Office of Medical Communications

A new, three-year $500,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will allow members of the UVM Center for Health Services Research (CHSR) at the Larner College of Medicine, led by center director and Professor of Medicine Adam Atherly, Ph.D., to explore the effectiveness of community health teams in improving the quality and efficiency of health care delivery.

(JUNE 17, 2020) Comments from third-year medical student Delaney Curran, who presented a study at the virtual Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting, were included in a June 17 Healio.com article, titled "Simulation-based study shows cost-effectiveness of teleretinal screening for DR."

Jill Jemison, assistant dean for technology/chief information officer at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, received the 2020 Service Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Institutional Resources at the group’s Annual Member/Business Meeting webinar on June 10.

More than 250 University of Vermont Medical Center staff members, Larner College of Medicine students and leaders gathered June 5 at 1 p.m. for a silent demonstration of support for racial justice in honor of George Floyd and others who have died due to racism and police brutality.

(JUNE 16, 2020) A study by Eline van den Broek-Altenburg, Ph.D., assistant professor of radiology, and colleagues was covered in a MarketWatch article, titled "Some Americans are more likely to socially distance and wear faces masks than others -- here's why."

(JUNE 11, 2020) Adam Atherly, Ph.D., professor of medicine and director of the Center for Health Services Research, is quoted extensively in a Healthcare Innovation article, titled “Are Vermont’s Global Budgets, Community Health Teams Improving Outcomes?”

(JUNE 9, 2020) A Vermont Associated Press article, titled "Virus spike in Vermont city hits immigrant communities," features comments from Larner College of Medicine M.P.H. student Bidur Dahal. The story was picked up by Vermont newspapers, as well as by daily newspapers across the U.S.

(JUNE 9 & 11, 2020) Maria Mercedes Avila, Ph.D., M.S.W., program director of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program, associate professor of pediatrics, and health equity and inclusive excellence liaison, was featured in local news stories on COVID-19 and racial disparities in health on Vermont Public Radio and NBC5.

(JUNE 5, 2020) A #WhiteCoatsForBlackLives vigil organized by Amy Teleron, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, with support from Joanna Conant, M.D., assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, was covered by several local media outlets, including ABC22/Fox44, WCAX-TV Channel 3, and NBC5.

On Sunday, May 17, University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella conferred degrees to 40 graduate students from the Larner College of Medicine. Included were two graduates from the Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program; one graduate from the Master of Medical Science program; nine from the Master of Science in Pharmacology program; and 28 from the Master of Public Health program.

A team of faculty members in the Department of Neurological Sciences has been transforming their popular hands-on summer Human Gross Anatomy course into a comprehensive, inclusive online curriculum featuring pre-recorded lectures, gross anatomy lab dissection videos, a 3D anatomy app, and live online discussions.

On May 29, 2020, Dean Richard L. Page, M.D., announced the names of the recipients of the inaugural Dean’s Awards for Professionalism. Jennifer Gilwee, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and chief of of the Division of Internal Medicine, received the Faculty Award for Professionalism. Eric Gagnon, director of facilities administration and projects, received the Staff Award for Professionalism. Isaac de la Bruere, medical student in the Class of 2022, received the Student Award for Professionalism.

(MAY 24, 2020) Larner College of Medicine postdoctoral fellow Vitor Mori, Ph.D., and Jason Bates, Ph.D., Sc.D., professor of medicine, are mentioned in a VTDigger story, titled "The Bright Side: A UVM student coding global coronavirus research."

(MAY 23, 2020) Tim Lahey, M.D., M.MSc., professor of medicine, provided comments on guidelines for the safe opening of Vermont restaurants in a Seven Days article, titled “Short Order for Restaurants: Two Months Closed, Two Days to Open.”

UVM Vermont Center on Behavior & Health faculty members Allison N. Kurti, Ph.D., and Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., discuss how to manage the natural urge to socialize, how to understand our reactions and feelings, and how to establish new, healthy routines to help us cope with our “new normal” and help keep our communities safe.

We, and our entire state, can be proud of the progress made in limiting COVID-19 over the past three months. As such, Vermont is among the states most prepared for the gradual reopening allowed by our governor and being undertaken in our teaching, clinical and research missions. I ask you continue to follow the regular messages about those areas. Please note that we all are obligated to complete our state COVID-19 Mandatory Health and Safety Training prior to returning.

(MAY 22, 2020) Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., professor of medicine, was featured on a Science Friday radio segment on "Blood Clots Linked To COVID-19 Are Raising Alarm." The program airs on nearly 400 public radio stations and has roughly 1.8 million listeners.

NNE-CTR member wins MTI award