Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Department of Medicine

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont hosted the fourth annual Celebration of Gender Equity in Medicine and Science on March 2, 2023.

The University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine features some of the world’s foremost cardiovascular researchers, experts in cardiovascular disease risk factors, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart failure. the science shared by early-career investigators at the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Vermont’s fourth annual Viridis Montis Challenge, it was apparent that the institution’s reputation and legacy in the field of cardiovascular research will continue to have a global impact.

The University of Vermont Cancer Center will offer a novel, highly effective form of cancer treatment called CAR T-cell therapy, and is expected to begin treating patients in late. The Cancer Center will be the only healthcare institution in Vermont and northern New York to provide the treatment.

A new study published in JAMA Cardiology by UVM cardiovascular medicine fellow Margaret Infeld, M.D., M.S., and colleagues found evidence that by implementing a tailored acceleration of heart rates, they could reduce congestion and improve the circulation of blood in heart failure patients with "stiff" hearts.

Randall F. Holcombe, M.D., M.B.A., director of the UVM Cancer Center and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Medicine, has been appointed as associate dean for cancer programs at the UVM Larner College of Medicine.

Sherrie Khadanga, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of medicine at UVM's Larner College of Medicine and assistant director of cardiac rehabilitation at the UVM Medical Center, was recently featured in a UVM Health Network HealthSource blog post titled "Women Find Strength with Cardiac Rehab" that focused on how High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) exercise can help women's recovery after a cardiac event.

(FEBRUARY 11, 2023) Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., professor of medicine and director of the thrombosis and hemostasis program at the UVM Medical Center, recently spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care about racial trends in pulmonary embolism treatment and potential improvements compared with pre-pandemic trends.

(FEBRUARY 8, 2023) A randomized trial conducted by nephrologist Richard Solomon, M.D., professor of medicine, and colleagues found that a machine-learning intervention provided a higher level of safety during cardiac catheterization, lowering the chances of acute kidney injury (AKI), according to Health IT Analytics.

(FEBRUARY 7, 2023) Results of a study by Margaret Infeld, M.D., clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellow and clinical instructor in the Department of Medicine; cardiologist Markus Meyer, M.D., Ph.D., adjunct associate professor of medicine; and colleagues support heart rate modulation as a therapeutic intervention in HFpEF, according to HealthDay News.

The Cardiovascular Research Institute of Vermont held its 4th Annual Viridis Montis Early Career Investigator Challenge on February 1, 2023, and Toishi Sharma, MBBS, cardiovascular disease fellow in the Department of Medicine, was selected as the winner.

(JANUARY 25, 2023) In an article published by the Annie Lab newsroom, Gilman Allen, M.D., professor of medicine, disputed a claim in a January 2023 Twitter video highlighting findings from a “brand-new” Japanese study demonstrating that “masking breeds dangerous bacteria and fungi” and therefore justifies ending mandatory mask wearing.

(JANUARY 18, 2023) David Kaminsky, M.D., professor of medicine, a pulmonologist and critical care physician who routinely sees patients with long COVID symptoms, was quoted in a Seven Days story about the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for patients suffering from so-called long COVID.

(JANUARY 17, 2023) A recent study by Katharine L. Cheung, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine, and colleagues shows that residence in the so-called stroke belt of the southeastern United States is an independent risk factor for incident chronic kidney disease (CKD), Renal & Urology News reported.

(JANUARY 16, 2023) Martin Keller, M.D., associate professor of pediatric surgery, is a co-author of a study that found increased pediatric firearm injury and death rates tied to the COVID pandemic, HealthDay News reported.

(DECEMBER 25, 2022) Research by Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., professor of medicine, and colleagues found inequities in treatments and outcomes for pulmonary embolism, The ASCO Post reports.

Racial minorities and people with lower incomes or who are insured by Medicare or Medicaid are significantly less likely to receive the most advanced therapies and more likely to die after suffering a pulmonary embolism, according to a new analysis conducted by University of Vermont Professor of Medicine Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., and colleagues.

(DECEMBER 10, 2022) Trial investigator Mary Cushman, M.D., professor of medicine, presented study findings on social determinants of health [SDOH] and pulmonary embolism treatment and mortality at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, Pharmacy Times reported.

(DECEMBER 2, 2022) Research by Professor of Medicine Neil A. Zakai, M.D., and colleagues shows that increased coronary heart disease risk in White but not Black adults is associated with lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, according to HealthDay News.

(NOVEMBER 29, 2022) Assistant Professor of Medicine Timothy Plante, M.D., is a co-author of a new study comparing the effects of three different eating patterns on cardiovascular disease, according to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) News.

(NOVEMBER 22, 2022) A study by Professor of Medicine Neil A. Zakai, M.D., Professor of Medicine Mary Cushman, M.D., and colleagues found that lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are associated with increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in White but not Black adults, and higher levels of HDL-C are not protective for either group, HealthDay News reported.