In October of 2020, Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, received the Award of Meritorious Achievement from the American Heart Association for work promoting gender equity in science and medicine. Cushman, who has worked on dozens of AHA committees, co-authored countless papers and won a case full of awards, has made far-reaching contributions on the local, regional and national levels. They include service as chair of council operations and as a national board director. She's also been a pioneer for the AHA in early-career development programs, setting up AHA programs that guide, counsel and inspire the next generation of scientific leaders. Thanks to her efforts, early-career development programs have multiplied in the AHA.

Several students of Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., professor in the Division of Infectious Disease, have recently won awards

Research and Grants

Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology and vice chair for emerging researchers, reports that the NIH-funded Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) 4a Trial was partly closed to accrual in December 2020 for the stratum of ICU-level of care patients with COVID-19. The team found that full intensity anticoagulation with heparin/low molecular weight heparin was a futile intervention as compared to prophylaxis dose heparin/low molecular weight heparin. She is also a multiple principal investigator for new COVID-19 research funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. This new project is collaborating across 14 existing cohorts of over 50,000 participants to identify cases of COVID-19 and answer critical questions about risk factors and consequences of the disease. The Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research at UVM is collecting dried blood spots on up to 40,000 participants to perform serology testing.

In the Media

Debora Kamin Mukaz, M.S., Ph.D., postdoctoral associate in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, was featured in Forbes magazine for her work organizing #BlackInCardio, a virtual weeklong event focused on topics relevant to under-represented minorities in science and Black scientists. The event was also covered by WCAX, Vermont Biz and other outlets.