Dolly’s generosity to Vanderbilt Health highlighted; reading test results before your doctor has a chance; staying healthy this fall; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources

August 28, 2026 - 03:10

Dolly Parton's generosity to Vanderbilt Health has been a recurring thread in the many obituaries and tributes published since her passing. Major outlets including The New York Times, BBC, NPR, NBC News, The Guardian, and Scripps News all highlighted her contributions. Vanderbilt Health News also posted its own tribute, and Mark Denison, MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, spoke to NewsNation about how her funding directly impacted his research.

In other health news, a new JAMA study found that two-thirds of patients read their test results before speaking with a doctor. Trent Rosenbloom, MD, MPH, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, discussed the findings with Everyday Health. The study showed a wide range in comprehension: about 6.6 percent of patients said they had a poor understanding, while nearly 35 percent said they understood the results very well.

William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, has been a go-to source for public health questions. He spoke to Healthline about the cyclosporiasis outbreak now present in 47 states, appeared on The Naked Scientists podcast regarding a salmonella outbreak, talked with Medscape about the mild Australian flu season, and gave People magazine tips on staying healthy this fall.

Vanderbilt researchers are launching a new study to see if GLP-1 drugs could help people with opioid use disorder. Jessica Young, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, explained the trial to Scripps News.

At WSMV Channel 4, reporter Diana Rocco covered the story of patient Dixie Watt, who received a minimally invasive mitral valve replacement using the M3 device. Kashish Goel, MBBS, Associate Professor of Medicine, discussed the procedure, which is the first FDA-approved transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement.

Finally, John Koethe, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, was featured in a profile for the Fogarty International Center newsletter, Global Health Matters. The article highlights his career as a Fogarty Fellow, including his HIV/AIDS research conducted in Zambia in 2008 and 2009.