Ron I. Riesenburger has been appointed Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) and Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC). A Professor of Neurosurgery, Riesenburger has held these positions on an interim basis since October 2024.
Soma Sengupta has been proposed as chair and professor of neurology at Tufts University School of Medicine. She will also join Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC) in September 2025 as chair of the Department of Neurology and neurologist-in-chief. A nationally recognized physician-scientist and educator, she will lead academic efforts in neurology, advancing research, education, and innovation across the school.
Arthur Tischler, professor of anatomic and clinical pathology at the School of Medicine, was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Endocrine Pathology Lifetime Achievement Award by the Endocrine Pathology Society.
Ewan Paul, senior lab animal caretaker at the School of Medicine, celebrated his 50th anniversary at Tufts. Paul’s expertise and guidance has contributed to the success of the lab animal care service, as the longest continuously AAALAC accredited institution in the world.
Pilar Alcaide, Kenneth and JoAnn G. Wellner Professor of Immunology, director of the Tufts Immunology Graduate Program, and assistant dean for faculty development, has recently been recognized with several prestigious honors. She was featured in a profile by the Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research, highlighting her impactful work in immunology. Earlier this month, she delivered the President’s Distinguished Lecture at the World Congress of the International Society for Heart Research (ISHR) in Nara, Japan—an honor bestowed by the ISHR in recognition of her leadership in cardiovascular research. Additionally, Alcaide has been named the 2025 recipient of the ASIP Outstanding Investigator Award, which celebrates mid-career scientists for excellence in experimental pathology, including research, teaching, mentorship, and service to the field.
Brent Forester, the Dr. Frances S. Arkin Professor and chair of psychiatry at TUSM, was honored to present at the 2025 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting. His talk, focused on Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, drew a large and highly engaged audience—underscoring the growing commitment of general psychiatrists to take a leading role in dementia care.
Marvin Konstam, professor of medicine, delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Houston Shock Symposium. The Symposium brought together world-renowned experts to share knowledge, discuss challenging cases, and advance shock management for a broad audience of healthcare providers.
Transforming the Student Experience
The team behind the Accelerated Development of Excellence in Physical Therapy (ADEPT) program has been named the 2025 recipient of Tufts University’s David J. Kahle Leadership Award, one of the highest honors given through the Tufts Distinction Awards program.
2025 MD Program Faculty Awards
These individuals were honored for their excellence, innovation, and support of the MD Class of 2025. Their achievements were celebrated as part of recognizing the vital role they play in shaping a vibrant academic community.
Laura Corlin, associate professor of public health and community medicine, and James Smoliga, professor of rehabilitation sciences, have each been honored with the 2025 Tufts Excellence in Online Teaching Award. This award recognizes their outstanding contributions to student learning and engagement through innovative and impactful online teaching practices.
Innovative Model To Study Sense of Smell
Using a newly devised, three-dimensional model to study the regeneration of nerve tissue in the nose, researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and colleagues have discovered that one type of stem cell thought to be dormant may play a more significant role in preserving the sense of smell than originally believed.
Researchers at TUSM have identified key genetic instructions that drive fat cell development. Their findings could reshape how we understand fat—not just as a health risk, but as a complex, potentially beneficial biological system.
Parental Leave Gaps in Academic Medicine
A recent study led by Rebecca Lufler, associate professor of medical education, with MD student Hannah Gurley, analyzed parental leave policies at U.S. allopathic medical schools and found that most fall short of the 12-week fully paid leave recommended by major medical associations. The research highlights significant disparities in leave duration based on school type and region, underscoring the need for more equitable and supportive policies for academic medicine faculty.
Integrating Neuroscience into Psychiatry
Michael Halassa, associate professor of neuroscience, led a perspective exploring how systems neuroscience can help psychiatry move beyond molecular models toward more integrated, clinically relevant treatments. Using schizophrenia as a case study, the work highlights computational frameworks—like hierarchical predictive processing—as promising tools to connect brain function across scales and guide more effective, multi-level interventions.
