Stay connected with the Department of Pediatrics through our events. This page features upcoming educational conferences, grand rounds, workshops, community outreach opportunities, and department gatherings—along with registration details, locations, and virtual access information when available. Check back often for updates, and join us as we learn, collaborate, and celebrate the work happening across our clinical, research, and education missions.
Past Events
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A Celebration of Innovation and Excellence in Pediatric Research
Join us April 6-10 as we shine a spotlight on groundbreaking research, inspire collaboration, and celebrate the incredible efforts of our faculty, fellows and residents in the Department of Pediatrics.
Event Schedule
Monday, April 6: Pediatric Research Conference – K12 Scholars
- 12–1 p.m. Location: Wadlington A&B or via Teams
Moderators: Dr. Jen Sucre and Dr. Jim Cassat
Kick off Research Week with an insightful conference showcasing the work of our K12 Scholars.
Tuesday, April 7: Grand Rounds – Heller Lecture
- 12–1 p.m. Location: Monroe Carell Theater or via Teams
Speaker: Anne Marie Cahill, MBBch, BAO Chief of Interventional Radiology and Director of Image-Based Therapy for Vascular Anomalies, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Don't miss this year’s prestigious Heller Lecture as Dr. Cahill shares her expertise in using innovative imaging techniques to treat vascular anomalies.
Wednesday, April 8: Research and Quality Improvement Day
- 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Incoming Fellows Welcome via Teams
Speaker: Dr. Lori Jordan, MD, PhD Professor of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Radiology Director, Pediatric Stroke Program.
Discover how to make the most of your research journey at Vanderbilt with Dr. Jordan’s guide to successful and fulfilling projects that advance your career. - 12–1 p.m. Department of Pediatrics Quality Improvement Presentations
Location: Wadlington A&B or via Teams.
Moderator: Dr. David P. Johnson.
Learn how quality improvement initiatives are transforming pediatric care and driving impactful change across the department.
Thursday, April 9: Resident Research Presentations
- 12–1 p.m. Location: Wadlington A&B or via Teams
Moderators: Dr. Lori Jordan and Dr. Ryan Stark.
Celebrate the achievements of our residents as they present their latest research findings, showcasing their commitment to advancing pediatric medicine.
Friday, April 10: Department of Pediatrics Research Retreat
- 11–11:50 a.m. Boxed Lunch Pick-Up & Poster Registration/Set-Up
Location: Monroe Carell Theater and Lobby.
Fuel up and prepare for the day’s exciting sessions. Boxed lunches will be available in the boardroom while poster presenters set up in the theater. - 12–1 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Sallie Permar, MD, PhD
Location: Wadlington A&B or via Teams
Nancy C. Paduano Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine Pediatrician-in-Chief, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Dr. Permar reflects on her inspiring career, sharing insights into combining clinical research with mentorship to drive meaningful impact. - 1:15–2:30 p.m. 3rd Year Fellow Data Blitz Presentations
Location: Wadlington A&B or via Teams
Moderator: Dr. Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH.
Experience rapid-fire presentations from third-year fellows as they showcase their impactful data and findings. - 2:30–3:15 p.m. Poster Session & Retreat Reception
Location: Monroe Carell Theater & Boardroom.
Dive into a world of discovery at our poster session, where researchers display their innovative work. Enjoy light refreshments while networking with colleagues. - 3:15–3:30 p.m. Award Announcements
Location: Monroe Carell Theater.
Celebrate the achievements of our researchers with the presentation of the Turner-Hazinski Awards and Research Retreat Abstract Award Winners. Posters will remain on display in the Monroe Carell Theater until 4 p.m.
Join us in celebrating innovation and discovery in pediatric health!
- 12–1 p.m. Location: Wadlington A&B or via Teams
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Pediatric Research Conferences are held most Mondays from 12:00-1:00pm.
