Vanderbilt Hepatology, Hepatobiliary Surgery, and Liver Transplant Madison, AL

10/23/2025

We are happy to welcome Dr. Eric Barlow and his family back home to Middle Tennessee.

Barlow is an orthopedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in sports medicine. He is from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but spent recent years practicing in Kentucky before returning.

Barlow began caring for patients at Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital on Sept. 1. One of the services he offers patients is robotic total knee arthroplasty.

In Barlow’s own words:

I care for patients of all ages with musculoskeletal ailments.

I went into health care after early exposure to the medical field, and specifically surgery, thanks to my mother. I was able to meet and learn from different medical professionals, which allowed me to gain a passion. Being an athlete and having different injuries allowed me to meet orthopedic surgeons, which led me to pursue my career in orthopedics.

I was drawn to Vanderbilt Health for personal and professional reasons. I am from Middle Tennessee and with my growing family, we were excited to find an opportunity back home where we could be closer to family and friends and serve the community I grew up in. Additionally, Vanderbilt is a great company with many resources that allows me to practice in an environment that encourages me to grow as a medical provider.

I enjoy working at Vanderbilt because of the opportunities that being part of a large academic health system allows me – such as education, research opportunities and camaraderie. I am able to continually critique my practice and better myself in order to provide care for my patients.

I enjoy spending time with my wife, daughter and our Golden Retriever. We enjoy trying new restaurants and traveling. We are University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech football fans, so you can find us watching games either at home with friends and family or in Knoxville, Tennessee, or Blacksburg, Virginia.

See the link in the comments to make an appointment with Barlow and the team at Vanderbilt Orthopaedics Shelbyville.

10/22/2025

Congratulations to the Vanderbilt Birth Center on its 10th anniversary and about 2,800 births!

In September, the center (formerly Baby+Co) celebrated 10 years of midwifery-led, out-of-hospital birth, perinatal care and comprehensive health care. For the anniversary, the center hosted an open house, and Kendra Ashton Photography volunteered to photograph families who welcomed babies here over the years. Swipe to see some of the photos!

The center’s team of certified nurse midwives is dedicated to low-risk, unmedicated births. All care — from gynecology, preconception and prenatal visits to labor, delivery, postpartum and early newborn visits — happens here. Birth suites offer a tranquil atmosphere, with experienced staff, queen-size beds, roomy showers, dim lighting, essential oils, birth balls and portable speakers for music.

Significantly, this is one of only two accredited birth centers in Tennessee offering tubs for water births, a popular option for unmedicated labor. Midwives have been part of Vanderbilt Women’s Health for more than 30 years, but the birth center is one of the few in the U.S. that is a freestanding center affiliated with a teaching hospital. The connection to Vanderbilt University Hospital is important: Should a transfer become necessary during labor, the birth center staff ensures it happens seamlessly.

As Vanderbilt Birth marks a decade of care, the team reflects not just on the numbers, but the relationships — the families who return multiple times and the children who now walk through the doors they were born behind.

“We will always need high-risk, medicalized care for some women,” said Lila Humbert, MSN, CNM, one of the center’s midwives – and a client herself; she gave birth to her children at the center. “But for women in low-risk pregnancies, an unmedicated birth experience is simple, beautiful and its own kind of magic.” Click on the link in the comments for more detail about the Vanderbilt Birth Center.

10/22/2025

Yoga can be a helpful tool for combating chronic pain. Try a beginner class at a local studio or online, and also try these eight moves designed to ease chronic pain. See the link in our comments for these gentle poses.

10/15/2025

Since 2006, the Aspirnaut program—founded by Drs. Billy and Julie Hudson—has empowered hundreds of students from rural communities through summer research, professional skills development and wellness training. We are so grateful to the Springer-Lu Family Foundation for their lead gift, which will help shape the future of Aspirnaut.

Be part of the impact and support the next generation of scientists. You can give today by visiting VanderbiltHealth.org/aspirnaut.

10/14/2025

Performing a few sets of shoulder presses every other day can reduce pain. This at-home exercise is meant for stiff, achy or weak shoulders. It will stretch and strengthen the muscles and connective tissue that make up your shoulders. Click on the link in our comments for a how-to.

10/13/2025

“When your hands stop working, everything else becomes harder,” said Julie Byrd-Jenkins, who lived with carpal tunnel pain for years without access to surgery.

At this year’s Orthopaedics Outreach Day, she was one of 13 patients to receive free orthopedic procedures at the Vanderbilt Surgery Center in Franklin. More than 60 staff and community partners came together to provide hand, sports and — for the first time — foot and ankle surgeries.

“It’s a day that resets the soul,” said Dr. Eric Bowman.

See how this annual outreach effort brings care to patients who need it most.
Full story in the comments below.

10/10/2025

One hundred years of medicine, learning and discovery started right here.

When Medical Center North opened in 1925, it brought together everything that would become Vanderbilt Health. Patient care, research and medical education all happened inside one building.

Today, this historic building is still part of our story.

Take a closer look at a place that has shaped generations of care teams and helped patients in Nashville over the past century.

Read more in the comments below.

10/10/2025

There are many reasons a pregnancy may be considered high-risk. Most of the problems are manageable, with the right medical team. See the link in our comment for what to expect.

10/09/2025

In honor of tonight’s regular season home opener for our partners, the Nashville Predators, here is a look back at some of our favorite memories. Let’s Go Preds!

10/09/2025

"You're with people on one of the hardest days of their life, and you're there to help."
Emma Grzymkowski is a physician assistant on the trauma team, where she helps care for patients with critical injuries, many arriving by Vanderbilt LifeFlight.

She works closely with surgeons, nurses and specialists to coordinate lifesaving treatment and guide patients and families through recovery.

Her journey into health care began as a nursing assistant alongside her sister. Working closely with patients early on showed her the kind of impact she wanted to have in health care.

“It’s the people I work with, and the moments with patients, that remind me why I chose this path,” she said.

Want to work alongside teams like Emma’s? Explore open roles at Vanderbilt Health at link in the comments below.

10/08/2025

Please join us in welcoming Smashville’s newest fans! 🥳 Born just in time for the Nashville Predators' home opener tomorrow, these babies are looking great in navy and gold.

Congrats to the new families! 💙

10/07/2025

Congratulations to our colleagues at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt for being ranked #1 in Tennessee and the entire Southeast by U.S. News and World Report! 👏

We are honored to announce U.S. News and World Report has ranked Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt #1 in Tennessee and the entire Southeast. 🎉

Thank you to every single one of our Monroe Carell colleagues, for your passion and dedication to making health care personal. We couldn't have done it without you!

Click the link in our comments to read more.