VUMC People

February 4, 2026

Vanderbilt Health’s Vineet Agrawal, Fabian Bock among 2026 ASCI Young Physician-Scientist awardees

Since 2014, 27 Vanderbilt faculty members have received the annual award, which recognizes “notable achievements” by researchers early in their first faculty appointments.

By Bill Snyder
February 2, 2026

Dominic Paris named Vice President of Finance and Divisional Chief Financial Officer for Affiliate Operations

Paris replaces Karen Nanney, CPA, Vice President of Finance for Enterprise-Wide Functions, who will retire later this year after 40 years of steadfast service to Vanderbilt.

By John Howser
February 2, 2026

Randy Davis named President of Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital

The 270-bed Clarksville facility is the newest member of Vanderbilt Health’s network of Regional Hospitals in Tennessee.

By Craig Boerner
January 29, 2026

Annalesa Sackey blazes a trail as the first pediatric burn advanced practice provider at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

“Burn found me — I didn’t really find it. It popped up in my life; I flew with it; and I don’t want to go back,” says the Credo Award winner.

By Danny Bonvissuto
January 27, 2026

Josh Peterson named chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics

Peterson, who joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2002, is an internationally recognized researcher and educator in the field of biomedical informatics and maintains an internal medicine practice with Vanderbilt Health.

By John Howser
Darcelle Skeete Burgess, JD, MHA, CHC, CHPC
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 15, 2026

How a summer job sparked Paul Dressler’s career in developmental medicine

The Patient and Family Choice Award recipient shares why developmental medicine is never just about protocols.
By Danny Bonvissuto
January 12, 2026

Pablo Juárez named president-elect of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Juárez’s election to this role reflects his long-standing commitment to innovation in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
January 8, 2026

Melynor Fraker leads by helping her team members become the best versions of themselves, ever expanding what a regional hospital staff can do for its community

As the first recipient of the newly rechristened C. Wright Pinson Award, Fraker’s outstanding leadership reflects the award’s tradition of recognizing those who move VUMC forward.
By Evan Dorian
January 7, 2026

Longtime pediatric endocrinology director Bill Russell to focus on research, patient care

He has been succeeded on an interim basis by Jill Simmons, MD, professor of Pediatrics and founding director of the Program for Pediatric Metabolic Bone Disorders at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
By Bill Snyder
January 5, 2026

Michele Hasselblad named Chief Nursing Officer for Vanderbilt University Hospital

She succeeds Robin Steaban, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, who will retire Jan. 30 after 35 years of service at Vanderbilt Health.
By Kylie Avery
January 5, 2026

Vanderbilt LifeFlight transitioning flight program back in-house

Through a phased approach, all nine program bases will be fully transitioned by June. This change aligns with Vanderbilt LifeFlight’s goal of owning all aspects of the flight program.
By Lindsay Anderson
January 5, 2026

Anna Hemnes named chair of Department of Medicine and system physician-in-chief for Vanderbilt Health

She will serve as the 11th chair of the Department of Medicine and system physician-in-chief for Vanderbilt Health. Her appointment was effective Jan. 1.
By John Howser