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Dan Kula, a volunteer with Vanderbilt Vigil Volunteers, visits with patient Gwenthian Hewitt. The program provides support for seriously ill patients at VUMC who might not have a loved one available to be at their bedside.

Vigil Volunteers seeks those with compassion to spare

Feb. 27, 2020—Dan Kula remembers entering a patient’s room on the Palliative Care Unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and immediately sensing the man’s agitation, which can be a symptom for those who are terminally ill.

Dona Potter was treated with a new immunotherapy that entails re-engineering a patient’s T cells to target cancer.

Patient’s cancer treatment includes new immunotherapy

Feb. 27, 2020—Dona Potter, 87, rode Harleys and drove 18-wheelers back when men dominated the open highways, and she is still defying expectations.

Internet sensation Doug the Pug, who recently starred in a Super Bowl commercial, visited patients and families in Seacrest Studio at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Known for his funny costumes and adventures, the Nashville dog’s videos and photos have been viewed by millions on social media. Shown here, patient John Hawkingberry III, 13, accompanied by his mother, Melissa, pets Doug, being held by his owner, Leslie Moser.

Doug the Pug visits

Feb. 27, 2020—Internet sensation Doug the Pug, who recently starred in a Super Bowl commercial, visited patients and families in Seacrest Studio at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt Health scores with Nashville Soccer Club

Feb. 24, 2020—Nashville Soccer Club and Vanderbilt Health have announced a strategic, multi-year relationship that includes Vanderbilt Health becoming an official sponsor of Nashville SC and the team’s exclusive health care provider.

Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, spoke about VUMC’s goals and milestones during Wednesday’s Leadership Assembly.

5 highlights from Leadership Assembly

Feb. 20, 2020—A focus on bolstering and supporting the people who put the “personal” in personalized care is fueling initiatives around Vanderbilt University Medical Center as leaders look to boost connectivity of an expanding workforce that’s taking on more patients in a rapidly changing environment.

Post-transplant diabetes may be reversible: study

Feb. 20, 2020—Post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM), a common complication of immunosuppressive drugs that are given to prevent transplant rejection, may be reversible and at least partially preventable, researchers at VUMC report.

Barbershops targeted to improve health of black men

Feb. 18, 2020—Black men with high blood pressure could benefit from a research study beginning this month to check their vitals while they are getting a haircut at a barbershop.

An initiative at VUMC is helping patients recover more quickly from major surgery, leave the hospital earlier and have fewer side effects from their pain management.

VUAH applies new approach for patient recovery after surgery

Feb. 13, 2020—An initiative at VUMC is helping patients recover more quickly from major surgery, leave the hospital earlier and have fewer side effects from their pain management.

Carmen Solórzano, MD, left, Emmanuel Mannoh, Giju Thomas, PhD, Naira Baregamian, MD, and colleagues are testing a device to assist in locating parathyroid glands during surgery.

Clinical trial tests device that detects parathyroid glands

Feb. 13, 2020—Vanderbilt is testing a device to assist in locating parathyroid glands during surgery.

Algorithm helps improve coronary calcium detection

Feb. 13, 2020—A new algorithm for artificial intelligence-assisted calcium scoring can accurately determine cardiovascular risk across a range of CT scans and in a racially diverse population.

Joyce Jackson, right, established a fund in honor of her parents, Hazel and George Fellendorf, to support programs that benefit children with hearing loss.

Jackson’s gift to help children with hearing loss

Feb. 13, 2020—In honor of her parents, Joyce Jackson established The Hazel J. and George W. Fellendorf Childhood Deafness Fund at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center to support programs that benefit children with hearing loss.

Team tracks integrin’s role in lung function

Feb. 6, 2020—Beta-1 integrin, a critical component of epithelial extracellular matrix receptors, is essential for normal lung function in adulthood, researchers at VUMC have discovered.

VUMC Reporter