VERMONTMEDICINE - The ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
VERMONTMEDICINE
THE ROBERT L ARNER, M.D. COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT SPRING 2021
THE PLACES
THEY’LL GO
Class of ’21 faces the future
AL S O FE ATURED: WHITE COAT NOTE S • V T LEND • SUPP ORTING V T KIDS
PROFILE IN GIVING
CONTENTS
VERMONT MEDICINE • UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE • SPRING 2021
NEWS
2 From the Dean
3 Around the Larner Community
6 Match Day for the Class of 2021
9 Lawrence McCrorey’s Legacy
11 Stepping up for the Common Good
12 VCHIP Leverages Network During Pandemic
6
14 COVID-19 Long Hauler
The Anton Courtyard 24 16 Firestone Medical Research Building
A Record of Commitment FEATURES
Collins
Since his graduation more than 50 years ago, RAYMOND ANTON, M.D.’70, has 18 Say it Forward
been a loyal supporter and volunteer leader for the Larner College of Medicine. For the past seven years, alumni from across the
A devoted class agent, Dr. Anton served on the Medical Alumni Executive class years have volunteered to write a short note of
Committee from 1990 to 2004, and was its President from 2002 to 2004. With encouragement to the College’s newest students for
his fellow Medical Alumni Executive Committee members, Dr. Anton was also 9 their White Coat Ceremony.
intimately involved in the creation of the 21st Century Fund, a precursor to the
COM Fund, which encouraged increased alumni support. In 2015, in recognition 11 20 Diverse Voices, Common Cause
of his service, Dr. Anton was awarded the A. Bradley Soule Alumni Award from the UVM Medical Alumni The Vermont Leadership Education on
Association—the association’s highest honor. Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program (VT LEND)
Dr. Anton continues to work full-time as an anesthesiologist in an outpatient surgical facility in prepares health professionals to improve the healthcare
Connecticut. Since completing his term as president of the Alumni Association, he has continued his system’s service to children with developmental and
involvement and philanthropic support of the College at the highest level. In 1987, his strong family intellectual disabilities and their families. By Erin Post
legacy contributed to his desire to create, along with his mother, Evelyn, the Harry J. Anton, M.D.’40
Memorial Fund at the College of Medicine in honor of his father, as well as the Harry J. Anton classroom. 24 Supporting Vermont Kids
This well-funded endowment continues to be a valuable resource for the College to this day. In 2014, Dr. Two Larner College of Medicine alums in Vermont—James
Anton significantly added to the Harry J. Anton, M.D.’40 Memorial Fund in honor of his 45th Reunion. Metz, M.D.’06, and Nick Bonenfant, M.D.’17,—are breaking
new ground in the critical pediatric fields of child abuse
Dr. Anton’s record of generosity continues in a truly significant way with his latest commitment to
prevention and mental health. By Michelle Bookless
fund the Anton Courtyard, adjacent to the new Firestone Medical Research Building, now under
construction on the medical campus. This new greenspace will be an important area for gathering and
relaxation for the entire UVM community for years to come, and a fitting tribute to the Anton family’s
HALL A
legacy of support to this College.
30 President’s Corner
31 Class Notes & News
WEB EXTRAS
36 Development News
See more online at
37 Flashback med.uvm.edu/vtmedicine/
38 Obituaries web-extras including videos,
20
40 Moment in Time photos, and blog posts.
The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine | Medical Development & Alumni Relations Office
(802) 656-4014 | medical.giving@uvm.edu | www.med.uvm.edu/alumni
On the Cover:
Students in the Class of 2021 celebrate their
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE UVM LARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND ITS AFFILIATES, residency matches in a virtual event.
PLEASE CONTACT THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE.
UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 1
FROM THE DE AN
NEWS
T
AROUND THE L ARNER COMMUNIT Y
he cover of this issue of Vermont Medicine brings a smile to my face, as I hope it does
yours. The collage of photographs speaks volumes about our College and the year that has
just passed. Our Match Day is like none other, even in normal times. Rather than wearing
suits and formal attire, the students are dressed up for “Tropical Paradise,” the theme that
they selected for this year’s event. Aside from the festive backgrounds, this is not a group photo;
Gender Equity Celebration
rather, these are pictures of 11 individual screen shots necessitated by the physical distancing that Honors Larner Changemakers
O
we have become all too accustomed to in this very strange time. This year, and last year for that
matter, a pandemic did not keep our senior students from celebrating. They may be physically n March 4, 2021, the Larner College address, titled “Bystander or Advocate? Who
separated, but they are together. They are together in terms of their class spirit and, in an irony of of Medicine recognized several Do You Choose to Be?,” by Diane Magrane,
a Zoom event, they are able to share a certain intimacy with us as we join them in their homes with community members for their M.D., former Larner associate dean for
their loved ones. This is a very special class, and as the pages inside demonstrate, they will go far. outstanding commitment to gender equity medical education, past director of Executive
This class is not alone in having triumphed over adversity in the time of COVID-19. I am during the second annual Celebration of Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM),
amazed and inspired by the resiliency and commitment of the Larner community that I have Gender Equity in Medicine and Science, and former Association of American Medical
witnessed over the last year. Every student has faced challenges, dating back to Governor Scott’s hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Colleges (AAMC) associate vice president for
Stay Home/Stay Safe order in March 2020. Our graduate students had to pivot to non-laboratory Inclusion. The event featured a keynote faculty development and leadership.
RICHARD L. PAGE, M.D.
