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► The Class of 2022 Global Health Program Participants. From left to right: Prasanna Kumar, Adam Ross, Isaac de La Bruere, Alexa Pius, Collin Montgomery, Ray Mak, Amelia Anderson, Kalin Gregory-Davis, Jose Calderon, Elena Martel, Kathleen O'Hara, Irene Sue. Missing from photo: Alim Esemenli.

2019 Global Health Program Students Selected

Thirteen first-year medical students have been selected to participate in the UVM Larner College of Medicine/Western Connecticut Health Network Global Health Program. This summer, these students will complete a 6-week rotation in one of several international locations that partner with the program. When asked why she decided to apply, Amelia Anderson said that her prior experience working with Global Medical Brigades peaked her interest. “These experiences made me think critically about the role of international aid and the multifactorial nature of drug resistance,” Amelia said. Alim Esemenli, who grew up in Turkey and moved to the U.S. when she was thirteen, said that she is most looking forward to the opportunity to grow as an individual on this trip. She said, “My aunt always tells me that there are things we know, things we know that we don’t know, and finally things we do not even realize that we don’t know. Unfortunately, for most of us, it is this last category that most of the information in the world is contained in. I am hoping that, through this experience, I will be able gain some knowledge, or at least realize areas for growth and get to cross out some items from that last category."

The Global Health Program, which is entering its seventh year, has become a major highlight for many medical students. In fact, Kalin Gregory-Davis said that the Global Health Program was one of the leading reasons why she chose to come to UVM. She said, “It is really important to me to step outside of what I know and open my eyes to the variety of lived experiences and perspectives that this vast world has to offer. I have a background in anthropology and midwifery, so it is very important to me that my medical training and career be committed to sociocultural awareness and sensitivity. I see my participation in the Global Health Program as a continuation of this commitment.“

If you’d like to know more about the Global Health Program at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, visit the website here.

► Class of 2021 - Foundations Awards Celebration - Thursday, January 24 in the Hoehl Gallery at 3:00 pm!

Sandoval Appointed AOA Faculty Councilor

Associate Dean for Students Christa Zehle, M.D., recently appointed Marie Sandoval, M.D., associate professor of medicine and an internal medicine specialist, to serve as the Larner College of Medicine’s Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Faculty Councilor through July 2019. In this role, she will work with the student affairs team to identify eligible members of the Class of 2019 for election to AOA membership.

Election to the AOA national medical honor society signifies a lasting commitment to professionalism, leadership, scholarship, research, and community service. A lifelong honor, membership in the society confers recognition for a physician's dedication to the profession and art of healing. More than 4,000 students, residents/fellows, faculty, and alumni are elected each year. Since its founding in 1902, more than 185,000 members have been elected to the society. 

Dr. Sandoval joined UVM in 1998 and is passionate about education and research in the area of patient-provider communication while using the electronic health record and improving the quality of the patient experience. Married and the parent of two teenage boys, she is an avid reader and hiker.

► Come listen to Dr. Bassem Youssef (“the Jon Stewart of the Arab World”) in Sullivan Classroom Friday, January 25 at 12:30 pm. Lunch starting at 12:00 pm.

Mail Services' Pat Alberts Wraps Up 48 Years at College

In 1971, Pat Alberts was a bright-eyed 20-year-old who quickly learned the ropes of running a busy mailroom in a cubby near the back hallway water fountain on the first floor of the Given Building. Bags of mail - including 10 to 15 trays of applications - lined the hallways, there were parties on the loading dock and the numbers of medical students, faculty and staff were much smaller. Now, she says, "you scan everything," she keeps med students' packages safe and has met many students whose parents she knew in the 1970s and 1980s. Watch our social channels over the next week for more memories from Pat's journey and stop by Pat's retirement celebration on January 23 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. in HSRF 400.

►Class of 2019 - Order your regalia for Commencement before February 4!

On the blog: Top 5 Blog Posts of 2018 

As we begin 2019, we look back at some of our most popular posts from the past year, which featured topics ranging from culinary medicine to heath equity and more. Read the blog or view the story on Instagram.

► Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @UVMLarnerMed and on Instagram at @UVMMedicine and use our hashtags #UVMLarnerMed #LarnerLearning and #UVMFutureDoc to join in the conversation!

SIG Highlight: Medical Ethics Student Interest Group

The mission of the Medical Ethics Student Interest Group is to encourage medical students to think critically about ethical issues in medicine. One representative from the group stated, “We hope to do so by immersing ourselves in media and history on the topic, and consider issues in healthcare such as cost, autonomy, choice, justice, and power.” The group is currently planning events for the spring 2019 semester, including group attendance at hospital ethics discussions, partnering with other SIGs to discuss ethical considerations specific to those fields, a brown bag series, and film screenings. If you’re interested in any of these events or if you think there is something missing from their list please email

View all Student Leadership Opportunities