The operating parameters of the Vanderbilt free electron laser (FEL) are summarized. Effort are underway to develop compact FELs for medical applications. While further investigations of both the ablation mechanism, in particular the role of the pulse structure, and the biological response will continue at Vanderbilt and other FEL centers, a glaring need exists for an alternative, preferably tabletop source. A great deal of biomedical research need to be done to investigate the biological response to laser ablation via the vibrational modes of proteins.