William Schaffner Archive — Page 1 of 2

William Schaffner, MD. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
September 30, 2025

William Schaffner receives national honor for his vaccination, public health advocacy

The award honors medical school faculty members who have made major contributions to improving public health and health care.

Person with curly hair, eyes closed, holding a white tissue over their nose and mouth.
November 8, 2023

Flu season starting late but expected to increase for the holidays

The current flu season has started later and more gradually than last year although cases are expected to begin increasing in November before falling off in March.

Older man with white hair and glasses wearing a white medical coat and tie, smiling at the camera.
January 19, 2023

Emerging Infections Program lands national award for COVID response

Vanderbilt’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP) recently received the Toby Merlin Award for Excellence in Emergency Response, presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Portrait of a gray-haired man wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and blue tie.
December 6, 2018

Schaffner honored by Infectious Diseases Society of America

William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine in the Department of Health Policy and professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, is the recipient of the 2018 D.A. Henderson Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Health.

May 10, 2018

New Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame class has strong Vanderbilt ties

On May 3, the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame announced seven health care professionals selected as this year’s inductee class, three of whom have close ties to Vanderbilt.

A person lying in bed with a cool cloth on their forehead while another hand holds a glass thermometer in the foreground.
January 5, 2018

What you need to know about this year’s flu

Discover what strains are prominent, how effective this year’s vaccine is, and how hard the virus has hit Tennessee so far.