Many thanks to the companies, organizations and individuals who supported our 2023 Jingle Toy Drive. Your donations and fundraising efforts helped bring joy to the patients and their families at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt during the holiday season. Thank you for helping make the holidays special for those who spent their holidays with us. 

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have made a generous financial gift to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in support of clinical trials for new and better therapies for breast cancer. The Oscar-winning and Grammy-winning international cinema and music superstars have been longtime cancer research supporters. They live in Nashville, home of Vanderbilt-Ingram, which has internationally recognized breast cancer researchers and clinicians.

The legacy left behind by the late William (Bill) Long, MD, goes beyond his many years as a beloved Nashville pediatrician. He was a quintessential clinician-educator, always helping advance the mission of Vanderbilt’s Department of Pediatrics and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Members of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Canby Robinson Society recently joined CEO and President Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, and his wife, Melinda, at Cheekwood Botanic Hall for the Spring Donor Celebration, an annual event honoring donors for their loyal support.

In a special ceremony in June to mark the milestone anniversary and partnership, the Junior League of Nashville committed another $1.5 million to Children’s Hospital. The centennial anniversary gift, part of the Junior League’s ninth supplemental agreement with Children’s Hospital, will go to support the hospital’s pediatric rehabilitation efforts. 

After years of declining health from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Richard Barbour underwent a double lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

When a patient is nearing the end of life under normal circumstances, family members would be called, chaplains would be brought in and the dying would be surrounded by loved ones. But for patients infected with COVID-19, that unfortunately is not possible. Many family members now can only say goodbye over an iPad, unable to be there for their loved one’s final moments. 

Five-year-old Khori was born with a congenital heart defect and has already undergone two open-heart surgeries in her short life. After her second surgery, it was clear she would need a new heart, so she was placed on the transplant list.

At Vanderbilt Health, we understand that sometimes before we can save a patient’s life, we need to pioneer innovative, new ways to do that. Take Maurice McAllister, for instance.

Latonya Drumwright was expecting to pop in quickly for a routine mammogram on her lunch break—but when she found herself with a longer-than-usual wait after the exam, she had a feeling this visit may not be just a typical checkup.