Faculty and Staff Recognitions
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Anil Chandraker and Fernando Martinez to be Honored at Special Investiture Ceremony
A Special Investiture Ceremony will be held at UMass Chan later this month to celebrate the newly endowed chairs that were announced earlier this fall.
Among the honorees will be Anil Chandraker, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Renal Medicine, who was announced as the inaugural holder of the Jack M. Wilson Chair in Biomedical Research, and Fernando Martinez, MD, MS, professor of medicine, academic chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, and vice chair for clinical and translational research in the Department of Medicine, who was announced as the inaugural holder of the Joseph D. Early Chair in Biomedical Research.
Pranoti Mandrekar Reflects on Impact of Summer Undergraduate Research Program as It Turns 35
This past summer, the Summer Undergraduate Research Program celebrated 35 years at UMass Chan Medical School. The 10-week program offers undergraduate students who are traditionally underrepresented in medicine and biomedical research the opportunity to engage in research and receive mentorship from UMass Chan faculty.
“It has been a privilege and honor to serve as a co-director of the UMass Chan Summer Undergraduate Research Program, which has now been around for 35 years,” said Pranoti Mandrekar, PhD, professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and co-director of the program. “The program provides an incredible environment for undergraduate students to experience hands-on research as well as mentoring and professional development. These opportunities shape the future of our next generation scientists and help them decide their career paths.”
The program launched in 1989 and has been funded by the NIH since 1993. Over 750 students have participated since the NIH funding started with 34 going on to receive degrees from UMass Chan. The recent renewal of this NIH R25 funded program ensures continued support of our future scientists.
Read about the program in UMass Chan News and Notes.
Learn more about the UMass Chan Summer Undergraduate Research Program.
Mingqi Dong and Kate Fitzgerald Give an Update on DNA Sensors and their Role in Autoinflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases in Nature Immunology
In a new paper, Fiachra Humphries, PhD, in collaboration with Dr. Shuo Yang of the Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, China, review the emerging roles of mitochondrial ECSIT in immunity and cancer in Trends in Cell Biology.
Fiachra Humphries, PhD, Reviews the Emerging Roles of Mitochondrial ECSIT Immunity and Cancer in Trends in Cell Biology
In a new paper, Fiachra Humphries, PhD, in collaboration with Dr. Shuo Yang of the Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, China, review the emerging roles of mitochondrial ECSIT in immunity and cancer in Trends in Cell Biology.
Neil Silverman Explores the Relationship Between Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) and Sleep Regulation, Memory Formation, and Traumatic Brain Injury in Neurodegenerative Diseases in Recent Review in Trends in Neurosciences
Neal Silverman, PhD, in collaboration with Drs. Soojin Lee and Fen-Biao Gao of the UMass Chan RNA Therapeutics Institute, explore the relationship between antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and sleep regulation, memory formation, as well as traumatic brain injury in neurodegenerative diseases in their recent review in Trends in Neurosciences.
Members of the Department of Medicine Participate in UMass Cancer Walk
Members of the Department of Medicine, UMass Chan/UMMH, and the greater community gathered this past Sunday at Polar Park for the UMass Cancer Walk. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, walked, donated, and/or supported the event in whatever way you were able to. Your generosity directly supports adult and pediatric cancer research and care, and clinical trials of new, potentially lifesaving therapies taking place at UMass Chan Medical School!
Members of the Division of Rheumatology "Lace Up" for Lupus
Faculty and staff in the Division of Rheumatology and the Lupus Center gathered on Sunday, September 15, 2024, for the 32nd Annual Lace Them Up for Lupus Walk on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts, where the team participated in the race and shared the clinical trials and work of the UMass Chan Lupus Center.
Richard Leslie and Geeda Maddaleni Join Internal Medicine Residency Leadership
The Internal Medicine Residency is excited to announce the addition of two faculty members to the residency leadership team. Richard Leslie, MD, assistant professor of medicine, has been named associate program director and will lead the Blackstone Firm. Geeda Maddaleni, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine, has been named master clinical educator for the Tatnuck Firm.
Dr. Leslie graduated from UMass Chan Medical School in 2016. He also completed his Internal Medicine Residency at UMass Chan, where he served as chief resident from 2019 to 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past two years, Dr. Leslie has been the master clinical educator for the Tatnuck Firm. He has also been instrumental in updating the goals and objectives of core resident rotations, assisting in the planning and development of the residency’s new 3+2 schedule, and serving as a core faculty member in the Medical Education Track. During his time as an MCE, Dr. Leslie has been enrolled at the Harvard Macy Institute for Educators in Health Professions.
Dr. Maddaleni graduated from UMass Chan Medical School in 2017 and completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. During her residency, Dr. Maddaleni was enrolled in Beth Israel’s Clinician Educator Track. Since joining UMass Memorial as a hospitalist in 2020, she has been actively involved in medical education, including serving as a clinical care pathway leader in the medical school, a core faculty mentor in the Internal Medicine Residency’s Medical Education Track, and as a coach in the ITE/ABIM Board Prep program.
Please join us in welcoming Drs. Leslie and Maddaleni!
