Statement from Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion André L. Churchwell regarding the death of George Floyd My Heart is Broken.

On May 5, Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute invited Middle Tennessee community cardiologists and primary care clinicians to meet via Zoom for a one-hour forum regarding the coronavirus and heart and vascular care: Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic. A panel of VHVI physicians provided an overview of the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our region, examined the correlation between COVID-19 and the heart and discussed Vanderbilt’s role in vaccine research and innovation.  

Kimberly Vinson, MD, associate professor of Otolaryngology and former Assistant Dean for Diversity Affairs, has been appointed to the position of Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Her appointment was effective April 18, 2020. In this role, Vinson will continue to report to Andre Churchwell, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs for VUSM and Chief Diversity Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The Program for LGBTQ Health's Trans Buddy Program is focused on empowering transgender patients by providing emotional support during health care visits. If you are interested in becoming a Trans Buddy volunteer, the first Trans Buddy training of 2020 will take place on Saturday, January 25. Right now, we are seeking more transgender volunteers.

Fryer was an American psychiatrist and gay rights activist. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt in 1962. In 1972, he gave a famed speech to the American Psychiatric Association where he implored its membership to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and in 1973 it did. Fryer died in 2003. more . . . .

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) appointed Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, director of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Endowment and senior associate dean at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) School of Medicine effective September 1, 2019 . . . .

As of July 2019, Del Ray Zimmerman was named Director, Program for LGBTQ Health and Office for Diversity Affairs. He assumes the senior administrative duties for the LGBTQ Health division, and will also oversee several major ongoing projects for the Office for Diversity Affairs. Zimmerman manages the operations functions of the LGBTQ Health Program, acting as the program's internal (VUMC/VUSM) and external representative, and supervising internal staff. He remains the main point of contact for most LGBTQ Health Program issues.