Mother and child at clinic getting ready to receive an immunization. (courtesy of Lwala Community Alliance)

A recent peer-reviewed study reveals the efficacy of Lwala Community Alliance's interventions to decreasing child mortality in rural Kenya. Results show a 50% reduction in under-five mortality after the establishment of the Lwala Clinic in Kenya. Data from before and after the founding of Lwala Community Alliance in 2007 show a significant reduction in both under-one and under-five mortality.  

Joseph Starnes, M.P.H., M.D. candidate, is the lead author on this paper and conducted this study as part of his M.P.H. program at Vanderbilt. VIGH core faculty member Troy Moon, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, served as the faculty mentor and advisor. The study was published in PLOS ONE. 

READ the full story in today's issue of the VUMC Reporter.

Call for Abstracts: The first annual Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH) Global Health Symposium is currently accepting abstract submissions. The symposium will allow the Vanderbilt community the opportunity to share research or projects or programs in Public or Global Health.

The abstract deadline is Sunday, October 14. The symposium will take place on November 6 in the Student Life Center, Board of Trust room from 5 - 8 p.m.

Learn more or submit an abstract.

Join the Tennessee AIDS Education & Training Center for the 21st Annual HIV Symposium. This year's program will feature clinical presentations on how to provide care to a variety of different populations living with HIV, including trans women, seniors, people with opioid use disorders, and more.

The material presented in this program will be clinical in nature. With that in mind, anybody who feels the program would be beneficial to their work is welcome to attend!   

The Vanderbilt Pre3 Initiatives is hosting the first annual Maternal-Child Health Research Forum on November 15 from 4 - 6 p.m. in the Light Hall North Lobby. Current Pre3 members and non-members are encouraged to submit at the poster session. Submissions are due by October 29. 

The Vanderbilt Initiative Awards (ViA) and Vanderbilt Reinvestment Awards (VRA) are meant to support organizations that facilitate research and teaching collaborations across disciplines — aim to address topics of critical academic and societal interest, embrace discovery and spark learning to position Vanderbilt as a world leader in a given area. The pre-proposal deadline is October 29.