Dr. Sten H. Vermund was the founding director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH). The Sten H. Vermund Global Health Achievement Award and the Sten H. Vermund Global Health Travel Awards recognize Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) medical and public health students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the health of all people through distinguished global health scholarship, education, training, and/or service.
The Sten H. Vermund Global Health Achievement Award
This annual award for excellence is given to a graduating VUSM medical student based on their commitment to global health during their tenure in medical school. Recipients of this award will have conducted research in global health, rotated at clinics and hospitals in international low-resourced settings, led global health student organizations at Vanderbilt, and engaged in global health initiatives at Vanderbilt.
2026 Award Recipient: Brian Song
Brian Song is a fourth-year Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) medical student with a deep interest in building a career in global health focused on emergency medicine. He is on track to earn the Graduate Certificate in Global Health, which demonstrates a student’s commitment to global health and is obtained through completing a series of global health courses, clinical rotations, and research in global health.
Brian partnered with Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), a long-standing Vanderbilt University Medical Center partner in Guyana, where he rotated in the emergency department and researched toxicology emergencies in Guyana. Working closely with a team at GPHC, Brian conducted retrospective observational research on snakebite envenoming and adolescent toxic ingestions at the hospital’s emergency department. His work included analyzing the incidence rates and medical outcomes to help start the country’s first toxicology registry and create a comprehensive picture that will guide clinical and public health policy. He has presented this data as podium and poster presentations at national conferences. Writing about his time in Guyana, Brian noted that it “profoundly helped with my career and professional development.”
Brian is a leader in several VUSM organizations, including the Global Health Organization. Over the past years, he has been instrumental in arranging events and mentoring for medical students to learn more about global health opportunities. He has served as the organization’s World Health Week Coordinator (2023-24), Mentorship Chair (2024-25), and Vice President (2025-26). In these roles, he hosted speaker events and created an online guidebook for student global health rotations and research. In these roles, exemplifies Dr. Vermund’s legacy of mentoring the next generation of global health researchers and clinicians. Brian has also served as the Co-Cultural Director of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association; Co-President of Vanderbilt Community Circles; Co-President of Wilderness Medical Society; Co-President of Point of Care Ultrasound Student Interest Group; and on the Executive Board for Vanderbilt Clinical Problem Solvers.
Brian has also been an active leader in the VUSM student-led Shade Tree Clinic, which serves global populations. He has served as a patient health educator, peer educator, and clinical volunteer. Since 2024, he has been the Co-Director of Exercise & Cooking Coaching for the Diabetes Prevention Program. He is a leader among his peers in global health and exemplifies Dr. Vermund’s passion, innovation, and commitment to global health across research, clinical practice, and service.
Below is a picture of Brian Song
