Department of Medicine

Terrence Allen “TA” Smith, MD, MMHC
April 9, 2025

Colleagues honor the memory of VUMC gastroenterologist Terrence “TA” Smith

During his 20-year career at VUMC, he developed the Vanderbilt Small Bowel Center and was a leader in endoscopic innovation.

By Bill Snyder
April 8, 2025

A link between bacterial infection and colorectal cancer: Study

Understanding factors that contribute to the development of colorectal cancer could point to new targets for treating the disease at earlier stages, when survival rates are highest.

By Leigh MacMillan
A year after her lung transplant, Amanda Atkins is back to enjoying hiking, walking her dog and being with family and friends. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
April 8, 2025

Patient’s journey a beacon of hope to those facing a life-changing transplant

Amanda Atkins is sharing her story to give hope to those facing a life-changing transplant and to give thanks to her organ donor who made it all possible.

By Matt Batcheldor
April 8, 2025

VUMC to implement team-based effort to improve high blood pressure control

This project will implement findings from a PCORI-funded study comparing clinic-based and telehealth models for controlling hypertension, leveraging evidence-based strategies to enhance patient care.

By Jill Clendening
April 2, 2025

New gene discoveries target uterine fibroids

The research is another step toward development of targeted therapies aimed at reducing the incidence and medical burden of this common condition.

By Bill Snyder
April 2, 2025

Charlene Dewey honored by the American Medical Women’s Association

Dewey holds joint appointments in the Department of Medical Education and Administration, now the Office of Health Sciences Education, and the Department of Medicine Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health.

By Jill Clendening
April 1, 2025

Integrative approach reveals key inflammatory drivers of severe obesity

Severe obesity — a condition of being 100 pounds or more overweight — has doubled in the United States over the past two decades to 9.2%, with the greatest increases among women and Latino populations.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 28, 2025

VUMC’s Wesley Ely recognized by the American Thoracic Society

An internist, pulmonologist and critical care physician, Ely has focused on critically ill patients who suffer from delirium and who are at risk for long-term cognitive, functional and neuropsychological impairments.
By Bill Snyder
March 27, 2025

Six Vanderbilt faculty elected fellows of international scientific society

One of the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific societies, the AAAS also publishes the Science family of journals.
By Bill Snyder
March 19, 2025

Jennifer Below named director of Vanderbilt Genetics Institute

The Vanderbilt Genetics Institute is the intellectual hub for genomics research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.
By John Howser
March 18, 2025

Systemic sclerosis program gains a national recognition

Institutions that receive designation status provide high-quality scleroderma care, training and research. VUMC is one of 37 NSF-designated centers in the country and the only one in Tennessee.
By Bill Snyder
March 17, 2025

Where are all the Alzheimer’s drugs?

A new study will use innovative methods developed at VUMC to look for drugs already approved for other uses that could potentially be repurposed to treat Alzheimer's.
By Paul Govern
March 12, 2025

‘Trajectories’ of poor sleep over time may shorten your life: study

Long-term trajectories of irregular sleep durations outside the optimal range (more or less than the healthy duration of seven to nine hours of sleep per night) increased the risk of death from all causes by as much as 29%.
By Bill Snyder