Reporter Aug 27 2021

John Sergent, MD, and Marie Griffin, MD, MPH, were recognized for their longtime efforts in support of diversity and inclusion.

Griffin, Sergent honored for their contributions to diversity, inclusion

Aug. 26, 2021—Marie Griffin, MD, MPH, and John Sergent, MD, were recognized for their contributions to diversity and inclusion during a portrait unveiling ceremony sponsored by the Office of Diversity Affairs.

Annual Levi Watkins Lecture scheduled for Oct. 5

Aug. 26, 2021—The 20th Annual Levi Watkins Jr., MD Lecture is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at noon.

Mark Leszczynski, center, husband of Coleen Leszczynski, along with Coleen’s parents James and Alice Devlin, with the bell dedicated in Coleen’s memory and its accompanying plaque.

Family’s gift celebrates those who make transplants possible

Aug. 26, 2021—All Coleen Leszczynski ever wanted was to be normal. Born with a congenital heart disease (CHD), she labored to breathe, having only three-quarters the oxygen capacity of a healthy person. Still, she fought to live, serving as a cardiac nurse in her native Philadelphia area for more than 16 years. She wanted to help people like her.

Obese children, young adults at higher risk for thyroid cancer

Aug. 26, 2021—Children and young adults who are obese are at greater risk for malignant thyroid nodules, according to new study from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Perkins named director of Pediatric Neurotology

Aug. 26, 2021—Elizabeth Perkins, MD, assistant professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, has been named director of Pediatric Neurotology at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks (Vanderbilt University)

One Hundred Oaks EVS staff at 500 injury-free days and counting

Aug. 26, 2021—At Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks, among the 40 full-time Aramark Corp. employees who work under contract to provide environmental services — EVS, an industry term for health care cleaning services — there has not been an injury requiring medical attention in more than 500 days.

DeFoe named executive director of Finance for Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital

Aug. 26, 2021—Mike DeFoe has been named executive director of Finance for Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital.

Marie Martin, PhD, left, MEd, Kristina Talbert-Slagle, PhD, and Bernice Dahn, MD, MPH, are leading the effort to enhance Liberia’s education and health sectors.

Partnership seeks to bolster health, education in Liberia

Aug. 26, 2021—The Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health (VIGH) is joining Yale University and the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences (ULCHS) to establish a public-private-academic hub for research utilization in the Liberian health sector and an academic network to strengthen Liberia’s education and health sectors as part of a five-year, $15 million federal project announced this week.