BostonUniversity Medicine Boston University School of Medicine SUMMER 2017 • bumc.bu.edu

There’s always time to fall in love. Even in medical school.

The Wedding Issue Message From The Dean

Boston University Medicine Dr. Jennifer Tseng (from Harvard) to chair DEAR ALUMNI, the Department of Surgery. In addition to BU Medicine’s typical Boston University Medicine is published by the Boston FRIENDS, University School of Medicine Communications focus on alumni, faculty, and student AND Office. achievements, this issue’s feature story COLLEAGUES, celebrates BUSM alumni couples. A quick search of our alumni data documented Maria Ober Director of Communications almost 200 couples who met and married As I reflect on our recent 170th at BUSM since 1950, and we highlight some Commencement exercises, during which of these couples who graciously shared design & production we launched another 559 MDs, PhDs, and their stories (see page 14). Boston University Creative Services master’s degree graduates into careers in Alumni celebrating five-year reunions the biomedical sciences and medicine, I visit the Medical Campus each spring to contributing writers recognize that they are becoming physicians catch up with their classmates and see how Lisa Brown, Gina DiGravio, Kathryn Mariano, and scientists at a time of great discovery, medical education has changed (and the Gillian Smith but also great change and uncertainty. We important values and missions that remain have had epidemics of MERs, Ebola, Zika, unchanged). They are part of the School’s photography and more. Wars and tensions around the rich and diverse legacy, contributing to the Frank Curran, Jake Hopkins, David Keough world have escalated with a growing num- history we share. We also celebrated the ber of refugees, many of them in our own illustrious careers of Drs. Nicole Gibran, MD patient population. US health outcomes are (MED’85), and Kevin Tracey, MD (MED’83), lower than that of other developed coun- at the first Distinguished Alumni Awards tries, although our health care costs are Luncheon (see page 28). higher. We hope our creative, resilient, intel- Dr. Gibran, professor of surgery and ligent, and innovative graduates will become adjunct professor of medicine (dermatol- the leaders in solving these critical problems. ogy) at the University of Washington (UW) Just three months ago, our MD seniors in Seattle, also serves as the David & Nancy celebrated Match Day, which began with Auth Washington Research Foundation class awards and honors as students con- Chair in Restorative Burn Surgery and directs gregated on the front steps for their class the UW Medicine Regional Burn Center at picture. Finally came the countdown to Harborview Medical Center. noon, when they learned where they would Dr. Tracey, professor of neurosurgery and spend their residencies. All of our students molecular medicine at the Hofstra Northwell matched in competitive residencies from School of Medicine, also is president and Maine to California; the top specialties CEO of The Feinstein Institute for Medical chosen were internal medicine, pediatrics, Research and executive vice president for emergency medicine, OB/GYN, surgery, research at Northwell Health in New York. and radiology, in that order. The Campaign for Boston University While our seniors were busy plan- continues. BUSM has raised $225 million of ning their residencies, a team of eight our $240 million goal, including $21 million second-year medical students earned in student scholarships and $4.3 million in second place in the New England Journal of Annual Fund support. On behalf of our stu- Medicine SPRINT Data Analysis Challenge dents, faculty, and staff, I’d like to thank the (see page 12), placing ahead of 141 other 2,292 alumni, and many parents and friends faculty teams from medical schools such who have contributed to our campaign goals as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Stanford. for their support. We celebrated the appointments of Please enjoy this issue of Boston Dr. Vasan Ramachandran as the Jay and University Medicine. Louise Coffman Professor in Vascular Please direct any questions or comments to: Medicine and Dr. Darrell Kotton as the Maria Ober David C. Seldin Professor of Medicine, Communications Office and welcomed two new department Karen Antman, MD Boston University Medical Campus chairs, Dr. David Greer (from Yale) to Provost, Medical Campus 85 East Newton Street, M427 Boston, MA 02118 chair the Department of Neurology, and Dean, School of Medicine P 617-638-8496 | F 617-638-8044 | E [email protected] 0617 SUMMERContents 2017

Graduating MD students recite the Hippocratic Oath at BUSM’s 170th Commencement exercises.

FEATURE DEPARTMENTS 2 Campus News 23 Giving to BUSM 14 THE WEDDING ISSUE 20 Research 25 Alumni News These couples got more out of BUSM than just a top-flight medical education. They found love.

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 1 CAMPUS News

match day

An annual rite of passage on the third Friday Countdown to the Future: of March, Match Day marks the moment when graduating medical students around the country learn which residency programs they Match Day 2017 will attend and where they will spend the next three to seven years of their lives. “Our students should be very proud of ive, four, three, two, one!” themselves and their hard work. I want them to stop and think about what they’ve actu- “ ally accomplished,” said Associate Dean for On March 17, BUSM fourth-year medical students converged at long, white Student Affairs Angela Jackson. “The road tables covered with carefully arranged white envelopes in alphabetical order. The has been a long and hard one, and this is a 159F future physicians quickly retreated to the center of Hiebert lounge, formed small groups, moment when they can shine and look back and opened their envlopes—some crying, some hugging, and some jumping up and down with great pride at all of the things they have with excitement. done. The residency programs that have matched them are lucky.”

2 Boston University School of Medicine Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps BUSM ON THE facebook.com/ twitter.com/ WEB BUMedicine BUMedicine

While BUSM students matched in resi- There was more to Match Day than open- dencies across the country, nearly one- ing envelopes and sipping champagne— third are staying in Massachusetts (52), students also braved the cold to pose on with New York (18), and California (17) the steps of the Instructional Building for the next most popular states. The class their last class picture and attended the matched in a range of programs: 58 chose annual student awards ceremony, where primary care specialties—which include they learned that Sam Miller would be their family medicine, internal medicine, and student speaker for graduation. n pediatrics—followed by emergency medi- For more photos, visit BUSM at cine (15); OB/GYN (14); surgery (13); and Facebook.com/BUMedicine. diagnostic radiology (12).

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 3 CAMPUS NEWS

Graduating MD student Olufisayo Omotunde (center) celebrates with her family at a reception following the School of Medicine’s 170th Commencement exercises.

MD/PhD Commencement: ‘An Unfinished Mosaic of Learning’

e come here today, a petri dish of emotions. “My classmates constantly remind me that the raw materials for We’re excited and afraid, proud and uncertain, building a great physician are present in all of us,” he said. “They “ hopeful and apprehensive. As we acknowledge teach, support, listen to, impress, and humble me in countless ways, W this huge accomplishment, we recognize the far beyond what I have listed.” equally vast step we are making into the real world,” said PhD “You are becoming scientists and physicians at a time of great candidate Liz Moses on Thursday, May 18, at the School of change and uncertainty. We have had epidemics of MERs, Ebola, Medicine’s 170th Commencement. Zika, and more. Wars and tensions around the world have esca- Boston University School of Medicine conferred 150 medical lated with a growing numbers of refugees, many of them in our own degrees, six MD/PhDs, three MD/MPHs, and 46 PhDs. Twenty- patient population. US health outcomes are lower than that for other three students earned Latin honors, including 16 cum laude and developed countries and our health care costs are high. You will five magna cum laude; Samih Nassif Abudinen and Samuel Miller figure it out. We have great confidence in your creativity, resilience, achieved summa cum laude. intellect, and innovation,” Dean Karen Antman told the assembled “Over the past four years, I have learned how to observe people, graduates. most notably, my classmates. I believe that these observations have In keeping with tradition, the graduating class selected their grad- had a stronger influence on my personal development than any clini- uation speaker: Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute cal rotation,” said MD class speaker Samuel Miller. of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

4 Boston University School of Medicine 2017 FACULTY AWARD Educator of the Year Clinical RECIPIENTS: Sciences Boston Medical Center Stanley L. Robbins Award for Jessica Levi, MD Excellence in Teaching Otolaryngology-Head & Neck R. Jarrett Rushmore III, PhD Surgery Anatomy & Neurobiology Kaiser Permanente, California Leonard Tow Humanism in Janna Doherty, MD Medicine Award Obstetrics & Gynecology Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH Ophthalmology Educator of the Year in Graduate Medical Sciences Committee on Faculty Affairs Doctoral Degree Program Educator of the Year Awards Christopher Gabel, PhD Physiology & Biophysics Educator of the Year in Pre- clinical Medical Sciences Master’s Degree Program Elizabeth Whitney, PhD Aaron Young, PhD Anatomy & Neurobiology Physiology & Biophysics Laurie Craigen, PhD Psychiatry

NIAID director since 1984, Dr. Fauci oversees an extensive port- “For in the field of medicine and the biological sciences, we are all folio of basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat perpetual students. We may graduate from whatever institution of established and emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola and learning that we attend, but that is not the endgame. The scope of Zika. NIAID also supports research on transplantation and immune- what we have learned and what we still need to learn is like a giant related illnesses, including autoimmune disorders, asthma, and mosaic, and this mosaic of our knowledge and experiences is eter- allergies. nally unfinished, as well it should be. Dr. Fauci discussed the dynamic nature of medicine and the bio- “You will leave here today as professionals in a most noble field. logical sciences. You have been privileged, and with this privilege comes responsibili- “You will have one foot in the past as you take gigantic leaps ties. May you carry these responsibilities with pride and conviction into the future. You will bear witness to a constant and at times and I strongly hope that you will experience great joy and satisfaction seemingly overwhelming evolution of scientific and technologic in our shared profession,” he concluded. advances,” he said. “You will feel both exhilarated and intimidated. Please see our Facebook page at facebook.com/BUMedicine for The evolution in medicine and biological sciences will be beyond images from the event. n your control, but you will be part of it, hanging on seemingly for dear life to keep up with it. Rest assured that being bored will not be a problem for you.

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 5 CAMPUS NEWS

GMS Graduates Urged to Communicate Evidence-based, Data-driven Science

oston University’s Track & Tennis Center was trans- “I am deeply proud and honored to call you my colleagues,” said formed into a warm and friendly commencement set- Rachel Friedman, who received her master’s in Mental Health Coun- ting as master’s degree candidates received diplomas seling and Behavioral Medicine. “Being a counselor is about wearing Friday, May 19, surrounded by guests, friends, family, many hats, living many lives, embracing many roles and, at times, B and faculty. adopting multiple personalities. It’s also about recognizing that what Associate Provost for Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) Linda makes us unique is what binds us . . . and about learning to help oth- Hyman, PhD, presided over Commencement exercises. “We tend ers by learning to accept ourselves.” to reminisce on this occasion. When you arrived, we welcomed Sarah Manely, who earned a master’s in Medical Sciences, said, you to a place of collegiality, integrity, and the highest academic “Our triumphs are not related to some end goal, but rather to how standards—and I hope we did not disappoint you,” she told graduates. we faced challenges head on, learned to adapt, and treated the Hyman recalled their time at the University. people around us. This type of achievement is worthy of celebrat- “There was one very special event that stands out in my mind that ing today.” occurred just about a month ago, the March for Science,” she said. “Success is often the culmination of a number of failures and “Boston’s version was so vibrant, so energized, so civil and respectful. relies less on perfection but rather, learning to deal with those fail- “I was reassured that you are committed to evidence-based, data- ures. The ability to learn from your mistakes and redirect your future driven decision making and, more importantly, that you are commit- is one of the most admirable traits a person can have, and essential ted to getting this word out to the public.” to a person’s success,” said Darren Costello, who received a master’s Boston University School of Medicine conferred 354 degrees, in Oral Health Sciences. “So graduates, follow your passion, work including 29 Master of Arts, 302 Master of Science, and 23 dual hard at achieving your dreams, and you all will be very successful. I MS/MPH degrees. am so proud that the future of medicine will be in your hands, and so Three students speakers reflected on their GMS experience and proud to call you my colleagues and my friends.” n the hopes they have for their classmates.

