Monthly School News
People News
Election to the Association of American Physicians
Professor David Kent, MD, has been elected to the Association of American Physicians (AAP), a prestigious medical society that recognizes the nation’s leading physician-scientists. Election to the AAP is limited to just 70 physicians each year and honors individuals with outstanding contributions to basic and translational biomedical research.
Kneka Smith Named Dean of ATSU-MOSDOH
Associate Professor Kneka P. Smith, EdD, MPH, has been appointed dean of A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU‑MOSDOH), effective June 22. A seasoned leader in dental education and public health, Dr. Smith returns to ATSU after serving as vice president for academic affairs at MaineHealth and brings extensive experience in academic leadership, community-focused care, and health professions education.
As Assistant Dean for Multicultural Affairs, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, and the H. Jack Geiger Director in Health Justice for the Sam W. Ho Health Justice Scholars Program, Damian Archer, MD, works at the intersection of education, clinical care, and institutional leadership. He challenges students to recognize how bias, identity, and systems shape patient experiences and to treat equity not as an add-on, but as foundational to medicine.
Where Curiosity Becomes a Calling
Professor Jairam Eswara, MD, FACS, Chair of Urology, is fostering a culture where curiosity and scientific inquiry are central to clinical training. He encourages students to look beyond mastering procedures to understand the evidence behind them and imagine new possibilities for care—an approach that reflects both his own career path and the collaborative, welcoming environment he found at Tufts.
5 Questions with Dr. Brent Forester
Dr. Brent Forester, a leading expert in geriatric psychiatry and dementia care, brings a wealth of experience and deep commitment to improving the lives of older adults. In this interview, he shares insights into his journey into psychiatry, the vital connection between primary care and behavioral health and his broader vision for enhancing care for individuals with dementia and other age-related conditions.
Faculty Notes
Associate Professor Sucharita Kher, MD, received the 2026 BJ Magnani Award, an honor presented to a physician at Tufts Medical Center who exemplifies excellence in mentorship, education, clinical care, and leadership. Named for BJ Magnani, former Chair of Pathology at Tufts MC, the award recognizes Dr. Kher’s innovative work advancing clinical quality and patient safety, as well as her community leadership in smoking and vaping cessation and lung cancer prevention, particularly in Boston’s Chinatown.
Associate Professor Lisa Ceglia, MD, was awarded the inaugural Tufts Medical Center Department of Medicine's Excellence Award. Dr. Ceglia is recognized for her rigorous scholarship, thoughtful clinical work, and generous mentorship. Her dedication to clinical excellence, scholarly impact, and the development of others has made her a highly respected and influential member of the Department of Medicine.
Assistant Professor Chandi Edmonds, PT, DPT, was recognized with the Feitelberg Founder’s Award from the APTA Education Academy, which honors the top journal article by a first-time author published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Education. The award recognized her manuscript, “Challenging Anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Stand for Moral Courage.”
Professor Kathleen Finn, MD, was elected Treasurer of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) by her fellow program directors, a recognition of her longstanding leadership within the national community of internal medicine educators. In addition to this new role, Dr. Finn serves on several key committees within APDIM and its parent organization, the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM), including the APDIM Residency Application Committee and the Survey and Scholarship Committee. Her deep commitment to advancing medical education and supporting program leaders continues to strengthen the field of internal medicine nationwide.
Assistant Professor Sarah Robinson, MD, FAAD, has been promoted to Vice Chair of Education and Faculty Affairs in the Department of Dermatology at Tufts Medical Center. Dr. Robinson has played a pivotal leadership role during some of the department’s most challenging periods, including guiding the residency program through significant accreditation hurdles while elevating recruitment, training, and the overall educational culture. She has overseen the program’s growth from 9 to 15 residents and was instrumental in launching the department’s new dermatopathology fellowship. In her expanded role, she will also provide oversight of faculty affairs.
