VUMC in the news

NBC Nightly News interviewed William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, for stories about people who have gotten very sick from the bacteria capnocytophaga canimorsus through dog or cat saliva. USA Today also interviewed Schaffner about the same subject.

Consumer Reports associate editor Catherine Roberts interviewed William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, for a story about the Tdap vaccine in pregnancy and whether there is a link between the vaccine and autism. 

Newsweek reporter Kashmira Gander was one of several reporters who interviewed Mariann Piano, PhD, RN, senior associate dean for Research at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, for a story about her study that found young adults who frequently binge drink were more likely to have specific cardiovascular risk factors such as higher blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar at a younger age than non-binge drinkers.

NPR interviewed Judy Garber, PhD, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, about a recent study suggesting that improving depression among teens may be mentally beneficial to parents.

CNBC interviewed Stacy Dorris, MD, assistant professor of Pediatrics, for a story about the shortage of EpiPens. The story aired several times throughout the day on Friday.

The Tennessean health reporter Brett Kelman interviewed Peter Konrad, MD, director of Functional Neurological Surgery, for a story about his Neurology study on DBS for Parkinson's disease in early-stage treatment. Photographer Larry McCormack accompanied Kelman to VUMC to photograph a DBS surgery with patient Larry Clift.

AARP magazine reporter Jessica Migala interviewed Beth Malow, MD, director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Disorders Center, for a story about factors that may be contributing to insomnia such as the effect of caffeine/alcohol, aging and sleeping pills.