Summer months are typically a time of slowing down and relaxing.

Summer months are typically a time of slowing down and relaxing. At Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, we are entering summer at full speed. We are in the final stages of planning for our phased four-floor expansion of the hospital. We are opening our new pediatric emergency department and small inpatient unit in partnership with Williamson Medical Center. And we are expanding our outpatient programs in extended communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Each of these major projects reflects our long-standing approach of transforming health care through innovative ideas and multidisciplinary collaborations. As we have considered each of these endeavors, we again realize the opportunity to strengthen and expand our unique services.

Every day we care for more than 1,400 children and their families, many who engage with multiple care teams. We are able to do this because of the amazing commitment and care provided by our faculty across all pediatric specialties, our staff specially trained in the care of children, our scientists who focus on discovery and our trainees who come to us to learn in an innovative, full-service, nationally ranked children’s hospital. By having all pediatric medical and surgical programs in a single location, we are able to respond effectively to the health care needs of our patients in a very personalized way.

To illustrate the coming together of teams and delivery of comprehensive, personalized care, in this edition of Hope we feature our cancer program. In the stories inside this issue, we show the commitment of cancer doctors, surgeons, nurses and other specialists as they work together to optimize care based on individual patient needs. We highlight the intersection of clinical care and research that results in optimizing outcomes while minimizing risks and consequences of treatment. And, we also share deeply personal stories about how we care for children and families through our palliative care program when there is life-limiting disease. We are especially grateful for these stories of hope shared with us as their children were in the final weeks of their young lives.

We are building upon decades of commitment to specialized medical and surgical services for children and their families as we ‘grow to new heights’ and expand into our surrounding communities. We do what we do every day—care for children and families with every possible need—because of the support of our faculty, staff, community and of course our patients and families. The stories here reflect their hope in our services and our ever present dedication to them.

Sincerely,

Luke Gregory, FACHE
Chief executive officer

Meg Rush, M.D.
Chief of staff and executive medical director

John W. Brock III, M.D.
Surgeon-in-chief, director of the Division of Pediatric Urology and Monroe Carell Jr. Professor

Steven Webber, MBChB, MRCP
Pediatrician-in-chief, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and James C. Overall Professor