by Christina Echegaray

Derek Williams, MD, MPH, chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine in the Vanderbilt Department of Pediatrics, has received the 2022 Excellence in Research award from the Society for Hospital Medicine (SHM).

The SHM’s annual Awards of Excellence honor hospitalists who exemplify hospital medicine best practices in areas such as clinical leadership, teaching, teamwork, research and humanitarian services, among others. Winners were recognized at the SHM’s annual conference, which was held April 7-10.

Williams, associate professor of Pediatrics and Hospital Medicine, received the recognition for his contributions to numerous studies to improve the care delivery and outcomes for children with pneumonia and other acute respiratory illnesses. His work to advance the field includes the landmark Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Etiology of Pneumonia in the Community study. This study was the largest prospective investigation of pediatric pneumonia hospitalizations ever conducted in the U.S.

“I am thrilled with this award. I am fortunate to be part of a phenomenal group of people that works hard every day to advance our discovery mission, and so, I share this honor with my research team here at Vanderbilt, our external collaborators, as well as my mentees and my own mentors; all played a part. Teamwork makes the dream work,” said Williams, who has been a member of SHM since 2013.

Williams earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 2005, followed by a pediatric residency at the University of Virginia. He came to Vanderbilt in 2008 for a fellowship in general pediatrics and received his Master of Public Health degree. He joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2010. He has served as chief of Hospital Medicine since 2018.

His work is supported by funding from the CDC, NIH and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, and his scientific contributions have been recognized by the Academic Pediatric Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America/Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Hospital Medicine. Williams is also a member of the Executive Council of the Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings Network.