VUMC People Archive — Page 12 of 81

Emily Dunn smiles while holding a framed DAISY Award certificate for Extraordinary Nurses in front of large windows.
February 23, 2026

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘I was scared, confused, and in a very lonely headspace. Emily was beyond kind, caring, and compassionate.’

Emily Dunn, BSN, RN, works in the Pediatric Medicine Acute Care unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.

By Kylie Avery
Adam Wright, PhD, directs the new Clickbusters program to reduce alert fatigue in VUMC’s electronic health records system.
February 20, 2026

Adam Wright invited to National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leaders Forum 

Attendees will explore some of the most pressing challenges in health and medicine, with the aim of considering and stimulating collaborative interdisciplinary solutions.

By Paul Govern
Robin Steaban holds a sculptural nursing award while standing in front of black and gold star-shaped balloons.
February 20, 2026

Robin Steaban celebrated for lifetime DAISY recognition

Under Robin Steaban’s leadership, Vanderbilt University Hospital achieved four Magnet designations.

By Kylie Avery
Five people pose on a stage, with the second person from left holding a glass award; a geometric projection screen and theater curtains are behind them.
February 20, 2026

Five honored at Translational Science and Research Forum

Translational research brings discoveries from the laboratory and preclinical studies forward to clinical trials and studies in humans.

By Paul Govern
Leon Partain, MD, wearing glasses, a white coat, and tie, standing in front of framed radiology displays.
February 18, 2026

Vanderbilt Health remembers C. Leon Partain, former chair of Radiology

A Tennessee native, C. Leon Partain is celebrated for being instrumental in bringing the first MRI and PET/CT machines to the Medical Center.

By Derek Scancarelli
Aaron Williams, MD, was recently recognized for developing a novel heart preservation technique that is expanding access to lifesaving transplants. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
February 13, 2026

Aaron Williams a ‘pioneer’ on 2026 TIME100 Health list of influential leaders

Williams helped lead the team that developed a method to preserve donor hearts for up to 12 hours — triple the typical four-hour window.

By Holly Fletcher