Douglas Golenbock Celebrated at Innate Immunity Day 2024
Invited speakers, colleagues, trainees, and life-long friends shared lighthearted memories and stories of scientific excellence as Dr. Golenbock was celebrated at the annual innate immunity meeting.
With a shiny new conference room in the New Education and Research Building and rotating digital photo memories as its backdrop, Innate Immunity Day 2024 was held on Friday, July 26. Attendees heard from an outstanding lineup of speakers who honored the distinguished work of Douglas Golenbock, MD, the Neil and Margery Blacklow Chair in Infectious Diseases and Immunology, professor of medicine, division chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, and co-director of the Program in Innate Immunity.
The day wrapped with comments from Dr. Golenbock who gave thanks to all who spoke and attended, and shared that this celebration did not mean he was retiring!
Read the story on our website.
Related:
UMass Chan News: Convocation 2023: Chancellor Collins celebrates symphony of collaboration at UMass Chan
Department of Medicine News: Researcher Spotlight: Douglas Golenbock
Madona Azar Explores How Diabetes and Obesity Can Increase Risk of Developing Liver Disease
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a term used to describe conditions related to a build-up of fat in the liver. MASLD affects 1 out of 4 people worldwide, and in those with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, or all of the above, it affects 3 out of 4 individuals.
In an article published last week in The Conversation, Madona Azar, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, discusses why it is important for patients to understand their risk of developing MASLD so that it can be effectively treated.
Jerry Gurwitz Examines Critical Topic of Looming Geriatrician Shortage
Jerry Gurwitz, MD, the Dr. John Meyers Professor of Primary Care Medicine and professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine recently authored an opinion article for STAT where he contemplated, as an aging geriatrician, “Who will care for me?”
In the article, Dr. Gurwitz, who served as chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine for over twenty years, reflects on what led him to practice geriatric medicine and writes that although we have a rapidly growing aging population in the United States, the number of health care professionals who have been trained to care for older adults is declining. He goes on to explore some of the reasons for this decline emphasizing that lower compensation and less prestige are not the only things to blame. He concludes by discussing national efforts to promote improvement in the care of older adults but cautions that even these efforts are not adequately preparing our health care system and its workforce for the impact of what’s to come.
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Resident and Fellow Poster Day 2024 - Winners |
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Victor Acosta-Rivera, MD, PGY3, presents his award-winning poster |
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Trainees presented their research, quality improvement work, and clinical vignettes at the Department of Medicine’s annual Resident and Fellow Poster Day on Thursday, May 23. Listed below are this year’s winners. Thank you to all who participated and showcased their exceptional work! Research: 2nd Place: Dhruval Amin, MD, PGY3, Katherine Cooper, MD, PGY2, Garrick Gu, MD, PGY2, Ami Patel, DO, PGY1, Prashanth Rau, MD, Navine Nasser-Ghodsi, MD, Neil Marya, MD 3rd Place: Jason Core, MD, PGY1, Milka Koupenova, PhD Quality Improvement: 1st Place: Anthony Bilotta, MD, PhD, PGY1, Paula Anzenberg, MD, PGY2, David Viscido, MD, PGY3, Maria Khouri, MD, PGY1, Meghna Trivedi, MD, Prince Philip, MD 2nd Place: Ami Patel, DO, PGY1, Katherine Cooper, MD, PGY2, Adil Fazir, Meghna Trivedi, MD, Deepika Devuni, MD 3rd Place (TIE): Victor Acosta-Rivera, MD, PGY3, Ganeev Singh, MD, PGY1, Maria Garcia, MD, PhD, Jeevarathna Subramanian, MD Bridget Yang, MD, PGY2, Benyamin Yaniv, MD, PGY2, Chase Foster-Spence, MD, PGY2, Jaewon Lee, MD, PGY1, Geoffrey Matthes, MD, PGY1, Nneka Onwubueke, MD Clinical Vignette: 1st Place (TIE): Tyler Ryan, MD, PGY3, Minesh Nandi, MD, Hematology/Oncology fellow, Prateek Shukla, MD Katherine Sadaniantz, MD, PGY3, George Ciociolo, MD, PGY4, Jeannine Jeha, MD, Cardiovascular Medicine fellow, Bryan Dolan, MD, Cardiovascular Medicine fellow, Brigid McKenna Carlson, MD, Dennis Tighe, MD 2nd Place: Hima Doppalapudi, MD, Renal Medicine fellow, Sai Doppalapudi, Matthew Niemi, MD |
Hawa Abu Receives Recognition for Excellence in Patient Care
Hawa Abu, MD, PhD, MPH, a Geriatric Medicine fellow who will join the division as faculty this summer, recently received recognition for her excellent patient care. In a letter, the patient commented on Dr. Abu’s extraordinary care, clinical skills, empathy, and holistic approach.
“I am very honored to be a part of the UMass Chan Geriatric Medicine Division and the privilege of caring for my patients and their caregivers,” said Dr. Abu. “It is very rewarding to have such wonderful feedback from my patients as I strive to provide holistic care of the mind, body, and spirit; and hopefully improve their overall well-being.”
Congratulations on this recognition, Dr. Abu!
Related: Hawa Ozien Abu featured as April Fellow Spotlight