All News

June 20, 2024

Renowned Emergency Medicine educator, clinician Keith Wrenn mourned

Dr. Wrenn’s clinical skill inspired awe. He taught by example, and his patience, compassion and focus on patient-centered care leaves an indelible impression on trainees and colleagues.

By Paul Govern
(iStock)
June 19, 2024

Study of messenger RNA regulatory mechanism reveals cancer risk genes

The Vanderbilt study used RNA-sequencing data generated in multiple normal tissues, along with matched genotype data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project as well as large-scale genomic data for cancers of the breast, ovary, prostate, colorectum, lung and pancreas.

By Tom Wilemon
June 18, 2024

A patient wanted to eat a juicy Bonnaroo burger, but he had to learn to swallow food again after neck cancer. Julie Judkins-Giffin helped him get there.

“She taught me exercises that strengthened my throat muscles, which enabled me to eat again and gave me my life back.”

By Jessica Pasley
June 18, 2024

Study tallies reports of unprofessional behavior among physicians

Reports from 193 hospitals were analyzed. It turns out that surgeons draw the most complaints.

By Paul Govern
Registered respiratory therapist Natasha Vanderbilt, RRT, encourages 10-year-old Kate to exhale a complete breath during a lung function test in the Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine clinic. (photo by Susan Urmy)
June 14, 2024

Removing race improves accuracy of lung function testing in children

The study suggests the adjustment for race in spirometry resulted in an underreporting — and thus possibly undertreatment — of chronic lung diseases, including asthma and cystic fibrosis, in Black children.

By Bill Snyder
From left are: Kaitlyn Tracy, MD, General Surgery resident; Mark Naguib, MD, Pediatrics resident; Brittany Murphy, MD, Internal Medicine resident; Moriah Forster, MD, Hematology and Oncology fellow; Derek Riffert, VUSM MD candidate; Jin Han, MD, MSc, Emergency Medicine faculty physician.
June 14, 2024

Graduate Medical Education research work highlighted

This year’s winner of the Elliot V. Newman Prize was Kaitlyn Tracy, MD, a surgical resident at VUMC, who shared her work on the potential clinical impact of storing livers for transplant at 10 degrees Celsius.

By Nancy Humphrey
June 14, 2024

Vanderbilt postdoctoral fellows recognized at 2024 Spring Postdoc Awards Ceremony

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in partnership with the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association announced the 2024 award winners at the Spring Postdoc Awards Ceremony on May 23.
By Annie Evans
June 13, 2024

Study shows transplant volumes decreased, costs rose following federal policy change

The new policy changed liver allocations from a regional service area to an “acuity circles” system that assigns donor livers as far as 500 nautical miles away based on the acuity of recipients.
By Matt Batcheldor
June 13, 2024

Multicenter study identifies method of preoxygenation that prevents hypoxemia and cardiac arrest during emergency tracheal intubation

Preoxygenation is the administration of supplemental oxygen prior to the start of a procedure to increase the content of oxygen in the lung and decrease the risk of hypoxemia
By Nancy Humphrey
June 12, 2024

Scientists find antibodies that block parainfluenza virus infection

The antibodies may have clinical benefit as antiviral drugs to treat potentially life-threatening infections in elderly and immunosuppressed patients.
By Bill Snyder
June 12, 2024

From clinic to comic cons: Team helps nonverbal, nonmobile patient unlock his interviewing voice

Seven years ago, asking questions was not possible. Ivan, who is nonverbal and nonmobile, had no way to communicate. What he was thinking, feeling or wanting was always a “best guess” for his mom.
By Christina Echegaray
June 12, 2024

VUMC creating career development ladder for care partners

The program, which is optional, allows care partners to start at a Care Partner I position and progress to Care Partner II and Care Partner III.
By Matt Batcheldor
June 12, 2024

Obesity-cancer connection discovery suggests strategies for improving immunotherapy 

The study reported in the journal Nature provides a mechanistic explanation for the “obesity paradox” — that obesity can contribute to cancer progression but also improve response to immunotherapy.
By Leigh MacMillan