Reporter April 8 2016
Report highlights global need for surgical services
Apr. 8, 2016—An estimated 5 billion people — two-thirds of the world’s population — do not have access to surgery because of a lack of facilities, money and trained surgeons and anesthesiologists.
Initiative seeks to encourage use of advance directives
Apr. 7, 2016—Vanderbilt University Medical Center is encouraging faculty and staff to answer this question: If you became incapable of making health care decisions for yourself because of injury or illness, would your family or health care provider know your wishes for health care?
Pietenpol named to NCI Blue Ribbon Panel
Apr. 7, 2016—Jennifer Pietenpol, Ph.D., B.F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Oncology and director of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), has been selected to serve on a Blue Ribbon Panel that will inform the scientific direction and goals at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for Vice President Joe Biden’s National Cancer Moonshot Initiative.
Potent HIV antibodies suggest new vaccine development approach
Apr. 7, 2016—It’s been known for some time that the immune system can produce antibodies capable of “neutralizing” HIV, and stopping the AIDS-causing virus dead in its tracks.
‘Idol’ appearance
Apr. 7, 2016—Tristan McIntosh, a 15-year-old student at Nashville School of the Arts and an American Idol contestant, visited with patients recently in the new state-of-the-art Seacrest Studios at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Psychiatric Hospital CEO Trivedi to take post in Maryland
Apr. 7, 2016—Harsh Trivedi, M.D., MBA, vice chair for Clinical Affairs for the Department of Psychiatry, administrative director for Vanderbilt Behavioral Health and CEO of the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH), has accepted the position of president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore.
Youth sports meeting outlines need for attention to safety
Apr. 7, 2016—Even though Tennessee has laws and policies in place to protect young athletes from sports-related fatalities, more diligence is needed to abide by them, said Alex Diamond, D.O., MPH.
TechVenture Challenge winners
Apr. 7, 2016—A business plan for a robotic neurosurgical device invented by Vanderbilt University engineers won top honors last week at the sixth annual TechVenture Challenge.
Purdue’s Low set for next Flexner Discovery Lecture
Apr. 7, 2016—Philip Low, Ph.D., director of the Purdue Center for Drug Discovery, will deliver the next Flexner Discovery Lecture on April 14.
Pulmonologist Moore always strives to bring his ‘A game’
Apr. 7, 2016—Paul Moore, M.D., has lived two places in his life: Nashville and Boston. He credits experiences and people in both cities for helping shape him into the physician, pulmonary specialist (and sports fan) that he is today.
VUSM town hall focuses on diversity, inclusion
Apr. 7, 2016—The number of black students applying to medical schools across the country is decreasing. Of particular concern is the reduced number of black males going into medicine. Vanderbilt University School of Medicine wants to change that trend.
Annual free screening for head and neck cancer set for April 15
Apr. 7, 2016—The symptoms of head and neck cancer can be subtle, so to help catch the disease in its earliest stages the Vanderbilt Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center will offer free head and neck screenings Friday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.