6 Boston University School of Medicine L–R, Rachel Friedman, Darren Costello, Sarah Manely

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 7 CAMPUS NEWS

BU Associate Provost and Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore addresses the crowd in Hiebert Lounge.

fought very hard” to give him such a won- ing, keep on talking, marching up to free- BUMC Celebrates derful opportunity. dom land”—that his church congregation MLK Legacy with Titled, “On the Way We Go: Chaos or sang to members about to take significant Community?” Elmore’s presentation was steps in their lives; they sang it to Elmore Kenn Elmore based on King’s similarly titled book, Where himself when he left for college. The song Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? reminded him of the freedom riders of the “I’m one of those people who thinks a little civil rights movement, and he realized that More than 100 members of the chaos and a little community can do well by when he “saw with history in mind,” he Medical Campus community gathered in us now,” Elmore said, noting that King felt saw all the people who helped move the the Hiebert Lounge on January 19 to cele- “Power without love is reckless and abusive country forward. brate Martin Luther King, Jr. and hear BU’s and love without power is sentimental and Elmore’s speech was followed by a musi- Associate Provost and Dean of Students anemic.” He pointed out that this senti- cal interlude with Margaret Lee, MD, PhD, Kenneth Elmore, JD, speak about the late ment might characterize our national mood assistant professor of dermatology, and civil rights icon. the past few years regarding issues such as Moisès Fernández Via, founding director The event opened with audio of Dr. King’s war, underprivileged schools, and lack of a of Arts | Lab @ Med Campus, and a town (GRS’55, Hon’59) famous “I Have a middle class. After the tragic 2016 shoot- hall discussion facilitated by Rafael Ortega, Dream” speech. ings in Dallas, Elmore reached the cross- MD, associate dean of diversity and mul- “I never would have dreamed I’d be in road of chaos and community, reengaging ticultural affairs, and Jonathan Woodson, a position where I get to honor Dr. King— with people in different ways and reevalu- MD, faculty director at BU’s Institute for that’s something in which my parents ating what his “bubbles” were. Health System Innovation & Policy. n take incredible pride,” Elmore said, add- Reflecting on his past, he shared a song ing that his mother was brought to tears refrain from his youth that particularly To view the event, go to http://bit.ly/2lY8oiw when she found out he would be speak- spoke to him—“Ain’t gonna let nobody For optimal viewing, use Firefox, Chrome, or ing about MLK because “a lot of people turn me around . . . I’m gonna keep on walk- Safari browsers.

8 Boston University School of Medicine Appointments, Awards & Honors

APPOINTMENTS

David M. Greer, “Superman” Resident Teaching Award from Boston, followed by a clinical fellowship in sur- MD, MA, FCCM, the MGH Department of Neurology; and gical oncology at the University of Texas MD FAHA, FNCS, the Stanley M. Wyman Teaching Award Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. FAAN, FANA, has from the MGH Department of Medicine. Dr. Tseng is a renowned surgical oncologist been appointed Dr. Greer has authored more than 150 and gastrointestinal surgeon whose practice chair of neurology peer-reviewed manuscripts, reviews, encompasses the upper gastrointestinal tract. at BU School of chapters, guidelines, and books and is She has led a diverse group of BIDMC faculty Medicine and chief the editor-in-chief of both Neurocritical in oncology research, education, and care for of neurology at Care Live and Seminars in Neurology. He GI, endocrine, breast, melanomas and sarco- Boston Medical Center. reviews for several journals, including the mas, and other malignancies. Dr. Greer previously served as profes- New England Journal of Medicine, Annals She has published more than 100 peer- sor of neurology and neurosurgery, vice of Internal Medicine, Brain, Neurology, and reviewed journal articles on reducing surgi- chair of neurology, and the Dr. Harry Stroke. He is a fellow of the Society of cal risk, cancer biomarkers, and developing M. Zimmerman and Dr. Nicholas and Critical Care Medicine, American Academy models for cancer treatment sequencing Viola Spinelli Endowed Chair at Yale of Neurology, American Heart Association, strategies, with a strong focus on racial and University School of Medicine. He was American Neurological Association, and socioeconomic disparities in care, a key BMC/ also the Neurology Department’s direc- Neurocritical Care Society. BUSM mission. She has collaborated with the tor of medical studies and director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Stroke Service, and co-director of the to assess the impact of factors including insur- Neurovascular Center at Yale New Jennifer F. Tseng, ance, disparities, and health care reform on Haven Hospital. MD, MPH, has been cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. His research interests include predict- appointed chair In 2007 she was founding director of SOAR ing recovery from coma after cardiac arrest, of surgery at BU (Surgical Outcomes Analysis & Research) at brain death, and multiple stroke-related School of Medicine UMass, a research initiative to improve treat- topics, including acute stroke treatment and chief of surgery ment strategies for a broad range of surgical and stroke prevention. He is a leader in the at Boston Medical conditions and to develop tools to assess and Neurocritical Care Society, the Society of Center. reduce risk. She and her BIDMC co-leaders Critical Care Medicine, the American Stroke An accom- continued to develop SOAR as a health ser- Association, and a well-regarded and dedi- plished leader and outstanding surgeon vices and outcomes research group. cated medical educator and clinician. with a record of significant achievements, Dr. Tseng is also a dedicated educator who Dr. Greer received his BA in English Dr. Tseng has served as professor of surgery has mentored numerous medical students and Literature from Williams College, MA, at Harvard Medical School and chief of sur- residents throughout her research career. MD from the University of Florida, and an gical oncology in the Roberta and Stephen MA, privatim, from Yale. He completed R. Weiner Department of Surgery and clini- an internship in internal medicine and a cal co-director for surgery at Beth Israel Vaishali residency in neurology at Massachusetts Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Sanchorawala, General Hospital (MGH), followed by fel- Boston. Previously, she was associate pro- MD, has been lowship training in vascular neurology fessor of surgery, cancer biology and quan- appointed Director and neurocritical care, also at MGH. He titative health sciences at the University of the Amyloidosis was an associate professor of Neurology of Massachusetts Medical School and an Center and named at Harvard Medical School and associate attending surgeon at UMass Memorial the Wesley and neuroscientist at MGH before joining the Medical Center. Charlotte Skinner faculty at Yale. She received her undergraduate degree Professor for Among his many honors and awards, from Stanford University, MD from the Research in Amyloidosis. Dr. Greer has been named among the University of California, San Francisco Medical Professor of medicine in the Section of “Best Doctors in America” and received School, and master’s degree in public health Hematology/Oncology and director of the the Yale Neurology Residency Program’s from the Harvard School of Public Health. BMC Stem Cell Transplant Program, Dr. Teacher of the Year Award; two Presidential She completed a general surgery residency Sanchorawala joined the program in 1994 Citations each from the Society of Critical at Massachusetts General Hospital and a and has served as associate director of the Care Medicine and the Neurocritical research fellowship in molecular medicine at Amyloidosis Center since July 2015. Her Care Society; the Partners Neurology Harvard Medical School/Children’s Hospital many published studies of the treatment of

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 9 CAMPUS NEWS

Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis have Upon joining the faculty as an instruc- nurse and an active member of the Bos- been adopted as the standard of care for tor of medicine in 2004, Dr. Kotton rose ton University Women’s Auxiliary. Dr. patients. She is currently leading several quickly to professor. He has received Coffman was a consummate clinician and AL amyloidosis clinical trials, one of which numerous accolades, including the Fel- mentor who inspired his trainees and col- was conducted nationally through the low of the Year Award from the Depart- leagues as well as an outstanding clinical Southwest Oncology Group. ment of Medicine, the L. Jack Faling investigator who used his understanding Dr. Sanchorawala serves on the Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching of vascular disease to help hundreds of board of the International Society (2007), and the Robert Dawes Evans patients and clinicians. of Amyloidosis, as an associate edi- Senior Research Mentor Award (2014). Dr. Ramachandran joined BUSM as an tor of Amyloid, Journal of Protein He launched two centers on the Medical associate professor of medicine in 1998 Folding Disorders, and as a member of Campus—the CReM in 2009 with Drs. and was promoted to professor in 2006. the Executive Steering Committee of Gustavo Mostoslavsky and George Mur- He was appointed professor of epidemiol- Amyloidosis Research Consortium. In phy, and the Alpha-1 Center in 2012 with ogy at BU School of Public Health in 2013. 1997, she joined BUSM as an assistant Dr. Andrew Wilson, which is dedicated to Currently, he serves as chief of the Section professor of medicine and BMC as an the care of patients and their families suf- of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology attending physician. She was promoted fering from Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency. in the Department of Medicine, Principal to associate professor in 2005 and Dr. Kotton is nationally recognized as Investigator of the renowned Framingham professor in 2011. a leading researcher in lung stem cell Heart Study, with which he has been affili- biology and for championing a selfless ated for the past 17 years, and editor of cir- research approach called Open Source culation for Cardiovascular Genetics. Darrell Kotton, Biology in which data and reagents are He received his medical degree from, MD, has been shared without restriction or exclusivity. and completed his residency in internal named the David CReM currently houses the sole NIH- medicine and fellowship in cardiology at, C. Seldin, MD, supported lung disease-specific stem the All India Institute of Medical Sciences PhD, Professor cell bank funded by an R24 grant for in New Delhi. He has received many RO1 of Medicine. national resource sharing. Dr. Kotton has awards from the National Institutes of The professor- trained nine post-doctoral fellows, six PhD Health/National Heart, Lung, Blood Insti- ship honors the graduate students, numerous medical and tute and a mid-career clinical investigator late Dr. Seldin, undergraduate students, and pulmonary award (K24). who directed the fellows, many of whom have gone on to Over the last 23 years, Dr. Ramachan- Amyloidosis Center, the Hematology- independent faculty positions. dran has made major contributions to the Oncology Section, and the Graduate genetic and non-genetic epidemiology Program in Molecular Medicine. An of congestive heart failure; population- accomplished investigator, clinician, and Vasan based vascular testing, echocardiography, teacher, Dr. Seldin was a beacon of hope Ramachandran, and exercise testing; the genetic and for his patients, a source of inspiration for MD, FACC, has non-genetic epidemiology of high blood his trainees, and greatly admired by his been named the pressure; and cardiovascular disease colleagues. David Seldin passed away on Jay and Louise risk prediction models. His many awards June 27, 2015. Coffman Profes- and honors include the Department of Dr. Kotton is professor of medicine sor in Vascular Medicine’s Evans Scholar and Outstanding (Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Medicine, which Mentor awards in 2010; Outstanding Men- Critical Care) and Pathology and Laboratory honors Dr. Coff- tor, American Heart Association (AHA) Medicine as well as director of the BU-BMC man (1928–2006) Council on Epidemiology Prevention in Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM). and his wife Louise. Dr. Coffman directed 2012; and the AHA’s prestigious Popula- He received a BA in psychology from the the Vascular Medicine Section and was tion Science Award in 2014. University of Pennsylvania and an MD from an internationally recognized clinician Washington University School of Medicine in investigator in the field of peripheral arte- St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his intern- rial, venous, and vasculitic diseases. He ship and residency in internal medicine at the discovered the principle of oxygen repay- University of Pennsylvania and fellowships ment in post-ischemic hyperemia, in the in pulmonary and critical care medicine at failure of the clinical use of vasodilators BUSM/Boston Medical Center as well as for peripheral arterial ischemia, and in stem cell biology and genetics at Harvard the diagnosis and treatment of Raynaud’s Medical School. phenomenon. Louise was a former BUMC

