Department of Surgery

Some members of the Critical Care Outreach Team at Vanderbilt University Hospital include, front row, left to right, Casey Ernfelt, ACNP, Lindsay Trantum, ACNP, Rebekah Pike, ACNP. Back row, left to right, Liza Weavind, MBBCh, Cody Bowers, AG-ACNP, Kipp Shipley, DNP, Megan Shifrin, DNP, ACNP-BC, and Christopher Hughes, MD. (photo by Donn Jones)
January 13, 2026

Critical Care Outreach Team’s rapid response interventions improve patient safety, prevent ICU transfers

Since January 2020, members of the VUH CCOT have responded to more than 10,000 rapid response calls in every non-ICU unit in the adult hospital.

By Jill Clendening
January 9, 2026

Weight loss drugs and bariatric surgery improve the body’s fat ‘balance:’ study

The retrospective study analyzed the electronic health records of 1,257 patients ages 18 to 65 who underwent bariatric surgery at Vanderbilt Health from 2017 to 2022, and 1,809 patients treated with the drugs semaglutide or tirzepatide from 2018 to 2023. 

By Guillermo Sanchez, PhD
January 7, 2026

Emergency General Surgery recognized with ACS verification

Emergency general surgery account for more than 4 million hospital admissions annually, with patients experiencing three times the mortality rate when compared with elective surgical patients.

By Craig Boerner
Vanderbilt’s Seth Karp, MD, testifies before a U.S. Senate committee Dec. 11.
December 15, 2025

Vanderbilt’s Seth Karp testifies about continuing need to increase organs available for transplant

More than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ transplant, and about 13 people die each day waiting.

By Matt Batcheldor
Anna Means, PhD, R. Daniel Beauchamp, MD, and colleagues are studying a group of proteins that are essential to the growth of colorectal cancer tumors.
December 8, 2025

Vanderbilt research community mourns loss of longtime colleague Anna Means

In addition to her research, Dr. Means mentored dozens of undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students, research staff and faculty.

By Bill Snyder
(Adobe Stock)
November 26, 2025

Kitchen fires most prevalent on Thanksgiving Day

Each Thanksgiving over 2,300 home fires nationwide are caused by cooking, according to the National Fire Protection Association. 

By Craig Boerner
November 20, 2025

Ukrainian surgeons again come to VUMC to observe transplant protocols

With the help of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center and other centers, Ukraine has developed a growing transplant program in the country in the last five years.
By Matt Batcheldor
October 13, 2025

Mark Kelley retires, having ‘profoundly shaped surgical oncology’ at VUMC

Kelley is lauded by his colleagues and surgical leaders for his contributions both at VUMC and nationally.
By Jill Clendening
September 18, 2025

Vanderbilt-developed AI platform validated for molecular mapping of tissues

The advancement transforms how scientists and clinicians can visualize and analyze complex tissues on a high-resolution map of cellular landscapes across entire tissue sections.
By Tom Wilemon
August 4, 2025

VUMC’s ECMO program sees substantial growth

ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is a life-sustaining mechanical system that takes over for the hearts and lungs of critically ill patients, allowing them to rest and recover.
By Matt Batcheldor
July 21, 2025

Multicenter trial confirms near-infrared autofluorescence increases detection of parathyroid glands

Damage to these glands can cause hypoparathyroidism, a condition that can lead to low levels of calcium and elevated levels of phosphorus in the blood.
By Jill Clendening
July 10, 2025

Kyla Terhune named to education leadership role with American College of Surgeons

Terhune, who also serves as the ACGME/National Resident Matching Program Designated Institutional Official, begins her ACS leadership role on Nov. 1.
By Jill Clendening
July 9, 2025

VUMC’s Section of Surgical Sciences and LG forge collaboration on AI initiatives for medical needs

The collaboration will center on the Molecular AI Initiative’s pioneering platform, which uses AI-driven 3D spatial multimodal research to build predictive, high-fidelity models of a patient’s disease at the molecular level.
By VUMC News and Communications
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