This Month's Featured Talk

When stories are the science: Narrative and participatory insights from Autistic adults’ health journeys

Speaker: Laura Foran Lewis
Associate Professor | Carole Nagelsmith Greenberg Green & Gold Endowed Professor in Nursing

Laura Lewis is a registered nurse and faculty member in UVM’s Department of Nursing. Her research explores the experiences of autistic adults, focusing on quality of life, identity formation, and the intersection of queer and autistic identities. An expert in qualitative methods, Dr. Lewis is passionate about mentoring undergraduate researchers and promoting person-centered care.

Event Details

Date: December 19, 2025
Time: 12:00–1:00 PM
Location: 107 Rowell Building

All students, faculty, clinicians, and researchers are welcome to attend.

Past Talks

Of Microbes, Mice, and Men: Deciphering the role of the gut microbiome in Multiple Sclerosis

Speaker: Dimitry Krementsov
Associate Professor

Dimitry Krementsov’s research explores the complex interplay between the immune system, genetics, and the gut microbiome in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. His lab integrates microbiology, immunology, and virology to uncover mechanisms of disease and potential therapeutic targets. Dr. Krementsov joined the Biomedical and Health Sciences department in 2017 and leads an extramurally funded lab that engages undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines.

Dismantling the ‘Visual Ease Assumption’: Cross-modal examinations of narrative comprehension in autism

Speaker: Emily L. Coderre
Associate Professor

Emily Coderre is a cognitive neuroscientist whose research explores how we understand meaning, both linguistically and visually, through neuroimaging techniques like EEG and fMRI. Her work focuses on semantic processing in autistic individuals, examining how they comprehend language and visual narratives such as comics. Dr. Coderre holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and an M.Sc. in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging from the University of Nottingham and completed postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University. She currently teaches courses in cognitive neuroscience, communication measurement, and professional writing, and her research includes innovative approaches to reading comprehension interventions using neuromodulation.

Tissue Adaptations following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Implications for Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis

Speaker: Mat Failla
Professor | Board-Certified Sports Physical Therapist

Mat Failla, a residency-trained clinician and biomechanist whose work bridges clinical practice and research in sports medicine, explores the physiological changes that occur after ACL reconstruction and how these adaptations may contribute to the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. His findings offer critical insights for improving rehabilitation strategies and long-term joint health in athletes and active individuals. This talk is especially relevant for clinicians, researchers, and students interested in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and long-term joint health.

Upcoming Events

Contact

Questions? Email meredith.grasso@med.uvm.edu for more information.