Reporter Dec 18 2020
Rounds: A Holiday Gift
Dec. 21, 2020—Against the noisy background of masking debates, surges, flattening curves, warp speed initiatives, conflicting messages and misinformation, political controversies, not to mention a revolutionary mRNA technology, millions of people are deciding whether to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Tennessee’s uninsured children have doubled since 2019 and 2 in 5 live with food insecurity, poll finds
Dec. 21, 2020—In fall 2020, 9% of Tennessee children were uninsured, more than twice the level at the same time in 2019, according to a new poll conducted by the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy. Just 4% of children were uninsured in fall 2019, the poll found.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center begins giving COVID-19 vaccines to front-line caregivers
Dec. 17, 2020—Vanderbilt University Medical Center began vaccinating its front-line caregivers for COVID-19 on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Challenges, achievements share spotlight in 2020
Dec. 17, 2020—The year 2020 will forever be defined by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s response to it has been nothing short of stunning. The entire enterprise — clinical, research and education — began preparing for the pandemic’s impact even before the first cases appeared in Tennessee in March, and that dedicated commitment and unceasing effort did not waver in the long months that followed. But while COVID-19 dominated the news during 2020, there were still many other noteworthy achievements that made headlines during the year.
Year in Review 2020: Medical Center shines in multiple national rankings
Dec. 17, 2020—During the past year, Vanderbilt University Medical Center placed highly in several national rankings and was honored with numerous awards.
Year in Review 2020: Leadership appointments bolster VUMC’s missions
Dec. 17, 2020—New leadership appointments during the past year helped strengthen Vanderbilt University Medical Center's core missions.
Clinic uses new weapon to treat high-risk COVID patients
Dec. 17, 2020—Vanderbilt University Medical Center has a new weapon in the fight against COVID-19 — an investigational antibody treatment approved last month for emergency use in COVID-19 outpatients at high risk of developing severe disease or requiring hospital care.
Heart failure study seeks to reduce hospitalizations
Dec. 17, 2020—A national study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has found that many patients who arrive at the emergency department (ED) with acute heart failure can be safely discharged with self-care guidance and frequent phone appointments, avoiding the need for hospitalization.
Study reveals new strategy for reducing tumor growth, metastasis
Dec. 17, 2020—A team of Vanderbilt investigators has discovered that blocking a certain signaling pathway boosts antitumor immunity and reduces tumor growth and metastasis in models of breast cancer and melanoma.
Clair, Gilbert appointed as vice chairs of Medicine
Dec. 17, 2020—Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Medicine, has announced the appointment of two longtime Vanderbilt faculty members to newly created vice chair roles in the department.
Muñoz named to key VHVI leadership role
Dec. 17, 2020—Daniel Muñoz, MD, MPA, associate professor of Medicine, has been named the new executive medical director of the Patient Care Center (PCC) at Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute (VHVI), effective Jan. 1, 2021.
COVID-associated delays for elective services studied
Dec. 17, 2020—This spring in the U.S., there were widespread delays in elective health care procedures and screenings. Hospitals, in observance of federal guidelines, were, for a time, conserving beds and protective equipment in preparation for a surge in COVID-19 admissions. And, perhaps on a more prolonged basis, patients in many areas of the country stayed away due to anxiety over catching COVID-19 from other patients or their health care team.
