Office of Medical Communications

A letter from Senator Bernie Sanders' physician that was publicly released on January 28, 2016 reported that the presidential candidate is in very good health for a 74-year-old man. Local Vermont NBC affiliate WPTZ-TV interviewed Benjamin Littenberg, M.D., University of Vermont professor of medicine and director of General Internal Medicine Research, about the health findings featured in the letter. Watch a video of the interview here.

University of Vermont Clinical Professor of Psychiatry David Fassler, M.D., commented on findings from a meta-analysis of clinical reports on the link between antidepressants and risk of suicidality in children and adolescents, which appeared in the British Medical Journal. Read the article here.

University of Vermont Associate Professor of Pediatrics Andrea Green, M.D., the director of the New American Clinic at UVM Children's Hospital, is featured in an article, titled "Medical Interpreters Speak for New American Patients," in the January 27, 2016 issue of Seven Days. Read more here.

Nicholas Heintz, Ph.D., UVM professor of pathology, and colleagues were featured in a PLoS Science Wednesday live “Ask Me Anything” chat on redditscience, discussing a recently published study focusing on dysregulation of redox signaling in cancer cells, and how the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor cell mitochondria can be exploited for therapeutic purposes in aggressive human malignancies like mesothelioma. Read the full transcript of the chat here.

Comments from UVM Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology John Hughes, M.D., on effective strategies for individuals trying to quit smoking are featured in a study discussing the cost of smoking in each state, which is covered in a WalletHub article.

An article on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s 2015 statement on screening specifically for speech and language delay in asymptomatic preschool-age children, features comments from UVM Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Joseph Hagan, Jr., M.D., F.A.A.P. View a PDF of the Medscape article here or subscribers can read the online version here. 

An article about a case in which a teenage girl was involved in a murder features comments on decision-making and problem-solving development in adolescents from UVM Clinical Professor of Psychiatry David Fassler, M.D., who also helped prepare an amicus brief for the Supreme Court in the case. Read the article in Houston Press.

John Brumsted, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of the University of Vermont Medical Center and President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Vermont Health Network, recently announced plans to link 80 percent of payments to quality of care by 2018, which continues to receive media coverage and is the topic in the interview "Three Questions With: John Brumsted, M.D.," from Hospitals & Health Networks. The announcement was mentioned inMedCity News and Dr. Brumsted wrote commentary which was featured in VTDigger and Vermont Business Magazine.

For previous media placements, refer to the December 2015 Publicity Report.

UVM Clinical Professor of Pediatrics William Gerson, M.D., authored an article discussing the serious risks associated with “chickenpox parties” – where children are intentionally exposed to the varicella zoster virus in hopes of immunizing them from a more serious infection down the road. Read the article in Pediatrics, All Web News and Pharmacist.

Comments from UVM Patrick Professor of Medicine Richard Solomon, M.D., continue to receive coverage and are again featured in a Medscape article regarding research from China suggesting that central venous pressure monitoring allows safe fluid administration, preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with chronic kidney disease and congestive heart failure. View a PDF of the Medscape article here or subscribers can view the online article here.

Read the MD article from December 9, 2015.

Media coverage of a study on the impact of musical training on kids' ability to focus attention, control emotions, and diminish anxiety by James Hudziak, M.D., UVM professor of psychiatry and director of the Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families, and colleagues Matthew Albaugh, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate, and graduate student research assistant Eileen Crehan, continues to receive media coverage. Most recently, the study was mentioned in an article, titled “10 Signs Your Child Has a High IQ,” from The Advertiser, which originally appeared in The Sun.

For a full list of media placements dating back to December 2014, click here.

James Hebert, M.D., UVM professor and interim division chief of general surgery and executive vice chair for academic affairs, commented on the difficulties of reviewing electronic medical records privately during a recent meeting with Vermont lawmakers discussing a provision allowing patient lawsuits for breaches in the privacy of health data which was covered in Seven Days.

A study showing a new volumetric technique which can increase accessibility to obstetric ultrasounds to aid in reducing infant mortality authored by Kristen DeStigter, M.D., UVM John P. and Kathryn H. Tampas Green and Gold professor and vice chair of radiology; Betsy Sussman, M.D., UVM professor of radiology; Matthew LeComte, Ph.D.; and Mary Streeter, R.T. was presented at the annual Radiological Society of North America meeting and covered in an article fromMedImaging.net.

UVM Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics David Rettew, M.D., discusses new research looking beyond the association between cannabis and schizophrenia in a blog post authored for the ABCs of Child Psychiatry blog on Psychology Today. Read the blog post here.

U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced legislation encouraging Medicare beneficiaries to make treatment benefits known to families and providers. Robert Macauley, M.D., UVM professor of pediatrics and medical director of clinical ethics, attended the event and commented on the initiative. Read more about the announcement from:

Vermont Business Magazine, ABC 22/Fox 44 News

Comments on what happens to the body after chewing and swallowing gum or other items from Allen Repp, M.D., UVM associate professor of medicine, are featured on the Nautilus Blog in this post about “The Case for Common Sense Gum-Control.” Read the blog post here.

Beethoven’s Ninth, an annual concert featuring volunteer instrumentalists and choristers which was founded in 2002 by Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., UVM professor of medicine, was covered. Read the full article in the Times-Argus here.

Business People Vermont announced the recent appointment of four new members to Vermont Family Network’s Board of Directors which included Abigail Adler, M.D., UVM assistant professor of pediatrics. View the announcement in Business People Vermont here.

(DECEMBER 2, 2015) Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Doris Strader, M.D. and Professor of Pediatrics Thomas Lahiri, M.D. were interviewed by Seven Days on the rise of specialty drugs in Vermont.

While better technology and screening practices have led to the detection of more breast cancers in women—many of which fall into a broad category of early-stage cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS—researchers still do not understand why some of these early cancers remain idle, while others progress. With the support of a new, $3.7 million federal grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Vermont (UVM) Cancer Center will be looking to answer this question.

Full story >>