The Jandl ’79 and Parker ’73 Endowments with the Larner Wellness Committee, the music student interest group, and The Red Wheelbarrow presented the Larner College of Medicine’s annual Student Performance Night October 4. The UVM community and friends filled the Hoehl Gallery, as the audience enjoyed the sights and sounds of talented participants through song, instrument, and the spoken word.
Performers included Cliff Bauman ’27, Jake Bleau ’26, Marina Cannon ’27, Dalton Dowd ’27, Joe Du ’27, Jonathan Fee ’27, Joselvin Galeas ’27, Clara Goebel ’27, Michael Greenberg ’27, Maddie LaBute, Jonah Levine ’26, Ryan Marawala ’27, Aiden Masters ’27, Sophie Shirali ’28, Cameron Stultz, Mallory Stultz ’26, Evelyn Thomas ’27, Serena Verma ’27, and hosts Caity Decara ’26 and Kara Pflaster ’26.
Socioeconomic disadvantages have long hindered educational success, particularly in underserved communities. A study published in Nature Communications—co-led by William E. Copeland, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont’s Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine—found that financial support can help close these gaps.
Copeland’s team studied a Southeastern American Indian tribe residing across Jackson, Swain, and Graham Counties in North Carolina. In 1996, Harrah’s Casino opened on their land. Since 1996, tribal members have received direct cash transfers from the casino’s profits, designated for community welfare and development. Unlike in-kind transfers, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), direct cash transfers are payments given directly to individuals or households, typically without restrictions on how the money can be spent, and are aimed at reducing poverty or improving economic well-being.
Along with researchers from Duke University and the University of California–Irvine, including Tim Bruckner, M.P.H., Ph.D., professor of health, society, and behavior at the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, Copeland revealed the intergenerational impacts of these financial investments. They found that mothers who received cash transfers from the casino during their childhood experienced greater academic gains in their own children. This subsequent generation demonstrated improved reading and math scores, comparable to or better than those achieved through other educational interventions in rural North Carolina.
“When we started this work, many were skeptical that direct cash transfers to parents—no strings attached—would be spent in ways that maximized benefits for their children. This study suggests that parents spend these funds in ways that helped not only their children, but also their grandchildren and their grandchildren’s educational outcomes.”
In addition to these findings, the casino’s 30-year operation has provided substantial community benefits, improving the overall well-being of both American Indian and non-Indian residents in the region. Half of the gaming revenues are invested in health care centers, educational programs, behavioral health services, and drug abuse prevention initiatives. Additionally, as the largest employer in the area, the casino stimulates growth for local businesses.
“While our findings show that childhood financial support can help reduce socioeconomic inequalities, long-standing effects of discrimination and systemic barriers remain,” Bruckner noted. “Gaps in educational attainment between American Indian and non-Indian students persist. We need further research into other factors driving these improvements, such as health outcomes, parental choices, and community infrastructure enhancements funded by casino revenues.”
The research team also included doctoral candidate Brenda Bustos, M.P.H., and Candice L. Odgers, Ph.D., professor of psychological science and informatics, from UC–Irvine; Kenneth A. Dodge, Ph.D., William McDougall Distinguished Professor of Public Policy Studies, and Jennifer E. Lansford, Ph.D., S. Malcolm Gillis Distinguished Research Professor of Public Policy, both from the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University; and William E. Copeland, Ph.D., Thomas M. Achenbach Chair of Developmental Psychopathology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont.
This work was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development under grant 5R01HD093651-05.
For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Vermont (UVM) has achieved a new record for research funding, attracting $266 million in external support for the 2024 fiscal year. More than doubling the university’s annual research funding of five years ago, UVM faculty members garnered nearly 700 research awards to launch over 1,000 new projects confronting head-on some of society’s most pressing issues, from climate change to public health, supported by government agencies, corporate partners, foundations. and donors.
