the authorization, making it the first cooling cap cleared for use in cancer patients with solid tumors, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer.
By Tom Wilemon
March 6, 2024

New toolkit helps non-obstetricians better identify and treat pregnant and postpartum patients with cardiovascular emergencies

Vanderbilt's Kathryn Lindley, MD, has worked with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a national toolkit for non-obstetricians to better identify and treat pregnant and postpartum patients with cardiovascular emergencies.
By Matt Batcheldor
March 1, 2024

Study seeks to determine if fallopian tube sonograms can help detect ovarian cancer at early stage

Vanderbilt researchers are investigating whether sonograms of fallopian tubes can be effective for the early detection of ovarian cancer, and their ongoing study shows promise.
By Tom Wilemon
March 1, 2024

Four-tunate few: Leap Day Babies Arrive at Vanderbilt Hospitals

Indy Rose Manning didn’t just arrive on her due date — she arrived on a day that comes around once every four years. Indy was born on Leap Day, making her a Leapling.
By VUMC News and Communications
January 9, 2024

Chic Awearness supports mentoring program for ovarian cancer patients

Chic Awearness is now supporting two new ovarian cancer research initiatives at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and providing matching funding for a social worker to coordinate Woman to Woman, a peer mentoring program launched at VUMC in 2023.
By Tom Wilemon
January 8, 2024

Ronald Alvarez elected president of American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society

According to Alvarez, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the status of women’s health in the U.S., particularly maternal health, is “appalling” for a nation with the resources we have.
By Danny Bonvissuto