Physician Outreach and Connections
Our Mission
The Physician Outreach and Connections Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)
- Promotes Vanderbilt's services to clinicians in referral areas
- Shares information on new products and services
- Engages with community clinicians to learn their needs and strengthen relationships
- Collaborates with VUMC leadership on strategic outreach plans to increase referrals and surgical growth
Our team focuses on customer service, relationship building, service recovery, intelligence gathering, assisting in finding solutions and representing VUMC to other medical communities.
Meet Our Team

Michele Hesselrode
- Senior Director

Melissa Acton
- Wilson Co. – East Tenn., Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital

Stephanie Clark
- Regional Manager, Williamson/Putnam Co.

Debbie Dyer
- Montgomery Co. – Kentucky

Rhonda Watson
- Davidson/Maury Co. – West TN

Heather Weaver
- Bedford, Coffee, Rutherford Cos. - Southeast TN
Kate Baker
- New Tower

Stacey Becker
- Vanderbilt Transplant Center

Madeline Brayman
- Vanderbilt Surgery

Andrea Neal
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Emily Duvall
- Lead Administrative Assistant

Christianna Gamble
- Sr. Program Manager/Health Connect

Ashley Lord
- Associate Program Manager
Educational Outreach
General CME and non-CME Webinars
The Vanderbilt Lecture Series is hosted monthly and open to all community clinicians, not limited to Vanderbilt employees. This free CME series offers a wide range of pertinent educational courses and is held virtually via Zoom. CME credit is through the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
For more information or to register to attend, email physicianoutreachandconnections@vumc.org.
Tumor Board at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital
- CME credit offered through AAFP
- Hospital medical staff review cases monthly
- VUMC faculty presenting on requested topic to meet ACOS accreditation
- Target audience: surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and registered nurses