Kelsey Gastineau

Among those involved in the gun lock safety program are, from left, Heather Kreth, PsyD, left, Erica Shannon and Kelsey Gastineau, MD, MPH. (photo by Donn Jones)
August 27, 2025

Be SMART campaign highlights efforts to reduce firearm incidents involving children

The Be SMART campaign was launched to raise awareness that secure gun storage — storing guns unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition — can save children’s lives.

By Jessica Pasley
Photo of the exterior of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt shows the four new floors added atop the pediatric facility. (photo by Anne Rayner)
June 5, 2025

Many Tennessee parents still have concerns about community violence, school safety

The latest analysis is based on the results of the annual Vanderbilt Child Health Poll of approximately 1,000 Tennessee parents.

By Jake Lowary
Among those involved in the gun lock safety program are, from left, Heather Kreth, PsyD, left, Erica Shannon and Kelsey Gastineau, MD, MPH. (photo by Donn Jones)
February 4, 2025

Locks for Children’s Safety program provides free gun locks

The initiative seeks to eliminate barriers and foster a safe, judgment-free space for families, employees and community members.

By Jessica Pasley
February 7, 2024

Education, bullying, mental health, school gun violence top list of parental concerns for their children: poll

The latest results from an annual poll of Tennessee parents from the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy again show education and school quality is the leading concern parents have for their children for the third consecutive year.

By Tamarra McElroy and Jake Lowary
January 4, 2024

Study finds significant increased risk of future health issues for youth who suffer nonfatal firearm injuries

A Vanderbilt study found that youth who suffer nonfatal firearm injuries have a significantly increased risk of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, outpatient visits and costs in the 12 months following injury compared to youth without a firearm injury.

By Jessica Pasley
September 19, 2023

Edwards, Gastineau, Brady honored by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

The Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has awarded top honors to three physicians in the Vanderbilt Department of Pediatrics.

By Christina Echegaray
April 12, 2023

Poll finds most most Tennessee parents agree on evidence-based safe firearm storage

A new Vanderbilt poll finds that most Tennessee parents who own firearms agree with ways to safely store their firearms that have been shown through peer-reviewed research to reduce the risk of unintended harm to children.
By Jake Lowary
March 9, 2023

Majority of Tennessee parents agree on several school firearm safety measures: poll

A new Vanderbilt poll finds that a majority of Tennessee parents agree on several firearm-related school safety measures.
By Jake Lowary
January 12, 2023

VUMC in the news, Jan. 17, 2023

September 8, 2022

Family’s gift supports efforts of three pediatric clinicians

The family of the late William (Bill) Long, MD, made a gift to establish the Dr. William R. Long Fund to support directorships, resident education, fellowships and psychologists in the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Nancy Humphrey
August 19, 2021

Children, firearms mixing more during pandemic

Researchers at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt discovered an alarming finding during the height of the pandemic — a marked increase in firearm encounters among children.
By Jessica Pasley