Dean, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of work and then physical distancing regulations after they returned to the bench. Our preclinical
students, including the Class of 2024, who entered during the pandemic, faced challenges of
UVM MASTER OF PUBLIC
Medicine at The University of Vermont
remote and then hybrid learning. And our clinical students initially had to be removed from the
Awardees
HEALTH PROGRAM EARNS
hospital and clinics (although they maintained their curricular momentum) and then entered a
clinical world that presented new challenges and even some unique opportunities (such as being GENDER EQUITY CHAMPIONS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
on the front line of a once-in-a-century pandemic), with the added difficulty of a cyberattack to Pamela Gibson, M.D., Associate Professor of UVM’s Master of Public Health
our clinical partner, the UVM Medical Center. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (faculty Program has earned national
Likewise, our outstanding staff and faculty have stepped up to the challenge, not just recipient) and Stellar Levy, Class of 2023 accreditation from the Council on
managing to survive, but finding ways to contribute to our local and worldwide response to the medical student (student recipient)
Education for Public Health (CEPH),
pandemic. Our educators made adjustments to maintain education without missing a day or
delaying progression; they even developed a course on telemedicine. Our researchers continued the independent agency recognized by
their important work, many directly addressing this pandemic with work that ranged from GENDER EQUITY OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT the U.S. Department of Education to
COVID testing to vaccine development and the public health response to this pandemic. IN MEDICINE AND SCIENCE accredit schools of public health and
We have not reached the end of this crisis, with challenges continuing to arise, such as Elizabeth Bonney, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Obstetrics, public health programs. Nationally
premature resumption of activities, variant strains, and vaccine denial. But there is great reason Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences recognized as the quality standard of
for hope. With every day, more of the population is vaccinated, and these vaccines are nothing
education and training in public health,
short of miraculous as one considers the pace at which they were developed by the worldwide
biomedical community. What an amazing time to be in biomedical science and health care.
CEPH accreditation is awarded only to
Our hope for the future should likewise be bolstered by the other stories in these pages. POLARIS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MENTORSHIP programs that meet rigorous criteria
Contained within are profiles of our commitment to education, health care and research, in and assures the quality of UVM’s
Melissa Davidson, M.D., Interim Chair of Anesthesiology
support of our communities. As a physical demonstration of our commitment to the future, the
and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education Master of Public Health Program and
Firestone Medical Research Building is taking shape in our old Given parking lot. I am especially education to achieve excellence in
proud of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and to wellness and mental health;
practice, research, and service through
never before have these been greater priorities for our College, as they represent the very heart
collaboration with organizational
of our commitment to professionalism.
As we anticipate graduation for the Class of 2021, I look forward to greeting the class of 2025 RISING STAR EMERGING PROFESSIONAL and community partners. The news is
(perhaps even without a mask). But no matter what limitations to activities remain in the fall, Katie Wells, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Surgery, timely, given the increased awareness
we can be confident that our students will arrive at a College that aspires to provide an education Division of Emergency Medicine and appreciation for the science of
that is second to none. public health due to the COVID-19
pandemic, and a reported 20 percent
increase in Master of Public Health
Program applications in 2020,
according to the Association of Schools
and Programs of Public Health. Led
Tandoh Named to Dean’s
Spring 2021 • Published April 2021 by Jan K. Carney, M.D., M.P.H.,
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Senior Advisory Group associate dean for public health and
Andy Duback, Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist, Ryan Mercer,
THE ROBERT LARNER, M.D. COLLEGE OF SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR FINANCE Margaret A. Tandoh, M.D., associate professor of
Mario Morgado, David Seaver health policy, the 42-credit M.P.H.
MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ADMINISTRATION
Brian L. Cote, M.B.A. SEND US YOUR STORIES: If you have an idea for something surgery and associate dean for diversity, equity
DEAN Program has produced 137 graduates
that should be covered in Vermont Medicine, please email: and inclusion, has been named to the Dean’s
Richard L. Page, M.D. EDITORIAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR to date. In addition to the new CEPH
vmstories@med.uvm.edu Senior Advisory Group, assuring that all senior
Edward Neuert
SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR recognition, the program has been
VISIT VERMONT MEDICINE ONLINE: discussions will include her perspective on
MEDICAL EDUCATION MANAGING EDITOR
Christa Zehle, M.D. Erin Post
For full current and past issues and exclusive webXtras at: issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. She is accredited by the New England
www.med.uvm.edu/vtmedicine
SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH CONTRIBUTING WRITERS also co-chair of the Dean’s Advisory Committee Commission of Higher Education
Vermont Medicine is published by The UVM Larner College of
Gordon Jensen, M.D., Ph.D. Michelle Bookless, Jennifer Nachbur, Tom Weaver on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. (NECHE) since its launch in 2014.
Medicine. Articles may be reprinted with permission of the
SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR CLINICAL AFFAIRS ART DIRECTOR editor. Please send correspondence to the editor by visiting:
Claude Deschamps, M.D. Ann Howard www.med.uvm.edu/vtmedicine.
2 VERMONT MEDICINE SPRING 2021 UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 3
NEWS
Research COMMUNITY HEALTH
COLEMAN NAMED DURING COVID-19
LARNER WELL-BEING “Schools must create a culture In the fall of 2020, Class of 2023
ADVISOR that normalizes the need students participated in the largest
for self-care and includes
and most comprehensive public health
In her new role
project ever completed by a UVM
as the College’s
first well-being vulnerability as part of medical student class. Titled “Our
Community’s Health: What’s Important
professionalism.”
advisor, Marissa
to You?” the project focused on
N. Coleman,
identifying the most pressing challenges
Psy.D., will be
– From an essay by Chris Veal ‘21, titled “We Burn Out, We Break, We Die: experienced by Vermonters during the
focused on helping to foster a
Medical Schools Must Change Their Culture to Preserve Medical Student pandemic. An electronic survey was
supportive, equitable and inclu- Mental Health,” published in Academic Medicine
disseminated to partners of the United
sive environment for all mem-
Way of Northwest Vermont, distributed
bers of the student community.
to Vermont community members,
Coleman is available to Larner
Jason Botten, Ph.D.
and linked to websites including the
medical and graduate students
Vermont Department of Health.
for large group presentations
and small group or individual
discussions on wellbeing. She is Industry Collaboration Opens Door to SOCIETAL ASPECTS MOST IMPACTED BY COVID-19
available specifically for members Treatment for Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 #1
A
of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous,
SOCIAL
and People of Color) commu- mid the biomedical science world’s new or re-emerging viral outbreaks such as
race to develop and distribute vac- the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
nity, and for consultations with
cines and treatments for COVID-19, Botten’s research has demonstrated
individual students. Coleman is
INTERACTIONS
a team made up of a Larner College that the drug’s target is required for the
a licensed clinical psychologist of Medicine scientist and partners at Leba- propagation of arenaviruses, coronaviruses,
and lead staff psychologist and non, N.H.-based Celdara Medical are busy and filoviruses, and that it associates with
equity, diversity, and inclusion building a potentially game-changing thera- these viruses as well as orthomyxoviruses
advisor at UVM Medical Center, py to fight RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2. and hantaviruses. In the target’s absence,
#2
Andrea Villanti, Ph.D., M.P.H. William Copeland, Ph.D.
