philanthropy Archives

On hand for a recent celebration of the new research fund were Debra Friedman, MD, MS, left, and Brianna Smith, MD, MS, (holding the plaque) and, from right, Larisa and Phillip Featherstone with their daughters Lily, Sophie and Sophia, and Carol and Ron Johnston.

Family’s gift will support pediatric cancer research

Mar. 30, 2023—Lily Hensiek's family has made a new $1 million commitment to endow the Lily’s Garden Discovery Researcher Fund in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The locker is filled with basic necessities to help patients and caregivers with their medical care journeys.

Football player’s donation honors his late brother

Mar. 16, 2023—P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative, along with Buffalo Bills football player Dawson Knox, recently presented Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with a gift of “Luke’s Locker” in memory of his brother.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban gift supports breast cancer clinical trials at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Mar. 7, 2023—Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have made a generous financial gift to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in support of clinical trials for new and better therapies for breast cancer.

Liz and John Potocsnak, second and third from left, with Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, left, Rizwan Hamid, MD, PhD, and Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD.

Potocsnak family’s transformative gift creates Center for Undiagnosed and Rare Disorders

Feb. 2, 2023—A transformative gift from the Potocsnak family has established the Potocsnak Center for Undiagnosed and Rare Disorders at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Former patient Herbert Christopher poses for a photo with Elizabeth Perkins, MD, the first Christopher fellow of Otolaryngology.

Gifts bolster otolaryngology, Alzheimer’s disease programs

Sep. 15, 2022—Herbert Christopher, a grateful Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery patient who received cochlear hearing implants from David Haynes, MD, has funded the training of otolaryngology fellows and leaders in Alzheimer’s disease care through several outright endowed gifts and additional gift planning with his estate.

Among those honored at last week’s event were (front row, from left) Pratik Pandharipande, MD, MSCI, Seth Smith, PhD, Kimberly Vinson, MD, Jessica Ancker, PhD, MPH, Nancy Davis, MD, Uyen Tran, MD, Tonia Rex, PhD, Adam Yock, PhD, DABR, Christopher Williams, MD, PhD, David Raiford, MD, (back row, from left) Adam Wright, PhD, Paul Moore, MD, Daniel Fabbri, PhD, John Penn, PhD, Rebecca Swan, MD, Alexander Gelbard, MD, Jennifer Lindsey, MD, Michael Savona, MD, Kathryn Lindley, MD, Sarah Jaser, PhD, and Douglas Johnson, MD, MSCI.

Directorships honor VUMC leaders and philanthropic partners

Sep. 8, 2022—by Doug Campbell Last week, Vanderbilt University Medical Center held a Directorship Celebration to honor 21 leaders from across the enterprise in clinical care, research, education and administration. “Endowed directorships support the excellence of our leading physicians and scientists,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, CEO of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine....

From left are Sarah Jaser, PhD, John Long, MD, Lindsley Long, Rebecca Swan, MD, Steven Webber, MBChB, MRCP, Becky Long, Matt Long, Dan Garry and Emily Garry.

Family’s gift supports efforts of three pediatric clinicians

Sep. 8, 2022—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.

Dolly Parton and longtime friend, Naji Abumrad, MD. (photo Courtesy of Dolly Parton)

Dolly Parton donates $1 million to pediatric infectious disease research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Jun. 15, 2022—Dolly Parton is donating $1 million to pediatric infectious disease research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help in the fight against serious infectious diseases such as coronavirus that have worldwide ramifications.

Attendees at the Spring Donor Celebration included, from left, Jane Corcoran, Melinda Balser, Alice Coogan, MD, Edie Carell Johnson, Amy Schoeny, PhD, and David Johnson.

Event honors VUMC donors for their loyal support

Jun. 2, 2022—by Nancy Humphrey Members of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Canby Robinson Society recently joined CEO and President Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, and his wife, Melinda, at the Vanderbilt University Student Life Ballroom for the Spring Donor Celebration, an annual event honoring donors for their loyal support. It was the first in-person celebration since 2019, due...

From left, Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, Orrin Ingram, Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Mary Brock, John Brock III, John Brock IV, Major Brock, Morgan Brock, Adam Dixon, Rebecca Brock Dixon.

$10 million gift from Brock family to establish Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation

May. 31, 2022—by Nancy Humphrey A $10 million gift from the Brock family, including John F. Brock III, his wife, Mary, and their three adult children — Rebecca Brock Dixon, John F. Brock IV and Major Brock — will establish the Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The gift will accelerate translation...

Clip In 4 the Cure

Mar. 31, 2022—More than 300 riders participated in the inaugural Clip In 4 the Cure, a relay-style, team cycling event that supported cancer initiatives at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt mourns loss of tireless philanthropist Dugas

Jan. 20, 2022—Laura Jo Turner Dugas, who along with her brothers Cal Jr. and Steve Turner and their families, have been longtime supporters of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, died on Dec. 26, 2021. She was 84.

VUMC Reporter