Cross spent her entire career dedicated to helping lay the foundation locally and nationally to solidify child life specialists as part of the health care team.

During her tenure, Vanderbilt-Ingram experienced remarkable growth, including a 100% increase in research funding and a 160% expansion in inpatient visits.

Smith was at the forefront of creating patient and family councils that advise individual Vanderbilt hospital entities from the patient/family perspective.

Skaar, who directs the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, is being recognized for “pioneering work at the intersection of nutrition and infectious diseases."

The Young Physician-Scientist Award recognizes “notable achievements” by researchers who are within five years of their first faculty appointment.

The award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on scientists and engineers in the early stages of their research careers.

Mr. Wills was noted for his substantial civic contributions to Nashville and his efforts to record and preserve the history of the city that five generations of the Wills family have called home.