INCOME
where she has practiced since The team, which includes Professor of viral particles cannot attach to host cells,
2018. Coleman received her B.A. Medicine Jason Botten, Ph.D., (above) effectively stopping viral spread.
in psychology from DePaul Uni- Villanti, Copeland Named to List of recently received a two-year Small Business
Technology Transfer Research (STTR) grant
“We’ve made great strides to understand
how this protein regulates the infectivity
versity before earning her Master
World’s Most Influential Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and In- of viral particles, and the NIAID funding #3
T
of Arts and Doctor of Psychology
CHILDCARE
fectious Disease (NIAID) of the National Insti- provides an exciting opportunity to move
degrees from The Chicago School wo Larner College of Medicine faculty Institutes of Health and tutes of Health (NIH). This funding supports beyond the basic science and to translate
Notable
of Professional Psychology. She have been named to a list of the the Robert Wood Johnson the development of a novel, broad-spectrum our discoveries into medicines,” says Botten.
was a postdoctoral fellow in world’s most influential researchers, Foundation and published more than 150 therapeutic/prophylactic against RNA virus- “Because the host molecule targeted is
psychology at Emory University based on the number of times their papers in peer reviewed journals. es, which, in addition to the virus responsible required for multiple families of pathogenic
School of Medicine. An American published studies have been cited by other Copeland is a professor of psychiatry for COVID-19, includes SARS, Ebola, influen- viruses, we expect that a single antiviral #4
HEALTH
researchers over the past decade. and the director of research at the Vermont za, and pathogenic arenaviruses. could broadly protect against many of
Academy of Psychotherapists
UVM faculty named to the list are Andrea Center for Children, Youth and Families. This work builds on discoveries made by the most dangerous pathogenic threats,
Scholarship recipient and an
Villanti, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor His research program has focused on Botten, who serves as principal investigator thereby preventing or at least mitigating
International Affairs Research of psychiatry, and William Copeland, Ph.D., understanding the developmental for the project and is also a scientific future outbreaks and pandemics. We are
CARE
Fellow at The Chicago School of professor of psychiatry. Researchers on the epidemiology of emotional and behavior founder of Celdara, and a founding member thrilled by this opportunity to develop such
Professional Psychology, Cole- list are in the top 1 percent of all scholars health across the lifespan. This work includes of Celdara’s Pandemic Security Initiative a countermeasure.”
man has published research in whose work has been cited. The prestigious understanding the interplay between early Scientific Advisory Board. Celdara, an experienced biopharma
a number of journals, including Highly Cited Researchers list is compiled and adverse experiences and genetic vulnerability “RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 developer, has a robust anti-infectives
the Journal of Family Violence published annually by Clarivate Analytics. with other individual, family and contextual continue to wreak havoc on a world ill- pipeline which forms the foundation from #5
Villanti’s primary research focus is on characteristics. His research, supported by equipped to control them,” says Irena which the Pandemic Security Initiative
CARING FOR THE
and the Journal of Pan-African
young adult tobacco use, including predictors the National Institutes of Mental Health, Ivanovska, Ph.D., Celdara’s program lead (PanSec) was launched. PanSec is a public-
Studies. She is also a contributor the National Institute on Drug Abuse and and director. “Successful development of private partnership which has a singular goal
and patterns of use and interventions
ELDERLY
to the Guilford Press Handbook to reduce tobacco use in young adults. the National Institute of Child Health and this broad-spectrum antiviral agent would to ensure better preparedness for the next
of Depression. She has received funding from a range Human Development, has led to over 100 provide a novel first-line therapy and pandemic.
of organizations, including the National peer-reviewed publications. importantly, enable rapid deployment during
4 VERMONT MEDICINE SPRING 2021 UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 5
LARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE CLASS OF 2021 RESIDENCY MATCH LIST NEWS
ANESTHESIOLOGY NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY
A TROPICAL
Jack Dubuque. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Utah Health Katherine Callahan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center
Marc Hammond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center
NEUROLOGY
Marc Kostrubiak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center
VACATION
Connor Scagnelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .University of California Irvine Medical Center
Matthew Lebow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medical University of South Carolina
Flora Liu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Utah Health OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
Collin Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Sidika Kajtezovic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston University Medical Center
Ashton Pike. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon Health & Science University Kathryn Kurchena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown/Women & Infants Hospital Class of 2021 Celebrates
Jessica Sikka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Derek Tan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Miami/Jackson Health System
OPHTHALMOLOGY Match Day
Timothy Woodin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ohio State University Medical Center Collin Anderson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUNY Upstate Medical University
Ibrahim Hussein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY On Friday, March 19, members
CHILD NEUROLOGY Annabelle Davey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Connecticut School of Medicine of the Class of 2021—along with
Emily Eichner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Colorado School of Medicine-Denver OTOLARYNGOLOGY senior medical students across
Alexander Karabachev. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Cincinnati Medical Center
COMBINED ADULT/CHILD PSYCHIATRY the country—learned where they
Olivia Harrison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center PATHOLOGY
will be practicing as residents on
DERMATOLOGY Nicholas Haslett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center
Joy Lowry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Amanda Kardys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Match Day. Students celebrated
Michael Chmielewski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Minnesota Medical School Maxwell Knapp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon Health & Science University with their friends, family and
DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY PEDIATRICS classmates through a virtual
Menna Awadalla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of North Carolina Hospitals
Liam duPreez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norwalk Hospital
Elizabeth Congdon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Utah Health event with a tropical vacation
Catherine Westbom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Allegheny General Hospital
Christina Dawson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of North Carolina Hospitals theme. The event opened with a
EMERGENCY MEDICINE Alexis Dela Cruz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Duke University Medical Center
Daniel Bak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center Sarah French. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center
welcome from Larner Dean Rick
Rio Beardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stanford University Benjamin Grebber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tufts Medical Center Page, M.D., who acknowledged
Samantha Bissonette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Cameron Burke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Massachusetts Medical School
Reed Hausser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of California San Francisco
the students’ unique journey
Sidney Hilker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston Children’s Hospital
Alexandra Churchill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wright-Patterson Medical Center Istvan Kanyo. . . . . . . . New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center of completing medical school
Samuel Epstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cook County Health and Hospital Systems Kristen Keene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center during a pandemic.
