Author
A Family Affair: I was VUMC’s first employee with COVID and one of the physicians tasked with developing a vaccine
Oct. 5, 2020—It was a Tuesday morning in early March when the frantic, worldwide race for a COVID-19 vaccine suddenly became not only a professional matter for me, but also a personal one. Stores and restaurants were just beginning to shutter their doors, and statewide, Tennessee had only a handful of cases. Universal masking was not a...
New Chaplain Covenant opens the door to better understanding at VUMC
Oct. 5, 2020—For the Rev. Cordell Simpson, MDiv, DDiv, a chaplain at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the emotional dam broke a week after George Floyd was killed on May 25 while in police custody in Minneapolis. Long-suppressed memories welled up until Simpson, a Nashville native and Vietnam veteran, couldn’t contain them anymore. In the presence of his...
“Living up to our true mission”
Oct. 5, 2020—In the 40 years since André Churchwell, MD, graduated from medical school, his contributions to diversity and inclusion work have changed the face of U.S. medical education. Since July 2019, Churchwell has served as the interim Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Chief Diversity Officer for Vanderbilt University. On May 27, the...
From Vietnam to Vanderbilt
Mar. 12, 2020—Duc Pham, MD’98, often speaks about how lucky he has been in his life. He recounts acts of kindness by teachers who helped him succeed in school, by organizations that offered him scholarships to attend medical school, and by the United States for welcoming his family after they fled Vietnam following the Vietnam War. Pham...
Concussions
Sep. 13, 2018—
Letter from Ann Price, MD
Sep. 13, 2018—Dear Vanderbilt University Medical Alumni, Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Reunion 2018 Our next biennial VUSM Reunion, Oct. 11-13, is fast approaching. Reunion festivities will begin on Thursday morning, Oct. 11, with a golf outing at Richland Country Club, followed by an evening welcome reception and awards program at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum....
Losses
Sep. 13, 2018—John Ball, MD, FE’71, died Feb. 4. He was 79. Dr. Ball is survived by his wife, Anne; children Cassandra, Cynthia and Jennifer; and six grandchildren. Subhankar Bandyopadhyay, MD, FE’92, HS’93, died Feb. 9. He was 58. Dr. Bandyopadhyay is survived by his wife, Sati Nath; children Orunima and Anondo. Jim Borland Jr., MD, HS’60,...
Progress Report
Sep. 22, 2017—Formed in 2008, the Minority Housestaff for Academic and Medical Advancement (MHAMA) is an organization comprised of Vanderbilt house staff and advisers who are committed to creating opportunities for the advancement of underrepresented house staff by providing opportunities for mentorship, networking and professional development. MHAMA is also committed to increasing the presence of underrepresented faculty...
The Sanford Project
Sep. 22, 2017—Sanford Health, in collaboration with Caladrius Biosciences, Inc., is investigating whether a child’s own cells can fight type 1 diabetes. This clinical trial, known as The Sanford Project: T-Rex Study, studies an innovative investigational therapy in children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Vanderbilt is one of 15 sites participating in the trial. Researchers focus...
Vanderbilt Global Surgery
Apr. 5, 2017—More than 60 faculty are involved in the Global Surgery Program at Vanderbilt. This multidisciplinary initiative coordinates dissemination of in-country education and training opportunities for faculty and students, development of outcomes and evaluation research, and establishment of a central portal for communication.
Faces and Places
Aug. 17, 2016—
Losses
Feb. 25, 2016—Arthur Anderson Jr., M.D., ‘50, HS ‘52, FE ‘55, died July 4, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children, Arthur, Charlotte, Michael and James. Samuel Boellner, M.D., HS ‘63, died Sept. 5, 2015. He was 80. Dr. Boellner is survived by his wife, Marilyn; stepchildren, Karen and Eric; and seven step-grandchildren. Marion Carnes,...
Faces and Places
Feb. 23, 2016—
Quicknotes
Feb. 22, 2016—Compound developed at VUMC may delay Huntington’s disease A compound developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University can improve early symptoms and delay progression of Huntington’s disease in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative disorder. The findings, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offer one of the first glimmers of hope for a...