Department of Cardiac Surgery

Vanderbilt’s Ashish Shah, MD (in white coat); with Ukrainian physicians, from left, Roman Buriak, MD, PhD; Vadym Mykolaienko, MD; Maksym Konodiuk, MD; Oleg Zhurba, MD, PhD; Yevhen Yarmilko, MD; and Vadym Golub, MD. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Ukrainian team visits VUMC to hone transplant surgery skills

With the help of Vanderbilt and other transplant centers, Ukraine has developed a growing transplant program in the country in the last four years.

Teams help patient survive multiple traumatic injuries

In August 2022 Lisa Kimbrell was involved in a near-fatal wreck. A year later two dogs attacked her and sent her back to the hospital.

Transplant patient’s indomitable spirit proves inspirational

Bill Jackson received a heart and double lung transplant, an unusual procedure performed only a handful of times each year at VUMC and one that can occur at only the most specialized transplant centers.

By Matt Batcheldor

October 15, 2024

David Bichell stepping down as chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Under Bichell’s leadership, the pediatric heart transplant program has consistently had among the highest transplant volumes in the United States, ranking eighth in 2023 for pediatric heart transplant center volumes with 15 transplants performed.

By Christina Echegaray

Melissia Boynton speaks with a visitor a few days after her heart transplant. (photo by Kylie Avery)

May 17, 2024

A Mother’s Day to remember

Melissia Boynton got the call about 3 a.m. on Mother’s Day that her new heart was available. Immediately, her plans changed from a barbecue around the family pool to a middle-of-the-night drive to Nashville to get her new heart.

By Matt Batcheldor

Double-lung transplant patient Mike Boston and his wife, Kellie. (photo by Donn Jones)

April 8, 2024

Lung transplant patient, family glad they came to a place where ‘every single person cared’

Mike Boston was turned down by eight hospitals for a double lung transplant, which would be his second, because none believed he would survive the surgery. Finally, doctors at one medical center — VUMC — thought he might.