10 Boston University School of Medicine Jodi F. Abbott, MD, Three Faculty Members Named Spivack Scholars MHCM, associate professor of obstet- The Jack Spivack Excellence in Neu- This research is leading to the discovery rics and gynecology, roscience Awards were established to of novel therapeutic approaches and has been named recognize and support the research of diagnostic markers for these diseases. assistant dean of outstanding BUSM faculty conducting Dr. Wolozin has authored more than Academic Affairs for either clinical or basic research in Par- 150 peer-reviewed papers and book Patient Safety and kinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Chronic Traumatic chapters. Quality Improve- Encephalopathy, and other neurological ment Education. The core clerkship director disorders. Two faculty members named 2017 and department vice chair for education, Spivack Emerging Leaders in 2007 Dr. Abbott received BUSM’s Clini- Benjamin cal Educator of the Year Award. A maternal Wolozin, MD, Hugo Javier fetal medicine specialist, she has developed PhD, has received Aparicio, MD, numerous innovations in medical student the 2017 Jack MPH, is an quality improvement clinical initiatives, lead- Spivack Excel- assistant ing to national student recognition. In 2016, lence in Neuro- professor of she received the Association for Professors of sciences Award. neurology and Gynecology and Obstetrics Teaching Award. Mr. Spivack an investigator In her new role, she will integrate didactic established the at the Fram- and experiential patient safety and quality award in 2013 to recognize and support ingham Heart improvement education annually for all medical the research of an outstanding faculty Study whose research interests include students to demonstrate that they can improve member conducting clinical or basic the identification of lifestyle risk fac- patient outcomes. Integrating these principles research in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, tors, biomarkers, neuroimaging markers, into core medical school education will directly Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and genetic influences associated with reduce health care outcome disparities and and other neurological disorders. Dr. cerebrovascular diseases. He is particu- improve the health of our community. Wolozin’s discovery of the essential role larly interested in the contributions of of RNA binding proteins in the patho- vascular risk factors to brain aging, cogni- physiology of tauopathies, including tive dysfunction, and the development of Priya S. Garg, MD, Alzheimer’s, has changed the way we Alzheimer’s disease. Aparicio received has been named understand these diseases. his BA in biology and Spanish from Emory director of the A professor of pharmacology and University, his MD from the Perelman Medical Education neurology, Dr. Wolozin came to BUSM School of Medicine at the University of office and assistant in 2004 from Loyola University Chicago Pennsylvania, and his MPH from the Har- dean of Academic Stritch School of Medicine. He received vard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Affairs. his BA in chemistry from Wesleyan After complet- University in Middletown, Connecticut Scott Hayes, PhD, ing her pediatric and his combined MD/PhD in neurosci- is an assistant residency and chief ence from the Albert Einstein College of professor of residency at the University of Maryland Medicine in New York City. psychiatry and a Medical Center, Dr. Garg joined the faculty He was named a fellow of the Ameri- research psycholo- at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University can Association for the Advancement gist at VA Boston School of Medicine, where she served in of Science (AAAS) in 2016. His many Healthcare Sys- several leadership roles including pediatric honors include the Zenith Award from the tem. His research clerkship director for Tufts University School Alzheimer’s Association and the Depart- interests include of Medicine (2008–2010); Pediatric Inpa- ment of Medicine Evans Center Collabo- the examination tient Medicine acting internship director rator of the Year Award, both in 2013. of the neural correlates of memory using (2008–2017); pediatric residency director His research examines the pathophysi- magnetic resonance imaging, with a focus (2010–2017); and associate director for ology of neurodegenerative diseases, in- on studying the impact of physical fitness Graduate Medical Education Quality and cluding Alzheimer’s, Amyotrophic Lateral and physical activity on cognition and the Safety (2014–2017). She also led multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s. His laboratory brain. Hayes received his BA in psychol- faculty development programs related to explores how physiological aggregation ogy and biology from Skidmore College in educational leadership and teaching and is of RNA binding proteins contributes to New York, and his PhD in clinical psychol- a faculty mentor in the Academic Pediatric disease processes when it goes awry. ogy from the University of Arizona. n Association’s Educational Scholars Program.

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 11 CAMPUS NEWS

puts it: “Our second-year students are exceptional. To receive second place in such a prestigious competition, in a field that includes accomplished physician-scientists, is quite an honor and we congratulate them on this achievement.” Aggarwal turned for help to Suzanne Sarfaty (CAS’84, MED’88), associate professor of medicine and assistant dean for academic affairs, who signed the necessary IRB form— and in response to an additional request from the NHLBI, then enlisted Antman to sign as well. The team held its first meeting in early January. “We discussed and critically exam- ined our strengths and weaknesses,” says Chiu. They divided into two groups—the data Left to right: Jeffrey Drazen, MD, NEJM editor in chief and data sharing summit co-chair, with the team of MED second-year students who astonished everyone, including themselves, by taking second place in the prestigious analysis group (Aggarwal, Petrie, Steinkamp) NEJM data analysis challenge: Benjamin Petrie, Jackson Steinkamp, Haares Mirzan, Sang Myung Han, Nicholas and the medical literature review group (Chiu, Chiu, Jason Park, and Rahul Aggarwal; far right: Isaac Kohane, MD, professor of biomedical informatics at Harvard Park, Han, Mirzan). Medical School and NEJM summit co-chair. Photo by Richard Cashin Chiu says reviewing the literature provided the team with “a sense of what had been MED Students Place fessor of psychiatry and associate dean for studied before, what conclusions were well Second in NEJM Major academic affairs. “It’s a phenomenal feat.” established, and what areas in hyperten- Winners were selected by a panel of 15 sion management were in need of better International Data judges comprising biostatisticians, cardi- understanding.” ologists, physician-scientists, researchers It helped, says Park, that they had just Challenge who run clinical trials, and clinical trial completed MED courses on cardiology and BEAT 141 TEAMS, SCIENTISTS FROM participants. Along with the other winners, nephrology. HARVARD, YALE, STANFORD, AND MORE Aggarwal presented the BU team’s findings The original SPRINT trial was intended to on April 3 at an NEJM Sharing Clinical Trial evaluate whether there was any benefit or Seven second-year School of Medicine Data Summit in Boston. harm from aiming for a systolic blood pres- students beat out 141 teams of academic “This group’s enthusiasm, care, and creativ- sure (the pressure in arteries as the heart researchers and physician scientists—from ity were evident, and it’s this next generation of contracts) lower than 140 millimeters of mer- medical schools at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, physicians that we want to encourage to think cury (mmHg) in people with elevated blood Stanford, and other institutions—to take sec- critically and expansively,” says contest cochair pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular ond place in a New England Journal of Medicine Jeffrey M. Drazen, NEJM editor in chief. disease. The trial was halted in 2015, five (NEJM) contest. Contest entrants analyzed the Systolic years after it began enrolling patients, when The competition challenged entrants to Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), researchers determined that study subjects analyze a landmark blood pressure manage- which was funded primarily by the National who were receiving intensive therapy were ment study and come up with new findings Institutes of Health (NIH) and involved 9,361 43 percent less likely to die from heart attack, that could be translated into improved care people with elevated blood pressure and stroke, or other cardiovascular causes than for patients. With 200 teams getting through increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The those on the standard regimen. the initial qualifying rounds, the contest drew data became available in early November, and What caught the BU team’s attention in the scientists from 107 institutions, labs, and the contest entry deadline was February 14. medical literature, Chiu says, was that there companies in 26 countries. As a team of students—and without even a was disagreement on blood pressure proto- “We never thought we’d place,” says BU faculty supervisor—it took the BU group until cols for patients with chronic kidney disease team leader Rahul Aggarwal (MED’19), the end of December just to get permission (CKD). He explains that while the National who recruited six friends who share his to access the data from the National Heart, Kidney Foundation recommends controlling passion for open data and medicine. The Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). blood pressure below 130/80 to slow pro- six other team members were Ben Petrie “We were getting kind of worried about gression of CKD and cardiovascular disease, (MED’19), Nicholas Chiu (MED’19), Jason it,” says Aggarwal. When he approached the Eighth Joint National Committee (a panel Park (MED’19), Sang Myung Han (MED’19), BU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the of experts) guidelines recommend controlling Jackson Steinkamp (MED’19), and Haares necessary approval, he says, “everyone was, blood pressure below 140/90. Mirzan (MED’19). like, ‘Students don’t usually do this.’” Delving deeper, Chiu says, he and his “They were functioning as physician-sci- Perhaps not, but as Karen Antman, MED teammates realized that relatively few entists,” says Douglas Hughes, a MED pro- dean and provost of the Medical Campus, studies had been done on blood pressure

12 Boston University School of Medicine management in CKD patients. They also real- ized that if they focused specifically on CKD 2017 Wing Tat Lee Awardees Announced patients in the SPRINT trial (which did not thoroughly investigate the outcomes of inten- Four faculty members have received the latest approaches in vision science while sive blood pressure management on CKD 2017 Wing Tat Lee Awards, which are also establishing a connection and laying patients), they would have the largest study funded to establish cooperative research the foundation for new collaborations in in the existing literature, with 2,646 patients. programs between BUSM and Chinese basic and clinical vision research. Dr. Ng And, team members agreed, that would be a universities—with particular emphasis on received his PhD in anatomy from The project offering clinical usefulness. those in Hong Kong—while further deep- University of Hong Kong. “Effective blood pressure control is impor- ening the friendship and mutual under- tant to all physicians, especially to primary standing between the institutions. Shanshan care physicians,” says Petrie, who has consid- Sheehy, MD, ered going into primary care. Joseph P. ScD, assistant The team—they called themselves Renality Mizgerd, ScD, professor of Check—met weekly, for three- or four-hour director of the medicine, will evening sessions. “Part of what made it so Pulmonary develop com- exciting was that we were all friends,” Petrie Center and putational and says. Instead of playing video games on Friday professor of bioinformatics night, they would “hang out and engage in medicine, micro- algorithms to data analysis.” biology, and bio- analyze elec- chemistry, will tronic medical records data to determine if flare and inflammation-related arthritis THE RENALITY CHECK FINDINGS: study Rhinovirus 1) Blood pressure for CKD patients was C, a recently discovered respiratory virus can be identified using Natural Language harder to manage than for the control that may be an important cause of pneu- Processing. Dr. Sheng Yu of Tsinghua population. monia and may also exacerbate asthma, University will provide his statisti- 2) Intensive blood pressure management especially in children. This project will cal expertise on the Natural Language did not significantly improve outcomes develop tools to study the virus, includ- Processing methodology and conduct for CKD patients. ing the specific lung cells it infects and a seminar in August to develop further 3) Intensive blood pressure management the immune response it elicits, laying the collaborations. Dr. Sheehy received her increased the risk of serious adverse groundwork for important new and more MD from Fudan University in Shanghai, incidents and side effects for CKD substantial lines of collaborative research. China, her ScD from Harvard’s T.H. Chan patients. Given the difficulty of control- Dr. Wan Yi (Renee) Chan at the Chinese School of Public Health, and her MsC ling blood pressure in CKD patients, the University of Hong Kong will provide the from McGill University in Canada. team wrote in their abstract, “the burden virus, quantify viral burdens, and con- of additional antihypertensive drugs tribute imaging and molecular analy- Qiong L. Zhou, required for intensive treatment may lead ses. Dr. Mizgerd received his ScD from PhD, assistant to increased cost and decreased patient the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public professor of compliance.” They concluded that while Health. pharmacology the SPRINT trial suggests a blood pres- & experimen- sure target of less than 120, their analysis Tatfong Ng, tal therapeutics, “cautions against” such an intensive PhD, assistant will collaborate target for CKD patients. professor of with profes- The third conclusion is striking, says ophthalmology, sors Chunhong Hughes. “They’re actually challenging the will co-orga- Huang and findings of this huge study—that the systolic nize an inaugu- Zhangping Liao as well as Sijiao Na, a blood pressure of these patients should be so ral symposium PhD student in Dr. Zhou’s laboratory, all intensively managed. That’s a pretty dramatic with Dr. Amy from the Nanchang University School of finding for second-year medical students. Cheuk Yin Lo at Medicine. They will study the molecular They made a really good observation. They The University mechanisms of western-type, high-fat, backed it up with a logical argument and of Hong Kong between the two depart- diet-induced obesity and diabetes, focus- evidence from the study, and they’ve created a ments of Ophthalmology. The sym- ing on immune cells and neutrophils, and very good argument for another recommenda- posium will offer a platform for eye how they change with diet and aging. tion out of the same data. This is exceptional.” researchers in both departments to share Dr. Zhou received her PhD from King’s n Says Nicholas Chiu: “I guess the takeaway is and exchange scientific knowledge on the College at the University of London. that you don’t have to know the most to ask a simple but important question.” n

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 13 COVER STORY | THE WEDDING ISSUE

Featuring couples from the 1960s–2010s

14 Boston University School of Medicine There’s

always time to fall in love.

