Reporter Oct 4 2013

‘Cornelius’ program speeds assessment of readmission risk

Oct. 3, 2013—A new computer program called Cornelius calculates two risk scores for each newly arrived Vanderbilt University Hospital patient — one estimating the patient’s risk of developing pressure ulcers (bedsores) during the current hospital stay, and the other estimating the patient’s risk of returning to VUH for readmission within 30 days of discharge.

Intracellular receptor expert set for next Discovery Lecture

Oct. 3, 2013—Keith Yamamoto, Ph.D., an international leader in the study of signaling and gene regulation by intracellular receptors, will deliver the next Flexner Discovery Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 10.

VUSM student lands Physicians of Tomorrow Award from AMA

Oct. 3, 2013—Michele Luhm Vigor, a member of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s Class of 2014, has been selected by the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation to receive a Physicians of Tomorrow Award.

UCSF’s King to deliver annual Levi Watkins Jr. Lecture

Oct. 3, 2013—Talmadge King Jr., M.D., chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, will deliver Vanderbilt University School of Medicine's 12th annual Levi Watkins Jr. Lecture at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in 208 Light Hall.

ResearchMatch sub-registries add to database’s reach

Oct. 3, 2013—Launched in 2009 by a team at Vanderbilt, ResearchMatch is the first nationwide, disease-neutral research volunteer registry. More than 43,000 volunteers spread among all 50 states have registered with ResearchMatch.org.

Gift supports child safety programs

Oct. 3, 2013—At a recent car seat safety check hosted by the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Kohl's Department Store presented a donation of $145,866 to Children's Hospital's safety programs.

More resources needed to fight sex trafficking

Oct. 3, 2013—Efforts to prevent, identify and respond to children and adolescents who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking are largely under supported, inefficient, uncoordinated and unevaluated, according to a report released last week by a committee of the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

VUMC poised to overcome health care challenges: Balser

Oct. 3, 2013—While the national economy appears to be getting stronger, health care has entered a national recession, Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs and dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told a packed audience of approximately 1,100 Vanderbilt faculty, staff and students in Langford Auditorium on Wednesday afternoon while making his annual State of the Medical Center address.

Pioneers of Discovery: Computer science drives Capra’s biomedical research

Oct. 3, 2013—Tony Capra, Ph.D., is a new assistant professor of Biomedical Informatics and investigator in the Center for Human Genetics Research at Vanderbilt. His goal is to use the tools of computer science to address problems in genetics, evolution and biomedicine.

Study finds cognitive deficits common after critical illness

Oct. 3, 2013—Patients treated in intensive care units across the globe enter their medical care with no evidence of cognitive impairment but often leave with deficits similar to those seen in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that persist for at least a year, according to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Framingham Heart Study’s landmark impact examined

Oct. 3, 2013—While the Framingham Heart Study is often referenced throughout the halls of academia, few know its origin or can fully appreciate the contribution it has made to the understanding and prevention of cardiovascular disease.