2024-2025 Lecture Series
January 6
No Pediatric Research Conference - Winter BreakJanuary 13
No Pediatric Research Conference - Faculty MeetingJanuary 20
No Pediatric Research Conference - Martin Luther King, Jr. DayJanuary 27
Kathryn M. Edwards Society Lecture Series
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Edwards Society Panel Discussion
“My Path to Research as a Pediatrician - A Roundtable Discussion"Leigh Howard, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Pediatrics - Pediatric Infectious DiseasesColin Orr, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics - General PediatricsMaribeth Nicholson, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Pediatrics - Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and NutritionErin Plosa, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics - NeonatologyFebruary 3
(Virtual only via Teams)
Susan H. Guttentag, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Mildred Stahlman Division of Neonatology
Julia Carell Stadler Chair in Pediatrics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
"Rare Disease Investigation: Searching for the Needle in the Haystack"February 10
No Pediatric Research Conference - Faculty MeetingFebruary 17
No Pediatric Research Conference - President's DayFebruary 24
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Kathryn M. Edwards Society Lecture Series
Natasha B. Halasa, MD, MPH
Craig Weaver Professor of Pediatrics
Haya Hayek, MD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Infectious Diseases
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
"Optimizing Influenza Vaccination Strategies in Immunocompromised Hosts"March 3
No Pediatric Research Conference - Faculty MeetingMarch 10
No Pediatric Research Conference - Spring BreakMarch 17
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Kathryn M. Edwards Society Lecture Series
Lauren Klein, MD
Instructor, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH
Director, Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease
Professor, Pediatrics and Medicine
Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research, Department of Pediatrics
J.C. Peterson Chair in Pediatrics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Title coming soon!March 24
(Virtual via Teams)
Jim Cassat, MD, PhD
Associate Director, Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation (VI4)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics; Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology; and Biomedical Engineering
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
"Antibiotic tolerance during invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection: Causes and consequences"March 31
No Pediatric Research Conference - Faculty MeetingApril 7
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
K-12 Research WeekPresenters:
Bryce Schuler, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
GeneticsBenjamin Crawford
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
NeonatologyMatthew Buendia, MD
Instructor in Pediatrics
Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and NutritionApril 14
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Turner Hazinski Awardees
Research WeekAnna E. Patrick, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
RheumatologyApril 21
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Kathryn M. Edwards Society Lecture Series
Cristen Q. Fritz, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Hospital Medicine
Derek J. Williams, MD, MPH
Professor of Pediatrics, Hospital Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Title coming soon!April 28
No Pediatric Research Conference - PAS MeetingMay 5
No Pediatric Research Conference - Faculty MeetingMay 12
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Kathryn M. Edwards Society Lecture Series
Eric D. Austin, MD, MSCI
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Allergy/Immunology/Pulmonary Medicine
Director, Vanderbilt Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
TBAMay 19
(Virtual via Teams)
Julie Lounds Taylor, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Co-Director, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Endowed Directorship in Autism Research
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
TBAPast Conferences
September 23
(Virtual only via Teams)
Rachel Glick Robison, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
"Clinical Trials in Childhood Allergic Disease"September 30
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Kathryn M. Edwards Society Lecture Series
Kathryn M. Edwards, MD
Sarah H. Sell & Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Pediatrics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
“The Tale of Two Pursuits"October 7
No Pediatric Research Conference - Pediatrics Faculty MeetingOctober 14
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Kevan Herold, MD
Endocrinology, Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes
Diabetes Medicine & Management
Yale School of Medicine
"Beta cells and immune cells in Type 1 diabetes: Operational Tolerance and next steps."October 21
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Kathryn M. Edwards Society Lecture Series
Lea C. Steffes, MD
Instructor, Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine
Stanford University, School of Medicine
"Neointimal Cell Diversity in Pulmonary Hypertension: A Cellular and Molecular Analysis of Occlusive Pulmonary Vascular Lesions"October 28
No Pediatric Research ConferenceNovember 4
No Pediatric Research Conference - Pediatrics Faculty MeetingNovember 11
(In-person and virtual via Teams)
Kathryn M. Edwards Society Lecture Series
Erin Plosa, MD & Allison Henry, BS
Professor of Pediatrics, Cell and Developmental Biology
Division of Neonatology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
"No Two Snowflakes are Alike: Specialized Roles for Integrins in Lung Development"November 18
(Virtual only via Teams)
Ferdinand Cacho, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology Fellow
Center for Asthma Research
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
"Childhood Asthma Phenotypes"November 25
No Pediatric Research Conference - Thanksgiving WeekDecember 2
No Pediatric Research Conference - Department Chair TalkDecember 9
No Pediatric Research Conference - Pediatrics Faculty MeetingDecember 16
No Pediatric Research Conference - Winter BreakDecember 23
No Pediatric Research Conference - Winter BreakCME Information
Sponsorship Statement: Sponsored by Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Department of Pediatrics.
Accreditation Statement: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosure Statement: It is the policy of the ACCME and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine to require disclosure of financial relationships from individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, to identify and resolve conflicts of interest related to those relationships, and to make disclosure information available to the audience prior to the CME activity. Presenters are required to disclose discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during their presentations.
Please contact Alyssa McGuire by email at alyssa.mcguire@vumc.org with any questions.
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Welcome to the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As one of the largest departments within the medical center, we are proud to be home to some 450 primary faculty, 280 community-based volunteer faculty, 126 residents, and over 300 administrative and research staff. The Department is rooted in a rich history of commitment to excellence in research, education, advocacy, and patient care. Our faculty, fellows and trainees represent the very best of academic medicine – extraordinary people doing incredible things to advance the care for children in Middle Tennessee, across the nation, and throughout the world. The result is a Department which reaches far beyond the walls of our hospital to provide high-quality patient care, to train the next generation of leaders in pediatric medicine, and to advance our knowledge of important conditions that affect vulnerable infants and children through world class research.
The Department of Pediatrics is a national leader in pediatric research, ranking consistently in recent years in the top ten for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among pediatric departments within academic medical centers, according to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. For 2023-2024, the Department ranked No. 1 among peer departments in NIH research funding.
The Department has a long history of great success with junior faculty embarking on careers as physician-scientists. Our conversion rate from K to R awards completed in the past 10 years is over 60%. Through training and support from our departmental K12 Mentored Research Scholars Program, Pediatric Physician-Scientist Training Program, and R38 Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) Program, the Department strives to enable junior faculty to have successful, independent research careers.
Click here to learn more about the Department.
PAS Programs and Resources