Departmental News

Global Health Leaders, Educators, Students Honored at Annual Celebration Events

April 17, 2018 by Jennifer Nachbur

The Global Health Program at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine and the Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN) hosted "A Celebration of Global Health" at the College April 17 to 18, 2018.

2018 "A Celebration of Global Health Award" Recipients (photo: David Seaver)

The Global Health Program at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine and the Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN) hosted "A Celebration of Global Health" at the College April 17 to 18, 2018. International guests included Marat Mukhamedyarov, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., Head of International Department at Kazan State Medical University in Russia, and Tendai Machingaidze, M.Div., M.A., a medical student and author studying in Russia who hails from Zimbabwe. They joined WCHN and UVM Larner College of Medicine leaders, faculty, staff and students for several events.

At a special awards dinner held April 17 at UVM's Alumni House Silver Pavilion, three major global health awards were presented to members of the Larner College of Medicine community. Mariah McNamara, M.D., a UVM faculty leader in the Global Health Program, announced the awards, which were presented by Larner College of Medicine Dean Frederick Morin, M.D., and Global Health Program Director Majid Sadigh, M.D. Dr. Sadigh also presented Dean Morin with a special thank you gift for his leadership and support of the Global Health Program.

Bruce Leavitt, M.D.'81, professor of surgery, received the 2018 Patricia O’Brien, M.D. Global Health Leadership & Humanitarian Award. This award was inspired by Dr. O'Brien, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology who is an exemplary humanitarian and leader of global health. The award recognizes an individual who is passionate about health equity and works towards addressing disparities, combating marginalization and helping the under served.

Kristen DeStigter, M.D., Tampas Green and Gold professor and chair of radiology, received the 2018 Beth Kirkpatrick, M.D. Citizen of the World Award. This award was inspired by Beth Kirkpatrick, M.D., chair of microbiology and molecular genetics and director of the Vaccine Testing Center, who is infectious disease specialist, accomplished physician scientist and leader in vaccine research, as well as a dedicated global health champion. This award recognizes an outstanding leader and scholar who dedicates their work towards the advancement of humanitarian pursuits.

Anne Dougherty, M.D.'09, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, received  the 2018 Majid Sadigh Global Health Education Award, named for Dr. Sadigh, Global Health Program Director and Christopher J. Treftz Family Endowed Chair in Global Health at Danbury Hospital. This award recognizes and outstanding global health educator who inspires students to become leaders in global health.

On April 18, the celebration featured a lunch buffet and the Dean's Distinguished Lecture in Global Health on "My Heart Burns: Three Words Form a Memoir" by Dr. Sadigh. Following the lecture, winning submissions to the Photo, Poster & Reflection Exhibit were honored. Watch a video of the lecture.

The Best Poster award went to Danielle Ehret, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and neonatologist. 

Photo award recipients and respective categories included:
Composition - Anya Koutras, M.D., associate professor of family medicine (Uganda photo)
Originality - Tie between Julia Shatten '18 (Japan photo) and Pirapon Chaidaron '21 (Dominican Republic photo)
Impact - Koutras (Uganda photo)

The Reflections winner was Shatten, with several students being recognized with Honorable Mentions, including Amanda Kardys '20 (Zimbabwe); Stephanie Brooks '18 (Uganda) and Stefan Wheat '18 (Uganda).

Visit the Global Health program website.

Announcements

 

We are excited to welcome to our department two new faculty: 
-Karen George, MD, 
Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology).  Dr. George is also Associate Dean for Students at Larner College of Medicine

-Amanda Kallen, MD,  Associate Professor of of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility)

Anne Dougherty, M.D., Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences has now accepted the enhanced role of ODEI Director for Gender Equity.

In this new role Dr. Dougherty will continue her current coordination of workshops, speakers and awards related to the LCOM Gender Equity Initiative.  She will also develop new mentoring and resource programs for women and underrepresented minorities in medicine, participate in analysis and tracking, and collaborate on efforts to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in faculty recruitment. As ODEI Director for Gender Equity, Dr. Dougherty will report directly to Margaret A. Tandoh, M.D., FACS, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.   Congratulations to Anne on her new role!

CONGRATULATIONS to the following faculty who received promotions (July 2021):
Nathalie Feldman, MD
to Associate Professor and Navid Esfandiari, PhD to Professor

Navid Esfandiari, PhD, Professor, REI Division, received the "Star Award" from the 77th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) - October 2021

Congratulations to Justin DeAngelis, MD who was appointed interim assistant dean for students in the Office of Medical Student Education at the Larner College of Medicine, effective March 1. Read more here

A champion for women's health, diversity and science, Elizabeth Bonney, MD recognized in News Spotlight from UVM Larner College of Medicine.  Read the article here.

