Tufts Faculty Member Takes the Helm at ACR
Associate Professor William Harvey, MD, MSc, has been appointed President of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), effective October 28, 2025. A leader in rheumatology, informatics, and health policy, Dr. Harvey holds key roles at Tufts School of Medicine, Tufts Medicine, and Tufts CTSI. His presidency will focus on expanding advocacy, fostering innovation, and strengthening community within the field.
Recognized for Excellence in Health and Medicine
Christina Economos, PhD, Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at TUSM, has been named a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
Honored by Indian National Science Academy
Bernard Arulanandam, PhD, MBA, Vice Provost for Research at Tufts University and Professor of Immunology at the School of Medicine, has been elected a foreign fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, effective January 2026. This honor recognizes his contributions to immunology and global collaboration, reinforcing Tufts’ commitment to advancing research across borders.
New Care Progression Director at TMC
Assistant Professor Tanikka Patel, MD, has been named Care Progression Director for the Department of Medicine at Tufts Medical Center. She brings clinical expertise and leadership to the role, with active involvement in Women in Medicine & Science, Sepsis, and Wellness initiatives, and recent certification in AI in Healthcare from MIT. In this role, she will work across teams to reduce discharge barriers and improve care transitions.
Rising Star
Assistant Professor Yanik Bababekov, MD, MPH, was one of three recipients of the 2025 Rising Star Award, presented at the World Transplant Congress in San Francisco, a joint meeting of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and American Society of Transplantation.
New Tufts MC PO Board Appointments
Professor Sonia Friedman, MD, and Associate Professor Sucharita Kher, MD, have been appointed to the Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization Board. Dr. Friedman, Chief of Gastroenterology, will also serve as Chair of the Board’s Governance Committee, contributing to strategic leadership and oversight. Dr. Kher, Vice Chair of Clinical Operations and Quality for Medicine and Attending Pulmonary Physician, brings valuable expertise in clinical excellence and operational innovation to the Board’s efforts to enhance physician engagement and organizational performance.
Global Leadership in Dementia Care
Brent Forester, MD, Chair and Dr. Frances S. Arkin Professor of Psychiatry, was a featured speaker at the International Psychogeriatrics Association Annual Congress in Kanazawa, Japan. He presented on cutting-edge treatments for agitation in dementia, including findings from the NIH-funded ECT-AD trial, and helped shape international guidelines for care. His contributions reflect a strong commitment to advancing personalized, evidence-based approaches to dementia through global collaboration.
Internal Medicine Residents Excel in Statewide Competition
Tufts Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program earned a top-two finish in the Massachusetts Chapter Doctor’s Dilemma, a fast-paced medical knowledge competition hosted by the American College of Physicians on September 27. This marks the program’s third consecutive year placing in the top two.
Excellence in Radiation Oncology
Tufts Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology Department has earned APEx Accreditation from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), recognizing their excellence in safety, quality and patient care.
Study Links Gut Fungus to Alcohol Use Behavior
A study led by Tufts scientists found that overgrowth of the gut fungus Candida albicans can influence alcohol-related behavior by triggering inflammatory molecules that affect brain reward pathways. Published in mBio, the research highlights how fungal activity may alter dopamine signaling and reduce alcohol consumption in mice, offering new insights into the gut-brain connection and potential treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder.
Simulating the Brain to Decode Mental Illness
Professor Michael Halassa, MD, PhD, led the development of CogLinks—a biologically inspired computer model that simulates how brain circuits adapt to change. The model, featured in Nature Communications, offers new insights into psychiatric disorders and could help guide targeted treatments by linking brain biology to cognitive symptoms.
New Lyme Test Shows Promise in Early Detection
A new study led by Assistant Professor Pete Gwynne, PhD, found the InBios Lyme Detect™ test identified early Lyme disease cases missed by standard methods, with over 99% specificity. Using samples from the Lyme Disease Biobank, the single-tier test showed strong accuracy and reproducibility, offering hope for faster, more reliable diagnosis.
Tufts Research Challenges Brain Protection Claims
Professor James Smoliga, DVM, PhD, recently led a high-impact investigation into the FDA-authorized Q-Collar, a device marketed to protect the brain from sports-related impacts. Published in The BMJ and selected as the journal’s Editor’s Choice, the investigation uncovered systemic data anomalies and internal FDA documents revealing a lack of convincing evidence for the device’s effectiveness. The findings also informed a front-page exposé in The Washington Post, underscoring the public-health and ethical implications of regulatory oversight.