Assistant Professor Gabriela Cobos, MD, has been promoted to Vice Chair of Clinical Operations and Research in the Department of Dermatology at Tufts Medical Center. Dr. Cobos has made wide‑ranging and deeply impactful contributions to the department, bringing stability and renewed momentum to the clinical trials research unit and helping expand its portfolio of industry‑funded trials and research fellows. In clinical operations, she led the successful launch of the department’s in‑person scribe program, strengthened Joint Commission compliance processes, revamped the triage training program, and collaborated with pharmacy to support complex medical dermatology services.
Professor Daniel Weiner, MD, MS, has been selected to co-chair the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Hemodialysis Adequacy Guideline Workgroup, which will update the guidelines around provision of hemodialysis in the United States.
Dr. Dineli Ahearn, MD, has been promoted to Professor of Medicine. A doctor’s doctor, colleagues in her letters of recommendation that her contributions to learners, patients, and faculty have been exceptional, and this promotion is a well-deserved recognition of her impact not only to the Division of General Internal Medicine but the entire institution.
Dr. Pei-Jung Lin, PhD, MS, has been promoted to Professor of Medicine. This achievement recognizes her outstanding contributions and national recognition in the health economics and health disparities in care to patients this dementia and cognitive decline, and her mentorship of students and early career faculty.
School News
Tufts Medical Center has been recognized as one of the top 50 hospitals in the United States in the 2026 Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals rankings. This distinction reflects the institution’s strong performance across quality measures, clinical outcomes, and peer recommendations, placing it among the highest‑rated hospitals nationwide out of more than 400 evaluated.
New Family Medicine Residency Program
The Lowell Community Health Center Family Medicine Residency Program has announced its inaugural class of six residents. The new residents will begin training in June, joining a community-focused program developed with Tufts Medicine and Tufts University School of Medicine.
Research News
Top U.S. Universities for Invention
Tufts University has been recognized by the National Academy of Inventors as one of the top 100 U.S. universities granted utility patents in 2025, reflecting the strength and societal impact of its research. With 33 patents awarded last year—including inventions from School of Medicine faculty Peter Bullock, William Bachovchin, Linden Hu, and Hung‑Sen Lai—Tufts continues to translate scientific discoveries into real‑world solutions, many of which have already been licensed for further development.
Tufts Neuroscientist Selected for Innovative Research Grant
Professor Jamie Maguire, PhD, has been awarded a 2026 Distinguished Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, supporting her work to develop a new approach to treating psychiatric illness. Dr. Maguire is one of 10 senior scientists selected to receive the highly competitive award, which provides $100,000 in funding for one year of research.
Targeting a Dangerous Gut Infection
Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine are studying C. diff at multiple levels, from how individual bacterial cells behave inside the gut to the molecular switches that help them survive and spread. Together, these approaches reveal hidden vulnerabilities that could lead to better ways to prevent new or recurrent infections, predict severe disease, or stop the bacterium before it causes harm.
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Ceglia L, Konieczynski E, Danico E, Trinquart L, Koethe B, Xiang Q, Fielding RA, Evans WJ, Shankaran M, Dawson-Hughes B. Independent effects of whey protein and alkali supplementation on muscle health in healthy older adults: factorial randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2026 Mar 2:101257. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101257.
Kellum JA, Cerdá J, Levey AS. Determining baseline serum creatinine in harmonized criteria for kidney disease: unfinished business. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2026 Mar 9:gfag052. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfag052.
Kumar N, Schonberger RB, Tickoo M, He Z, Lin HM, Fisher C, Lutz J, Michel G, Bardia A. Changes in Use of Physical Restraints in Intensive Care Unit Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Crit Care. 2026 Mar 1;35(2):145-149. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2026317. PMID: 41763894.
