Department of Health Policy

November 3, 2024

Greenlight study demonstrates effective early intervention in preventing childhood obesity

Researchers examined if childhood obesity could be prevented by leveraging a combination of health behavior counseling offered by pediatric primary care clinicians and modern digital health literacy tools.

By Christina Echegaray
Co-principal investigators of the genomic-enabled learning health system coordinating center and clinical site are, front row from left, Carolyn Audet, PhD, Alexander Bick, MD, PhD, and Sunil Kripalani, MD, MSc, and, back row from left, Wesley Self, MD, MPH, Josh Peterson, MD, MPH, and Dan Roden, MD. (photo by Susan Urmy)
September 24, 2024

‘Learning’ network will help move genomics into the clinic

A real-world learning health system was established at VUMC a decade ago. Now, the National Human Genome Research Institute is awarding two five-year grants totaling $12 million to support VUMC’s participation in, and coordination of, a genomic-enabled learning health system (gLHS) network.

By Bill Snyder
September 4, 2024

RSV vaccine in older people cuts risk of hospitalization

A multicenter study conducted in 19 states between October 2023 and March 2024 demonstrated that RSV vaccination was 75% effective in preventing RSV-associated hospitalizations for adults age 60 and older.

By Bill Snyder
July 22, 2024

Opioid treatment can avoid foster care placement: study

If women are given medications to treat opioid use disorder during their pregnancy they are significantly more likely to retain custody of their newborns after delivery

By Bill Snyder
June 18, 2024

Study tallies reports of unprofessional behavior among physicians

Reports from 193 hospitals were analyzed. It turns out that surgeons draw the most complaints.

By Paul Govern
June 11, 2024

2024 Chancellor Faculty Fellows selected

Each fellow holds the title for two years, receives $40,000 per year to support their work, and meets with their cohort to exchange ideas, build a broader intellectual community and engage in academic leadership development.

By Kathy Whitney
May 16, 2024

Clinician accountability program from VUMC associated with large savings

A program run by Vanderbilt University Medical Center that provides peer feedback to high-risk clinicians was associated with a significant decrease in malpractice claims costs at a large orthopaedic surgery practice, according to a recent study.
By Paul Govern
May 13, 2024

Training grant builds research ethics capacity for genetic and genomic research in Nigeria

The long-standing partnership between Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH) and collaborators Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Bayero University (BUK) is poised to address the growing demand for research in precision medicine in Africa.
By Kristin Centers
May 6, 2024

Second-most used herbicide in the US linked to birth defect in national study 

At present, 44 countries, including the European Union, have banned or are phasing out atrazine due to concern for its negative effects on human health.
By Craig Boerner
April 25, 2024

Traditional healer-initiated HIV testing and care expands in South Africa

Developed in a region with the world’s highest HIV prevalence, this study design and intervention has the potential to impact testing uptake among a “hidden population” by mobilizing trained healers, who vastly outnumber allopathic care providers in South Africa.
By Kristin Centers
April 17, 2024

Common AFib drug linked to higher bleeding risk 

In a national retrospective study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, diltiazem, when given in combination with the anticoagulant drugs apixaban (Eliquis) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto), significantly increased the risk of serious bleeding compared to metoprolol.
By Bill Snyder
April 3, 2024

Talbot leads US immunization committee

Infectious diseases researcher H. Keipp Talbot, MD, MPH, has been appointed chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
By Paul Govern
March 19, 2024

Over 40% of Tennessee Families With Children Say They Are Food Insecure; 70% Have Changed Spending on Food

This year’s Vanderbilt Child Health Poll shows that over 40% of Tennessee families report they are food insecure ― a similar proportion from last year. Most families (71%) say they have continued to change food spending habits due to high prices.
By Jake Lowary