Researchers at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine—traditionally a top-performing pillar of UVM’s research enterprise—were awarded more than $100 million in support, a 7.6 percent increase over last fiscal year.
Five endowed Green and Gold Professorships were conferred in October of this year upon members of the UVM Larner College of Medicine community. Endowed positions, which are among the highest academic honors that UVM can bestow on a faculty member, recognize and celebrate academic achievement, further encourage scholarship, service and clinical excellence, and help recruit and retain the most creative researchers, effective teachers, and finest clinicians and leaders.
On October 4, 2024, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology William “Gabe” Tharp, M.D., Ph.D., was invested as the inaugural holder of the Michael O’Reilly, M.D., M.S., Green and Gold Professorship in Anesthesiology. The professorship was established by O’Reilly, who received his M.D. and M.S. degrees at UVM and has taught at such premier medical institutions as the University of California–Irvine and the University of Michigan. For the past few years, O’Reilly has been a professor of anesthesiology at Stanford University while also working for Apple on medical technology and health-related special projects.
Robert H. Millay, M.D., professor of surgery in the Division of Ophthalmology, was invested on October 7, 2024, as the inaugural holder of the Green and Gold Professorship of Ophthalmology. In 2013, the Department of Surgery’s faculty collectively established Green and Gold Professorships in each of their divisions, to invest in faculty leaders and demonstrate their commitment to the department’s future.
Associate Professor of Surgery Patrick Forgione M.D., was invested on October 10, 2024, as the inaugural holder of the Green and Gold Professorship of General Surgery. Forgione is also the director of surgery student education at Larner. This endowed professorship was established in 2013 through the generosity of the faculty in the Department of Surgery, who collectively established Green and Gold professorships in each of their divisions.
On October 14, 2024, Michelle M. Sowden, D.O., associate professor of surgical oncology, was invested as the inaugural holder of the Green and Gold Professorship of Surgical Oncology. Sowden is also the clinical director of surgical oncology at the UVM Medical Center. In 2013, the Department of Surgery’s faculty collectively established Green and Gold Professorships in each of their divisions.
Donald R. Laub, M.D., M.S., professor of surgery, was invested on October 14, 2024, as the inaugural holder of the Linda A. and David W. Leitner, M.D., Green and Gold Professorship in Plastic Surgery. The Green and Gold Professorship in Plastic Surgery, established in 2014 with a gift from the Department of Surgery, was renamed the Linda A. Leitner and David W. Leitner, M.D., Professorship in Plastic Surgery in 2017, following an additional gift by David W. Leitner, M.D. (1948–2024), and his wife of 48 years, Linda. Leitner joined the University of Vermont’s Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 1984, retiring in 2015. He twice served as chair of the division and founded the UVM Medical Center Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery and Replantation Service.
Clinical visits are set to change as AI quietly transforms health care. Ambient recording technology, which captures the details of patient-clinician conversations, has the potential to streamline care, reduce clinician workloads, and improve patient outcomes. However, this shift also presents several challenges. A recent paper co-authored by Robert Gramling, M.D., D.Sc., professor and inaugural vice chair for research in the Department of Family Medicine and head of the Vermont Conversation Lab at the Larner College of Medicine, examines the potential benefits and risks of using AI for clinical recordings. The research provides insights into how this technology could reshape health care when applied thoughtfully and equitably.
In their recent publication in NEJM AI, titled “Preparing for the Widespread Adoption of Clinic Visit Recording,” Gramling and colleagues from Dartmouth University address three key concerns related to AI’s role in the health care setting: burden, fairness, and commoditization. While AI can ease the documentation burden on clinicians, it may also lead to increased patient loads, which could affect the quality of clinician-patient interactions. As demand for health care services grows faster than the supply of clinicians, time saved through automated documentation might quickly be used up by an influx of patient visits. Although AI may improve short-term productivity and accessibility, it risks reducing the human element in care. Such a situation could lead to “automation bias,” where clinicians rely too heavily on AI-generated outputs in high-pressure situations. To counter this, the team suggests using explainable AI (XAI) to provide clear insights that enhance shared decision-making.