Kalle Fjeld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Olivia Larkin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Massachusetts General Hospital
Alexa Golden . . . . . . . . . . University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pinnacle Hospital Bridget Moore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
Naira Goukasian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of North Carolina Hospitals Katrina Thornburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New York Presbyterian Hospital-
Raghav Goyal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alameda Health System-Highland Hospital Columbia University Medical Center
Elizabeth Lanata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital
Elizabeth Lynch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of New Mexico School of Medicine
PEDIATRICS/MEDICAL GENETICS
Brian Muchmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Michigan Hospitals-Ann Arbor
CLASS OF 2021
William Prince . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Denver Health Medical Center
Nam Trinh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MedStar Washington Hospital Center (Washington D.C.) PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
MATCH RESULTS
107
FAMILY MEDICINE Pirapon Chaidarun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School
Jack Chen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics PLASTIC SURGERY
Jenna Dafgek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Middlesex Hospital (Middletown, Conn.) Max Silverstein. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stanford University
Jhaimy Fernandez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Hanaa Shihadeh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albany Medical Center
Mary Griffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .McKay-Dee Hospital Center (Ogden, Utah)
Adam Lacayo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .UVM Health Network CVPH (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) PRELIMINARY MEDICINE
Casandra Nowicki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stamford Hospital/Columbia Jack Fitzsimons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loyola University Medical Center
Ellen Seyller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Middlesex Hospital (Middletown, Conn.) STUDENTS MATCHED
PRELIMINARY SURGERY
Kathryn Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albany Medical Center
Jared Bomba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center
68
Laura Till . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown University/Kent Hospital
Audrea Bose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital
Christopher Veal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carle Foundation Hospital (Urbana, Ill.)
John Vandenberge . . . . . . .New York Medical College-Metropolitan Hospital Center
GENERAL SURGERY Hannah Woodruff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUNY Upstate Medical University
Susan Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center PRIMARY MEDICINE
Hillary Danis . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Beaumont Army Medical Center (El Paso, Tex.)
Joshua Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Hawaii
Racquel Gaetani. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lahey Clinic (Burlington, Mass.)
Stephanie Udawatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yale-New Haven Hospital
Van Hoang. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of North Carolina Hospitals INSTITUTIONS
Meredith Lackie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walter Reed National Military Medical Center PSYCHIATRY
Catherine Pratt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Cincinnati Medical Center Jonathan Borden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center
13
Georges Tahhan. . University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holy Cross Hospital Jessica Lyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medical University of South Carolina
Laura Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon Health & Science University
INTERNAL MEDICINE
Vincent Nocera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San Mateo Behavioral Health & Recovery Services
Juan Conde Fabela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals
Shae Rowlandson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Andrew Darling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tulane University School of Medicine
Michael Weber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of North Carolina Hospitals
Jonathan Gau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .University of California Irvine Medical Center
Dylan Koundakjian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emory University School of Medicine
Sean Meagher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center IN VERMONT
Michael Carlo Nilo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Luke’s Hospital-Bethlehem
41
Kenneth Palanza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loyola University Medical Center
Sienna Searles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Vermont Medical Center
Shivani Seth . . . . . . .Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/Mount Sinai Hospital
Vaccinated medical students
Sarah Sherman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tulane University School of Medicine
are following COVID-19
Alan Su. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Providence Health (Portland, Ore.)
Heng Tan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Miami/Jackson Health System CDC guidelines.
Matthew Tsai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
David Viscido . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Massachusetts Medical School
READ AN ADDRESS FROM THE STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT, VIEW MESSAGES TO PRIMARY CARE
TO THE CLASS OF 2021 FROM ALUMNI AND FACULTY, AND VIEW AN INTERACTIVE MAP
OF RESIDENCY MATCH LOCATIONS: MED.UVM.EDU/VTMEDICINE/WEB-EXTRAS
6 VERMONT MEDICINE SPRING 2021 UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 7
NEWS
Lawrence McCrorey’s Legacy
INCENTIVES COULD Longtime professor led efforts to combat racism
ENHANCE COVID-19
I
VACCINE ADHERENCE Research n the H. Lawrence McCrorey Gallery of recalled the challenges that racism presented
Multicultural Art in the Howe Library, when he moved into the state in the mid-six-
A analysis in Preventive Medicine
the spirit of one of the university’s most ties. “When I recognized what was happening
by a team led by Professor of Psychi-
respected and beloved professors contin- here, I said to my boss, Norman Alpert, ‘Look,
atry Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., director ues to exert a quiet influence. Established at I don’t want to embarrass you, you brought me
of the Vermont Center on Behavior and his retirement in 1995, it’s a fitting memorial here. But I’ve got to fight this stuff. I can’t just
Health (VCBH), examines the evidence for a champion of social justice and a true be a scientist or just be a professor. I’m going
on incentivizing vaccine adherence, renaissance man, an accomplished jazz saxo- to have to be involved politically.’”
concluding that the strategy may be phonist who began performing with bands in Alpert’s response: “If you didn’t get involved
helpful to achieve herd immunity. Camden, N.J., at age 13. politically, I’d be very upset with you.”
