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#myVUSM

A life leading back home: Reflections from Dr. Henry Nelson (MD ’45)

May. 12, 2022—Vanderbilt University School of Medicine alumnus, Dr. Henry Nelson, turned 99 on Jan. 16, 2022. Nelson died shortly after this interview sharing his reflections on a life in medicine. This story is dedicated to his memory. By: Lexie Little The year was 1949. Kathryn Wolff Nelson sat next to the crib holding her newborn baby...

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Q&A with MSTP Lizzie Flook (PhD ’21, MD ’22)

May. 9, 2022—After seven years in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Dr. Lizzie (Hale) Flook prepares to graduate with her MD this Friday. The University of Miami alumna, who played collegiate volleyball, earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University last year, studying stress-related brain regions during abstinence in individuals...

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Thank you, Dr. President: M4 Leland Dunwoodie

Apr. 27, 2022—After four years serving as the Council of Class Officers president for the MD Class of 2022, Leland Dunwoodie reflects on his VUSM community By: Lexie Little For graduating students, the weeks leading to commencement mark a time of great excitement and anticipation of the future. And while that common experience remains true for M4...

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VPIL teams collaborate, expand holistic approaches

Apr. 13, 2022—The Vanderbilt Program in Interprofessional Learning (VPIL) combines approaches from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, and counseling to inform student training and patient care By: Lexie Little In January 2016, Blair Miller, Pharm.D., of Vanderbilt University Health walked laps around her unit with a patient. She quizzed him about his medications: when to take them,...

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Achieving a dream: M4 Alex Brito matches into neurology

Mar. 31, 2022—Alex Brito will graduate from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine on May 13, 2022, before beginning residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts By: Lexie Little Alex Brito woke with a start. Light streamed through the window as the sun bounced off limestone buildings artfully lining Parisian streets, the windmill of the Moulin Rouge...

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From Mr. C to Dr. M: M4 Evan Mercer connects with all ages

Mar. 23, 2022—Fourth-year student Evan Mercer matched into med-peds at Vanderbilt on Friday, March 18, 2022 By: Lexie Little Leaves crunched under football fans’ feet as they converged toward Jess Neely Drive to see the Vanderbilt Commodores make their way to the stadium. Adults and children alike lined the street as the Spirit of Gold Marching Band...

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M4 Patrick Donegan forms friendships, future at VUSM

Mar. 10, 2022—Fourth-year MD student Patrick Donegan recently matched into ophthalmology for his upcoming residency. Before he leaves Vanderbilt, he shares reflections on life with his classmates and friends. By: Lexie Little In an alternate universe, M4 Patrick Donegan might have worked as a marine biologist. The California native could have spent his days around Huntington Beach...

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A heart for Vanderbilt: M1 Sydney Nelson reflects, looks forward

Mar. 3, 2022—As she sat in hospital rooms at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt as a child, Sydney Nelson dreamed of being a doctor like the faculty at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine By: Lexie Little Sydney Nelson walked into a patient exam room with Dr. Thomas Doyle, the Ann and Monroe Carell Jr. Family...

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Shade Tree Clinic celebrates 10th annual benefit

Feb. 24, 2022—Nine-time Grammy Award-winner Sheryl Crow and Grammy nominee Rivers Rutherford headlined “Late Night with Shade Tree Clinic” on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 By: Lexie Little Everyday is a winding road, one might say, for the underserved populations of the Nashville area. And since 2004, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students have played an integral role...

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Making time for the perfect match: Alan Makhoul (MD ’22), Lex Erath (MD/MBA ’22) find partnership at VUSM

Feb. 11, 2022—Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students prepare to match into residency as a couple ahead of their wedding this spring By: Lexie Little He watched her gather her things. Alan Makhoul, then a first-year medical student, walked with classmate Lex Erath at the end of a casual study session. The pair had met two months...

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M4 Steven Scaglione carves a path for himself

Jan. 27, 2022—From printmaking to pediatric practice, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine student Steven Scaglione looks to connect with people By: Lexie Little Steven Scaglione dusts shavings off his most recent wood carving. Working groove after groove, day after day, an image assembles that he readies to ink like a giant stamp. As an undergraduate student at...

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Student volunteers learn, lead during winter weather

Jan. 20, 2022—As a winter weather crisis crept across Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students responded to needs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center by Lexie Little The news coverage continued. Snow blanketed the mid-state as temperatures plummeted. Cars sat stranded on ramps and side roads as ice crackled across asphalt. Sidewalks likewise proved treacherous. Restaurants...

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Ben Coiner (MD ’22) goes to bat for VUSM students

Jan. 5, 2022—Future pathologist Benjamin Coiner (MD ’22) offers mentorship, reflections before his next adventure by Lexie Little As the sun beamed down on the red dust of a Boston baseball field in 2015, a rhythmic clamor moved in doppler effect toward home plate. The beeps grew in pitch and volume. A swing. A miss. “Coach Coiner,...

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Friday Five – Five Places to Eat near VUSM

Nov. 11, 2021—The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine loves to eat. Luckily, plenty of restaurants line nearby 21st Avenue in the Hillsboro Village area just east of campus. Here are five local favorites: San Antonio Taco Company – With nearly 40 years of experience bringing Tex Mex food to Nashville, San Antonio Taco Company (known colloquially as...

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Computations, conversations keep James Yang at Vanderbilt

Nov. 11, 2021—M1 James Yang remains at Vanderbilt for medical school after working on cancer research by Lexie Little In Murfreesboro, Tennessee, a Jack Russell terrier named Sadie scampers and plays in the mild plateau breeze. Leaves crunch under her feet as she anxiously paws at the ground, waiting on her human to come. He knows how...

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