palliative care

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.
February 27, 2020

Vigil Volunteers seeks those with compassion to spare

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.

By Jill Clendening
January 16, 2020

Pediatric diabetes, palliative care focus of new Friends of Children’s Hospital gift

Friends of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a volunteer organization, recently committed $1 million over the next three years to be split between two crucial pediatric programs: diabetes and palliative care.

By Nancy Humphrey
September 12, 2019

Study shows benefit of palliative care for liver disease patients

A Vanderbilt study sheds new light on the impact of palliative care.

By Jill Clendening
June 13, 2019

Diversity of conference attendees mirrors increasing support for palliative care

More than 80 people attended a Palliative Care Conference in Nashville recently that was led by faculty members of the Palliative Care programs at VUMC and the Nashville VA Medical Center, and VUMC Center for Biomedical Ethics.

By Jill Clendening
Mohana Karlekar, MD, medical director of the Palliative Care program, right, teaches medical and nursing students about how to have positive conversations with patients about advance directives for healthcare.
April 4, 2019

Events to focus on education about advance directives

Health care professionals throughout the United States are encouraging patients and their families to document their preferences related to their health care during an awareness campaign known as National Healthcare Decisions Day, celebrated on Tuesday, April 16. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is hosting several events for employees to promote the importance of completing an advance directive for health care.

By Jill Clendening
March 21, 2019

Project seeks to ease confusion about advance directives

While Vanderbilt University School of Medicine student Jon Alverio was on rotation with the Vanderbilt Health Palliative Care team, he witnessed the confusion patients often have as they try to complete an advance directive for health care, and he decided to do something about it.

By Jill Clendening
November 15, 2018

Songwriting aids palliative care nurse in cancer fight

Megan Palmer, RN, a nurse in the Palliative Care Unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, wears many hats, but she never imagined writing a song about a perfect Stetson cowboy hat would hold such powerful meaning in her life.
By Jill Clendening
April 12, 2018

Initiative stresses importance of advance directives

While many might prefer to not think about dying, healthcare professionals throughout the United States are encouraging patients and their families to do just that during a national awareness campaign April 16-22 that promotes the importance of completing an advance directive for healthcare.
By Jill Clendening
September 14, 2017

Film documents photographer’s journey to regain quality of life

Nashville photographer Fred Dusel took a long draw on his ever-present trademark cigar as he studied a richly detailed carbon transfer print of wind-twisted driftwood on a barrier island beach in Georgia.
By Jill Clendening
August 24, 2017

Benefits of palliative care for liver disease patients studied

Past research has proven that palliative care — specialized medical care focused on pain and symptom management as well as psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life — benefits patients with malignant diseases such as aggressive cancers. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) health care providers are now studying whether palliative care can also benefit those with advanced liver disease, a diagnosis that precedes either a life-saving liver transplant or death.
By Jill Clendening
April 13, 2017

Musician, physician collaborate to create message of hope on film

Nashville musician and producer Jesse Boyce compares the anxiety he felt just before receiving palliative radiation therapy to the jitters he often experienced before going on stage. The instant treatment began — and as the first note rang out — his anxiety was replaced by a sense of peace and determination.
By Jill Clendening
February 14, 2017

Using the Internet for good

Terrah Foster Akard is helping children facing serious and life-threatening illness create a digital record of their lives, and measuring the impact the practice has on their emotional wellbeing.
By VUMC News and Communications
January 12, 2017

Vigil Volunteers program expanding to Medical ICU

After a successful 2016 pilot in the 16-bed Palliative Care Unit, the Vanderbilt Vigil Volunteers (V3) program — which pairs a volunteer with dying patients who either have no known family or friends, or whose family and friends are unable to be with them — is expanding into the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) in early 2017.
By Jill Clendening
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