VUMC People

December 12, 2025

How Scott Smith beat the odds to live a full life with hydrocephalus through over a dozen surgeries at Vanderbilt Health

The Tullahoma, Tennessee, native turned 60 this year — something that would’ve seemed like an impossibility when he was growing up with a neurological condition.

By Evan Dorian
December 11, 2025

Bobo Tanner is a standout in both name and personalized patient care

“Dr. Bobo Tanner is one of the most exemplary doctors that I’ve had the privilege to encounter during my lifetime.”

By Jill Clendening
December 11, 2025

Kellie Pearson single-handedly manages administrative tasks for the 170-person Monroe Carell pharmacy team

The Credo Award winner tells the team: “You take care of the babies; I can take care of the rest of this.”

By Leigh MacMillan
From left are Karen Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, System Chief Nursing Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Jason Wolf, PhD, CPXP, President and CEO of the Beryl Institute; Terrell Smith, MSN, RN; and Hope Collins, senior director of Patient and Family Engagement, pose for a photo following the inaugural Terrell Smith Lectureship. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
December 10, 2025

Inaugural Terrell Smith Lecture stresses the importance of a ‘people-first’ mindset

Jason Wolf, PhD, CPXP, president and CEO of the Beryl Institute, kicked off the series with “Returning to the Heart of Care: Human Experience is Our True North.”

By Kylie Avery
December 9, 2025

Stephan Heckers to step down after two decades as Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences chair

Heckers is currently VUMC’s longest serving clinical department chair. He credits his longevity to the department’s culture and tradition of steady leadership, with each of the three previous chairs serving for periods of similar length.

By John Howser
Anna Means, PhD, R. Daniel Beauchamp, MD, and colleagues are studying a group of proteins that are essential to the growth of colorectal cancer tumors.
December 8, 2025

Vanderbilt research community mourns loss of longtime colleague Anna Means

In addition to her research, Dr. Means mentored dozens of undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students, research staff and faculty.

By Bill Snyder
December 5, 2025

Welcoming Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH

Salazar shared his vision for the department and expressed gratitude to the Advisory Board members and supporters in the community.
November 26, 2025

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘Being in the hospital can be a scary place and he helped to make it not feel like that.’

Jeb MacLennan, BSN, RN, works in the Surgical Intensive Care unit at Vanderbilt University Hospital. He is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.
By Kylie Avery
November 26, 2025

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘Lacey’s warm greeting and confident professionalism set the tone for our entire experience.’

Lacey Thomas, BSN, RN, works in the Progressive Care unit at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital. She is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.
By Kylie Avery
November 26, 2025

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘She knows what her patients need and knows how to approach difficult topics.’

Tammie Cornell, RN, works in the Intensive Care unit at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital. She is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.
By Kylie Avery
November 25, 2025

Beth Smith goes the extra mile to help pediatric patients in their rehabilitation care

“We’re just going to keep pushing forward and keep advancing and making things better for our patients.”
By Matt Batcheldor
November 25, 2025

Patient care + commanding convoys = satisfaction for VUMC nurse Erik Glover

C-Pod nurse commands a Tennessee-based U.S. Army Reserve unit
By Jill Clendening
November 18, 2025

Quantum computing team including Sunho Park wins competitive award

Their work focused on determining tissue and electrophysiological properties of the heart based on existing imaging approaches using quantum computing.
By Tom Wilemon
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