Division of General Internal Medicine Research

Department of Medicine

(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 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.

Cancer researchers, clinicians, survivors, and caregivers gathered September 30 for the 25th annual Women’s Health and Cancer Conference. Hosted by the University of Vermont Cancer Center, the event took place in the Dudley H. Davis Center at the University of Vermont.

(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 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.

Jason Botten, Ph.D., professor of medicine and associate director of the Vermont Biomedical Research Network, received a University of Vermont SPARK-VT grant to help commercialize his work to develop broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics, following a faculty pitch competition held in June 2022.

(AUGUST 1, 2022) After the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency and the first case of the virus was recently confirmed in Vermont, Tim Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., professor of medicine, spoke with Vermont Public about what we need to know about the virus, and who’s at highest risk.

(JULY 28, 2022) Rheumatologist Jeanne Gosselin, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, spoke with CreakyJoints about what monkeypox is and what people who are immunocompromised because of an autoimmune or inflammatory health condition or taking immunosuppressant medication need to know.

(JULY 27, 2022) A recent study by Timothy Plante, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, and colleagues found that so-called stiff-heart heart failure accounts for about half of all cases; in addition, most stiff-heart patients take beta-blocker medications despite unclear benefits from their regular use, according to Knowridge Science Report.

(JULY 22, 2022) In an interview with WCAX-TV, infectious disease specialist Timothy Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., professor of medicine, said the number of confirmed cases of monkeypox has likely been undercounted because people with mild or no symptoms have not gone to a doctor for a diagnosis. Vermont health officials Friday said monkeypox is likely here even though there are still no confirmed cases in the state.

(JULY 19, 2022) More than half of thyroid cancers are identified among patients with no symptoms, according to a study by Mirabelle Sajisevi, M.D., associate professor of surgery, and colleagues, HealthDay News reported.

Three Larner College of Medicine faculty-led, interprofessional group projects have been selected to receive 2022 Frymoyer Scholars funding. The three projects focus on newborn resuscitation, building an interdisciplinary gender affirming care model, and fostering excellent clinical teachers, respectively.

(JULY 15, 2022) UVM Cancer Center director Randall Holcombe, M.D., M.B.A., told the Burlington Free Press that the center, together with the Dartmouth Cancer Center and Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer, has launched a campaign to increase screening for lung cancer — the leading cause of cancer death in Vermont and the country.

(JULY 13, 2022) As Vermonters contemplate the future of COVID-19, infectious disease expert Timothy Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., professor of medicine, said in an interview with WCAX-TV that there are going to be peaks and valleys during the pandemic.

On July 11, E.L. Amidon Chair and Professor of Medicine Polly Parsons, M.D., began the transition to her new role as President and CEO of the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM). We sat down with Dr. Parsons to reflect on her 16 years at the helm of the department, review her accomplishments and consider the department’s growth, struggles and triumphs.

More than 100 in-person and dozens of virtual participants attended the second annual Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health (VCCBH) Symposium, held at the University of Vermont’s Davis Center June 2 to 3, 2022. The VCCBH, one of three National Institutes of Health Center of Biomedical Research Excellence-funded programs at UVM, is co-directed by Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., professor and vice chair for emerging researchers in the Department of Medicine, and Mark Nelson, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology.

On May 13, the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont held Honors Night for graduating medical students in the Class of 2022. Accolades presented included the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society faculty, housestaff, and community physician awards; the Arnold P. Gold Foundation's Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine faculty and student awards; Area Health Education Center Scholars; department awards to students; and awards from the Class of 2022.

Polly Parsons, M.D., E.L. Amidon Chair and Professor of Medicine, has been named the next president and CEO of the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine.

(MAY 2, 2022) Professor of Medicine Tim Lahey, M.D., M.M.Sc., spoke with WCAX-TV Channel 3’s Christina Guessferd about another wave of COVID infections and hospitalizations in Vermont.