“How much closer to an angel can you get than a little bitty baby struggling for life?” said Dean Driver, 91, who converted a panel truck into VUMC’s first neonatal transport in his driveway.

The awards support research efforts to identify optimal approaches to improving health care and health outcomes for patients, families and the community.

The study found that West African genetic ancestry was associated with shorter disease-free survival, particularly for women with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer.

The AECM was formed in 2021 to “honor exemplary clinicians who combine humanism, professionalism and a passion for patient care with a scholarly approach to improving patient health and establish a community of leaders to promote clinical excellence.”

Approximately 1% of the U.S. population — 2 million to 3 million adults — experience critical illness requiring the placement of a breathing tube each year.

After 35 years of tireless service to the people and patients of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer, will step down from that role.

VUMC researchers applied the new approach to large GWAS datasets for breast, prostate and lung cancers, and three brain disorders.