Lam CSP, Bozkurt B, Cherney DZI, Ezekowitz JA, Jardine MJ, Khan SS, Madero M, Sarnak MJ, Ter Maaten JM, Cheung M, King JM, Grams ME, Jadoul M, Bansal N; Conference Participants. Kidney disease and heart failure: recent advances and current challenges: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. Kidney Int. 2028 Jan 14:S0085-2538(25)00884-1. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2025.10.011.
Moreno L, Ridberg R, Yearley S, Sharib JR, Rehman N, Piccolo F, Zhang FF, Mozaffarian D. Nutrition and Culinary Education in Food is Medicine Interventions. A Scoping Review. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2026 Mar 3:156322. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2026.156322.
Nasrallah C, Wilson C, Hariz C, Bartels CM, Kasturi S, Machua W, Bennett A, Chiseri K, Plitman A, Blanks SH, Jorge A, Katz P, Yazdany J, Garg S. Integrating Patient-Reported Quality Measures in SLE: Development of the American College of Rheumatology Implementation Guide. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2026 Mar 9. doi: 10.1002/acr.80038.
Said C, Hernandez-Montfort J, Sundermeyer J, Li S, Kataria R, Zweck E, Faugno A, Sinha SS, Abraham J, Kanwar MK, Garan AR, Ton VK, Mahr C, Sangal P, Natov P, Aslam MI, Burkhoff D, Kapur NK; CSWG Academic Research Consortium. Prognostic value of hemodynamic indices prior to tMCS explantation: An analysis from the Cardiogenic Shock Working Group. J Card Fail. 2026 Mar 2:S1071-9164(26)00088-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2026.02.019.
Simon D, Paasche-Orlow MK, Noorchashm H. How FDA Device Regulation Shapes Medical (Mal)Practice. Ann Surg. 2026 Mar 10. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000007049.
Socrates B, LeClair AM, Jaffe K, Evans L, Batchelder AW, Moner E, Daudelin D, Irie W, Ngassa Y, Morales Y, Levison J, Evans EA, Wurcel AG. Barriers and facilitators to implementing status-neutral HIV care in an urban jail system. Health Justice. 2026 Mar 5. doi: 10.1186/s40352-026-00402-7.
Castillo G, Beaty W, Delau O, Sultan K, Lukin D, Faye AS, Friedman S, Axelrad J. Longitudinal Study of Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Initiating Biologic or Small Molecule Therapy. Dig Dis Sci. 2026 Jan 8. doi: 10.1007/s10620-025-09652-1.
Everitt IK, Quinn EK, Duncan MS, Grasso C, Reisner SL, Jasuja GK, Poteat T, Shapira-Daniels A, Cabral H, Tangpricha V, Paasche-Orlow MK, Benjamin EJ, Mukherjee M, Streed CG Jr. Prevalence and Incidence of Heart Failure Phenotypes Among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adults in the United States. J Am Heart Assoc. 2026 Mar 18:e046269. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.125.046269.
Fakhoury B, Awadalla M, Talanian M, Zeina T, Tsuchiyose E, Natov N, Holzwanger E. Novel hemostatic gel and powder as rescue agents for arterial bleeding related to lumen-apposing metal stent placement. Endoscopy. 2025 Dec;57(S 01):E58-E59.
Friedman S, Zeiss K, Wod Mette Nielsen J, Nørgård BM. Repeated opioid use during pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel disease: prevalence and impact on birth outcomes in Denmark. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis. 2026
Holzwanger EA, Delayed perforations after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection: Is there a role for endoscopic closure? Gastrointest Endosc. 2025 Dec;102(6):881-882.
Holzwanger EA, Silva-Santisteban A, Tsuchiyose E, Bilal M, Chhoda A; Innocent Study Consortium; Sawhney MS. Psychosocial Impact of Endoscopic Procedural Complications on Gastroenterologists: The Second Victims Gastroenterology. 2025 Dec;169(7):1510-1512.
