Office of Medical Communications

(MARCH 26, 2024) A representative of the Larner College of Medicine, appointed by the school’s dean, will be part of a Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group to study whether and how to allow therapeutic access to psychedelics, if the bill is enacted, Marijuana Moment reported.

Larner study underscores the critical importance of COVID-19 vaccination in preventing illness from the virus.

(MARCH 26, 2024) Julie Dumas, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, spoke with WCAX-TV about a new $3.3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging that will enable researchers to explore the impact that fatty acids we eat have on brain health in seniors.

(MARCH 26, 2024) Certified Nurse Midwife Martha Churchill, M.S.N., clinical instructor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, was quoted in a VT Digger article, advocating support for expanding and funding doula care, which she said is “largely mental health care.”

Professor of Neurological Sciences Margaret A. Vizzard, Ph.D., was invested as the inaugural holder of the Colleen A. and Gregory L. Holmes Green and Gold Professorship in Neurological Sciences Research.

(March 19, 2024) President and UVMMC Chief Operating Officer Stephen Leffler, M.D., professor of emergency medicine, was interviewed by WCAX-TV about the worsening long-term care bottleneck that continues to stress hospital capacity.

(MARCH 18, 2024) Seven Days reported the passing of John Hughes, M.D., professor emeritus of psychiatry and psychological science, who earned an international reputation for his research on nicotine and tobacco control and garnered numerous awards for his scholarly contributions.

(MARCH 18, 2024) Jan Carney, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean for public health and health policy, professor of medicine, and chief of the division of public health, was featured in WalletHub’s recent article about Best & Worst States for Doctors 2024.

(MARCH 12, 2024) Russell Tracy, Ph.D., director of the Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research, and Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., co-director of the Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health, commented to the Burlington Free Press about a study of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont hosted the fifth annual Celebration of Gender Equity in Medicine and Science on March 7, 2024. Debora Kamin Mukaz, Ph.D., M.S., assistant professor of medicine and co-founder of #BlackInCardio, presented a keynote address on “Why Intersectionality Matters for Life Sciences and Medicine.”

(MARCH 6, 2024) UVMHN CEO and President Sunil Eappen, M.D., M.B.A., associate professor of radiology, spoke with Vermont Edition about some of the challenges of running a not-for-profit health care provider that includes six operating hospitals that serve more than a million patients across Vermont and northern New York.

(MARCH 6, 2024) Ophthalmologist Jessica McNally, M.D., assistant professor of surgery, emphasized to NBC5 the importance of using the correct protective eyewear when viewing the April 8 solar eclipse.

(MARCH 6, 2024) Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Elias Klemperer, Ph.D., spoke with WCAX-TV about his recent grant to study nicotine-limiting standards across the Northeast; in particular, what works to get smokers to switch to products that use less nicotine.

With more states imposing legal restrictions on reproductive health, many are concerned about continued downstream effects of new legislation including future shortages of medical professionals in these areas. Associate Dean for Students and Associate Professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences Karen George, M.D., recently explored this topic in a new paper.

(MARCH 2, 2024) Infectious disease specialist Tim Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., professor of medicine, spoke to WCAX-TV about norovirus, a common virus that comes in waves—especially in the cold, winter months.

On February 17, 2024, Gary Mawe, Ph.D., a respected faculty member at the Larner College of Medicine and the University of Vermont, passed away at the age of 67 after battling an illness. His life was marked by achievement and dedication, leaving a lasting impact on our community, both here at Larner and at UVM.

(February 29, 2024) Orthopedic surgeon Sara Graves, M.D., M.S., clinical assistant professor of surgery, spoke with WCAX-TV about a new robotic surgery system at the Central Vermont Medical Center.