Even in medical school.

Boston University Medicine typically applying and interviewing for competitive focuses on the academic, research, and residencies. The Alumni Association esti- career achievements of our alumni, faculty, mates that since 1950, nearly 200 couples and students—but we also recognize that met while attending the School. Dean Ant- individuals who love, feel, cry, laugh, smile, man has even been known to tell incoming and care are behind these significant students at the White Coat Ceremony, “Look accomplishments. around, you may be standing next to your In that spirit, this story celebrates those future husband or wife!” who met and fell in love at BUSM. In a constantly changing world, it’s We reached out to couples who found important to celebrate something as timeless each other on campus, despite relentless as love. Here are some of the stories School studying, clinical rotations, clerkships, and of Medicine sweethearts shared with us.

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 15 COVER STORY | THE WEDDING ISSUE

The 60s he Pedinis are the got married—and they have it School’s golden to this day. Drs. Egle D.(MED’67) T couple—in more ways Their first date still makes than one. The happy twosome them chuckle. “Medical (MED’66) & Kenneth Pedini recently celebrated their 50th students didn’t have a lot of Naples, Florida | Married for 50 years wedding anniversary. They money in those days. We had to be inventive on how we could get together and party,” Ken explains. As it turned out, his friend was having a get- together in the South End—in an empty funeral home. “There was lots of Greek music and dancing, and if he was going to bring me there on our first also attended Ken’s 50th class date, I had to know more,” reunion last year, and Egle’s laughs Egle. 50th last month. The couple remained in Both Ken and Egle were their first jobs for their entire serious students and spent a professional lives. They are lot of time in the old campus thankful for their radiology library, then located in the B careers, which allowed them Building. “The most wonder- to retire early, travel, and ful part of my second year was remain active in charities and that I met Egle. I looked across education. “No, we don’t golf,” the oak table and she smiled, they joke. and I could study no more,” Their simple advice for Ken recalls. He lent Egle a other physician couples: “Just book, Basic Clinical Parasitol- persevere. It’s a wonderful pro- ogy by School of Medicine Pro- fession worth the hardships. The 70s fessor David L. Belding. She And find someone with good returned the book when they character!” Drs. Meredith & Terry Miller (MED’75) Woodside, California | Married for 43 years

“ e met in BaseLab school together, ate together, during freshman and studied together,” Terry W year in 1971. Terry recalls. was flirting with my labmate,” Inseparable, they married says Meredith Miller. Meredith in their third year and matched and Terry were friends for two together in their fourth; they’ve months before they started been in the Bay Area ever since. dating. Meredith’s career in experi- mental pathology and Terry’s in psychiatry have allowed them lifestyles that include ample time for each other. The Millers, who have two children (Elana, 34, and Zach, 33) plan to retire soon Finding time to be together and build their dream house in was not an issue. “We were Maui. together 24/7. We drove to

16 Boston University School of Medicine The 80s

(MPH’85, Drs. Ilona Wiener Surick Drs. Margo M. Moskos MED’89) & Burton Surick (MED’86) & David L. Burns (GRS’87, MED’90) Paramus, New Jersey | Married for 31 years Lexington, Massachusetts | Married for 27 years

“ isten, I just want to go He even attended their out to dinner. I don’t wedding. Lwant to marry you,” Margo and Dave credit Dave informed Margo dur- their parents for teaching ing her first year of medical them loyalty, kindness, and school. Margo wanted to focus the importance of family. on her studies, but had a feel- “Our bond is strengthened ing she was going to fall in by our closeness with our love. “Dave’s kindness really children,” Margo says. Their

lona and Burt may have graduated from the School I of Medicine, but their first date was very “Charles River”— freshman year, they caught a movie at Warren Towers and began dating the next month. They met while attending the six-year BA-MD Program career over the other's or pri- did it for me. I knew that this (which is now seven years). oritize family over a career was the man who would care “I would type all of Burt’s choice,” Burt says. about me no matter what,” papers. He was a slow typist, so “Things tend to even out she says. I had incentive to type so we over time as long as both of “We worked hard and could go out.” Ilona remem- you are committed to making played hard,” Margo recalls. bers. They enjoyed hanging out it work. And it is important to “We’re both comedians. We in front of the Instructional always make time for fun in laugh and dance like no one’s daughter Anastasia is in the Building, and still recall wheel- your life and to have things in watching,” Dave adds. Their BA/MPH program and will ing patients back and forth common outside of medicine,” favorite memories of BUSM graduate next year; their son in the tunnels of Boston City Ilona adds. are of “Skit Night.” The comic Alexander is a student at Hospital. Ilona is now vice president duo fondly remembers Dr. Bentley University. When residency applica- of International Product Safety William McNary, former dean Dave is now a gastroen- tion time came, they were and General Safety Assessment of students; in fact, Margo terologist and head of Clinical advised to prioritize one career Officer at Eisai, Inc.; Burt is sought him out the day after Nutrition at Lahey Clinic in over the other. “We didn't listen a program director of Surgi- they got engaged to make sure Burlington, Massachusetts, but with 20/20 hindsight, we cal Residency at Mount Sinai he approved. Margo recalls his while Margo is a breast radi- agree that in order to make a Beth Israel. They have two reaction: “Marry him, he’s a ologist at Massachusetts dual-career family work, you children—Gabrielle, a family good kid.” General Hospital. They are have to be comfortable that at medicine resident at Mount “Of course, I always did thankful for the great friends different times, you will likely Sinai, and Jonathan, an electri- everything Dr. McNary told and mentors they came to have to prioritize one person's cal engineer at Formlabs. me,” she laughs. know at BUSM.

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 17 COVER STORY | THE WEDDING ISSUE

The 90s Drs. Shirvinda & Namita Wijesekera (MED’98) New Haven, Connecticut | Married for 16 years

“ hirvi was the guy from memories of medical school got California and I was us through those tough three S the girl from Jersey,” years apart.” Namita says. Nevertheless, Today, they’re both in they found common ground private practice and on staff when they met as freshmen in at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Warren Towers as part of the Namita is a general pediatri- seven-year BA-MD program. cian at West Rock Pediatrics Shirvinda and Namita began and teaches at both Yale and dating the last year of their Quinnipiac; Shirvinda prac- undergraduate education. tices at Connecticut Orthope- of 13. Namita explains, “They They now live in Connecti- dic Specialists with a specialty keep us busy and while life cut and acknowledge they were in adult and pediatric spinal sometimes is a bit chaotic, we fortunate to have had each surgery. They also volunteer are grateful for every bit of it. other during medical school, on global surgery missions to We are lucky to have found despite living on opposite treat children with scoliosis, each other early in our lives and coasts during their residen- during which time Namita careers. We essentially grew cies. “Being in a long distance cares for the children pre-sur- up together and molded each relationship was really tough. gery and Shirvinda performs it. other into who we are today. ates the sacrifices that we make We spent all of our vacations “It is an amazing experience,” “Careers in medicine can for our patients and families. and long hours on the phone Shirvinda says. be tough, but having a physi- The best advice we can offer is together,” Shirvinda recalls. They enjoy full lives with cian spouse gives you a partner to be kind to each other.” “Our undergrad friendship and four children under the age that understands and appreci-

achel met her future- Craig heading to his car. He Drs. Rachel (CAS ’99, MED’02) husband during the first called him back, brought him to R week of her freshman Rachel, sat him in a chair next & Craig Title (BA, MED’96) year at an ice cream social at to her and said, "Here. Sit, talk." New York City, New York | Married for 16 years BU Hillel in September of 1995. “And the rest is history,” “I remember calling my best Rachel says. The couple dated for the next few years, mostly long distance while Craig was com- pleting an orthopedic surgery residency in New York City and Rachel was finishing her program at BUSM. They mar- friend the night I met Craig and ried six years after they met, telling her, ‘I just met the man I with Rabbi Polak, the man who am going to marry!’” she recalls. brought them together, officiat- The pair met with the help ing at the wedding. of Rabbi Joseph Polak. After The Titles have three learning Rachel was in the children: Corey, 13, and twins seven-year BA-MD Program, Jordan and Benjamin, 8. Rachel he ran around Hillel frantically is a radiologist and Craig a bar- looking for Craig, who had been iatric medicine specialist, both studying in the Hillel library in New York City private prac- for a medical school exam. In tice. Boston and BU will always a last-ditch effort, he looked hold very special places in their outside the building and saw hearts.

18 Boston University School of Medicine The 00s The 10s

Drs. Banu A. Karimi-Shah Drs. Natalia Alvarez (MED’16) & Rahul K. Shah (CAS/MED’00) & Rauvynne Sangara (MED‘17) Potomac, Maryland | Married for 17 years Together for three years and recently engaged

“ his is going to sound Their relationship very corny, but when started—and grew—at the T we first met, Natalia library. “Some hours were more looked at me like I was the productive than others, but we only one in the bar,” Rauvynne got through it,” Natalia recalls. says. During clinical rotations, Rau- “And I felt like she was the vynne became her rock. “From only one in the bar,” Natalia packing small snacks to get me agrees. through surgery to going out They met at a first-year during the little bit of free time orientation social at Lands- I had, Rauvynne grounded me, downe Pub. Looking for an balanced me, and reminded excuse to get out of karaoke, me of why we put ourselves Natalia asked Rauvynne to through these hard years.” tell her friend that her throat Since last year, when Nata- was too sore to sing. Rau- lia matched in Miami for her vynne obliged and the two residency, they have been living exchanged names. apart. Fortunately, Rauvynne’s he seven-year schedule as a fourth- BA-MD Program year student has had T was lucky for Rahul some flexibility, so Shah—that’s where he met they’ve been able to see his wife, Banu. “Banu and I each other at least once met on the first day of ori- a month. In March, entation in August of 1993. Rauvynne matched She did not like me for many of us,” Banu says. She is at the University of months. It took perseverance now clinical team leader of Southern California for her to come around, but the Division of Pulmonary, in Los Angeles. She she did,” he recalls. Allergy, and Rheumatology believes that even Banu and Rahul have Products in the Office of though they will live on fond memories of being on New Drugs for the US Food opposite coasts, “what- campus. “Paul O’Bryan was and Drug Administration. ever happens, we’ll be the program director at the Rahul is vice president, chief able to make it work.” time, and he treated the stu- quality and safety officer of Embarking on dents like his extended fam- Children’s National Health their careers, they’ve ily,” Rahul explains. “We took System and associate profes- learned to stay close advantage of the awesome sor of otolaryngology and even when they facilities and faculty before pediatrics at George Wash- are apart, and they cell phones and the internet ington University School of remain positive. had gained traction, and we Medicine. “Even though having two spent a lot of face time— They have two children, people in medicine is difficult, literally—with our friends.” Nishu, 12, and Amir, 8, who I think it helps us understand The two supported each wear their BU T-shirts and what the other person is going other throughout rotations hoodies with pride! through. We really respect and clerkships. “We were each other,” Rauvynne says. able to maintain a lot of The happy couple recently our hobbies and balance got engaged and is planning the medical school aspect, an October 2018 wedding in which is important for both Miami.