Algorithmic bias is another critical issue. The authors emphasize the need for diverse data collection, patient involvement, and regular bias monitoring to ensure fair AI use in health care. They point out that speech data contains important nuances beyond words, such as accent, tone, and inflection, which affect meaning. To address bias in AI and encourage fairness, the authors recommend three strategies: increased focus on protecting patient information, identifying and correcting biases in training data, and adopting an “ecological” approach that considers the complex nature of conversations and their contexts. By implementing these strategies, Gramling believes we can create AI systems that are both technically sound and culturally sensitive.
The paper also highlights the financial dynamics associated with AI in health care. As clinical data becomes essential for training algorithms, a monetary relationship emerges where both data and algorithms have significant value. This raises concerns about visit recordings becoming commodities, potentially fueling proprietary AI development. If access to these technologies remains unequal, it could worsen health disparities. For example, some AI applications generate office notes for clinical care and billing, raising concerns about “upcoding,” where AI prioritizes billing over accurate clinical representation, leading to higher costs for patients and payors. To mitigate this issue, the authors recommend involving clinicians in AI development to ensure algorithms align with appropriate billing practices.
Despite these challenges, Gramling is optimistic about AI’s potential to improve patient care and clinician workflows. He emphasizes the importance of including diverse perspectives—such as those of patients and clinicians—in the design and implementation of AI technology. “Improving communication in health care is essential for 21st-century medicine,” he states. “Open recordings offer the chance to understand what actually happens in clinical conversations, helping patients feel heard and understood.”
This ongoing research into the role of AI in clinical practice reflects a commitment to advancing technology while ensuring it effectively improves health care for all.
While it’s well established that increased blood flow (hyperemia) is vital for brain function—delivering oxygen and nutrients, clearing waste, and supporting neural activity—what happens after this surge is less understood. In a recent paper published in Nature Communications titled “Endothelial Piezo1 Channel Mediates Mechano-Feedback Control of Brain Blood Flow,” Osama Harraz, Ph.D., Bloomfield Early Career Professor in Cardiovascular Research and assistant professor of pharmacology at the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, and his team of researchers from American and European institutions reveal that Piezo1, a lesser-understood protein, acts as a “brake” system, helping blood flow return to normal after neural activity.
Functional hyperemia (FH) refers to the process by which blood flow to a specific area, such as the brain, increases in response to activity. For instance, when a region of the brain becomes more active—like when you’re thinking or moving—it requires more oxygen and nutrients. To meet this demand, blood vessels widen, allowing more blood to flow to that area, which helps the active tissues function optimally. Piezo1, a sensor located in the cells lining these blood vessels, detects physical forces, such as friction, caused by the increased blood flow.
To investigate Piezo1’s role in controlling blood flow and its impact on cognition, Harraz and his colleagues used genetically engineered mice to manipulate Piezo1’s function. They discovered that Piezo1 acts like a “brake,” facilitating the return of blood flow to normal levels after a spike. When Piezo1’s function was altered, the mice struggled with memory tasks, indicating that Piezo1 is crucial not only for regulating blood flow but also for cognitive function.
To test his hypothesis, Harraz applied a Piezo1 activator—called Yoda1—to the subjects’ brains while stimulating their whiskers. They noted a significant decrease in blood flow, measured by laser Doppler, after Yoda1 was applied, with no changes in baseline blood flow or blood pressure. To further confirm their findings, the team employed imaging techniques to monitor blood vessels during the whisker stimulation and discovered a significant reduction in blood vessel dilation.
Their results confirmed that Piezo1 plays a key role in regulating the decline in blood flow after stimulation: mice with heightened Piezo1 activity showed faster recovery of blood flow, while those lacking Piezo1 experienced slower recovery. Additionally, enhanced Piezo1 activity slowed the initial rise in blood flow, whereas the absence of Piezo1 accelerated it. Harraz concluded that activating Piezo1 in endothelial cells—the cells lining the blood vessels—reduces the brain’s blood flow response without altering the structure of the blood vessels or other brain cells.
