All News

January 26, 2026

Carbon monoxide risks increase during frigid temps; safety tips for home and on the road 

More than 20 patients were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in 24 hours early in the week when power began going out. Emergency physicians anticipate additional cases as temperatures are not expected to reach above freezing this week.

By Jessica Pasley
Lili Tao, MD, PhD, medical director of Mycology and Immunoserology, shows Maggie Weiss a culture plate on which the fungus that causes histoplasmosis is growing. (photo by Susan Urmy)
January 22, 2026

A grateful patient says ‘thank you’ to Vanderbilt Medical Laboratories

The infection can result from inhaling spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which grows in soil throughout Middle Tennessee, especially in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings. Previously, blood samples had to be sent to a reference lab in Utah.

By Bill Snyder
A standard heart transplant requires surgical many types of instruments. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
January 21, 2026

New donor organ storage method helps reduce rates of severe primary graft dysfunction

Methods such as the cold storage system make it possible to preserve organs for longer after donation, expanding the pool of available organs.

By Matt Batcheldor
January 21, 2026

Study details the downsides of testing for pregnancy too early

More than 40% of the women reported that they tested their urine for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone released by the placenta, four or more days before their expected periods.

By Bill Snyder
January 21, 2026

Experts warn parents about carbon monoxide risks as freezing temps persist: signs, causes

As residents prepare for frigid temperatures, injury and prevention experts at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt urge parents to be aware of potential dangers.

By Jessica Pasley
January 21, 2026

New study finds that deaf children with cochlear implants read well, despite weak speech sound processing

Vanderbilt Health researchers report that many prelingually deaf children who use cochlear implants achieve age-typical language and reading comprehension.

By Danny Bonvissuto
January 21, 2026

Medical Assistant Trainee Program team honored for success in training, retaining

Innovative partnership delivers high retention and fills critical staffing gaps across Vanderbilt Health clinics
By Jill Clendening
January 20, 2026

From tragedy to triumph: How a 6-year-old beat the odds after a devastating brain injury

A fall from a tree left Mark Ogorodnik fighting for his life. Thanks to faith, family and cutting-edge neurocritical care at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, his story became a testament to resilience and hope.
By Christina Echegaray
January 20, 2026

Master of Science in Applied Clinical Informatics program accepting applications

This completely virtual program provides a 36-credit-hour curriculum over 21 months, with a coursework-intensive first year followed by a practicum and a mentored capstone project.
By Paul Govern
January 20, 2026

VIGH, Ugandan partners land grant to study bunyaviruses in Tennessee and Uganda

Bunyaviruses can lead to many illnesses, ranging from mild fevers to serious and sometimes deadly diseases such as hemorrhagic fevers and encephalitis in both children and adults.
By Kristin Centers
January 20, 2026

Darcelle Skeete Burgess named director of HIPAA Privacy Office

She succeeds Terri Hartman, the long-time director of the program, who retired Oct. 31.
By VUMC News and Communications
January 20, 2026

Following recommended schedule helps keep children safe from vaccine-preventable diseases

Any length of time without immunizations is a time without protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.
By Jessica Pasley
January 20, 2026

Bayer and Vanderbilt University Medical Center to advance treatments for cardiovascular and kidney diseases 

The collaboration will leverage VUMC’s resource platform, including its comprehensive datasets hosted in Vanderbilt’s BioVU collection of DNA and plasma to enable data-driven insights and to accelerate discovery and development.