When Larry McCrorey joined the UVM As both a moral and educational leader,
In their paper, Higgins and his VCBH
department of physiology and biophysics McCrorey stood on the shoulders of his direct
research colleagues Elias Klemper-
in 1966, he was one of just two Black faculty ancestors. His father was the presbyterian
er, Ph.D., and Sulamunn Coleman, on campus. He had come to UVM from the minister of Lombard Central Church in state’s Human Rights Commission. Larry
Ph.D., describe results from several University of Illinois College of Medicine Philadelphia, his grandfather the first McCrorey passed away in 2009 at age 82, but
controlled trials that support the ef- in Chicago, following his graduate school African-American president of Johnson C. his teaching continues at Howe Library. All
ficacy of incentivizing vaccine adher- mentor Norman Alpert, who recruited Smith University, a historically Black college would do well to pause and remember him
Sylvie Doublié, Ph.D. McCrorey to help him build a strong teaching in North Carolina. At UVM, McCrorey’s roles through his words stenciled on a slate blue
ence. An example from their literature
program. While he would go on to excel in would come to include dean of the School of wall at the north entrance of the McCrorey
review focused on the impact of
front of the classroom, winning numerous Allied Health Sciences (now the College of Gallery: “Each person needs to look into
using incentive strategies to increase
adherence to the three-dose hepatitis
Doublié & Colleagues Discover Dual Function University teaching awards, McCrorey made a Nursing and Health Sciences), and associate himself or herself to encounter the racism
there, to uncover it, and to finally deal it a
in Enzyme Critical for Cancer Growth
wider impact on the University and Vermont vice president for academic affairs.
B virus vaccine among injection drug through his work to combat racism. McCrorey was a frequent public speaker death blow. Each of us needs to understand
C
users. Individuals dependent on illicit In 2002, speaking to Fran Stoddard on Ver- in the community, an adviser to three that the price of hating other human beings
drugs often face barriers ranging from onsidered the most lethal form theta; it’s an elegant way of mont Public Television’s “Profiles,” McCrorey governors, and a charter member of the is loving oneself less.” – Tom Weaver
Research
of DNA damage, double-strand solving the problem—you
co-occurring medical conditions to
breaks must be repaired to prevent only need one enzyme.”
cell death. In developing therapies For patients with hard-to-treat cancers,
for hard-to-treat breast and ovarian cancers this finding could lead to the development of
in patients with BRCA gene mutations, new therapeutic options, like the Poly-ADP-
scientists aim to identify ways to keep cancer ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors class of
The LHOMe Initiative Fills a Crucial In creating LHOMe, Allison worked with fellow students
cells from using DNA break repair pathways. drugs that have been used to treat breast and Gap for Medical Students and faculty to create a student survey, joined the UVM Food
New findings demonstrate a previously- ovarian cancer over the past decade. Insecurity Working Group, connected with Medical Student
unknown capability for polymerase theta “The cell has to decide which function Challenges related to the social determinants of health Financial Services Coordinator Kari Brayden, and reached out
(pol theta)—a key enzyme in this repair needs to be applied and this trimming —food insecurity, unstable housing, financial instability— to Hunger Free Vermont and 3Squares VT to pull together an
function—that shows promise as a new activity is a point of vulnerability for pol disproportionately effect non-traditional students and Emergency Relief Town Hall for Larner medical students. A
avenue for treatment development. theta,” says Doublié. One aim of the research students who are underrepresented in medicine. Often far corresponding online resource guide is available to students.
The study results are published in is to create conditions where one reaction can from home and personal support networks, the results can be
Molecular Cell. be encouraged over the other.
Researchers at UVM, The University of A potential role for such an inhibitor
calamitous. Students may struggle to maintain their grades “Dana and her collaborators led the way
and balance curricular commitments, suffer mental health
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD would be to improve ionizing radiation to helping us develop a language and a
crises, and in some cases must put their medical education on
Stephen Higgins, Ph.D. Anderson), and Yale University discovered therapy in cancer patients with BRCA1 or
pause or leave school entirely. dialogue about issues related to basic
that pol theta, previously known to extend BRCA2 mutations.
DNA in the repair process, is also able to Doublié’s former doctoral student Karl The LHOMe initiative, founded by Dana Allison ’23 with needs and equity. These issues can be
socioeconomic instability, which can
make adhering to preventive medical
behave like a nuclease and trim DNA. Zahn, Ph.D., now a postdoctoral fellow at support from Jasmine Robinson, M.D.’20 and Tiffany Delaney, hard to discuss, but they only worsen
Because these cancer cells rely on the pol Yale, saw evidence of this dual function in M.Ed., director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,
regimens highly challenging. theta pathway to survive and repair double- pol theta several years ago while working in
in silence.” – Lee Rosen, Ph.D., director of student well-being
addresses these gaps. Their mission is to “establish internal and interim associate dean for students
Their systemic literature reviews strand breaks, researchers have been focused Doublié’s lab. He carried out the experiments
avenues of support for [medical] students [including a]
found strong support for the use of on pol theta and trying to find out how to described in the paper after engaging the
main resource hub to focus on their academics and profes- The LHOMe Initiative team’s plans include weekly reminders
incentives, including a 2019 meta-anal- inhibit this pathway. expertise of Richard Wood, Ph.D., professor
“Pol theta is a ‘hot’ enzyme right now,” of epigenetics and molecular carcinogenesis
sional responsibilities—to help medical students meet all about resource availability and contacts via the Medical
ysis of the literature showing that
says senior author and self-described at MD Anderson. Wood and Doublié have academic and professional expectations; improve academic Student Wellness Committee’s Instagram account and the
modest financial incentives resulted
“polymerase geek” Sylvie Doublié, Ph.D., had a long-term collaboration, funded by performance; contribute to ongoing class-wide student weekly medical student e-newsletter, as well as ongoing work
in a seven-fold increase in adherence
professor of microbiology and molecular a Program Project grant from the National support; and limit medical student attrition.” to address new or widening gaps in need and resources.
compared to no incentives. genetics. “This is a new activity for pol Cancer Institute.
8 VERMONT MEDICINE SPRING 2021 UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 9
NEWS
Notable
Cipolla Receives 2021 KAMIN MUKAZ
Thomas Willis Lecture Award NAMED TO LIST OF STEPPING UP FOR
Marilyn Cipolla, Ph.D., professor of neurological sciences, obstetrics,
gynecology and reproductive sciences, and pharmacology, has been
INSPIRING BLACK THE COMMON GOOD
awarded the 2021 Thomas Willis Lecture Award from the International SCIENTISTS As researchers across the world
Stroke Conference Program Committee and the American Stroke race to develop and distribute
Association’s Council on Stroke. She presented at the 2021 International
vaccines to stop the spread
Stroke Conference, held virtually in March of 2021. The Thomas Willis
of COVID-19, Vermonters and
Award honors the prominent British physician credited with providing the first detailed
description of the brain stem, the cerebellum, and the ventricles. The award recognizes New Yorkers have offered their
contributions to the investigation and management of stroke basic science. arms to science, volunteering
to participate in the Oxford-
Francklyn Named AAAS Fellow AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Professor of Biochemistry Christopher Francklyn, Ph.D., has been named
trial at the UVM Medical Center
a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and UVM Vaccine Testing Center.