“There is a growing number of human Piezo1 mutations. The mutant mice used in our study carry a human Piezo1 mutation that causes hemolytic anemia, and other Piezo1 mutations are prevalent in people of African descent, including African Americans,” said Harraz. “Brain blood flow is essential for cognition and memory, and our discovery reveals that Piezo1 determines blood flow dynamics. Therefore, it will be important to explore whether human Piezo1mutations adversely impact brain function and could be risk factors for dementia.”
Harraz’s research highlights the critical role of Piezo1 in neurovascular coupling—the communication between neurons and blood vessels—and underscores the importance of its function for both blood flow regulation and cognitive health.
The UVM Cancer Center’s Cancer Host and Environment (CHE) Research Program recently welcomed three new members: Danielle Brasino, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics; Michael Brasino, Ph.D., M.S., assistant professor of electrical and biomedical engineering; and Ashley Volaric, M.D., assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine. Each scientist will apply their expertise related to cancer research: D. Brasino focuses on interactions between the gut microbiome and bodily diseases; M. Brasino explores new options for lung cancer screening; and Volaric studies Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) influence on B-cell lymphoma.
The CHE program is co-led by Jason Stumpff, Ph.D., professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, and Christopher Anker, M.D., professor of radiation-oncology. The program focuses on parameters in the host that promote or impede cancer progression or cancer recurrence, with an emphasis on host conditions that may influence progression to clinically significant disease. Researchers in the program explore chronic inflammation, obesity, diet, exercise, nutrition, coagulation, immune surveillance and modulation, vaccines, tumor cell niches, metastasis, and symptom management.
Read the full article on the new UVM Cancer Center CHE program members.
Learn more about the CHE program.
Jessica Heath, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and vice chair of research for the Department of Pediatrics, has been appointed associate director for clinical and translational research at the University of Vermont Cancer Center (UVMCC). In this new role as a member of UVMCC’s senior leadership team, Heath will help facilitate the production of clinical research; connect fundamental and population scientists to clinical scientists for the development of investigator-initiated translational studies; mentor clinicians and scientists in the development of new studies; promote collaborative research; and work with both program and component leaders and the UVMCC’s clinical trials office.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has honored Navid Esfandiari, Ph.D., professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, with its 2024 Star Award, given in recognition of members who have presented during at least nine of the ASRM Scientific Congresses/Annual Meetings from 2014 to 2023. The ASRM Star Awards are given annually to recognize and thank members who have dedicated hours of time and service to shape ASRM into the leading society for reproductive medicine.
The Vermont Medical Society (VMS) is proud to announce this year’s 2024 Leadership Award recipients, who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the health of their patients and all Vermonters. All four of this year’s recipients—L. E. Faricy, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, Andrea Green, M.D., professor of pediatrics, Katie Marvin, M.D., clinical assistant professor of family medicine, and Jessica McNally, M.D., assistant professor of surgery—are faculty members at the Larner College of Medicine.
Distinguished Service Award: L. E. Faricy, M.D.
“Dr. Faricy has demonstrated a stalwart commitment to the public health of her patients, students, and all Vermonters, as well as a deep empathy and belief that policies should protect youth and families.”
Physician Award for Community Service: Andrea Green, M.D.
“Dr. Green is at the forefront of the effort to apply a Child’s Rights framework to pediatric policy. At a time when immigrant families face discrimination and inequity throughout the country, when national political leaders vilify New Americans, her extraordinary efforts to improve the care that these families receive and change the national conversation is crucial and necessary.”
Physician of the Year Award: Katie Marvin, M.D.
“Dr. Marvin has been a model physician, serving not only as a clinician, but also as a mentor, teacher, and advocate. She has moved mountains in primary care, addiction, and legislation within our state.”
