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People News

Distinguished Fellowship Awarded

Professor Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, PhD, MPH, has been accepted as a Distinguished Fellow of the Public Health Academy within the National Academies of Practice (NAP), an honor that recognizes her exceptional contributions to public health and interprofessional care. As a member of the Class of 2026, she will be formally inducted during the NAP Annual Meeting and Forum in Indianapolis, Indiana. This prestigious fellowship reflects her leadership and commitment to collaborative, patient-centered healthcare.

Dr. Salem Honored with Legacy Award

Professor Deeb Salem, MD, was celebrated at the Wang YMCA of Chinatown’s Annual Legacy Dinner on November 1, where he received the YMCA Legacy Award. This honor recognizes his unwavering commitment to advancing health equity and improving access to care for underserved communities. A transformative leader within the Tufts community and beyond, Dr. Salem’s dedication continues to inspire meaningful changes in public health.

Leading the Way in Outpatient Care

Assistant Professor Gabriela Cobos, MD, FAAD, has been promoted from Associate Medical Director to Outpatient Medical Director in Dermatology at Tufts Medical Center. In her previous role, Dr. Cobos contributed significantly to clinical operations, leading three scribe program transitions to establish an in-person scribe model, collaborating with pharmacy on CAM and prior authorization processes, and redesigning the triage training program. Her leadership has strengthened operational efficiency and improved patient care delivery.

Research News

Exploring AI in Physical Therapy Education

Assistant Professor Benjamin Stern, DPT, MS, is testing ways AI can support teaching and research. His projects include using AI tools to help craft exam questions, provide feedback, and simulate patient interactions, while keeping human oversight central to the process.

Personalizing Psychosis Care

A Tufts-led study in Nature Mental Health analyzed 49 patients treated with Cobenfy—the first new schizophrenia drug in 50 years. Results suggest patients with “negative symptoms,” like social withdrawal, respond best, while those with manic features see little benefit. Findings point to biologically distinct psychosis subgroups and an early step toward precision psychiatry.

How Faculty and Students Are Using AI

As artificial intelligence reshapes health care, Tufts School of Medicine is studying how to integrate it responsibly into training. A recent faculty-student survey, led by Professor Maria Blanco, EdD, found growing interest in AI but limited proficiency, with most respondents requesting hands-on workshops and ethical guidance. Based on these findings, the school has introduced new learning objectives, updated policies, and launched pilot projects.

Conceptual Model on Evolutionary Processes

Assistant Professor Sameh Mesallum, MD, has published a new article in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. The paper presents Biological Recycling Theory (BRT), a proposed conceptual framework for understanding how living systems may preserve and re-activate biological information across evolutionary timescales. This theoretical model offers a cyclic network perspective intended to complement existing views of macro-evolutionary processes beyond gradual mutations.

Equity in Cancer Care for SGM Patients

In a guest editorial, Professor Don Dizon, MD, calls attention to the systemic challenges faced by sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) individuals in cancer care. From misdiagnoses and provider bias to harmful federal policy changes, these barriers erode trust and worsen outcomes. Dr. Dizon urges action at every level—policy reform, inclusive practices, and education—to ensure equitable access to screening, treatment, and support.

  • Kher S, Huang K, Freund KM. Improving the Quality of Care and the Health of Patients with Non-English Language Preference: The Experience of an Academic Department of Medicine in Developing a Multidisciplinary, Stakeholder-Engaged Program. Qual Manag Health Care. 2025 Nov 17. doi: 10.1097/QMH.0000000000000534.

    Kim JH, Kiernan MS. Predictors of Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2025 Nov 14;22(1):39. doi: 10.1007/s11897-025-00719-8. PMID: 41236670.

    Potter BJ, Barker CM, Wilkins G, Wilkins B, Gooley R, Meduri CU, Fail PS, Kriegel JM, Shaburishvili T, Udelson JE. Durability of No-Implant Interatrial Shunt for HFpEF: Pooled 12-Month Outcomes From Multicenter Pilot Feasibility Studies. JACC Heart Fail. 2025 Nov 13:102770. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2025.102770.