(AAAS), the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society. AAAS, These volunteers come from
which publishes cutting-edge research through its Science journals, awards diverse backgrounds and offer
fellowships based on researchers’ distinguished efforts to advance science varying reasons for becoming
or its applications. Francklyn was elected as an AAAS fellow for “paradigm involved. A unifying theme,
shifting discoveries that link control of protein synthesis with biological Debora Kamin Mukaz, M.S., though, is a desire to be part of
mechanisms and regulatory compromises in cancer, blindness and deafness.”
“All of us are beneficiaries of sacrifices that people have
Ph.D., postdoctoral associate something bigger than themselves.
in the Division of Hematology/
done in the past, whether it be for vaccines or any other
Mullen Honored With 2020-21 Parsons Award Oncology in the Department WEB EXTRA: WATCH A SHORT
kind of medical development. The least I could do is
Patrick Mullen, a doctoral student in the Neuroscience Graduate of Medicine, was named to VIDEO FEATURING VACCINE volunteer, knowing that I could use my body for the
TRIAL PARTICIPANTS:
Program, is the recipient of the 2020-2021 Rodney L. Parsons Anatomy
and Neurobiology Award, which honors Rodney Parsons, Ph.D., professor
Cell Mentor’s 1,000 Inspiring GO.UVM.EDU/VACCINETRIAL benefit of the common good.” – Milton Rosa-Ortiz, R.N., UVM Medical Center
Black Scientists, a recognition
emeritus and former chair of anatomy and neurobiology. The award aims
of “individuals who’ve helped
“to support outstanding graduate students who demonstrate excellence
push us to the next level.” She
in both neuroscience research and teaching in any broadly defined
anatomical science.” Mullen is mentored by Christopher Francklyn, played a lead role in the national
Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, and Alicia Ebert, Ph.D., associate professor of biology. #BlackinCardio campaign “When I signed up for this, I was thinking about my
this year, organized to raise
husband, my children and my grandchildren. Just to be
Burgess Named Director awareness of cardiovascular
able to do something, rather than just sit on the couch and
Lee-Anna K. Burgess, M.D., has been appointed director of the Nutrition, diseases in the Black community.
Metabolism, Gastrointestinal System (NMGI) course in the Foundations Originally from the Democratic worry. I’ll be really proud if something I did contributed
Level of the Vermont Integrated Curriculum. Burgess has been a member Republic of the Congo, Mukaz to helping save people’s lives.” – Lynne Niebling, Randolph, Vt.
of the UVM faculty since 2018 and is an assistant professor of medicine graduated with a B.A. in biology
in the Division of Hospital Medicine. She received her M.D. from the and French from Luther College.
University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, and completed an internal She earned an M.S. in biological
medicine residency at the UVM Medical Center, where she was Chief
sciences and a Ph.D. in medical
Resident in 2017–2018. She is the recipient of the 2017 Frank L. Babbott Memorial Resident
sciences at the University of
of the Year Award and the 2020 Mark A. Levine Clinical Teacher of the Year Award.
Delaware. At UVM, her research
“It’s now known that Native People are at higher risk
focuses on analyzing and of illness caused by the COVID-19 virus. Due to health
Steele Appointed Director disparities, our people have some of the highest rates
interpreting cardiovascular
J. Steele Taylor, M.D., has been appointed director of the Medical
Neuroscience course (MedNeuro) in the Foundations Level of the
and cardiometabolic data for in Vermont of underlying health conditions, such as
Vermont Integrated Curriculum. He received his M.D. from the Larner the Reasons for Geographic diabetes, that increase our risk for COVID-19. It is vital
and Racial Differences in
College of Medicine in 2015, joined the UVM faculty in 2020, and is an that we protect our elders and most vulnerable from this
assistant professor of neurological sciences. He completed a residency in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a
neurology at the UVM Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in clinical large national study funded by pandemic. They hold our history and cultural knowledge.
neurophysiology. Taylor is the recipient of the 2015 Herbert Martin Sr., the NIH with a goal to better Participating in this trial will help do just that.”
M.D. Award for Excellence in Neurology, a 2020 Larner College of Medicine Alpha Omega understand racial and regional – Chief Don Stevens of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk-Abenaki Nation
Alpha Housestaff Award and is a member of the Teaching Academy. He serves as a neurologist
disparities in stroke.
and co-chief of the Memory Disorders Division at the UVM Medical Center.
10 VERMONT MEDICINE SPRING 2021 UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 11
NEWS
SHOWING UP:
VCHIP LEVERAGES NETWORK
TO HELP VERMONT PROVIDERS
DURING PANDEMIC
V
ermonters have a reputation for sharing and VCHIP answered the call,” said which provides the slides and a chat for
showing up for their community Holmes, who is a physician advisor to the questions and responses, and several options
—whether there’s a pandemic Division of Maternal Child Health at the for connecting to audio—a call-in number
or not. That’s also true for the VDH. “Integrating clinical medicine and and code that folks can dial on their phone,
faculty and staff of the Vermont public health was our pre-COVID approach, a dial-out option to receive a call from the
Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP), so it felt natural to be supportive and team up Adobe Connect meeting to connect to the
who have underscored over the past year during this crisis.” audio, or an option to use the microphone on
just how important their role is to ensuring Founded on long-term partnerships with their computer/device. Currently conducted
providers get access to critical resources and VDH, the Vermont Chapter of the American on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,
tools that allow them to deliver quality care. Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the the calls take place from 12:15 to 12:45
Following the state’s first confirmed case Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, the p.m.—often extending to 1 p.m.—and are all
of COVID-19 on March 7, 2020, the Vermont CHAMP initiative was launched in 2012 by archived, along with the slides, and available
Department of Health (VDH) set up an 8 a.m. Sara Barry, M.P.H., now director of clinical through a link on the VCHIP home page.
