Larner Faculty Earn AAMC Challenge Grant 

A work group, led by Stephen Berns, M.D., (above left) associate professor of family medicine, was awarded one of five $25,000 grants from the Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) Opioid Education Challenge Grant Program: Responding to the Training and Development Needs of Academic Health Centers. 

The “Opioids Education Work Group at the Larner College of Medicine," also includes Karen Lounsbury, Ph.D., (above right) professor of pharmacology, Elly Riser, M.D., clinical instructor in medicine, Martha Seagrave, PA-C, associate professor of family medicine, and collaborators in the Department of Psychiatry, the Teaching Academy, the Office of Primary Care, and Champlain College. Their goal is to develop an integrated pain management curriculum throughout medical school and residency that addresses clinicians' discomfort with prescribing opioids and the challenge of geographically scattered faculty members. To bridge this gap, the grant will be used to develop interactive, online modules containing case studies and assessments that will help clinicians apply skills to real world situations. The team will partner with Champlain College's Emergent Media Center™ to develop the modules. 

Read a recent AAMC News article about responding to the opioid epidemic.

Jaworski Establishes Excellence in Teaching Award

Longtime Department of Neurological Sciences professor and UVM Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award recipient Diane Jaworski, Ph.D., has established the Czyzewski-Jaworski Excellence in Teaching Award in memory of her parents, Jane (Czyzewski) Jaworski and Witold "Victor"Jaworski. The award will recognize faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding teaching skills, created an inclusive learning environment, and provided steadfast support for students' educational pursuits.  

Each year, one faculty member in each of the rank categories (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor) will be selected to receive this honor, which comes with a monetary award of $1,000. All full-time Larner College of Medicine faculty members (Clinical Scholar, Education Scholar, Research Scholar, Tenure-track) engaged in teaching are eligible to be nominated for the award. Nominations are due by Wednesday, September 18, 2019. Find more information or nominate a faculty member for the Czyzewski-Jaworski Excellence in Teaching award.

Larner Faculty Serve on UVM Faculty Senate

As of this fall, 18 Larner College of Medicine faculty members are serving the University as representatives and officers on the Faculty Senate. Of note:

• Assistant Professor of Surgery Thomas Ahern, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Surgery Krista Evans, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry Evan Eyler, M.D., M.P.H., and Professor of Medicine Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., start a new two-year term (2019-2022).
• Dr. Eyler was re-elected to serve another two-year term as a Member-at-Large to the Faculty Senate Executive Council.
• The following faculty members have been elected to positions on UVM Faculty Senate committees (2019-2022):
  • Professor of Medicine Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., was elected to co-chair the Research, Scholarship and the Creative Arts Committee, which also means that she will serve as a member of the Faculty Senate Executive Council
  • Associate Professor of Medicine Charlotte Teneback, M.D., Curricular Affairs Committee (2019-2022)
  • Professor of Medicine Cory Teuscher, Ph.D., Financial & Physical Planning Committee (2019-2022)
  • Professor of Medicine Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., Research, Scholarship and the Creative Arts Committee (2019-2022)
  • Professor of Medicine Marie Wood, M.D., Educational Research Technology Committee (2019-2022)

Read more about UVM Faculty Senate membership and subcommittee work, and find governance resources on the Faculty Senate website.

Copeland Studies Effect of Parental Incarceration on Children

Elayna Mellas-Hulett and Sue Williams, Facilities Coordinators, Facilities Administration

Thinking about an office renovation or need a piece of equipment installed? Dean’s Office staff members Elayna Mellas-Hulett and Sue Williams are here to help. They support a wide range of College of Medicine facilities projects, including office redesigns, lab, and classroom renovations, equipment and furniture installation, and signage. They also play an invaluable role in ensuring every member of the college community is safe and comfortable. 
 
Elayna joined the college three years ago after serving as a UVM lab safety coordinator. She facilitates lab renovations and relocations, equipment installations, and construction projects, and serves as a liaison during emergencies and incidents within college facilities.

“There is always something going on that keeps us on our toes—each day is different and you never know what curveball will be thrown at you,” said Elayna. “We get to work with many amazing college faculty and staff. New faculty have this amazing energy and excitement as they work to set-up their new spaces.” 
 
Sue’s been at the college for 18 years and previously worked as a facilities coordinator in Continuing and Distance Education, and at Smuggler’s Notch. She specializes in administrative areas—like classrooms, conference rooms, offices, and common areas—working with design and construction teams, selecting furniture and signage, and assisting college occupants with issues with heating, cooling, and floods. 
 
“I love working with the various departments in the college and assisting them with their visions for their spaces,” said Sue. “I’m very proud of the facilities updates we’ve completed over the past few years, like the Larner Learning Commons, Office of Diversity and Inclusion suite, and installation of Catcard readers and security cameras.”  
 
"Elayna and Sue play an integral role in supporting our college’s clinical, education, and research missions," said Eric Gagnon, director of facilities administration and projects. “Each brings a tremendous collection of care, technical skill, and diplomacy to a wide customer base of internal and external constituents.

There is nothing more instructive – or more humbling – than witnessing your colleague in a moment of high professionalism, unless it is seeing the same thing in a resident, student, or even better a patient. I am specifically recalling two separate home hospice visits when – from their deathbed – my patients spoke words of healing and of comfort to me.  How much we learn from those we are here to serve!"  

~Excerpted from a blog post by Assistant Professor of Family Medicine James Ulager, M.D., on professionalism and his experience as a member of the Larner Statement on Professionalism Task Force.  Dr. Ulager is also the associate vice president of clinical operations at the University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group. Read the full blog post.

Accolades & Appointments

CITATION HIGHLIGHTS

LARNER IN THE MEDIA

• Larner College of Medicine Class of 2023 Featured on NBC 5
• Ahern Featured in Healio/HemOnc Today Article on Medications Associated with Breast Cancer

GRANTS REPORT: UVM SPONSORED PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

Annual/Monthly Reports for Sponsored Projects

WHAT'S HAPPENING

LCOM Events Calendar  | UVM Events Calendar | LCOM Student Activities Calendar