Kim DH, Ko D, Chen VL, Porres JA, Elizondo Alatorre C, Nieto LM, Palacios Argueta P, Kröner PT, Lukens FJ, Kim D, Karagozian R, Bansal MB, Wijarnpreecha K. SGLT-2 Inhibitors Are Associated With Lower Mortality and Decompensation in Patients With MASH Cirrhosis and Type 2 Diabetes. Liver Int. 2026 Feb;46(2):e70490. doi: 10.1111/liv.70490.PMID: 41454700
Kohli A, Long MD, Beaulieu DB, Kane SV, Mahadevan U. Long-term Infant Outcomes After In Utero Biologic Exposure: Results from the Pregnancy Inflammatory Disease Neonatal Outcomes (PIANO) Registry. Am J Gastroenterol. 2026 Mar 6. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000003991.
Miki A, Tandon M, Murad D, Loughman J, Gilman J, Jangi S. Increasing Prevalence of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Young Adults and Minority Populations. Am J Gastroenterol. 2025 Dec 1;120(12):2954-2956. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000003591.
Tandon M, Bachand J, Yegembayeva N, Collen LV, Jangi S. Advanced therapy is delayed in pediatric South Asian inflammatory bowel disease patients in the United States. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Dec;81(6):1469-1476. doi: 10.1002/jpn3.70233.
Winter RW, Tao LY, Friedman S, Ma KS. Pregnancy and Maternal Outcomes After Exposure to Risankizumab During Pregnancy: A Multi-Center Experience in the United States. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2025 Dec 25:izaf310. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izaf310.
Youn J, Nielsen J, Sørensen E, Wod M, Friedman S, Nørgård BM. The Prevalence of Chronic Opioid Use in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Danish Register-Based Study Over a 25-Year Period of Time. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2026 Jan 20:izaf308. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izaf308.
Dahl NK, August P, Besse W, Chebib FT, Chonchol M, Cowley BD Jr, Goral S, Guay-Woodford LM, Gulati A, Hogan MC, Lakhia R, Miskulin D, Nowak KL, Rahbari-Oskoui F, Park M, Seliger S, Yu A, Watnick T. KDOQI US Commentary on the KDIGO 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation, Management, and Treatment of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). Am J Kidney Dis. 2026 Apr;87(4):447-507. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.11.006. PMID: 41864657.
Everitt IK, Quinn EK, Duncan MS, Grasso C, Reisner SL, Jasuja GK, Poteat T, Shapira-Daniels A, Cabral H, Tangpricha V, Paasche-Orlow MK, Benjamin EJ, Mukherjee M, Streed CG Jr. Prevalence and Incidence of Heart Failure Phenotypes Among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adults in the United States. J Am Heart Assoc. 2026 Mar 18:e046269. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.125.046269.
McCallum W, Tighiouart H, Tuttle M, Oka T, Kaur T, Casado J, Morales-Rull JL, Formiga F, Manzano L, Testani JM, Sarnak MJ, Trullás JC. Acute declines in kidney function with thiazide plus loop diuretics vs loop diuretics alone in acute decompensated heart failure. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2026 Mar 23:gfag070. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfag070.
McCallum W, Tighiouart H, Tuttle M, Oka T, Testani JM, Udelson JE, Bautista I, Lala A, Costanzo MR, O'Connor CM, Fiuzat M, Konstam MA, Sarnak MJ. Association of the Timing of Acute Declines in Kidney Function in Acute Heart Failure With Cardiovascular and Kidney Outcomes. Am J Kidney Dis. 2026 Mar 23:S0272-6386(26)00761-4. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.12.005.
Thane K, Kwong M, DeStefano IM, Sweigart B, Beaulac KR, Doron SI, Fellman CL. Factors associated with antimicrobial drug prescription in dogs receiving outpatient care at a veterinary teaching hospital. J Vet Intern Med. 2026 Mar 2;40(2):aalag043. doi: 10.1093/jvimsj/aalag043. PMID: 41869908; PMCID: PMC13006873.