Navid Esfandiari, PhD, received the “Star Award” from the 76th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) – October 2020

Misty Blanchette Porter, MD, Associate Professor, REI Division, was invited to present at AIUM education webinar - teaching on ORADS and IOTA on the evaluation of adnexal masses – Sept 2020

Justin DeAngelis, MD, Assistant Professor, Ob/Gyn, was selected as Class Mentor to the residency by the class of 2021 and was recently awarded the 2019 APGO Excellence in Teaching Award.

SO PROUD! Congratulations to Katherine Menezes, MD (PGY-3) who was awarded the Clinical Resident of the Year Award by the LCOM graduating Class of 2021!!!!  These are the awards that are given out on Honors Night to and from the graduating class.  Check out the video here.

Marjorie Meyer, MD, Division Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, was recognized for her work in the treatment of women with opioid dependence during pregnancy in Governor Phil Scott's State of the State address on Jan 9.  Read announcement here

Theresa Ko, PhD (Croucher Fellowship 2006), Assistant Professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, was recently interviewed with the Croucher Foundation in December 2019 about her molecular biology quest to reduce maternal deaths.   Read the article here

Elizabeth Bonney, MD, MPH, Professor and Head of the Division of Reproductive Sciences was selected to present the lecture entitled "A Theory of Maternal Immunity" at the 25th Annual Dr. Raymond O. Berry Memorial Lecture on October 18, 2019. Read the announcement here.

Congratulations to Marti Churchill, CNM who received the award for "Excellence in Advanced Nursing" at the Nursing Awards Ceremony  on May 6, 2019.

Congratulations to Tendai Chiware, MD who won the 2019 Beth Fitzpatrick M.D. Citizen of the World Award, awarded by the Global Health Program at UVM LCOM and the Western Connecticut Health Network. 

We are pleased to share news of the appointment of Anne Dougherty, M.D., as Gender Equity Liaison in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) at The UVM Larner College of Medicine.    Read the announcement here.

Cheung Wong, MD was invested in a formal ceremony on June 8, 2018 as the inaugural Berta Pi-Sunyer Williams Endowed Professor.   Read all about it.

The cover photo on the March 2018 issue of the American Journal of Ob/Gyn is from Dr. Kelley McLean's article Mechanical heart valves in pregnancy:  the necessity of appropriate and careful anticoagulation.

Congratulations to Cheung Wong, MD for his recent appointment as the VP for Clinical Affairs for the University of Vermont Health Network.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bonney, MD and Natalia Gokina, PhD who have won the NIH RO1 funding for "Systemic Vasculature Remodeling Females:  Effects of the Immune System and Experience of Pregnancy".  The application was scored at the 1st percentile!

Our match results are in!  Announcing our newest residents 2018-2022:  Hayley Pierce (Saint Louis University); Allison Walker (Oregon Health & Science University) and Rebecca Zuckerman (University of Chicago).  We look forward to seeing them soon!

We are excited to welcome our new fellows on July 2, 2018 for their 3 year fellowship:  Maximilian Klein, MD (Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility fellow) and Ankita Kulkarni, MBBS (Maternal Fetal Medicine fellow)

Nathalie Feldman, M.D., Educator Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, was recently awarded (along with her colleague, Judy Lewis, MD in the Dept. of Psychiatry) the UVM Larner College of Medicine Teaching Academy's "Educational Scholarship Award" for her work on the learning environment.  

Jenna Flanagan, MD (PGY-3) will be presenting a poster "A Needs Assessment for Somali Women:  Optimizing this Populations' Peripartum Care in a Tertiary Care Center in Vermont" at the North American Refugee Health Conference, June 16-18, 2017 in Toronto, Canada.

Erin Morris, MD, received the 2017 APGO Excellence in Teaching Award.  Dr. Morris is an active clinical member of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine.  She currently serves as our Associate Ob/Gyn Clerkship Director and the Faculty mentor for the Ob/Gyn Student Interest Group. 

May 15, 2017 - Elise Everett, MD was presented the Clinical Teacher of the Year Award from the Class of 2017 during Honors Night.

CONGRATULATIONS to our new interns starting June 2017: Johanna Kelley, Katherine Menezes & Rebecca Parad.