News
Class of 2021: Social justice activist strives to make change through health care
April 16, 2021
A family legacy of fighting for civil rights fuels Chicago native Anana Upton, whose mission is creating positive change in underserved communities. With a major in child development through Peabody College of education and human development and a plan to become a pediatric nurse, Upton aims to bring social justice through delivering quality, affordable health care. She’ll enter Vanderbilt School of Nursing’s PreSpecialty program in August as the first step in becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Black women turn to doulas as maternal mortality crisis deepens
April 14, 2021
Black women in the U.S. are more likely to die in childbirth than other races. VUSN Associate Professor Stephanie DeVane Johnson, PhD, CNM, is helping lead the fight to get more Black doulas trained to meet the need of expectant Black women. She and other experts say it is critical to have doulas who understand and…
VUSN Alumna, Heather Mantsch, CNP, Joins Range Mental Health Center (MN) as Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
April 1, 2021
VUSN Alumna Heather Mantsch recently joined the Range Mental Health Center as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Formerly working in IT, Mantsch made the career change because she wants to do something that makes a difference. She is passionate about the impact and prevention of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), complex trauma and providing trauma informed/compassionate care.
Special School of Nursing Giving Day Challenges for April 7
March 30, 2021
When Vanderbilt University’s Giving Day kicks off on Wed. April 7, School of Nursing supporters will have three distinct opportunities to increase donations to the school, including one in honor of Professor Tom Christenbery, PhD’04, MSN’87, who died earlier this year and a $5,000 challenge from Dean Linda Norman. The Tom Christenbery Challenge will unlock…
School of Nursing among nation’s best in 2022 “U.S. News & World Report” rankings
March 30, 2021
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing was again named a Top 10 graduate nursing school, as ranked in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School survey released today. Vanderbilt’s Master of Science in Nursing advanced to be the nation’s No. 8 program and its Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 6. Additionally,…
Vanderbilt students, staff and faculty volunteer at mass COVID-19 vaccination event
March 25, 2021
More than 60 Vanderbilt students, staff and faculty members helped Nashville’s Metro Public Health Department vaccinate 10,107 community members in a marathon 14-hour event on Sat., March 20. Recipients received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the drive-through event outdoors at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. Assistant Professor Carrie Plummer organized VUSN’s participation, which drew volunteers…
Vanderbilt School of Nursing hosts global climate education initiative
March 25, 2021
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing is joining fellow Tennessee school University of the South and more than 100 universities in 50 countries around the world to focus on a critical question: What can be done to help solve climate change while supporting struggling communities that have faced joblessness, sickness and loss? On Thursday, April 8,…
Jeffries named dean of School of Nursing
March 24, 2021
Pamela R. Jeffries, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH, an internationally recognized leader and innovator in nursing and health care education, will become dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, effective July 1, pending Board of Trust approval. Jeffries, professor and dean of the George Washington University School of Nursing in Washington, D.C., succeeds Linda Norman, who plans to step down from her leadership role on June 30.
Akard appointed to lead PhD in Nursing Science program
March 20, 2021
Associate Professor Terrah Foster Akard, PhD’08, MSN’01, FAAN, has been named director of the PhD in Nursing Science program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Akard, a Vanderbilt University Chancellor’s Faculty Fellow and noted scholar in pediatric palliative care, had been co-director with Professor Sheila Ridner, PhD’03, MSN’00, FAAN, the Martha Rivers Ingram Professor of Nursing,…
Arnow named director of Nursing and Health Care Leadership specialty
March 17, 2021
Associate Professor Debbie Arnow, DNP’11, MSN’96, has been selected as the new academic director for the Nursing and Health Care Leadership specialty in the master of science in nursing program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. “Debbie Arnow is an accomplished senior nurse executive with experience in delivering successful clinical outcomes, financial performance and personnel…
