Telescope initiative involving Vanderbilt ranked as top NAS priority

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope is a project begun in 2003 and based in Tucson, Ariz. Vanderbilt is one of 34 members of the non-profit corporation looking to build and maintain the world’s largest digital camera.

Get free ice cream around campus Aug. 17

The Employee Celebration crew and administrators will be at various spots around campus handing out the sweet treats including orange sherbet, Nutty Buddies, ice cream sandwiches, low-fat vanilla and lite chocolate.

Stellar Nights program Aug. 17 to focus on ‘dark energy,’ quasars, and how galaxies are born

Stellar Nights at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory are special lectures and programs geared for teens and adults.  These events typically feature a speaker followed by a telescope viewing, weather permitting.

2010 Commodore kickoff tickets available now

Hear the plans for the upcoming 2010 football season from Coach Caldwell and Vice Chancellor David Williams and meet several members of this year’s team.

Faculty and staff are invited to be a First Friend to new Vanderbilt International Students

First Friends facilitates cross-cultural exchange through friendship, connecting international students with Americans on and off campus.

Health Plus Summer Superclass to be held Aug. 19

The two-hour Superclass includes six 20-minute classes. You can take one or take them all. It’s a great way to try something new.

more info and top stories »

  This Week

Aug. 16: Fine Arts Gallery Exhibit Opening – “Histories are Mirrors: The Path of Conflict through Afghanistan and Iraq”: Work by Pulitzer Prize-winning Photographer Tyler Hicks.

Aug. 17: MLAS Open House (discount for Vanderbilt employees)

Aug. 18: Vanderbilt Gives Back – Blood Drive, Bone Marrow & TN Donor Registry

Aug. 21: Bluebird on the Mountain at Dyer Observatory

Aug. 21: CommonVU: First-Year Student Move-In Day

 Mark Your Calendars

Aug. 24: Federal Work Study Job Fair (departments interested in hiring students should contact Student Employment to secure a table)

Aug. 26: Fall Faculty Assembly

more events »

Sign Up for a Clinical Trial

Volunteers Needed For a Study to Help Adolescents Manage Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers at Vanderbilt Need Volunteers for a Study on Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Announcements

New Health and Wellness Wellcast: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot?

Caldwell named to state board for counselors and therapists

Book by new Asian Studies professor wins prestigious award

Dance Program’s fall registration is Sept. 7-11

‘Choosing a Pediatrician’ Babies and You class scheduled for Aug. 19

more announcements »

Featured Media

VUCast: Helping troops fight a medical mystery and a Dore hits the small screen

more media »

Tune in to VUCast, for audio and video of events happening around campus. You can also find VU podcasts on iTunes and VU videos on YouTube.

From the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Palliative care post demands caring touch

Karen Cassidy, assistant professor of Pediatrics, has been named director of Palliative Medicine at at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The position is a challenging one: working with families whose children have life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses. Cassidy often begins her work by helping families to overcome their negative perceptions of the term “palliative care” before she can begin the work of helping improve a child’s quality of life.

“Families are usually very receptive once they learn more about the palliative care team,” Cassidy said. “My job is to make sure that their child has excellent symptom management. Families may choose aggressive therapy or comfort care only, but all children need to have their pain and other symptoms managed effectively.”

Read more.