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 19 BUSM Research

■ Study Probes Soda Company Sponsorship corresponding author Jasmeet Hayes, PhD, assistant of Health Groups professor of psychiatry. “Our results suggest that when The nation’s two largest soda companies sponsored at combined with genetic factors, concussions may be asso- least 96 national health organizations from 2011 to 2015, The research- ciated with accelerated cortical thickness and memory dampening the health groups’ support of legislation to ers said soda decline in Alzheimer’s disease-relevant areas.” reduce soda consumption and impeding efforts to com- companies Interestingly, these brain abnormalities were found in bat the obesity epidemic. can neutral- relatively young people—the group’s average age was just During the same five-year period, the Coca-Cola ize potential 32. “These findings show promise for detecting the influ- Company and PepsiCo lobbied against at least 28 pub- legislative ence of concussion on neurodegeneration early in one’s lic health bills intended to reduce soda consumption or opposition lifetime, thus it is important to document the occurrence improve nutrition, according to a Boston University School by invoking and subsequent symptoms of a concussion, even if the of Medicine/School of Public Health study published in reciprocity person reports only having their ‘bell rung’ and is able to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. and financial shake it off fairly quickly. When combined with factors dependence such as genetics, the concussion may produce negative from national long-term health consequences,” Dr. Hayes said. health organizations. ■ Blood test can predict life or death outcome for patients with Ebola virus disease Researchers have identified a molecular barcode in the blood of patients with Ebola virus disease that can pre- dict whether they are likely to survive or die from the viral This type of infection. blood analy- The results, published in Genome Biology by a team of sis could be BUSM investigators in collaboration with the University of integrated Liverpool, Public Health England, and other international into future partners, provide data on the underlying causes of Ebola outbreak virus infection and suggest that this type of blood analysis The companies “used relationships with health organi- responses as a could be integrated into future outbreak responses as a zations to develop positive associations for their brands,” diagnostic tool diagnostic tool to help guide treatment strategies. said lead author Daniel Aaron, a third-year BUSM medical to help guide “It is not just how much Ebola virus that is present in a student who co-wrote the study with Michael Siegel, MD, treatment patient that defines whether a patient will survive. How professor of community health sciences at the School of strategies. the patient fights the infection is also key. Defining com- Public Health. mon aspects of how the immune system responds in The researchers said soda companies can neutralize individuals that survive opens a new window for studying potential legislative opposition by invoking reciprocity and how to keep Ebola virus infection from being a fatal infec- financial dependence from national health organizations. tion,” explained co-corresponding author John Connor, “Rather than supporting public health, organizations may PhD, associate professor of microbiology. become unwitting partners in a corporate marketing strategy that undermines public health,” Aaron explained. ■ Study Finds Biomarker for Lung Cancer Detection in the Nasal Passages of Smokers ■ Researchers Find Link between Concussions A new nasal test may allow patients suspected of hav- and Alzheimer’s Disease ing lung cancer to undergo a simple swab of their nose A study has found that concussions may accelerate to determine if they have the disease. BUSM researchers Alzheimer’s disease-related brain atrophy and cognitive have found a genomic biomarker in the nasal passage can decline in people who are at genetic risk for the con- accurately determine the likelihood of a lung lesion being dition. Published in the journal Brain, the study shows malignant. promise for detecting the influence of concussion on Published in the Journal of the National Cancer neurodegeneration. Institute, the findings will allow physicians to confi- “We found that having a concussion was associ- dently identify patients who are at low probability for ated with lower cortical thickness in brain regions that having lung cancer, thus sparing them from costly and are the first to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease,” said risky procedures.

20 Boston University School of Medicine Research

After examining nasal epithelial brushings from current the presence of long sleep duration,” said co-corresponding and former smokers undergoing diagnostic evaluation for author Sudha Seshadri, MD, professor of neurology at pulmonary lesions suspected of being lung cancer, the BUSM and FHS senior investigator. researchers determined that the nasal airway epithelial The results suggest that excessive sleep may be a Screening for field of lung cancer-associated injury in smokers extends symptom rather than a cause of the brain changes that sleeping prob- to the nose and has the potential of being a non-invasive occur with dementia, researchers concluded. Therefore, lems may aid biomarker for lung cancer detection. interventions to restrict sleep duration are unlikely to in the early reduce the risk of dementia. detection Screening for sleeping problems may aid in the early of cognitive detection of cognitive impairment and dementia. Early impairment diagnosis of dementia has many important benefits, such and dementia. as giving the patient the opportunity to more actively direct their future plans and health care decisions.

■ Connection between Brain Inflammation and CTE Identified BUSM researchers have shown for the first time that inflammation in the brain may be directly involved in the development of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). They also found that the number of years one plays contact sports may predict the occurrence of CTE, A new test may detect lung and this association is partly due to increased inflamma- tion in the brain. cancer from a nasal swab. The findings are impor- tant steps in “There is a clear and growing need to develop addi- understand- tional diagnostic approaches for evaluating pulmonary ing how CTE lesions to determine which patients should undergo CT develops and surveillance or invasive biopsy. The ability to test for may help molecular changes in this ‘field of injury’ allows us to efforts to rule out the disease earlier without invasive procedures,” identify and said corresponding author Avrum Spira, MD, MSc, pro- treat the con- fessor of medicine, pathology, and bioinformatics, and dition during the Alexander Graham Bell Professor in Health Care life. Entrepreneurship.

■ Study Finds Prolonged Sleep May Predict Published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications, the Dementia Risk findings are important steps in understanding how CTE Data from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) has shown develops and may help efforts to identify and treat the that people who consistently sleep more than nine hours condition during life. each night had double the risk of developing dementia in “This study provides evidence that playing football for 10 years as compared to participants who slept for nine a prolonged period can result in long-term brain inflam- hours or less. Published in the journal Neurology, the find- mation and that this inflammation might lead to CTE,” ings also found that those who slept longer had smaller said first author Jonathan Cherry, PhD, BUSM postdoc- brain volumes. toral fellow in neurology. “Although inflammation may be “Participants without a high school degree who sleep protective in the brain, especially right after an injury, our for more than nine hours each night had six times the study suggests that years after a period of playing foot- risk of developing dementia in 10 years as compared to ball, inflammation can persist in the brain and is linked to participants who slept less. These results suggest that the development of CTE.” being highly educated may protect against dementia in

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 21 BUSMBUSM Research Research

RESEARCH AWARDS ■ Thomas Perls Receives Award to Study Centenarian Cardiovascular Genetics ■ Josh Campbell Receives Lungevity Foundation Grant Thomas Perls, MD, MPH, FACP, professor of medicine and direc- Josh Campbell, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of tor of the New England Centenarian Study (NECS), has received a Computational Biomedicine, has been awarded a three-year, $1,066,934 grant from the William M. Wood Foundation to explore $300,000 grant from the Lungevity Foundation to study the early the genetic basis of cardiovascular health in centenarians. development of squamous cell lung cancer, the second most common NECS has taken groundbreaking steps to determine the bio- type of lung cancer. markers and genetic basis of healthy aging. In addition to exam- The grant will support Dr. Campbell’s research on how nor- ining the genetic basis of cardiovascular health, Dr. Perls will be mal lung cells acquire changes in their DNA to form premalignant working with Lee Goldstein, MD, PhD, associate professor of lesions and what causes these lesions to progress or regress. psychiatry, neurology, ophthalmology, pathology, and laboratory “One of the challenges for early detection and prevention of medicine & biomedical engineering, to develop a new method this type of cancer is that we don’t understand what triggers the of detecting a biomarker of aging, rate of aging, and other age- progression from normal cells to premalignant lesions, or what related diseases in the eye. Dr. Perls also will collect and publish causes premalignant lesions to progress to invasive carcinoma,” historical perspectives from the centenarians. Dr. Campbell said. He hopes to identify a biomarker that will signal the earliest ■ Walmart Foundation Grant Supports Women Veterans stages of squamous cell lung cancer and that would ultimately be The Walmart Foundation has awarded Boston University approxi- targeted with therapeutics that would effectively serve as a cure. mately $500,000 to help launch the Women Veterans Network (WoVeN), a nationwide link of structured support groups for female ■ Joseph Mizgerd Receives NIH Grant to Study Pneumonia Biology veterans. This is the foundation’s first grant to the University. Joseph P. Mizgerd, ScD, professor of medicine, has received an WoVeN will be led by School of Medicine faculty members Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Heart, Lung and Tara Galovski, PhD, and Amy Street, PhD, both associate pro- Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health. He will use fessors of psychiatry who also oversee the Women’s Health the seven-year, $5.9 million grant to study the biology of pneumonia. Sciences Division at the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Dr. Mizgerd and his team plan to advance the understanding of Syndrome, a component of the Department of Veterans Affairs. lung defense against pneumonia, generate new approaches to pre- The division’s mission is to understand the psychological impact venting and curing pneumonia, and further the concept that pneu- of war on women veterans. monia is a chronic disease of aging. The Foundation will fund the first 15 months of this new five-year Pneumonia kills more children worldwide and hospitalizes more program, which aims to enhance wellness, quality of life, and family children in the United States than any other disease. The risk of relationships for female veterans. Support groups will be developed death from pneumonia increases throughout adulthood, affect- and led by women veterans with the goal of increasing social support ing older adults more than children. Pneumonia also accelerates and interpersonal connections with others who share the experiences unhealthy aging, including rapid decline from chronic pulmonary of women who have served. and cardiovascular diseases. To help support the 2.2 million women who have returned from This is the first year that the NHLBI has provided Outstanding military service, women veterans will be trained to facilitate a series Investigator Awards, designed to support the research program of of 10-week support groups that aim to enhance wellness, quality of an investigator rather than one single research project. life, family relationships, and supportive connections with other vet- erans and, as needed, referrals for additional health services. While ■ Richard Myers Receives Ellison Foundation Grant many services and organizations currently support veterans transi- Richard Myers, PhD, professor of neurology, has received tioning to civilian life, few address the unique experiences of women $100,000 from the Ellison Foundation to further study a veterans using evidence-based approaches. Parkinson’s disease (PD) target. “WoVeN is designed to be a home for women veterans, a His team will investigate the Cyclin G-associated kinase (GAK) place where our veterans can connect both within their individual gene and protein and why a deficiency of it increases the risk for communities and nationally,” Dr. Galovski said. “The Walmart developing Parkinson’s disease, a chronic and progressively wors- Foundation has been incredibly supportive of this project from day ening movement disorder that results from the malfunction and one, and we are proud of our partnership in support of the women death of neurons. Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s and its who have sacrificed much to serve us.” cause is unknown. For those unable to attend support groups, an interactive WoVeN Dr. Myers seeks to define what versions of GAK are in the website will help connect female veterans and offer resources that human brain, how they function, and how certain variations could address their needs and experiences. protect from Parkinson’s. GAK is critical for a process that is “The Walmart Foundation is proud to help fund Boston University’s essential for normal function and brain activity. launch of the Women Veterans Network, and anticipates that this The Myers lab has been studying the genetics of Parkinson’s for five-year initiative will play an important role in establishing networks more than 20 years and has participated in a wide range of investi- and enhancing opportunities for female veterans as they re-enter gations for the disease. civilian life,” said Kathy Cox, senior manager of Walmart Giving. n

22 Boston University School of Medicine BUSM Giving bu.edu/supportingbusm

On May 4, the Dean’s Advisory Board held its spring meeting on the Medical Campus. Board members actively engaged with faculty on BUSM’s various veterans’ initiatives and also spoke with rising research leaders Bindu Kalesan, PhD, MPH (gun violence) and Matthew Pase, PhD (demen- tia/Alzheimer’s disease). They also heard from a student panel who discussed BU’s BEST (Broadening Experience in Scientific Training) program, a professional career development initiative for graduate biomedi- cal science students and postdocs.

