Calabresi of Johns Hopkins Named Larner and UVM Health Network Neurological Sciences Chair

Peter Calabresi, M.D., director of the Richard T. Johnson Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Precision Medicine Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence, has been appointed chair of neurological sciences at the Larner College of Medicine and the University of Vermont Health Network, effective October 1, 2025.

Photo of Samuel Short, M.D. (left) and Mary Cushman M.D. (right)

New Calculator to Assess Stroke Risk

Researchers including Samuel Short, M.D.’23 (left), and Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc. (right), of the Larner College of Medicine have developed a more precise way to assess stroke risk in people with atrial fibrillation: Adding simple blood tests to an existing risk calculator can help better determine who truly needs anticoagulant medications, which prevent strokes but can also cause dangerous bleeding.

Postdoc Snoke Wins Prestigious Grant

Deena Snoke, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in the Toth Lab and a UVM Cancer Center member, was recently selected for the prestigious K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Cancer Institute for her research on lung cancer. This highly competitive grant is given to strong postdoctoral scientists to facilitate their transition to an independent, tenure-track faculty position.

LARNER VOICES

“Cancer patients are not looking to fight, but to heal. Meaningful conversations made me recognize that a humanistic perspective is needed to address the human side of cancer.”

— Brian Nguyen, Class of 2028

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ACCOLADES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dave Punihaole, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry and a member of the Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health, recently received a prestigious early-career development award from the National Science Foundation. The five-year grant will support Punihaole’s work on new chemical imaging methods for investigating protein folding in living cells.

Larner Class of 2028 medical student Sabrina Herzberg has been awarded the 2025 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship from the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society for her research exploring the link between melanoma and diabetes. This fellowship provides financial support for research and travel expenses to present results at a national meeting or conference.

2 headshots: Dani Brasino, Ph.D. (left), and Trishnee Bhurosy, M.Sc., Ph.D. (right)

Two UVM Cancer Center members affiliated with the Larner College of Medicine—Dani Brasino, Ph.D. (left), and Trishnee Bhurosy, M.Sc., Ph.D. (right), who is mentored by Maija Reblin, Ph.D.—and one mentee of a UVM Cancer Center member—Pamela Egan, M.D.—have received Institutional Research Grants from the American Cancer Society for fiscal year 2026.

Thanks to an invitation from Hinesburg Fire Department Training Officer Lieutenant Justin Beauchemin,Larner medical student and National Registry Paramedic Brian Canova ’27 (far right), gained hands-on teaching experience last month. Canova delivered a lecture on heat emergencies to be used by first responders when treating patients in the field, providing scenario-based questions that led to productive conversation amongst EMS providers.

Group photo of Sam Fishman ’28 (left); Jack Dolak ’28 (center); and Alex Nissenbaum ’28 (right)

Since Larner’s student lounge opened last winter, its ping-pong table has seen some action—including matches against Dean Richard L. Page, M.D. The tournament winners last fall were Michael Bergner ’28, gold; David Rezapour ’28, silver; and Ian Kent ’27, bronze; and in spring, Sam Fishman ’28 (left), bronze; Jack Dolak ’28 (center), gold; and Alex Nissenbaum ’28 (right), silver.