Several Larner College of Medicine faculty and students presented research at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle, and Cardiometabolic Health (EPI/Lifestyle) Scientific Sessions 2023 in Boston February 28-March 3.

EPI/Lifestyle 2023 presenters included:

• Debora Kamin Mukaz, Ph.D. (pictured at left, top), a postdoctoral fellow in medicine mentored by Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., professor of medicine, presented posters on “Residential Segregation and Hypertension Risk in Black and White Americans” and “Long-Term Mortality and Causes of Death After Venous Thromboembolism: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.” Her research is supported by grants from the AHA and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
• Maggie King (at left, second from top), a master of science in pathology degree student mentored by J. Peter Durda, Ph.D., faculty scientist in pathology and laboratory medicine, presented on “Complete Blood Count Analysis in the Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal (RURAL) Cohort Study with a Point of Care Instrument.” Her research is supported by NHLBI.
• Brittney Palermo (at left, third from top), a second-year medical student and 2022 Dean’s Summer Research Fellow mentored by Dr. Cushman, presented on “Interleukin-6, Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome in a Biracial Cohort: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS).”
• Eric Stoutenburg (at left, second from bottom), a second-year medical student and 2022 Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) Summer Research Fellow mentored by Timothy Plante, M.D., M.H.S., assistant professor of medicine, presented a poster on “Factor VIII and Incident Hypertension in Black and White Adults: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Cohort Study.”
• Megan Zhou (at left, bottom), a second-year medical student and 2022 CVRI Summer Research Fellow mentored by Nels Olson, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, presented on “Coagulation Factor IX and Incident Diabetes Risk: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study.”

In addition, the following Larner faculty members were coauthors on presentations delivered at the meeting: Margaret Doyle, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine; Russell Tracy, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, and biochemistry; and Neil Zakai, M.D., M.Sc., professor of medicine.

Betsy Sussman, M.D., professor of radiology emerita, is one of four new trustees recently appointed to the 15-member UVM Medical Center Board of Trustees. With more than 41 years of experience in the medical field, 30 years of which she served as an attending radiologist specializing in Women’s Imaging at UVM Medical Center, Dr. Sussman brings significant knowledge about clinical and organizational insight to the board’s efforts to address health care challenges impacting communities across the region. Sussman is a fellow of the American College of Radiology and a recipient of the A. Bradley Soule Award, the top annual award given by the Larner College of Medicine Alumni Association. An active member of the Larner Alumni Association, she has contributed to clinical research projects in Imaging the World based in Africa and has also worked with UVM Medical Center oncology on breast density projects. She has been involved on a national level with authoring several Women’s Imaging topics for ACR Appropriateness Criteria®, evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decision for a specific clinical condition. Employing these guidelines helps providers enhance quality of care and contribute to the most efficacious use of radiology.

Leslie Young, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, has been recognized with a Trailblazer Honorable Mention as part of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative® Director’s Awards. These awards recognize researchers for excellence in research, mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community partnership. Researchers in the early to middle stages of their careers are recognized with a Trailblazer Award or honorable mention. Rebecca Baker, Ph.D., director of the NIH HEAL Initiative, presented the inaugural Director’s Awards at the fourth annual NIH HEAL Initiative® Investigator Meeting held February 21-22 in Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Young is on the leadership team and serves as a principal investigator for the Advancing Clinical Trials in Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal (ACT NOW) study funded by the NIH HEAL Initiative®.

About the NIH HEAL Initiative®: The Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative is an aggressive, trans-NIH effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis. Launched in April 2018, the initiative is focused on improving prevention and treatment strategies for opioid misuse and addiction, and enhancing pain management. For more information, visit: https://heal.nih.gov. 

Read a recent article about Young’s work: https://heal.nih.gov/news/stories/ACTing-Now.

Despite an abrupt switch from an in-person Burlington waterfront event to a virtual event due to subzero temperatures in early February, the Arctic Suns team continued its participation streak in the Vermont Special Olympics’ Penguin Plunge. According to Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine and a pulmonary and critical care specialist, the team’s name is in honor of a cooling blanket setup used in the Intensive Care Unit, where many of the team members work or have worked. One portion of the group did their plunge on February 18 at Burlington’s Red Rocks Park beach, while others selected alternative dates and beach locations. Dr. Weiss estimates the Arctic Suns team has been fundraising and plunging for about 14 years.

Pictured at left (left to right): Maria Burnett, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of medicine; Naomi Hodde, M.D., assistant professor of medicine; Colleen Boyd, RN, UVM Medical Center operating room travel nurse; Kristen Prim, UVM Medical Center medical assistant, pulmonary and critical care; Weiss; Sandra Michaud, RN, retired Medical Intensive Care Unit nurse.