Pictured: seated (L–R): Christine Hunter, MD, Elizabeth Brown, MD, Lee Silver, MD, Dean Karen Antman, MD, Suzanne Cutler, PhD, and Sherry Leventhal; standing (L–R): John Avellino, Burton Golub, MD, Rachelle Silver, Richard Catrambone, MD, DMD, Sarkis Kechejian, MD, and Simon Parisier, MD.

Campaign Impact: The Campaign for BU and the School of Medicine Impact by the Numbers An update on the progress of the nine-year, $240 million campaign for BUSM: With your help, the next generation of clini- cians, medical leaders, and researchers can join us in turning possibility into reality. There are so many ways to have an impact. You can help students receive a cutting-edge education that will prepare them for rewarding careers and $225.1M $187.5M $37.5M 2,292 give them the tools and resources they need to RAISED PERMANENTLY CURRENT ALUMNI become trailblazers in their chosen fields. Or, RESTRICTED USE PARTICIPATING you can help us support our dedicated faculty, IN CAMPAIGN who conduct groundbreaking research while bringing excitement to the classroom. No mat- MORE THAN ter your contribution, you can have a hand in advancing medical education and research. Generous support from alumni, parents, and friends will have an enduring and significant $20.9M $4.3M 28 $86M impact on the experience of students, faculty, RAISED FOR IN SCHOOL MONTHS RAISED FROM and researchers at the School of Medicine. STUDENT OF MEDICINE REMAINING CORPORATIONS Learn more about making your own impact at SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUAL FUND IN THE AND www.bu.edu/supportingbusm, or contact the SUPPORT CAMPAIGN FOUNDATIONS BUSM Development Office at 617- 638-4570 or [email protected]. Here’s the impact your fellow donors have Figures as of May 1, 2017. The campaign concludes September 30, 2019. made. n

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 23 BUSM Giving

Burt Golub, MD (MED’65), Frank Citrone, Suzanne Cutler, PhD, Kathy Cox, and Anna Hohler, MD (MED’98).

Stuart Siegel, MD (MED’67), Gabriella Avellino, MD (MED’13), and John Avellino with Dean Karen Antman. Keefer Society Dinner

embers of Boston University School of Medicine Dean’s M Advisory Board and the Chester S. Keefer, MD Society—which recognizes donors who have supported the School of Medicine with lifetime gifts totaling $50,000 or more— gathered on May 4 at the Four Seasons Dean Karen Antman and Lee Silver, MD (MED’82) Hotel for the Society’s 24th annual present a plaque to Kathy Cox, senior manager dinner. Dean Karen Antman inducted for military family and veterans programs at the Walmart Foundation, recognizing Walmart’s support 22 new members into the society. to BUSM and its commitment to veterans around the The Doctors’ Notes perform. Guests mingled with students cur- country. rently in the MD and combined MD/ PhD programs and enjoyed a perfor- mance by the student a cappella group, the Doctors’ Notes. n

Ann Cea, MD (MED’67), Sarkis Kechejian, MD (MED’63), Jean Ramsey, MD (MED‘90, MPH‘08), Associate Dean for Alumni Affairs, President Emeritus Aram Chobanian, MD, Stuart Siegel, MD (MED’67), Ralph Ganick, (back row/standing) Jean Ramsey, MD (MED’90, MPH‘08), Associate Dean for Alumni Affairs, Roya MD (MED’67), Edward Avedisian, and Carl Edalatpour (MED’20), Hsi Pin Chen, MD (MED’96), Kenneth Hancock, PhD; (seated) Sophia Catrambone, Franzblau, PhD. Richard Catrambone, MD, DMD (MED’92), Elena Grande, Donald Grande, MD (MED’73).

24 Boston University School of Medicine Alumni NEWS [email protected] page 28). As Dr. Tracey remarked in his acceptance speech, the School is ever-changing; yet, in some regards, many things are still the same. BUSM Launches Dr. Tracey referenced drive and social consciousness that remain “Nurture the apparent in our current students. Neighborhood” Whether spearheading a peer-to- peer health education program Alumni Events for girls in India or competing against teams of experienced academic researchers and physi- To the group’s delight, the infant daughter of Dan Kirshenbaum (MED’11) and wife Laura (LAW’12) held court throughout cian scientists in the NEJM Major the evening. International Data Challenge, they continue to make strides in a way DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, that reflects the School’s high stan- Boston University School of dards and mission. Medicine is known for making Alumni support is important to strides in medicine and giving back BUSM students, and there are so to our community; both of these many ways to make an impact. To qualities were the driving force help our students thrive, you can behind the success of this year’s become an E-mentor, have a student BU Giving Day. Thanks to “bonus shadow you, offer a cup of coffee funds” generously provided by Rod to students traveling for residency Hochman (MED’79, CAS’79), we interviews, and, of course, support almost tripled the number of Giving them through philanthropic efforts. Day participants this year. Together, Scholarship dollars continue to be a 191 donors including alumni, parents, top priority for Dean Antman; contri- Robbie Apfel (MED’62) and spouse Bennet Simon, PhD, enjoy students, faculty, and staff raised butions are always welcome! the camaraderie and good food at nearly $70,000 in 24 hours! We are grateful for alumni involve­ Basho on Boylston Street. Faculty members greeted ment, no matter how you do it. alumni, students, and staff as they BUSM continues to leave its gathered for Alumni Weekend activi- mark. As always, I encourage you to n November 16, a small team of recent ties, including milestone reunions explore the changes taking place on grads with appointments at Beth Israel and the inaugural Alumni Awards campus. Feel free to visit us to see Deaconess Medical Center worked with the Luncheon. We also recognized how our mission still stands strong, O Alumni Association to pilot a new kind of Nicole Gibran (MED’85) and Kevin and please stop by the Alumni cultivation event at Basho restaurant in the Longwood/ Tracey (MED’83) for their distin- Office—the alumni team welcomes Fenway area. Through this event and others to follow, we guished careers in medicine (see visitors! are reconnecting with our alumni who work right in our backyard, i.e., at the large neighborhood medical centers in greater Boston. Some grads report being unaware that CONTACT US their colleagues also attended BUSM, and we want to If you have news, announcements, bridge that gap. or creative works you’d like to share Anu Hazra (MED’12), Dan Kirshenbaum (MED’11), with your fellow alumni, please Jean E. Ramsey, MED’90, MPH’08 Rob Najarian and Graham Snyder (both MED’05) reached Associate Dean for Alumni Affairs write to the BUSM Alumni Asso- out to alumni working in the Longwood area by using ciation at 72 E. Concord Street, Associate Professor, Doximity, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media, as L120, Boston, MA 02118 or email Ophthalmology [email protected]. and Pediatrics well as through personal meetings. Vice Chair of Education and Alumni and guests enjoyed wine, extraordinary sushi, BUSM Alumni Program Director assorted delicacies, and pleasant conversation. n Facebook “f” Logo AssociationCMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo onCMYK / .eps Facebook BUSM and BMC Department facebook.com/alumBUSM of Ophthalmology

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 25 BUSM Alumni CLASS NOTES

Alumni Weekend 2017

lumni from across the country gathered for a weekend of highlights were student-led tours of campus and Associate Dean for special events, including the 50th reunion for the Class Academic Affairs Dr. Douglas H. Hughes’s popular presentation on A of ‘67, the 25th reunion for the Class of ’92, and the the history of BUSM and the notable alumni who contributed to its inaugural Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon. Among the rich legacy. n

FRIDAY

1. During Friday morning of their 50th reunion, BUSM classmates Ralph Ganick and David Bailen find each other on the Medical Campus. 2. Renowned biochem and City Lab faculty member and mentor Carl Franzblau, PhD, spontaneously joins Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient Kevin Tracey, MD (MED’83), on the podium after Dr. Tracey’s presentation. 3. From left: Peter Fauci, MD (MED’57) and Linda 1. 2. Fauci; Roberta Apfel, MD (MED’62), and Bennett 3. 5. Simon, PhD at the inaugu- ral Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon. 4. Nicole Gibran, MD (MED’85), third from left, receives the Distinguished Alumna Award, shown here with Dean Karen Antman, Alumni President Richard J. Catrambone, MD, DMD (MED’92), and Associate Dean for Alumni 4. Affairs Jean E. Ramsey (MED’90, MPH’08). 5. Alumni President Richard J. Catrambone, MD, DMD (MED’92) and incoming president Mark H. Dougherty (MED’93) following the awards luncheon.

26 Boston University School of Medicine SATURDAY 2.

1. Reunited Class of 1992 classmates arrive on campus for lunch and sundaes. From left, Michael Aikens, Stacey Silvers, Louis Cohen, Frank LaRosa, and Tonya Hudson. 2. Brightly adorned 50th reunioners Drs. Egle Pedini and Carol Pohl connect at the open sundae bar. Dr. Pedini traveled from Florida, Dr. Pohl from Wisconsin. 3. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Doug 1. Hughes, MD, presents his popular history talk, which highlights key underrepre- 4. sented minority alumni from BUSM’s first 50 years and the significance of pursuing a career in medicine during those times. 4. Class of 2007 alums Shankar Sridhara, MD, and Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, get their 10th reunion off to a clinical start in the Simula- 3. tion Lab. 5. 5. Dean Karen Antman welcomes 50th reunioner George Walcott (MED’67) and his daughter Isabel Draves to the reunion dinner parties held at The W Hotel. 6.First-year student Martine Randolph (MED’20) with 50th reunioner Mimi Peak (MED’67), and Steven Peak of Virginia. 6. 7. Bonds are still strong—the lively Class of 2007 had a fantastic 10th reunion turnout!

7.