Tracking Real-World Impact Through Continuous Improvement
Researchers from Tufts CTSI recently published a paper in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science that highlights how CTSA hubs can move beyond traditional academic outputs to measure real-world impact. The study emphasizes building team capacity, aligning daily work with long-term goals, and using shared metrics to strengthen health outcomes, health care systems, and public trust through continuous improvement and strategic partnerships.
AI-Powered Imaging to Transform Heart Valve Diagnosis
Associate Professor Benjamin Wessler, MD, MS, received a five-year, $3.7 million R01 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Their project, Focused Imaging as a Novel Diagnostic Strategy for Aortic Stenosis, explores the use of AI-assisted handheld ultrasound to improve detection of aortic stenosis, a common but often under-diagnosed heart valve condition. The research builds on data and algorithms developed through a 2021 CTSI Pilot Award.
Faculty Present at CHEST 2025
Several faculty members presented at the American College of Chest Physicians Conference in Chicago last week. Highlights included Assistant Professor Natasha Pradhan, MD, on the effects of altitude and diving on pulmonary physiology; Assistant Professor Asma Tariq, MD, on viral chest infections; and Associate Professor Sucharita Kher, MD, on current patterns in e-cigarette and cannabis use.
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Mohamed MS, Zary M, Kafie C, Chilala CI, Bahukudumbi S, Foster N, Gore G, Fielding K, Subbaraman R, Schwartzman K. The impact of digital adherence technologies on treatment outcomes, adherence, and patient-reported outcomes in tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis. 2025 Oct 14;25(1):1314. doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-11503-3. PMID: 41087928; PMCID: PMC12523041.
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Kanjee Z, Wong JB, Kalager M, Burns RB. When Would You Screen This 39-Year-Old Woman for Breast Cancer? Grand Rounds Discussion From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Ann Intern Med. 2025 Oct 14. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-03548.
Fino N, Inker LA, Shiba S, Adingwupu OM, Coresh J, Haaland B, Shlipak MG, Levey A, Seegmiller JC; Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA-Kidney) Study Group; HIV Study Group. Quantitative Analysis of a Novel Metabolite Panel to Estimate GFR (Panel eGFR) in Serum and Plasma Using LC-MS/MS. Clin Chem. 2025 Oct 10:hvaf110. doi: 10.1093/clinchem/hvaf110.
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A Milestone Moment for PA Students
On October 10, TUSM celebrated the White Coat Ceremony for the Physician Assistant Program Class of 2027. The event marked a meaningful milestone as students received their white coats—a symbol of their entry into clinical training and commitment to compassionate care. Surrounded by faculty, family, and peers, the class stepped into the next chapter of their journey with pride and purpose.
ADAPT Community Health Symposium
Nearly 70 community leaders, advocates, researchers, and clinicians gathered for the 9th Annual ADAPT Community Health Symposium, “Rooted in Resilience: Looking Back to Look Forward.” The event highlighted powerful examples of community resilience and advocacy, past and present, in advancing health and well-being in the face of adversity.
The 14th Annual Tufts Neuroscience Symposium & Shucart Lecture was held on Thursday, October 16, bringing together neuroscience experts for a day of educational talks and collaboration. Organized by Professor Jamie Maguire and colleagues, the event opened with remarks from Professor Ron Riesenburger and featured a keynote lecture by Kerry Ressler. Centered on the theme “Neural Mechanisms of Emotional Processing: From Synapses to Circuits,” the symposium fostered interdisciplinary exchange and sparked potential collaborations among attendees.
Innovate2Impact Innovation Expo
On Tuesday, October 21, Tufts CTSI hosted the Innovate2Impact Innovation Expo 2025 at Tufts University School of Medicine, drawing over 100 researchers, clinicians, investors, students, and faculty. The event featured a keynote by Kirk Taylor, MD, and a lively mix of Lightning Talks, poster presentations, and networking that spotlighted bold ideas and breakthroughs in health innovation.
Highlighting Innovation in Quality Care
Tufts Medical Center’s 4th Annual Department of Medicine Quality Week took place in mid-October, featuring a poster session on October 16 and grand rounds on October 17. The event showcased a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving patient care, enhancing the patient experience, and supporting clinical teams, reinforcing the department’s commitment to continuous quality improvement.
The Food Is Medicine (FIM) movement is rapidly transforming how we think about nutrition as a central pillar of health care. At the third annual Food Is Medicine National Summit, hosted by the Food Is Medicine Institute at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, nutrition experts, policymakers, clinicians, and community leaders gathered to chart the future of this growing national effort.
