Health Equity Research

On Sunday, September 9, the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, in collaboration with the UVM Cancer Center, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, UVM’s Prism organization, and the UVM Health Network, proudly participated in Burlington’s 41st annual Pride Parade.

Health equity improves when the health sciences workforce reflects the diversity of the community and health care systems invest in marginalized communities. The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at UVM, along with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the College of Education and Social Services, has recently been granted a substantial award by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—an R25 Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA)—to sponsor a new mentorship and science enrichment cohort program, New American Youth on the Rise (NAYR), aimed at guiding girls from immigrant backgrounds into college careers in health sciences.

Debora Kamin Mukaz, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, was recognized by the United Negro College Fund Ernest E. Just Life Sciences Society at at an event held September 17 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., for her work with Black in Cardio.

The University of Vermont's Student National Medical Association chapter held its first conference ever this November, bringing more than 100 medical and pre-medical students from throughout New England to the campus of the Larner College of Medicine to share their enthusiasm for ensuring that people from populations underrepresented in medical professions feel empowered to pursue medical careers.

A new collaboration between Vermont Medicaid and UVM Medical Center’s Comprehensive Pain Program allows Medicaid members with chronic pain to participate in complementary therapies including health coaching, massage, yoga, nutrition, acupuncture, and meditation. This pilot is an important step toward eliminating disparities in access to effective, integrative care for pain.

Aspiring medical students from populations underrepresented in medicine visited UVM for Look at Larner, a medical student-led event that offers aspiring students a glimpse of medical school. Activities include lessons in the anatomy lab, clinical simulations, campus tours and admissions advice.

Each summer, many rising second-year medical students engage in clinical, basic science or health policy-related research projects under the guidance of expert faculty. The students choose their topics based on personal passions and immerse themselves in projects tackling medical puzzles and unmet health needs. Engaging in research can be among the most valuable experiences during a medical education.

Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education Christa Zehle, M.D., has announced the appointment of Anthony Williams, M.D., as assistant dean for admissions. In this role, Dr. Williams will provide leadership support for the recruitment and selection of Larner College of Medicine medical students.

A study by UVM researchers and colleagues finds mental health care lagging after firearm injury, which increases risk for serious mental health conditions.

Class of 2026 Larner College of Medicine students researched Vermont’s most timely public health and social needs, revealing important findings that will help shape direction for social service agencies. The students shared their findings at community celebration in on May 31.

A new study at the University of Vermont is exploring whether inviting Black people to help design digital recruitment approaches will better engage Black adults and increase participation in trials.

The Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health supports research by early-career scientists who are investigating the mysteries of the heart-brain connection. The researchers are sharing their findings at a symposium on June 15-16 at UVM’s Davis Center.

Undergraduate students from groups under-represented in medicine often overlook pediatric medicine as a career choice. Larner medical students hosted an event to increase pediatrician diversity and support undergrads who feel apprehensive about medical school.

(APRIL 20, 2023) Kae Ravichandran ’25 won the newly created nonbinary division at the 2023 Boston Marathon on April 17 with a time of 2 hours and 38 minutes, NBC5 and numerous other media outlets reported.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont hosted the fourth annual Celebration of Gender Equity in Medicine and Science on March 2, 2023.

Quinn Capers IV, M.D., Rody P. Cox professor of internal medicine, cardiology, and associate dean of faculty diversity at the University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine, presented UVM's 2023 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Health Equity Lecture on January 18, 2023.

Larner College of Medicine medical alum Philip A. Chan, M.D.'06, M.S., associate professor of medicine and behavioral and social sciences at Brown University's Alpert Medical School and School of Public Health, presented the 2022 Imbasciani-DiSalvo LGBTQ Health Equity Lecture on October 28.

In 2021, the College of Medicine’s inaugural “Look at Larner” outreach program attracted aspiring medical students from across the country. For the 2022 Look at Larner, Class of 2025 members Jasmine Bazinet-Phillips and Karena Nguyen served as co-leaders and welcomed 27 individuals to the second iteration of the program.

For students pursuing a degree in medicine, there’s no off-season. During a two-month break between their first and second years, many Larner College of Medicine medical students tackled projects to address unmet health needs, practice clinical skills, and immerse themselves in specialty clerkships with physician preceptors.