Office of Medical Communications

In late 2014, Margaret Tandoh, M.D., and Majid Sadigh, M.D., traveled to Liberia to treat Ebola patients at the height of the epidemic in West Africa. They spent countless hours in the Ebola treatment units hastily set up to handle the influx of people seeking care, tending to the sickest patients despite a lack of basic resources. For their efforts, they were part of the group named by Time Magazine as 2014 People of the Year.

Joseph McSherry, M.D., Ph.D., UVM associate professor of neurological sciences, authored an editorial on the effects of cannabis-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

(FEBRUARY 23, 2016) University of Vermont pediatric cardiologist Niels Giddins, M.D., is featured in a news story about the American Heart Association's February 2016 "Little Hats, Big Hearts" campaign to increase awareness about congenital heart defects in newborns. Giddins, an associate professor of pediatrics, commented that structural problems in the heart can often appear following a seemingly healthy and normal birth. The story's video footage, taken at the UVM Medical Center's Mother-Baby Unit, also featured Molly Rideout, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics. Watch the story online here.

A study showing that drug users are strongly motivated by seeking out rewards but also exhibit the inability to adjust their behavior, co-authored by Hugh Garavan, Ph.D., UVM associate professor of psychiatry, is mentioned. Read more from Health Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center Newsroom, Health Canal.

Research by Robert Johnson, M.D., University of Vermont professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation emeritus, and colleagues is featured prominently in a Washington Post Health & Science article, titled "How you can prevent ski injuries."

Ahead of the coldest weekend yet, Stephen Leffler, M.D., UVM professor of surgery and chief medical officer at the University of Vermont Medical Center, offers tips to avoid frostbite and serious injuries. Watch the interview on WPTZ-TV.

New research based on a discovery by David Warshaw, Ph.D., UVM professor and chair of molecular physiology and biophysics, and colleagues of a malfunction of a specific protein in the heart linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common culprit in cases of sudden death in athletes, was the focus of this article featured in multiple media outlets. Read more from Medical Xpress, ANI News, Odisha Sun Times,Vietnam Tribune, MedIndia Health News, Big News Network, News Reporter, Health Medicine Network, Archy Newsy, Physical Therapy Products, Medical News Today

A recent announcement that the UVM Vaccine Testing Center will be involved in the clinical trials and research on a vaccine for Zika virus, which was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016, attracted wide local and regional media coverage. Read more from ABC 22/Fox 44 News, WCAX-TV CBS 3,WPTZ-TV NBC 5, Vermont Business Magazine, St. Albans Messenger, Times-Argus, WCAX-TV CBS 3 HealthWatch, U.S. News Hub, VT Digger, Killington Mountain Times, Burlington Sun Times, Vermont NEA, Vermont Public Radio Here and Now, Rome Sentinel, Rutland Herald, The Waltonian, Press Telegraph (no longer available), University Echo

The Clinical Simulation Laboratory at UVM was recently accredited by two prestigious simulation societies. The facility earned a three-year accreditation as a Comprehensive Accredited Education Institute (AEI) from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and a five-year accreditation from the Society of Simulation in Health Care (SSH). Read more in the Times-Argus.

The American Lung Association released its 14th annual "State of Tobacco Control" report, which finds that Vermont made progress on tobacco control policies in 2015. These findings are the topic of an article featuring comments from Keith Robinson, M.D.'07, assistant professor of pediatrics and pediatric pulmonologist. Read the article in The Caledonian Record.

A letter from Senator Bernie Sanders' physician that was publicly released on January 28, 2016 reported that the presidential candidate is in very good health for a 74-year-old man. Local Vermont NBC affiliate WPTZ-TV interviewed Benjamin Littenberg, M.D., University of Vermont professor of medicine and director of General Internal Medicine Research, about the health findings featured in the letter. Watch a video of the interview here.

University of Vermont Clinical Professor of Psychiatry David Fassler, M.D., commented on findings from a meta-analysis of clinical reports on the link between antidepressants and risk of suicidality in children and adolescents, which appeared in the British Medical Journal. Read the article here.

University of Vermont Associate Professor of Pediatrics Andrea Green, M.D., the director of the New American Clinic at UVM Children's Hospital, is featured in an article, titled "Medical Interpreters Speak for New American Patients," in the January 27, 2016 issue of Seven Days. Read more here.

Nicholas Heintz, Ph.D., UVM professor of pathology, and colleagues were featured in a PLoS Science Wednesday live “Ask Me Anything” chat on redditscience, discussing a recently published study focusing on dysregulation of redox signaling in cancer cells, and how the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor cell mitochondria can be exploited for therapeutic purposes in aggressive human malignancies like mesothelioma. Read the full transcript of the chat here.

Comments from UVM Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology John Hughes, M.D., on effective strategies for individuals trying to quit smoking are featured in a study discussing the cost of smoking in each state, which is covered in a WalletHub article.

An article on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s 2015 statement on screening specifically for speech and language delay in asymptomatic preschool-age children, features comments from UVM Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Joseph Hagan, Jr., M.D., F.A.A.P. View a PDF of the Medscape article here or subscribers can read the online version here. 

An article about a case in which a teenage girl was involved in a murder features comments on decision-making and problem-solving development in adolescents from UVM Clinical Professor of Psychiatry David Fassler, M.D., who also helped prepare an amicus brief for the Supreme Court in the case. Read the article in Houston Press.

John Brumsted, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of the University of Vermont Medical Center and President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Vermont Health Network, recently announced plans to link 80 percent of payments to quality of care by 2018, which continues to receive media coverage and is the topic in the interview "Three Questions With: John Brumsted, M.D.," from Hospitals & Health Networks. The announcement was mentioned inMedCity News and Dr. Brumsted wrote commentary which was featured in VTDigger and Vermont Business Magazine.

For previous media placements, refer to the December 2015 Publicity Report.

UVM Clinical Professor of Pediatrics William Gerson, M.D., authored an article discussing the serious risks associated with “chickenpox parties” – where children are intentionally exposed to the varicella zoster virus in hopes of immunizing them from a more serious infection down the road. Read the article in Pediatrics, All Web News and Pharmacist.

Comments from UVM Patrick Professor of Medicine Richard Solomon, M.D., continue to receive coverage and are again featured in a Medscape article regarding research from China suggesting that central venous pressure monitoring allows safe fluid administration, preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with chronic kidney disease and congestive heart failure. View a PDF of the Medscape article here or subscribers can view the online article here.

Read the MD article from December 9, 2015.