The Big Stroke Questions Scientists Are Trying to Answer
Tufts researchers are tackling stroke recovery from every angle—from salvaging damaged brain tissue to rewiring brain circuits and advancing rehab technology. Meet the scientists and clinicians driving innovation in stroke care across Tufts University and its partners.
Jason Gee, adjunct associate professor of urology, and John Libertino, adjunct professor of urology, are co-editors of the new 3rd edition of Renal Cancer.
Streed C, Halem J, LeClair ABetter bottom lines: patient satisfaction associated with addressing sexual and gender minority healthBMJ Quality & Safety Published Online First: 01 May 2025. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2025-018587
Lee DU, Shaik MR, Schuster K, Kolachana S, Bahadur A, Lee KJ, Chou H, Fan GH, Jung D, Karagozian R. Racial disparities in posttransplant outcomes among recipients undergoing simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025 Mar 26. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002962. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40359273.
Chertow GM, Eckardt KU, Sarnak MJ, Winkelmayer WC, Agarwal R, Minga T, Luo W, Burke SK. Safety and Efficacy of Vadadustat for the Treatment of CKD-Related Anemia within and outside the United States. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2025 May 13. doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000708. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40359056.
Omole TD, Mrkva A, Ferry D, Shepherd E, Caratelli J, Davis N, Akatue R, Bickmore T, Paasche-Orlow MK, Magnani JW. Augmenting Engagement in Decentralized Clinical Trials for Atrial Fibrillation: Development and Implementation of a Programmatic Architecture. JMIR Cardio. 2025 May 12;9:e66436. doi: 10.2196/66436. PMID: 40354654.
Behzadi P, Wendling AA, Cuevas RA, Crane A, Chu CC, Moorhead WJ 3rd, Wong R, Brown M, Tamakloe J, Suresh S, Salehi P, Jaffe IZ, Kuipers AL, Lukashova L, Verdelis K, St Hilaire C. Rapamycin Reduces Arterial Mineral Density and Promotes Beneficial Vascular Remodeling in a Murine Model of Severe Medial Arterial Calcification. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00530.2024. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40338175.
Canaslan K, Xiao L, Leal T. Maxing out with chemoimmunotherapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Chin Clin Oncol. 2025 Apr;14(2):24. doi: 10.21037/cco-25-5. PMID: 40337880.
Reddy YNV, Frantz RP, Hemnes AR, Hassoun PM, Horn E, Leopold JA, Rischard F, Rosenzweig EB, Hill NS, Erzurum SC, Beck GJ, Finet JE, Jellis CL, Mathai SC, Tang WHW, Borlaug BA; PVDOMICS Study Group. Disentangling the Impact of Adiposity From Insulin Resistance in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2025 May 13;85(18):1774-1788. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2025.03.530. PMID: 40335254.
Hsu CM, Shah AD. Empowering Young Adults: Reimagining Peritoneal Dialysis Support. Kidney Med. 2025 Mar 20;7(5):100999. doi: 10.1016/j.xkme.2025.100999. PMID: 40309303; PMCID: PMC12041749.
Nelson SE, Anderson CS. Rethinking Intracerebral Hemorrhage Treatment Paradigms. Stroke. 2025 May;56(5):1232-1233. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.125.051085. Epub 2025 Apr 28. PMID: 40294180.
Turner CG, de Oliveira K, Lu Q, Patel AR, Pulakat L, Jaffe IZ, DuPont JJ. Microvascular angiotensin II type 2 receptor function is enhanced in young females and declines in a model of murine aging. J Cardiovasc Aging. 2024 Jul;4(2):19. doi: 10.20517/jca.2024.09. Epub 2024 Aug 14. PMID: 40290368; PMCID: PMC12030185.
Grinspoon SK, Watanabe M, Ribaudo HJ, Bloomfield GS, Fichtenbaum CJ, Umbleja T, Chu SM, Fitch KV, Diggs MR, Zhao S, Looby SE, Currier JS, Aberg JA, Malvestutto CD, Erlandson KM, Martinez E, Asupoto O, Gupta SK, Lopez-Bernaldo de Quiros JC, Nixon D, Bedimo R, Lu MT, Douglas PS, Zanni MV. Factors Affecting Risk of CVD Events in a Global CVD Prevention Cohort of People with HIV. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Apr 25:ciaf210. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaf210. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40281648.