Hernandez NV, Nunez N, Tonelli AR, Heresi GA, Farber HW, Xu J, Wang Y, Wang X, Sahay S. The Impact of Age on Six-Minute Walk Distance, Functional Class, and Right Ventricular Function in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Respir Med. 2026 Feb 28:108742. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2026.108742.
Hill NS, Gillies H, Chakinala MM, Feldman JP, Hoeper MM, Jing ZC, McLaughlin VV, Rosenkranz S, Escribano-Subias P, Ghio S, Gomberg-Maitland M, Habib N, Kopec G, Langleben D, Lescano A, Ramirez A, Rischard F, Sitbon O, Skride A, Dake BT, Khindri S, Langley J, Niven R, Zhang X, Humbert M; IMPAHCT Investigators. Phase 2b trial of inhaled imatinib for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2026 Jan 23:aamaf128. doi: 10.1093/ajrccm/aamaf128.
Klompas M, Al-Hasan M, Al Mohajer M, Colgrove R, Doron S, File T, Pettit N, Pulia M, Weissman S. Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Position Statement: Why IDSA Did Not Endorse the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Guidelines 2025 Update. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2026 Feb 21:aamag065. doi: 10.1093/ajrccm/aamag065.
Kumar N, Schonberger RB, Tickoo M, He Z, Lin HM, Fisher C, Lutz J, Michel G, Bardia A. Changes in Use of Physical Restraints in Intensive Care Unit Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Crit Care. 2026 Mar 1;35(2):145-149. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2026317. PMID: 41763894.
Polizzi CP, Crow TM, Ting M, Busser C, Kaiser AP, Wang C, Mori DL, Niles BL. Tai Chi and wellness for Gulf War Illness: Combined analysis of in-person and remote randomized controlled trials. J Psychiatr Res. 2026 Feb 25;197:97-106. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.02.045.
Price ER, Kwong M, Wayne AS, Beaulac KR, DeStefano IM, Sebastiani P, Doron SI, Fellman CL. Factors associated with antimicrobial drug prescription in inpatient dogs and cats at a veterinary teaching hospital. J Vet Intern Med. 2026 Jan 21;40(1):aalaf070. doi: 10.1093/jvimsj/aalaf070. PMID: 41742556.
Shi X, Chen J, Bai R, Bai H, Liu Y, Yao Z, Chu W, Xu X, Shen N, Mao Y, Hu GF, Jin M, Chen K, Sheng J, Xu Z. Ribonuclease 5/Angiogenin Suppresses Intestinal Tumor Initiation by Maintaining Crypt Homeostasis. Cancer Res. 2026 Feb 24. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-25-1827.
Song Y, Kelly M, Fecske E, Clifford L, Epley C, Oster JM, Shin HW; AES SDoH Workgroup. Needs and Gaps in Education and Utilization of Social Determinants of Health in Epilepsy Care: A Survey of American Epilepsy Society Members. Epilepsy Curr. 2026 Feb 25:15357597261425347. doi: 10.1177/15357597261425347.
Recent Events
Every year, fourth-year medical students around the U.S. complete an intense round of applications and interviews for residency programs. Here, four doctors-to-be at Tufts School of Medicine reflect on the journeys that brought them to this transition point between students and physicians.
The Maine Track Class of 2026 celebrated Match Day in Portland for the fourth consecutive year, opening their envelopes alongside family and friends. All 37 students matched to high‑quality residency programs, including twelve who will continue their training in Maine.
Breaking Down Silos
A two-day research convergence on the Boston and Grafton campuses brought industry leaders and Tufts researchers together for strategic discussions around infectious disease. Researchers from schools across the university convened with industry leaders, scientists, and academics for this symposium filled with presentations, panels, dialogue, and networking.
A Preview of Professional Life With JUMP-IN
In its inaugural offering, JUMP-IN gave students five different tracks from which to choose, each connected to a different school at the university; tracks were offered in medicine, design problem-solving, global policy, dentistry, and nutrition science.