VUMC People

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)

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.”

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

Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, at the reception welcoming his as the new chair of the Department of Pediatrics. (photo by Donn Jones)

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.