to 5 p.m. hotline and was quickly inundated and quality improvement for OneCare Co-led by Davis and Holmes, the calls
with calls from medical professionals and Vermont and a VCHIP senior advisor. start with a brief situation update, with
community members alike. Within a span Through regular webinar calls, CHAMP information the CHAMP team curates
of about 48 hours, well-child visits moved to offers collaborative improvement activities from the Governor’s press conferences,
telehealth, which led to new workflows, new to meet the evolving needs of health care critical updates from the AAP and Centers
technology, and reimbursement issues. professionals, children, and families. for Disease Control and Prevention, health
Alexandra Bannach, M.D. (far right),
A regular partner with VDH, VCHIP Pre-pandemic, says Davis, the VCHIP advisories and alerts, and a segment possessing a unique blend of skills, Pediatricians, family medicine physicians,
medical director of North Country
representatives, including Executive Director CHAMP team would support efforts to called “practice issues.” There are also perspectives and experience that have led to and a wide range of folks who work with
Pediatrics in Newport, Vt., and the
Judy Shaw, Ed.D., M.P.H., R.N., Professor of “strengthen Vermont’s system of high- expert guests, like infectious disease (ID) team of healthcare providers the CHAMP calls’ success. Both had careers children and families have embraced the
Pediatrics Wendy Davis, M.D., and Associate performing pediatric medical homes.” The specialists William Raszka, M.D., professor as general pediatricians before transitioning sense of partnership and collaboration the
Professor of Pediatrics Breena Holmes, call discussions focused on such topics as of pediatrics, and Benjamin Lee, M.D., into public health. In addition to being calls offer.
M.D., realized that instead of helping staff delivering primary care for infants, children assistant professor of pediatrics, who have a former Vermont health commissioner, At a November 2020 Pediatrics Grand
phone calls, they could leverage VCHIP’s and adolescents according to the Bright answered ID questions, provided information Davis is on the board of the national AAP, Rounds CHAMP COVID presentation,
CHAMP (Child Health Advances Measured in Futures guidelines, particularly working to on the severe inflammatory response when a Vermont AAP leader, associate director Professor and Chair of Pediatrics Lewis First,
Practice) program to help share just-in-time ensure that the Vermont Medicaid population it began showing up in kids, and discussed of the National Improvement Partnership M.D., lauded the pair, saying “What you
and sorely-needed COVID-19 information receives the same level of care as all others. safe practices in schools. On December 7, Network and a VCHIP faculty and Senior have done is anchored all of us, allowed us
with providers in their network—and beyond. Then COVID-19 hit. the practice issue was a VDH Immunization Advisory Group member. A former director to breathe and continue, and accomplish far
“We made a split-second decision to step Program Update—a timely topic as the world of Maternal Child Health at VDH, Holmes is more than we thought we could.”
Answering the call for help with CHAMP up this activity on March 16 or 17,” says Davis, was readying for the first distribution of the a VCHIP faculty and Senior Advisory Group Pediatrician Alexandra Bannach, M.D.,
“VCHIP is known for saying ‘how can we who was health commissioner in 2009 during Pfizer vaccine. member and has served in a national capacity medical director of North Country Pediatrics
help?’” says Shaw, a professor of pediatrics the H1N1 pandemic. “VCHIP felt there was a Shaw says more than 100 people on the AAP’s Council on School Health. in Newport, Vt., is living proof of the calls’
and nursing who has built VCHIP—founded need to collate data focused on the pediatric participate in each call—a sign that they are The two were recently honored jointly with positive impact.
in 1999—to nimbly rise and respond to the population and extract the information needed. the Vermont AAP’s 2020 Green Mountain “Drs. Breena Holmes and Wendy Davis
Vermont pediatrics community’s needs. most relevant to children and families.” One Pediatrician award in recognition for their are my heroes!” she exclaims. “The guidance
On March 13, VCHIP and VDH leaders example was pregnant women and newborn The secret to CHAMP’s success work on the CHAMP calls. from the experts . . . makes it possible to
met, and on March 18, they tested their idea care and determining what type of policies “We’ve leveraged the uniqueness of our Davis is quick to add that the following always have the latest information about
to hold the COVID edition of the CHAMP call should be set for women coming into the programs, using the foundation of CHAMP VCHIP staff members play an integral role COVID. It would be impossible to do patient
to push out information while Department hospital to deliver, arranging breastfeeding and the credibility of VCHIP, and aligned in ensuring each call’s success: Project work and filter information on my own. The
of Health representatives listened. “What assistance, etc. “We said ‘we’re going to step all the people interested in children and coordinators Avery Rasmussen and Angela knowledge that I gain from the calls allows
transpired was just magical,” Shaw says. into that space and see how we can support families—including schools,” said Shaw. “We Zinno, M.A.; Christine Pellegrino, quality me to advocate and educate in our area,
“Schools and childcares were closing; the people,’” explains Davis. are walking this path together, shoulder-to- improvement associate; Miki Beach, M.A., provide that information to other clinicians
health department staff was trying to keep up The CHAMP webinar calls are available shoulder.” program administrator; and Jennifer Le, in my area and be a voice to the public.”
with accurate and up-to-date information- through an Adobe Connect meeting online, She credits Davis and Holmes with outreach and training associate.
12 VERMONT MEDICINE SPRING 2021 UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 13
NEWS
COVID LONG-HAULER:
SHE SURVIVED COVID-19,
The most important aspect of the support
group, he adds, is to “let people know they’re
not alone and they are being heard.”
BUT FULL RECOVERY
Aitchison was happy to find a local support
group that was led by medical professionals to
ensure the guidance was grounded in science.
