Office of Primary Care and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program

(OCTOBER 4, 2022) Emily Bruce, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, was quoted in an Associated Press story responding to false claims that COVID-19 vaccines are editing humans’ DNA.

(OCTOBER 3, 2022) James Boyd, M.D., professor of neurological sciences, commented for an NHPR Morning Edition story on the benefits of vigorous exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease.

(September 28, 2022) Infectious disease expert Tim Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., professor of medicine, commented to WCAX-TV for a story on vaccines and boosters.

(SEPTEMBER 27, 2022) Psychiatrist Kelley-Anne Klein, M.D., joined UVM associate professor of education Justin Garwood, Ph.D., and wellness expert Ryan Grey on Vermont Edition for a live call-in discussion on burnout.

(SEPTEMBER 22, 2022) Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., professor of medicine and associate dean for graduate medical education, told WVNY-TV he doesn’t expect to see a big change in COVID-19 levels this winter.

(SEPTEMBER 15, 2022) Randall Holcombe, M.D., M.B.A., director of the UVM Cancer Center, spoke with WCAX-TV’s Darren Perron about President Biden’s “cancer moonshot” initiative, which aims to cut cancer fatalities by 50 percent in the next 50 years and direct federal resources to eventually find a cure.

(SEPTEMBER 14, 2022) Monique McHenry, Ph.D.’12, M.S., assistant professor of pharmacology, was a guest on the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast discussing plant stress and cannabinoid relationships. (Click headline for more.)

(SEPTEMBER 14, 2022) NBC5 aired a story on the Area Health Education Center’s “Clinical Rotation Home Stay Housing Program,” which matches medical students from the Larner College of Medicine with host families across the state when they’re on their clinical rotations. The program is seeking more housing hosts in southern Vermont.

(SEPTEMBER 9, 2022) MarketWatch featured Robert Gramling, M.D., professor of family medicine, and Diane Button, an instructor in the College’s online end-of-life doula professional certificate program, in a story about so-called death doulas who provide nonmedical care and support for people who are dying and their loved ones.

(SEPTEMBER 8, 2022) Stephen Leffler, M.D.’90, M.H.C.D.S., FACEP, professor of emergency medicine and president and chief operating officer of the University of Vermont Medical Center, wrote a commentary in VT Digger about the value of academic medicine.

(SEPTEMBER 8, 2022) Following an extensive nationwide search, the University of Vermont Health Network has named Sunil “Sunny” Eappen, M.D., M.B.A., as its next president and CEO effective November 28, 2022, according to NBC Channel 5. He will also serve as a clinical professor of anesthesiology at the Larner College of Medicine.

(SEPTEMBER 7, 2022) Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, explained in an Associated Press story that the same dopamine reward system that’s the basis for addictions can be used to promote healthy behavior change.

(AUGUST 29, 2022) Tim Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., professor of infectious disease, spoke with Alexandra Montgomery of WCAX-TV Channel 3 about the new bivalent vaccines designed to target more than one strain of COVID-19.

(AUGUST 26, 2022) NBC5 covered a roundtable discussion hosted by Vt. Sen. Bernie Sanders focusing on the lack of nurses in the state. Among the participants was Noma Anderson, Ph.D., professor of communication sciences and disorders and dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

(AUGUST 24, 2022) Center for Health & Wellbeing medical director Michelle Paavola, M.D., clinical assistant professor of family medicine, and infectious disease specialist Keith Collins, M.D., clinical assistant professor of family medicine, told WPTZ-TV NBC5 that while it’s not a threat to the public right now, UVM does have a plan in place should monkeypox come to campus.

(AUGUST 19, 2022) State Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., professor of medicine, was quoted in a True North Reports article covering Gov. Phil Scott’s press conference, which focused on drug abuse and addiction.

(AUGUST 18, 2022) “Cigarette smoking — that’s the largest killer in terms of tobacco products,” Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and psychological science and director of UVM’s Vermont Center on Behavior and Health (VCBH), told WCAX-TV Channel 3.

(AUGUST 17, 2022) Ob-Gyn professor Elizabeth McGee, M.D., told Forbes that while tracking basal body temperature can be a helpful tool for charting ovulation phases, this shouldn’t be the only method used to prevent pregnancy or to get pregnant.

(AUGUST 12, 2022) In response to the news that polio virus has been detected in New York City wastewater, infectious disease specialist Tim Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., professor of medicine, told WVNY-TV ABC22 that vaccination is the best protection.

(AUGUST 12, 2022) Infectious disease specialist Tim Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., professor of medicine, spoke to WCAX-TV about what actions people — and public health officials — can take to help keep COVID case rates down in Vermont and Northern New York despite the increased transmissibility of the BA-5 variant.