Professor of Neurological Sciences Margaret A. Vizzard, Ph.D.

In a formal ceremony held on March 14, 2024, at the University of Vermont’s Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, Professor of Neurological Sciences Margaret A. Vizzard, Ph.D., was invested as the inaugural holder of the Colleen A. and Gregory L. Holmes Green and Gold Professorship in Neurological Sciences Research. Alongside her esteemed role as an educator, Dr. Vizzard serves as the vice chair of research and education at the College.

This distinguished professorship was established through the generous contribution of Colleen A. and Gregory L. Holmes, M.D. Dr. Holmes has played a pivotal role in the Larner College of Medicine since 2013, serving as professor and chair of the Department of Neurological Sciences, as well as a professor of pediatrics. His wife, Colleen, a registered pediatric nurse, has also dedicated her life to the field of medicine.

“Not only is Dr. Holmes an internationally renowned pediatric neurologist with an expertise in pediatric epilepsy—he is also a dedicated, innovative, humble and caring colleague,” said Dean of the Larner College of Medicine Richard L. Page, M.D.

Dr. Holmes earned his bachelor’s degree at Washington & Lee University and his medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, followed by residencies in pediatrics at Yale and pediatric neurology at the University of Virginia. He spent 16 years at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he became professor of neurology in 1996. Before assuming the chair of neurological sciences at UVM in 2013, Dr. Holmes held the inaugural chair of neurology at Dartmouth Medical School. With over 500 peer-reviewed research articles, books, book chapters, and review articles, as well as continuous funding for over 40 years from federal agencies, primarily the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Holmes has made significant contributions to the field. He has also served on the editorial boards of 12 epilepsy and neurology journals and has been involved in multiple NIH study sections and FDA advisory committees. Dr. Holmes is the past president of the American Epilepsy Society and has received numerous honors and awards for his research, including recognition as a UVM University Scholar in 2020 and as one of the founders of Child Neurology in 2021.

From L-R: Margaret Vizzard, Colleen A. Holmes, Gregory L. Holmes (photo credit: Dave Seaver)

With members of the Holmes and Vizzard families present both in person and virtually, Dean of the Larner College of Medicine Richard L. Page, M.D., and UVM Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs Jane Okech, Ph.D., hosted and presided over the event in the Larner College of Medicine’s Hoehl Gallery. Stephen Leffler, M.D., president and chief operating officer of the UVM Medical Center, and Ginger Lubkowitz, chief development officer for Academic Health Sciences at the UVM Foundation, joined Drs. Page and Okech in presenting this esteemed honor to Dr. Vizzard.

“Dr. Vizzard’s presence brings great distinction to the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont,” stated Dr. Holmes. “Her work improves our ability to care for patients, both here in Vermont and around the world.”

Dr. Vizzard is a highly respected researcher and scientist specializing in the neural circuitry of the urinary tract. Over the past twenty-five years, she has meticulously studied the mechanisms underlying micturition reflex plasticity, bladder dysfunction, and bladder pain following neural injury, inflammation, or postnatal maturation. Her groundbreaking work has significantly advanced our understanding of how various chemical mediators, receptors, and channels contribute to bladder control and its dysregulation in conditions such as peripheral neuropathies, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and interstitial cystitis. Notably, her collaboration with colleagues at Roche Palo Alto led to the development of a novel mouse model of nerve growth factor (NGF) overexpression in the urothelium, providing valuable insights into chronic pelvic pain with urinary dysfunction. This model has been highlighted in the American Journal of Physiology, underscoring its significance in pre-clinical research.

“I want to recognize that this honor is a tremendous gift—one that will make a lasting impression in neuroscience research here at Larner for years to come,” said Vizzard. “The Colleen A. and Gregory L. Holmes Green and Gold Professorship is paving the way for continued research excellence in the field.”

Endowed positions—such as the Colleen A. and Gregory L. Holmes Green and Gold Professorship—are among the highest academic honors bestowed upon faculty members. By investing in educators like Dr. Vizzard, the University of Vermont acknowledges and celebrates academic excellence while fostering further advancement in scholarship, service, and clinical practice. Dr. Vizzard epitomizes the qualities of an outstanding faculty member; she is an esteemed researcher, clinician, teacher, and scholar, dedicated to enhancing patient care not only in Vermont but also across the globe.