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 27 BUSM Alumni

Dr. Tracey is professor of neurosurgery and molecular medicine at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine at Hofstra University and president and CEO of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research; he also serves as executive vice president for research at Northwell Health in New York. A leader in the field of inflamma- tion research, his contributions to science include the discovery and molecular mapping of neural circuits that control immune responses and the subsequent development of a method for treat- ing rheumatoid arthritis in a successful clini- cal trial. He discovered the molecular basis for inflammation occurring in the absence of infec- tion by identifying HMGB1—an abundant compo- nent in cell nuclei—as a therapeutic target at the

An inventor with more than

Kevin Tracey (MED’83) Nicole Gibran (MED’85) 60 US patents, Dr. Tracey’s biotechnology experience includes co-founding three Distinguished at BUMC under the mentorship of Dr. Erwin companies. Hirsch, she completed a clinical fellowship in Alumni Honored at the UW Burn Center with Drs. David Heimbach intersection of sterile and infective inflammation. and Loren Engrav; a National Institutes of Health He received his BS in chemistry (summa cum Alumni Weekend (NIH) Trauma Research T32 Fellowship in the laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Boston College in Skin Biology Laboratory of Dr. Karen Holbrook 1979. While training as a neurosurgeon at the Neurosurgeon and molecular medicine and research training in the laboratory of Dr. New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical specialist Kevin Tracey (MED’83) and surgeon Helene Sage soon followed. She joined the UW Center from 1983 to 1992, he was also a guest and burn specialist Nicole Gibran (MED’85) faculty in 1994 as assistant professor of surgery investigator at The Rockefeller University. were recognized during Alumni Weekend for and was promoted to professor in 2002. Also Appointed assistant professor of neurosur- their distinguished careers in medicine. that year, she was named director of the UW gery at Cornell University Medical College in Introduced at the weekend’s luncheon gather- Medicine Regional Burn Center and the UW Burn 1992, he established his laboratory at North ing by Alumni Association Associate Dean Jean Fellowship, where she has emphasized team Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New Ramsey (MED’90, MPH’08) on Friday, May building and mentoring residents and junior fac- York. There, he was appointed founding program 5, Drs. Gibran and Tracey received the BUSM ulty interested in burns. Clinically, she has been director for the General Clinical Research Center, Alumni Association Distinguished Alumna/ most interested in promoting optimal outcomes which received designation from the NIH’s Alumnus Award, bestowed on graduates who by introducing metrics into daily practice. National Center for Research Resources (NCRR). have made outstanding clinical, research, and In 2006, he was appointed president and CEO academic contributions to the profession of Currently, Dr. Gibran studies of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research medicine. They also presented at Grand Rounds, genetic and epigenetic and senior vice president, research, for the North with Dr. Gibran speaking on “Transforming pathophysiologic causes of Shore-LIJ Health System; in 2008, professor of Health Care: Medical Homes for the Critically aberrant responses to injury. neurosurgery and molecular medicine and asso- Injured” and Dr. Tracey on “Treating Patients with ciate dean for research at the newly founded Electrons Instead of Drugs.” Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine; and, Dr. Gibran is professor of surgery and the In addition to her duties as a clinician and in 2015, executive vice president, research, at David & Nancy Auth Washington Research teacher, Dr. Gibran developed the UW Medicine Northwell Health in New York. Foundation Chair in Restorative Burn Surgery at Regional Burn Center Research Laboratory, which An inventor with more than 60 US patents, the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, focuses on aberrant healing processes includ- Dr. Tracey’s biotechnology experience includes as well as director of the UW Medicine Regional ing hypertrophic scar formation and chronic co-founding three companies. He is also Burn Center at Harborview Medical Center. She non-healing wounds seen with diabetes mellitus. cofounder and councilor of the Global Sepsis also serves as adjunct professor of medicine The NIH has continually funded her research Alliance, a nonprofit organization supporting the (dermatology) at UW. since 1997. Currently, she studies genetic and efforts of more than a million caregivers in more She received her bachelor’s degree from epigenetic pathophysiologic causes of aberrant than 70 countries to understand and combat Brown University. After her surgical residency responses to injury. sepsis, a leading cause of death worldwide.

28 Boston University School of Medicine CLASS NOTES to BUSM to teach a seminar in 1969 Marc F. Hirsch of Bowling our focus. My daughter continues to integrated medicine for several Green, Kentucky, writes, “Retired innovate as an engineer and my son years until joining the nationwide from medical practice and writing teaches clowning, does therapeutic 1954 Arnold Goldenberg of Boca Joint Commission for Hospital my third book in a series of detective massage, and designs biodynamic Raton, Florida, writes, “I retired in Accreditations for 12 years, a very fiction set in 1950s New York City permaculture food forests. Without 2006 after 46 years of rheuma- rewarding professional capstone with a female protagonist. My two Boston University, none of this tology practice in West Hartford, to my clinical career. I was elected previous books in the series, would be possible; thanks for three Connecticut. Recently moved to to the Board of Selectmen for two, The Case and Hard Case, are avail- degrees on one day.” sunny Boca Raton, Florida, and three-year terms in Newbury and able on Amazon.” celebrated my 90th birthday in was Chairman for five years; our February 2017.” most visible accomplishment was 1974 Jeffrey R. Goldbarg of rebuilding two of America's lon- 1970 Mark S. Rapoport of New Concord, Massachusetts, writes, gest jetties at the mouth of the York, New York, writes, “With my “The various facets of my life 1959 James H. Gilmour of Merrimack River, helping to mitigate wife of 38 years Jane Hughes, I are expressed in time and space, Lexington, Massachusetts, writes, “I Plum Island erosion. Sheila Kay and have worked out a very unusual focusing in, fading out. Now I am a am retired from psychiatry and live I have three daughters, one son, retirement. We spend 6 months a 43-year husband of Laurie, father in Lexington.” and 15 grandchildren. Currently I year in Hanoi, Vietnam, a wonder- of Seth and Jason, and grandfather serve on the board of trustees of the ful, vibrant place that has been our of Graydon and Dashiell. As a psy- Mass Medical Society, where two of main home for the last 15 years. chiatrist, I enter many lives, some 1961 Simon C. Parisier of Palm our major concerns are the opioid I play full-court basketball, ride marred by tragedy, many dulled Beach Gardens, Florida, writes, “My epidemic and the physician’s role in my motorcycle, and run the gal- by depression. Some are healed by wife, Elaine, and I are fully retired end-of–natural life care. Although lery I started a decade ago offer- inquisitive questions, others by a and greatly enjoy our three chil- my speed is more deliberate, I still ing the tribal and ancient art of nurturing parent, still others by a dren’s families, including six grand- enjoy downhill skiing, primarily at Vietnam (54traditions.com.vn). limit-setting coach. Consulting and children. Our days are busy; new Sunday River, Maine, where I’ve had When it’s too hot in Hanoi, we stay teaching at a day hospital and inter- friendships, painting, golf, movies, a lifetime season pass since 1980. in our Manhattan apartment for viewing asylum-seekers comple- and exercising keep us very active. Looking forward to our 55th reunion six months and enjoy the culture ment my clinical work. Theatre, I am privileged to be on the Dean's in 2019!” New York offers. The children are music, and travel enrich us deeply.” Advisory Board Committee. During pursuing academic careers, albeit the 150th meeting of the American in different fields; Robert recently Otologic Society this spring, I will 1967 Peter M. Glassman of San completed his PhD at Oxford, 1975 Arnold M. Baskies of be awarded a Presidential Citation Antonio, Texas, writes, “Busy as focusing on the use of artificial Cherry Hill, New Jersey, writes, “As for Outstanding Contributions and ever as an author in retirement intelligence in filmmaking, and of January 1, I was very humbled to Dedication to the Field of Otology & from medical practice. Since 2003 Alison is in her last year of an infec- be named Chairman of the Board Neurotology.” I’ve written the medical thrillers tious disease fellowship at Harvard. of the most iconic voluntary cancer The Eyeman, The Duty Crew, and Fifteen-month-old grandson Henry fighting organization in the world, The Helios Rain, and my terror- is the happiest baby I have ever the American Cancer Society, which 1961 Paul K. Schick of Merion ism novels include Ocean City HQ, seen, but he has not yet decided on has 2.5 million volunteers, 7,000 Station, Pennsylvania, writes, “I was The Druid Stone, and My Name is a field of study.” staff in over 300 local offices, and a tenured professor in medicine at Kevin. My most recent publication research support in the United the Thomas Jefferson University is an anthology of short stories States to the tune of $5 billion Medical College. When I retired, I for the San Antonio Writer's Club 1972 Russell M. Jaffe of since 1946. The board oversees was elected an Emeritus Professor titled Coffee & A Story. Book #15 Vienna, Virginia, writes, “This is all functions of the society and is of Medicine.” is a current historical novel about a year of celebration. ELISA/ACT responsible for annual asset alloca- the Texas Comanche Indians, The Biotechnologies is now 33 years old tions of $150 million in research, Silver Concho.” and the premier exvivo lympho- $348 million in patient support, 1964 Howard J. Frankel of Short cyte response assay (LRA) clinical $123 million in cancer prevention, Hills, New Jersey, writes, “Judy lab. For thirty years, PERQUE has and $87 million for detection and and I are just back from a trip to 1968 Lloyd F. Price of Concord, provided advanced nutritional treatment. The society also is a Antarctica. Read all about it on my Massachusetts, writes, “I continue information and products to health major promoter of cancer activities blog: www.gardendaily.blogspot. to work in my consulting, foren- professionals. The Health Studies worldwide, providing assistance com.” sic, and clinical practice. Both our Collegium foundation researches and training in over 25 countries. I daughters are now married and we integrative and system biology am very proud of our board’s efforts enjoy travelling, most recently to approaches to maintaining or restor- and we will continue our mission to 1964 Vincent J. Russo of New Zealand and the Christmas ing health, and achieving remis- lead the fight for a world without Newbury, Massachusetts, writes, markets in Berlin. My best wishes to sion from chronic illness. Predictive cancer that was set forth since the “After closing my general sur- everyone and looking forward to our biomarkers, health coaches, and founding of the society 103 years gery practice in 2000, I returned 50th in 2018.” epigenetic programs continue to be ago. On a personal note, Susan and

