‘#myVUSM’
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...
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,...
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...
The doctor is in: Q&A with MIDP’s Noah Thompson Orfield
Nov. 2, 2021—Noah Thompson Orfield, PhD, brings in-depth scientific experience to inform his medical education by Lexie Little While all students who graduate from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine MD curriculum leave with the title “Doctor,” those in the Medical Innovators Development Program (MIDP) enter with that form of address. MIDP prepares students with existing PhDs...
M1 Starina D’Souza champions cultural care
Oct. 26, 2021—Vanderbilt University School of Medicine offers a path to fulfilling dreams in her own backyard by Lexie Little Walking between the columns of University School of Nashville as a high school senior, Starina D’Souza looked back at the building established in 1925. Peabody College students had ventured over to what was then the Peabody Demonstration...
International man of community: First Kurdish VUSM student on what makes Nashville home
Oct. 20, 2021—A “lucky” string of events leads Amad Amedy to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine by Lexie Little Sitting at Barcelona Wine Bar and Restaurant in the Edgehill Village neighborhood, M1 Amad Amedy feels an evening breeze filtrate through the open-air patio. As he peruses the tapas listings, the humid air density and smell of café...
M1 Samuel WiseCarver finds purpose at VUSM
Oct. 13, 2021—When a high school injury derailed his future plans, Sam WiseCarver found a path to Vanderbilt by Lexie Little Standing in his biology classroom at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee, a 17-year-old Samuel WiseCarver thought more about soccer practice after school than the Punnett squares in his textbook. He took rigorous classes...
Friday Five – Five Things to Do This October
Oct. 7, 2021—Are you hoping to have a spooktacular October in Nashville? Check out these five local events compiled by MD-PhD candidate Clara Si: Head to a local pumpkin patch for pumpkins to carve with friends. Don’t forget to buy some apple cider donuts and caramel apples while you’re there! Lucky Ladd Farms has been voted No....
Field of His Dreams: Derek Riffert returns to VUSM
Oct. 5, 2021—An undergraduate experience through Vanderbilt’s Summer Science Academy prompted M1 Derek Riffert to return for medical school by Lexie Little M1 Derek Riffert shares a first name with his hero, Derek Jeter. As a kid in West Lafayette, Indiana, he watched the five-time World Series champion lead the New York Yankees to win after win....
Medical Scholars: William Quach explores a different approach
Sep. 28, 2021—by Lexie Little When William Quach (MD ’23) arrived at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine after studying biology at the University of California San Diego, he brought research experience with him. Quach, an aspiring anesthesiologist, examined how a specific protein traditionally known to play a role in the death of cells actually helped ovarian and...