Xu Y, Boyle TA, Lyu B, Ballew SH, Selvin E, Chang AR, Inker LA, Grams ME, Shin JI. Correction: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Adults with Diabetes: A Real-World Study. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Apr 25. doi: 10.1007/s11606-025-09417-6. Epub ahead of print. Erratum for: J Gen Intern Med. 2024 May;39(7):1112-1121. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08589-3. PMID: 40281278.
Hwang JH, Laiteerapong N, Huang ES, Mozaffarian D, Fendrick AM, Kim DD. Fiscal Impact of Expanded Medicare Coverage for GLP-1 Receptor Agonists to Treat Obesity. JAMA Health Forum. 2025 Apr 4;6(4):e250905. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.0905. PMID: 40279111; PMCID: PMC12032556.
TUSM celebrated 540 graduates in two ceremonies on Sunday, May 18. We were inspired by our MD and GSBS graduates, then again by our graduate programs' Class of 2025 in what were the most faculty-attended ceremonies to date.
Feingold Lecture and Retirement Celebration
On May 14, 2025, the Tufts community celebrated Dr. David Feingold’s retirement after 45 years in dermatology at the 3rd Annual Feingold Lectureship. Dr. Jeffrey Sobell delivered a powerful keynote on the evolution of psoriasis treatments, highlighting his role in advancing 17 FDA-approved therapies. The evening was filled with heartfelt tributes honoring Dr. Feingold’s lasting impact on countless careers and lives.
This year’s Dr. Maurice S. Segal Lecture featured a thought-provoking presentation by Jamie Metzl on “Superconverging Technologies, Killer Applications, Global Governance, and the Future of Humanity.” The event continued Dr. Segal’s legacy of bringing distinguished voices to campus to explore pressing global issues, in partnership with The Fletcher School and Tufts University School of Medicine.
Tufts Neuroscience and Behavioral Health Research Day
On April 30, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medicine hosted a dynamic Neuroscience and Behavioral Health Research Day, uniting over 200 participants for a day of discovery, dialogue, and collaboration. With 25 expert speakers, a thought-provoking panel discussion, compelling scientific autobiographies, and an engaging poster session, the event fostered vibrant cross-disciplinary conversations across five departments.
5th Annual Cherish Chinatown Cleanup
Tufts University marked its 5th Annual Cherish Chinatown Cleanup, uniting students, staff, and community members to help beautify Boston’s Chinatown. The event celebrated community spirit and Tufts’ ongoing commitment to civic engagement and cultural appreciation.
| June 4 | The inaugural Tufts Women’s Health Summit will take place on June 4. The daylong event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Vivian Pinn and interactive sessions focused on advancing collaborative approaches to women’s health across the lifespan. |
| June 6 | Join Tufts University, an Affiliate of Cochrane US, for a three-part virtual Cochrane Systematic Review Author Training series this June (June 6, 13, and 20), designed for early-career researchers, graduate students, and healthcare professionals. This interactive webinar series offers expert-led instruction and hands-on experience in conducting high-quality systematic reviews using Cochrane standards. |
| June 10 | On Tuesday, June 10 at 3:30pm, TUSM will celebrate the Ghahreman Khodadad Professorship in Neuroscience with a lecture by Emily Newman, PhD, the inaugural holder of the professorship. Titled "Unraveling the Neural Mechanisms of Aggression and Violence," the lecture will take place in the DeBlois Auditorium at the Medical Education Building. |
| June 13 | Explore the latest in Head & Neck Cancer care at the 2025 Tufts–Boston University Otolaryngology Alumni Day on June 13, a CME event hosted at Tufts University School of Medicine. |
| June 20 | Celebrate the launch of the Tufts DPT-Seattle program’s new space with remarks and a ribbon cutting on Friday, June 20 from 5:00–8:00pm PST. The event will take place at 800 Fifth Avenue, Floor 33, in Seattle, with remarks and the ribbon cutting at 6:00pm. |