    Holzwanger EA. Delayed perforations after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection: Is there a role for endoscopic closure? Gastrointest Endosc. 2025 Dec;102(6):881-882. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2025.05.032. PMID: 41260794.

    Mitchell D, Jordan M, Gehman S, Rudolph S, Jüppner H, Misra M, Thacher T, Lee H, Gee MS, Pierce T, Ceglia L, Bouxsein ML, Demay MB, Liu ES. Treatment of children and adults with X-linked hypophosphatemia with calcitriol alone: A prospective open label study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2025 Oct 24:dgaf585. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf585.

    McKenna AM, Pradhan NM, Farber HW, Hon SM. Management of Pulmonary Hypertension in Pregnancy. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2025 Oct 24;22(1):30. doi: 10.1007/s11897-025-00721-0. PMID: 41134504.

    Parsons SK, Montgomery KE, Brackett J, Devine KA, Embry LM, Greenzang KA, Lupo PJ, Nuño MM, Rosenberg AR, Roth ME, Zupanec SM, Hinds PS. Defining and measuring tolerability in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult oncology: The essential voices. Cancer. 2025 Oct 15;131 Suppl 2:e35947. doi: 10.1002/cncr.35947. PMID: 41123581.

    Tabba, Maher., Kannarkatt, Paul. (2025). Brachytherapy. In: Yarmus, L., Herth, F., Ernst, A. (eds) Principles and Practice of Interventional Pulmonology. Springer

    Fiscus G, Dagher C, O'Sullivan D, Carollo B, Swanson K, Farber HW, Parikh R. Development of a Tool to Assess the Severity of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease: A Guide to Assist Therapeutic Choices. Adv Respir Med. 2025 Oct 6;93(5):41. doi: 10.3390/arm93050041. PMID: 41149134; PMCID: PMC12562082.

    Siebers R, Magane KM, Slayton H, Karzhevsky S, Palfai TP, Abrantes AM, Quintiliani LM, Stein MD. Lessons Learned Identifying and Controlling Fraudulent Participation in Online Randomized Trials. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Oct 29;27:e77512. doi: 10.2196/77512. PMID: 41160082.

    Udelson JE, Bělohlávek J, Dukát A, Ezekowitz J, Goland S, Merkely B, O'Meara E, Petrie MC, Ponikowski P, Senni M, Tokmakova M, Vardeny O, Claggett B, Moore E, Savard M, McKellar H, Surks HK, Solomon SD, McMurray JJV. Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of CRD-740, a PDE9 Inhibitor, in Chronic Heart Failure. JACC Heart Fail. 2025 Oct 29:102706. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2025.102706.

    Dizon DS, Pal SK, Symington BE, Kurzrock R, Kamal AH, Annunziata CM, Sivendran S, Jemal A, Dahut WL. CA turns 75: Looking at the future but never forgetting the roots. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025 Nov 3. doi: 10.3322/caac.70040.

    Fisher DF, Faugno AJ. The Measure of a Breath: Stability and Variability in Noninvasive Ventilation. Respir Care. 2025 Oct 28. doi: 10.1177/19433654251387123.

    Sammaritano LR, Askanase A, Bermas BL, Dall'Era M, Duarte-García A, Hiraki LT, Son MBF, Werth VP, Aranow C, Barnado A, Broder A, Brunner HI, Chong BF, Chowdhary VR, Hersh AO, Izmirly PM, Jules M, Kalunian K, Kamen D, Rubinstein TB, Smith BJ, Smith NM, Thomas A, Timlin H, Wallace DJ, Azzam M, Bartels CM, Cunha JS, DeQuattro K, Fava A, Figueroa-Parra G, Garg S, Gomes LLA, Cuéllar-Gutiérrez MC, Iyer P, Johannemann AS, Jorge A, Kasturi S, Kawtharany H, Khawandi J, Legge A, Liang KP, Lockwood MM, Sanchez-Rodriguez A, Turgunbaev M, Williams JN, Turner AS, Mustafa RA. 2025 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Guideline for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2025 Nov 3. doi: 10.1002/acr.25690.