SEEMS UNCERTAIN “This support group is very affirming
because before I just felt dismissed,” says
Aitchison. “And because it’s led by medical
B
professionals, it’s giving me the drive to maybe
reach out and get some follow-up appoint-
ecky Aitchison was full of hope as first 35 known cases, and the first positive were still experiencing symptoms, most ments and advocate further for myself.”
she headed home from the hospital case for her town of Berlin. She was also the commonly shortness of breath, loss of smell Kaminsky is also director of the
on April 2, 2020, accompanied first COVID-19 patient to complete treatment and taste and/or fatigue. Pulmonary Function Laboratory at the
by the cheers and applause of at Central Vermont Medical Center’s ICU For individual long-haulers, the Vermont Lung Center. He is conducting a
her care team. After spending instead of transferring to the University of experience can be isolating. Aitchison says research study there, funded by The UVM
seven days in the intensive care unit (ICU) Vermont Medical Center. she is grateful for the “wonderful care” she Medical Center Foundation, to track lung
at University of Vermont Health Network– Aitchison presented at the hospital with received while a patient at Central Vermont function in 50 participants who have had
Central Vermont Medical Center with a double viral pneumonia and low blood Medical Center, but was disappointed mild or serious cases of COVID-19 and now
serious case of COVID-19, she no longer oxygen that was rapidly declining. there was no program in Vermont to track test negative for the disease. Kaminsky
needed supplemental oxygen. The piercing “I clearly recollect having that feeling: She the progress of COVID-19 patients and believes his research will make a significant
headaches had subsided, and she’d regained might not beat this,” Brian says, remembering manage their ongoing symptoms. Her care contribution to understanding how COVID-19
her sense of taste and smell. Fifty-three years the sobering phone call from Aitchison’s representative at Blue Cross Blue Shield affects the lungs.
old, with no underlying health conditions, she doctor preparing him for the possibility she helped connect her with a pulmonologist at “I felt compelled to put together a study
had every reason to expect that her health and might be intubated and put on a ventilator. It Central Vermont Medical Center for a follow- where we could monitor people over time
her life would soon return to normal. was a great relief when she responded to high- up appointment and, on June 1, she had a full for at least a year,” he explains. “We’ll be
Now Aitchison wonders whether she flow oxygen through a nasal cannula instead, lung function examination. learning what it naturally looks like to have
will ever be 100 percent well. She feels far and began to rapidly improve. The results came as both a relief and a had COVID. I’m testing both people who are
removed from her pre-COVID self. That Brian joined Becky in her hope of a full puzzle. X-ray images of her lungs showed no hospitalized or not hospitalized and who have
person, according to her husband, Brian, recovery when he brought her home a week visible scarring and various tests concluded persistent symptoms or don’t. We’re trying
was a “strong-willed individual who could later. that her lungs were functioning within to get a broad view of how COVID is affecting
somehow defy illness. She never got sick.” “I really thought there would be a defined normal range. Yet Aitchison continues to the lungs. I think this is going to be unique
Aitchison is among an unknown number recovery, but it kind of ebbs and flows. Her be bothered by shortness of breath and a compared to other studies, because we’ll be
of COVID-19 survivors in our region and ‘COVID voice’ sometimes pops back—it’s a tightening sensation in her chest when she looking at a broad cross-section of people
around the globe—collectively referred to as little bit raspy and a deeper tone that is very goes for a 30-minute walk. rather than one defined group of people.”
long-haulers or people with “Long COVID”— distinctive. And then there’s the brain fog. At the UVM Medical Center, the UVM Aitchison has just been accepted into the
who experience a wide range of mystifying Becky is an accountant—she is smart, detailed Health Network affiliate hospital that saw study and is pleased to be able to contribute
symptoms weeks and months after infection, and articulate—but now sometimes she has the bulk of acute COVID-19 patients early to the growing body of knowledge about
from the more common coughing and joint a problem expressing herself,” he says. “This in the pandemic, Katherine Menson, D.O., “Long COVID.” She has twice donated her
pain to the more rarely reported hair loss and thing just keeps on giving in a bad way.” a pulmonologist and assistant professor of “liquid gold” convalescent blood plasma
inflammation of the heart muscle. medicine, has treated similarly baffling cases. through the American Red Cross with the
Aitchison struggles with uncharacteristic A Sense of Isolation “I’ve been seeing these patients with Above: Becky Aitchison, post-hospitalization. hopes of helping another patient recover.
fatigue, intermittent insomnia, shortness The Centers for Disease Control and persistent COVID symptoms in clinic and Below: Katherine Menson, D.O., and David The more she helps herself and others
of breath when exercising, recurring Prevention (CDC) reports that some patients really coming up short with any answers Kaminsky, M.D. designed as a safe space where participants solve the mysteries of COVID-19, the more she
headaches and brain fog—an especially can have symptoms that last for weeks or to offer them about what’s causing their can share and learn. feels like her determined, indomitable, pre-
confounding condition that sometimes leaves months after recovery from acute illness. respiratory symptoms. They are obviously “These patients are frustrated because pandemic self.
the accomplished insurance accountant But even the people who don’t get as sick as feeling very scared and unsettled with how a lot of doctors don’t believe that these “This has brought me on a life-changing
challenged to find the right words. Aitchison and develop only mild illness, the little is known,” she says. long-term symptoms are real, and they’re journey. I’ve learned I’m stronger than I
“I won’t call myself recovered,” she says. CDC points out, “can experience persistent or This sense of uncertainty led Menson and suggesting to patients that it’s just anxiety thought, sometimes I need to put myself
“I’m a survivor, and this is very much a life- late symptoms.” her colleague, Professor David Kaminsky, or depression or emotional distress resulting first, accept help, speak from my heart,
changing journey. “ Early studies from around the globe reveal M.D., also a pulmonology and critical care from the illness,” says Kaminsky. “All those be open to others and, most importantly,
a wide range of findings about just how many physician, to start a support group. things might be contributing, but I don’t advocate for what’s needed,” Aitchison says.
An Unfortunate Pioneer long-haulers there are. In a recent paper think that’s the root cause. I think there may The inspirational message she once proudly
When it comes to the novel coronavirus, published in the Journal of Microbiology and “You Are Not Alone” be something the virus is doing directly to displayed in her office seems especially apt
Aitchison was an unwitting pioneer in the Infection, a follow-up of 150 adults with only The COVID Survivor Support Group is our bodies or that the immune response is now, sitting in her home work space: “You
very earliest days of the pandemic’s arrival in mild to moderate COVID-19 cases showed open to all UVM Health Network patients doing to our bodies that’s resulting in these never know how strong you are until being
Vermont. She was counted among the state’s that two months later, two-thirds of them in Vermont and Northern New York and is persistent symptoms.” strong is the only choice you have.”
14 VERMONT MEDICINE SPRING 2021 UVM L ARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 15
You can also read
