Dolly Parton donates $1 million to pediatric infectious disease research again

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Legendary country music superstar Dolly Parton has donated a million dollars to help fund pediatric infectious disease research again to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

>> Read more trending news

According to the Associated Press, Vanderbilt University Medical Center made the announcement Wednesday, saying that Parton’s latest gift is one of many she has made over the years, including in April 2020 to help fund COVID-19 vaccine research. She donated a million dollars then, and it helped Vanderbilt researchers test different drugs that were hoped to reduce the life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19.

“I love all children. No child should ever have to suffer, and I’m willing to do my part to try and keep as many of them as I can as healthy and safe as possible,” Parton said, in a press release from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Parton’s latest donation will help researchers understand “how viruses and bacteria cause disease, understanding and preventing antibiotic resistance, preventing and treating infections, diagnosing and treating infections in children with cancer, and gauging the impact of childhood infections throughout the world,” according to a news release from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Dr. Jeff Balser, president and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said that the new donation will help “our defenses against future threats to the safety of this region and society as a whole,” according to the AP.

“We are deeply honored by Dolly’s contribution to our research mission. For over 40 years, our division has been a national and international leader in studies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of life-threatening infections, and this gift will accelerate our work and support new ideas,” said Mark Denison, MD, professor of Pediatrics and director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, in a news release.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 50

Dolly Parton NASHVILLE - 1965: Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1965 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)

©2022 Cox Media Group