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 29 BUSM Alumni CLASS NOTES

I are expecting our eighth grand- 1981 Jeff M. Sands of Atlanta, completing their fourth year of med- 2003 Andrew P. Cap of child in several weeks, which really Georgia, writes, “I was elected to ical school at St. George's University. Hollywood Park, Texas, writes, makes this a great year.” the presidency of the American Love to hear from my 32 years-post “Greetings, BU colleagues! I joined Physiological Society in 2017. I MD colleagues.” the Army through the Health serve one year as president-elect, Professions Scholarship Program 1975 Edward V. Lally of one as president, and one as past- in 2001 and have stayed on active Barrington, New Jersey, writes, “I president. I am honored and look 1989 Robert E. Eden of duty ever since. I completed internal was recognized as a Master of the forward to serving the American Barrington, Rhode Island, writes, medicine and hematology/oncol- American College of Rheumatology Physiological Society. This year also “I’m practicing pediatrics in ogy training at Walter Reed Army at their Annual Meeting in marks my 15th serving as renal divi- Providence and teaching at the Medical Center in Washington, DC, Washington, DC, on November 17, sion director at Emory University Warren Alpert School of Medicine and then moved to the US Army an award conferred on ACR mem- School of Medicine.” at Brown University. I see Rob Institute of Surgical Research in San bers who have made outstanding Krasny and Jeff Heier once in a while Antonio. I direct the Army's Blood contributions to the field of rheu- and am in the same medical office Research Program and see patients matology. It is one of the highest 1982 Kenneth S. Thompson building as Ezra Galler. Flying and at the San Antonio Military Medical honors the college bestows. I am a of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was driving at the track are hobbies.” Center. Life goes by fast when you're professor of medicine and director selected for the 2017 Boston having fun; I can't believe my old- of the Division of Rheumatology University School of Medicine alum- est (Natalie) is graduating from at the Warren Alpert School of nus for Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) 1992 Elliott H. Leitman of architecture grad school! Becky and Medicine at Brown University in induction. Dr. Thompson gradu- Newark, Delaware, writes, “I have I have two other kids, Anna Grace Providence, Rhode Island.” ated from BUSM in 1982, served his been in practice with First State and Michael.” residency in psychiatry at the Albert Orthopaedics for five years with a Einstein College of Medicine, and specialization in orthopaedic sports 1975 Joel A. Roffman of Plano, pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at medicine/arthroscopy. This summer 2009 Gebe P. George of Garden Texas, writes, “Still enjoying a Yale University's Center for Mental I will be traveling to Israel as one City, New York, writes, “I have been busy private practice in cardiology. Health Services Research. He is of the team physicians for the US selected as a chief resident in the Just published the book Making currently a faculty member in the Maccabi team.” Emergency Medicine residency at Every Day Count: A Jewish Doctor Center for Public Service Psychiatry NY-Presbyterian Hospital, the uni- Confronts His Illness. Nancy and I at the University of Pittsburgh, chief versity hospital of Columbia and are expecting our first grandchild medical officer of the Pennsylvania 1994 Karen E. Wang of Cornell.” this summer.” Psychiatric Leadership Council, and Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, writes, immediate past-president of the “I just marked 10 years at Reading American-Association of Social Health System's Children's Health 2010 Matthew F. Watto of San 1976 Jonathan I. Macy of Los Psychiatry. Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Antonio, Texas, writes, “I’m an inter- Angeles, California, writes, “I have As a general pediatrician working nist and medical educator currently been practicing ophthalmology with largely underserved popula- working in San Antonio, Texas, and in Los Angeles since 1981. After 1984 Marcia F. Katz of Winter tions, I oversee medical student also the founder/creator of a rapidly receiving the Senior Honor Award Park, Florida, writes, “I am leav- and family medicine resident growing internal medicine podcast, from UCLA and the Distinguished ing Baylor College of Medicine to education in pediatrics and the The Curbsiders. Along with my col- Alumnus Award from USC, I was become associate dean for Clinical Reach Out and Read and Centering leagues Drs. Stuart Brigham and recently promoted to clinical profes- Affairs at the University of Central Parenting programs at our office. Paul Williams, each week I serve sor, Department of Ophthalmology, Florida College of Medicine effective I live in Berks County with my up 'knowledge food' (and a little at both the Keck/USC School of Dec. 1, 2016.” husband Bryan and our two kids, humor) for continuing medical Medicine and the Geffen/UCLA ages 15 and 12. I would love to con- education. The Curbsiders features School of Medicine.” nect with any classmates passing national and international experts 1985 Peter D. Berman of through central Pennsylvania.” from the American Association Woodbury, New York, writes, “After of Clinical Endocrinologists, the 1979 Charles M. Blitzer of working for Mount Sinai Long Island National Lipid Association, and Durham, New Hampshire, writes, Doctors for 12 years, I am joining 2000 Joshua D. Liberman of the American Geriatrics Society, “I took a 10-week sabbatical last ENT and Allergy Associates in a Mequon, Wisconsin, writes, “I am to name a few. Check out summer and Sandy and I rode to state-of-the-art facility in Melville, currently working as a preventive thecurbsiders.com for more our tandem home from the Oregon New York. I will remain a clini- cardiologist at Ascension Columbia information.” coast. We had a great time, includ- cal associate instructor at Mount Saint Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee, ing a nice visit with John and Sinai Icahn School of Medicine and this year was elected as gov- Marianne Durkan ('79) in Hood and maintain hospital privileges at ernor of the Wisconsin Chapter of River. I am now back enjoying my Huntington Hospital and Mount the American College of Cardiology orthopeadic practice in Seacoast, Sinai Hospital. My two older until 2020.” New Hampshire.” children, Matthew and Zoe, are

30 Boston University School of Medicine Midwinter Phonathon & Brunch

Left: Laura Reingold (MED’20) reaches out to alumni, asking them to add pledges to the total showing on the leader board in the background.

Below: Betty Yang (MED’15), Jen Paek (MED’17), Andy Chu (MED’18), and Gus Godley (MED’19) (obscured) were among the student callers.

Betty Yang (MED’15) got cozy while calling alumni nationwide to share campus updates and ask for their support.

he chalkboard behind Laura Reingold (MED’20) showed that the Midwinter Phonathon & Brunch got off to a great start as seven students and five alumni gathered onT a Saturday morning in February to call several hun- dred alumni regarding their annual donations. BUSM alumnus and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Arvin Garg (MED’99) brought along his wife, Dr. Priya Garg, and their two daughters. A recent addition to the BUMC community, Priya has been named assistant dean for Student Affairs and will head the Medical Education office. Both are faculty members in the Department of Pediatrics. Drs. Elizabeth Dooling (MED’65) and Kate Phaneuf (MED’88) encouraged student callers to seek support for the newly established Christmas-Eastman-Fuller Scholarship Fund, named for three of BUSM’s legend- ary minority leaders: June Jackson Christmas (MED’49), Charles Eastman (MED1890) and Solomon Carter Fuller (MED1897). Our volunteers received a red fleece logo blan- ket and a hot buffet lunch in return for their hours of service. Thank you to: Andy Chu (MED’18), Elizabeth Dooling (MED’65), Arvin Garg (MED’99), Nishant Garg (MED’19), Priya Garg, MD, Gus Godley (MED’19), Andrew Olsen (MED’18), Jennifer Paek (MED’17), Kate Phaneuf (MED’88), Laura Reingold (MED’20), Jenn Tran (MED’18), and Betty Yang (MED’15).

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 31 BUSM Alumni CLASS NOTES

CONTACT US BUSM Alumni

Facebook “f” Logo AssociationCMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK on/ .eps Facebook If you have news, announcements, or creative works you’d like to share with your fellow alumni, please write to the BUSM Alumni Association at 72 E. Concord Street, L120, Boston, MA 02118 or email [email protected]. www.facebook.com/alumBUSM

IN Memoriam

2004 • Michele L. Lombardo of Norfolk, the American Medical Association, the brain development and reproduction; Virginia, on January 15, 2017. Dr. Lombardo Medical Society of Virginia, the Tidewater after achieving critical success in this line began her formal medical training at the Pediatric Society, and the Chest Wall Inter- of research in the 1980s and 1990s, she Boston University School of Medicine in national Group. In 2015 and 2016, her peers changed gears to investigate how sex chro- 2000. During this time, she began to con- recognized Dr. Lombardo as a “Top Doc” in mosome genes contribute to normal human sider what areas of medicine were of interest Coastal Virginia Magazine. development and sex-based differences in to her and it soon became evident that she susceptibility to congenital heart, autoim- was destined to be a surgeon. mune, and coronary diseases. This led to At the onset of a five-year residency in her pioneering work in monosomy X, Turner general surgery at the Warren Alpert Medi- 1981 • Carolyn A. Bondy of Gaithersburg, syndrome, in which a female is partially or cal School at Brown University, Michele and Maryland, in October of 2016. In 1977 Dr. completely missing the X chromosome. her husband Joe purchased a house in Bondy earned a master of science degree in Her research on Turner syndrome Cranston, Rhode Island, where they soon interdisciplinary science at the Massachu- revealed that upwards of half of women with began hosting an annual Thanksgiving din- setts Institute of Technology. She subse- this condition have congenital cardiovascular ner for the other surgery residents, cre- quently enrolled at Boston University School defects, which she hypothesized were due to ating many fond memories and lasting of Medicine, where she was elected to the a haploinsufficiency for pseudo-autosomal friendships. Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society genes located in the Xp region. Her research Michele soon became known within in 1980. She earned an MD in 1981, graduat- led to revelations of the roles sex chromo- certain circles as “The Four-Foot Surgeon” ing at the top of her class, and completed somes play in numerous chronic diseases (a/k/a “T4FS”) due to her diminutive stat- her internship and residency in internal and also led her to become an advocate for ure, which she optimistically claimed to be medicine at Boston University Hospital. women with Turner syndrome, which affects five feet. A research fellowship led her to the approximately 1 out of every 2,500 female During her fourth year of residency, National Institutes of Health; she joined the live births worldwide. Michele received the Thompson Scholarship Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute She was recognized for her work through for Surgical Study in Kenya and was honored of Child Health and Human Development numerous awards, including the Public to be appointed executive chief resident in (NICHD) as a fellow in clinical endocrinology Health Service Special Recognition Award her final year. As the end of her residency in 1984. She then trained in basic neurosci- presented by the US Department of Health approached, she came to embrace the idea ence at The National Institute of Neurologi- and Human Services and a lifetime recogni- of pediatric surgery. Michele also received cal Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) from 1985 tion award for her “contributions to improve the Resident Teaching Award, the Dean’s to 1990 before being promoted to tenured the lives of patients with Turner Syndrome,” Teaching Excellence Award, the Brian A. senior investigator at NICHD in 1990. As presented by the National Heart, Lung, and Dorman Surgical Education Award, and the chief of the NICHD Developmental Endocri- Blood Institute GenTac Investigators. Alpha Omega Alpha Resident Award. nology branch, Carolyn mentored and oth- Dr. Bondy is survived by two sons, Peter Michele was an assistant professor of erwise inspired countless young scientists, R. Bondy and his partner Jeanne James of surgery and assistant professor of pediat- many of whom are now NICHD scientific Olney, Maryland, and C. Eric Bondy and his rics at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, leaders. She also was active in the advance- wife Mariana Past of Lancaster, Pennsylva- an advanced trauma life support instruc- ment of women scientists at the NIH. nia, and four grandchildren, Jessica Bondy, tor, an active member of various commit- Carolyn retired from NICHD in 2012 Amanda Bondy, Ray Bondy, and Ana Bondy. tees at Children’s Hospital of The King’s and was promptly appointed scientist She was preceded in death by her husband Daughters, a fellow of the American College emerita. In her nearly 30 years at the NIH, Heinz, with whom she celebrated 41 years of of Surgeons and American Pediatric Surgi- she published more than 150 highly cited marriage at the time of his death in Febru- cal Association, and a member of numer- peer-reviewed papers spanning both basic ary 2014; and her parents, Forrest and Ann ous professional organizations, including the and clinical research. Her earlier work Louks. International Pediatric Endosurgery Group, concerned insulin-like growth factors in

32 Boston University School of Medicine The Miselis scholarship has meant so much to me as a budding first-generation physician. To know straight off that one quarter of my debts are paid in full is a great source of security and allows me to apply myself to the study of medicine with less anxiety about the future and more freedom to pursue what I love. It is humbling that the Miselis family took such an interest in me while I was still an untried medical student at the beginning of my career. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the gift and my zeal for it to bear fruit.

—Jared Trout (MED’17)

Education is a gift. Pass it on.

Jared’s scholarship was funded in part by a charitable gift annuity. To learn how you can support a student like Jared through a planned gift, contact the Planned Giving office at 800-645-2347 or [email protected], or visit bu.edu/plannedgiving.

Summer 2017 | go.bu.edu/frontlinemed 33 Boston University School of Medicine

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Calendar2017

White Coat Ceremony and Parents Reception AUGUST 2 Talbot Green, BUMC

GMS Distinguished PhD Alumni Award Ceremony SEPTEMBER 14 Hiebert Lounge, BUSM

Annual Scholarship Dinner with Dean’s Advisory Board OCTOBER 5 Hotel Commonwealth, Boston

Fall Dean’s Advisory Board Meeting OCTOBER 6 Hiebert Lounge, BUSM