Country music icon Dolly Parton received her COVID-19 vaccination at Vanderbilt Health on Tuesday, March 2, from her longtime friend, Naji Abumrad, MD, professor of Surgery. In an Instagram video (@dollyparton), Parton urged her legion of fans to get their vaccine when they become eligible for it.
Parton’s generous support helped fund research at Vanderbilt into what is now a vaccine that’s helping bring an end to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, she made the $1 million gift in honor of Dr. Abumrad to support research teams who are working urgently to perfect treatments and cures for COVID-19.
“Dolly’s amazing generosity is a source of inspiration and will have a lasting impact on the battle against COVID-19," said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, in April 2020. "She cares so much about helping others and we are very grateful for her ongoing support.”
To learn more about how the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund contributed to VUMC vaccine studies, check out this VUMC Voice article and this VUMC Reporter article.
