Celebrating the UVM Larner College of Medicine Community

The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine’s Class of 2030 gathered in the Ira Allen Chapel on October 9 to celebrate the annual White Coat Ceremony. A tradition for the past 25+ years at medical schools across the country, the ceremony celebrates the official entry of new students into the medical profession. Three of the 124 new students reflect on what putting on the iconic white coat means to them.

Read more about the 2026 White Coat Ceremony

Gary An, M.D., a University of Vermont trauma surgeon and researcher at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, has received a research and development contract worth up to $38 million to develop artificial intelligence–powered digital twins to help clinicians personalize treatment for critically ill patients. The research award is the largest in UVM history. 

Read more about Dr. An’s research

The medical students at the Larner College of Medicine have always been known to have a wide range of backgrounds and skill sets. From stand-up comedians to D1 athletes, our classes know no limits when it comes to transitioning into medicine. The Class of 2030 is no different, but one thing about this new class is unique: This class features four nurses.

Learn more about these nurses’ stories 

CoreMap, a medical technology company co-founded by Peter Spector, M.D., professor of medicine, raised a total of $58.1 million needed to bring the startup company’s heart mapping tool—developed from 24 years of research Dr. Spector did at UVM—closer to the marketplace. The tool enables personalized treatments for atrial fibrillation.

Read more about Dr. Spector’s research

ACCOLADES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Contemporary Pediatrics recently interviewed Larner Class of 2027 medical student Lexi Amaio about her research on pediatric ingestion of expanding water beads. Between 2010 and 2022, children swallowing expanding water beads resulted in 6,135 calls to U.S. poison centers. Amaio emphasizes the crucial role that pediatricians have in preventing the ingestion of expanding water beads in young children.

On September 26, the Larner College of Medicine welcomed the Perry Initiative to Burlington for the first time, bringing together medical students, biomedical engineering students, physicians, residents, and institutional partners for an evening dedicated to hands-on orthopaedic surgery and engineering education, mentorship, and advancing diversity within these fields.

Earlier this month, the American Medical Women’s Association announced 31 INSPIRE Award recipients, which included Larner’s Jan Carney, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean for public health and health policy, chief of the Division of Public Health, and professor of medicine. The award honors women physicians who inspire others through their commitment to excellence in patient care, mentorship, leadership, community service, and advocacy.

Jason Botton, Ph.D., professor of medicine at the Larner College of Medicine, has recieved the Alumni Achievement Award from his alma mater, Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. The award is the college’s highest honor, conferred upon alumni who have “distinguished themselves in their careers and service to others” and who are “at the pinnacle of their vocational life.”

Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education Christa Zehle, M.D.’99, and Office of Medical Education Program Specialist Cristin Gildea were among attendees from the Larner College of medicine at the fifth annual Global health Conference, held September 28–30 in Southbury, Connecticut. The conference theme was “From Partnership to Practice: Global Collaborators Shaping the Future of Education in Global Health. 

SAVE THE DATE

Employee Benefits and Wellness Fair | Thursday, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Silver Maple Ballroom, Davis Center. Get your vaccinations (by appointment); explore wellness resources with UVM’s internal partners and community vendors; consult with UVM Benefits and HR teams to prepare for Open Benefits Enrollment (October 26–November 13); enjoy raffles, give-aways, and treats. Bring a donation for Rally Cat’s Cupboard to receive extra raffle tickets and give-aways!

Breast Cancer Screening: Who, When, Why, How? | Virtual, Thursday, 12–1 pm. Hannah Perry, M.D., and Brian Sprague, Ph.D., discuss who should be screened, when screening should begin, how breast density and risk influence decisions, and when supplemental imaging may be appropriate. Register today; if you have any questions, reach out to Amy Deavitt.

Women+ on the Edge of Democracy | Thursday, 5:30–7 p.m., Hoehl Gallery, Larner College of Medicine. The Arts@Larner Committee and the American Medical Women's Association SIG at Larner will present live performances of four, 10-minute plays from Women+ On The Edge Of Democracy, a groundbreaking initiative of The Flynn theater and The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize designed to encourage conversation about American democracy, civic life, and our shared future. Free and open to all.

Snow Season Education Retreat: Call for Poster Abstracts | Deadline to submit poster abstracts for the January 2027 Snow Season Education Retreat is Friday, November 6, via email to teaching.academy@med.uvm.edu. Contact the Teaching Academy with questions.

To view recent publications by members of the Larner College of Medicine community, visit the National Institutes of Health PubMed website.

Published by the Office of Medical Communications © 2026