Founders’ Award: Jessica McNally, M.D.
“Dr. McNally has been a tireless advocate for the safety of patients. With her multiyear effort to block the expansion of surgery to unqualified professionals, risking the eyesight of Vermonters, she has advanced the importance of education and training in providing appropriate medical care, mentoring medical students in advocacy, and leading grassroots efforts with all ophthalmologists in the state.”
These awards will be presented on November 1 as part of the 2024 Collaborative Meeting of the Vermont Medical Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, and the Vermont Psychiatric Association.
Presented annually by the Larner College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the University of Vermont Health Network, the Health Equity Summit 2024 was attended by hundreds during a two-day event this month focused on addressing inequities in health care.
On the first evening, participants gathered for welcome remarks from sponsor representatives, as well as Larner class of 2027 medical student Claire Baptiste. An Albert Schweitzer Fellow, Baptiste spoke about her research project, conducted with classmate Hamza Mirza ’27, on improving blood pressure management for Jamaican farmworkers in Vermont. This topic was presented during the poster session, along with numerous other Larner medical student posters offering ideas to advance health equity in clinical, academic, community, and leadership spaces in such areas as:
- Racial inequalities in health care
- Community-driven health initiatives for LGBTQIA+ individuals
- Training culturally sensitive health care providers
- Intersectional identities and mental well-being
- Language accessibility in health care
- Using data to influence health care policy
- Neuroinclusive care practices
Larner-affiliated poster presenters included:
Yasmeen Abdul-Karim, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry – “Warm welcome pathway: Improving access to child and adolescent psychiatry for New American families”
Claire Baptiste ’27 – “Understanding hypertension management practices among Jamaican farmworkers in Vermont: A community-based approach”
Marina Cannon ’27 – “Impacts of inclusivity training in a Vermont dentistry practice on treatment of LGBTQAI+ patients”
Jill Davis, M.A., quality improvement coach, pediatrics – “How do Vermont youth in foster care experience primary care?”
Akua Frimpong, M.D.’23 – “Evaluating the role of socioeconomic status in diabetic retinopathy progression via the area deprivation index”
Molly Greenblat ’26 – “Lessons learned about gender-affirming health care in Vermont”
Molly Hurd ’26 – “A multimodal approach to bridging gaps in nutrition education: A culinary medicine experience”
Kim Jones ’26 – “Abenaki nation of Missisquoi health outreach and workforce development initiative”
Thomas Khodadad ’27 – “Social medicine theme of the week: Integrating social determinants of health into medical education”
Sulekha Kilas ’27 – “The important components of developing a social-emotional learning curriculum for preschoolers: Discussion and application”
Shani Legore ’26 – “Evaluating medical students’ perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in medical education
Aryan Naik ’26 – “Where is the color in dermatology? Fostering interest in dermatology in minority and underrepresented youth”
Shrey Patel ’26 – “Gender-diverse youth: Cultural histories, well-being, and resilience”
Maxwell Pendleton ’27 – “Addressing inequities in medical school representation of community college transfer students”
Varsha Pudi ’27 – “Enhancing medical education through skin tone diversity: A review of current practices and recommendations”
Jake Reigle ’27 – “OurVoice: Integrating direct patient stories into early medical education to foster cultural humility and responsibility”
Javier Rincon ’25 – “Improving community health by empowering Latinx youth through culturally sensitive leadership and community engagement”
Heidi Schumacher, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics – “Healthy and ready to learn: School attendance as an issue of health and educational equity”
Benjamin Sebuufu ’27 – “Larner-Winooski: A longitudinal mentoring/coaching program”
Dhruv Shah, D.O., assistant professor of psychiatry – “Inclusive therapeutic groups for neurodivergent youth: Going on an adventure to slay dragons
Iris Toedt-Pingel, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics – “A patient- and family-centered approach to pain prevention in pediatric needlestick procedures”