    Patel DM, Kliger AS, Weiner DE. Quality Assessment in Dialysis: Adapting to an Evolving World. Adv Kidney Dis Health. 2025 Nov 3:S2949-8139(25)00110-7. doi: 10.1053/j.akdh.2025.09.002.

    Expert Panel on Musculoskeletal Imaging; Baker JC, Northrup BE, Ahlawat S, Allen H, Allison G, Banks J, Borloz MP, Chamarthy MR, Garner HW, Gross CE, Scott JA, Switaj T, Zreloff J, Wessell DE. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Suspected Osteomyelitis of the Foot in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: 2025 Update. J Am Coll Radiol. 2025 Nov;22(11S):S713-S737. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2025.08.031. PMID: 41193054.

    Chambers, J. D., Rucker, J. A., Enright, D. E., Beinfeld, M. T., & Neumann, P. J. (2025). Variation in US commercial health plan coverage restrictions for cell and gene therapies. JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.15148.

    Synnott, P. G., Zhu, Y., Rodday, A. M., & Lin, P.-J. (2025). Characterizing financial risk from out-of-pocket expenditures across dementia stages. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 21(9), e70666. doi:10.1002/alz.70666.

    Qian, Y., Phillips, M., Eiden, A. L., Carias, C., & Lavelle, T. A. (2025). Family spillover effects in cost-effectiveness analyses of vaccines. Vaccine, 64, 127755. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127755.

    Ollendorf D. A., Rand L. Z., Blonda A., Mooney H., Phillips M., & Basu A. (2025). Health Technology Assessment, Again: A Transparent, Evidence-Based Approach for CMS Drug Price Negotiations. Health Affairs, 44(8), 898-905. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00174.

    Beinfeld M. T., LaMountain F., Phillips G., Hughes T., Neumann P. J., & Chambers J. D. (2025). What drug characteristics explain the wide range of manufacturer rebates? Health Affairs Scholar, 3(7), qxaf132. doi:10.1093/haschl/qxaf132.

    Lin P.-J., Riley A. G., … & Cohen J. T. (2025). Health utilities in Alzheimer’s disease: A survey of patients and caregivers in the United States. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 106(3). doi:10.1177/13872877251350381.

    Li M., & Neumann P. (2025). Value assessment for health services and procedures: A call to action in a new political climate. Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, 14(8), e250090. doi:10.57264/cer-2025-0090.

More Research News

Recent Events

Annual Faculty Recognition Event

On November 3, the School of Medicine held its annual Faculty Recognition Event. The event featured the presentation of awards acknowledging outstanding contributions in teaching, lecturing, small group instruction, and precepting. Additionally, the ceremony paid tribute to faculty members who were appointed emeriti, received promotions, and achieved 25 years of dedicated service over the past year. For a comprehensive list of honorees, visit our website.

Staff Appreciation Event

On November 19, Tufts School of Medicine hosted a staff appreciation event led by Dean Boucher. The gathering was an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of staff who help the medical school thrive. Attendees enjoyed lunch, conversations with colleagues, and raffle prizes, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that celebrated the invaluable contributions of our staff.

2025 Community Voices and Advocacy Symposium

On November 7, Tufts School of Medicine hosted the third annual Community Voices and Advocacy Symposium as part of Community Voices & Advocacy Month. The event featured a lived experiences panel, community member testimonials on navigating the healthcare system, and presentations from clinicians, advocates, and policy experts. The symposium fostered dialogue on supporting immigrant populations and addressing emerging challenges in healthcare, law, and grassroots organizing.

Features

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