Kennedy named as distinguished mentor

Congratulations to Amanda Kennedy, PharmD, Professor of Medicine on being recognized with the UVM Distinguished Mentor Award! Well-deserved indeed!

Bonnell on the association of post-lung transplant mortality with pre-transplant kidney function

Congratulations to Levi Bonnell, MPH on this recent publication:

Abhishek Kumar, Levi N Bonnell, Michael Eberlein, Christie P Thomas. The U-shaped association of post-lung transplant mortality with pre-transplant eGFR underscores possible limitations of creatinine-based estimation equations for risk stratification. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation,
2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healun.2022.05.018.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053249822019738)

Abstract: Background: Pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) may have an impact on post-lung transplant survival and the development of end stage kidney disease (ESKD).
Methods: We analyzed the US transplant database from 2006 to 2020. Adult patients who received their first lung transplant and were not on dialysis were included. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess the effect of pretransplant eGFR on mortality and cumulative incidence competing risk was used to explore the effect on ESKD.
Results: The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for mortality showed a “U” shaped association with eGFR with a rising mortality at <60 and >100 ml/min/1.73m2. The increase in mortality with higher eGFR was only seen in those < 30 year and were primarily in whites with a lower body mass index and in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The aHR for ESKD increased below an eGFR of 100 rising to 1.74 at an eGFR of 60. Any decrease in eGFR between listing and transplant >10% was associated with higher risk of ESKD.
Conclusions: The U-shaped association of pretransplant eGFR with post-transplant mortality correlated with younger age, lower BMI and a diagnosis of CF. The aHR for ESKD following lung transplantation increased exponentially with worsening eGFR pretransplant.

Bonnell on the Natural Environment and Health

Congrats to Levi Bonnell, MPH on the publication of his latest work: Bonnell LN, Littenberg B. Nonlinear Relationships among the Natural Environment, Health, and Sociodemographic Characteristics across US Counties. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19:6898. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/11/6898

Clinical Research Oriented Workshop (CROW) Meeting: May 26, 2022

 

Present:   Justine Dee, Juvena Hitt, Ben Littenberg, Charlie MacLean, Jen Oshita, Adam Sprouse-Blum, Connie van Eeghen (7)

 1.                   Warm Up: Jen had a good experience at a workshop/conference related to Implementation Science, but the speech and hearing professional organization declined to participate, losing out on great tools and infrastructure.

2.                   Jen’s Manuscript “Nationally Representative Prevalence of Communication Disabilities Among Community Dwelling, Older Adults in the US.” Jen has had difficulty getting it published. The current theory is that there is no modeling, it is a basic prevalence and descriptive paper comparing older adults with communication disabilities, to those without.  Last rejected by Disability and Health. She is going to submit to Journal of Communication Disorders this round. May be of interest to an epidemiological journal.  Jen’s two questions for the group are:

a.       Intro: Does the framing of the introduction fit and justify publication of this paper, or does it seem to overstate what I am doing?  Is “just prevalence” too lean a topic? Looks at Communication Disabilities (CDs) as a whole, not as many separate conditions/issues.

                                                   i.      Why care: government entities/insurance cos making policy; provider/organization operationalizing better patient care

                                                 ii.      Elderly population is growing, so this issue will grow too

                                               iii.      Good topic; important too

b.       Discussion: Is the comparison of findings to prior literature helpful? Since the comparisons are uneven, I wonder if it is more distracting than helpful.

                                                   i.      Start this section with the third sentence

                                                 ii.      Our study produced different results from the limited comparators, probably due to different measures

1.       Explain the differences, don’t explain similarities

2.       This is an important part of the Discussion section

3.       We note that patients with CDs also have lower access, social supports… and may need additional supports beyond those that specifically address their CDs

c.       Other

                                                   i.      Main message of the paper is in tables and figures.  The two tables are almost the same; can it be one table?  Main message: what is the size of this population and what are the implications for organizations caring for this population. Accommodations vary by CD subgroup, except that they all require documentation. “We need to know what’s out there in order to respond to it.”

                                                 ii.      A target population of 1m people is also large enough to attract attention and invite investment.

                                               iii.      Figures

1.       Recheck numbers

2.       Consider making circle sizes match the proportion of the values they represent

3.       Why Figure 2?  Removes people that have already been identified with cognitive impairment and thereby likely already receiving services. Should the text and figure focus on those that can be helped at the institutional policy level – not high need individuals? Consider reviewing and addressing only in the results section.  Match to the main message and stay consistent.

                                               iv.      Consider tests of significance between subgroups

3.                   Next week:  TBD

Recorded by: CvE

FW: Telehealth Advances in the COVID-19 Era - an NNE-CTR Seminar this Friday, May 27th from 12-1pm

Good morning, everyone,

 

This week’s NNE-CTR Seminar Series is featuring a talk on “Telehealth Advances in the COVID-19 Era”, and it is one you won’t want to miss! Hosted and moderated by Dr. Charlie MacLEan, Associate Dean for Primary Care at the Larner College of Medicine at UVM, he will be joined by Dr. Alexa Craig, Neonatal & Pediatric Neurologist at MaineHealth, Dr. Tracy Jalbuena, Clinical Lead for Telehealth at Maine Health, and Dr. Matthew Siket, Associate Program Direct for the UVM EM Residency Program.

 

Join us as this panel of experts talk about some recent advances in their respective fields, and best practices in training us all to work with telehealth systems.

 

Telehealth Advances in the COVID-19 Era

Friday, May 27^th, 12-1pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://uvmcom.zoom.us/j/99224763994

 

Please feel free to share this announcement and meeting link with your colleagues!

 

Thank you,

 

 

Sheila Clifford-Bova

 

 

University of Vermont

Larner College of Medicine

Biochemistry Department

B420 Given Hall

Burlington, VT  05405

Job Posting - UVM Center on Rural Addiction

 

From Gail- 

There are some job openings with the UVM Center on Rural Addiction www.uvmcora.org . I’d like to get the word out in case anyone knows people who might be interested in applying.

FW: Science Communication Training for Faculty, Post-Docs, and Graduate Students - June 21 & 22, 2022

	Please join us for a two day workshop on June 21 - 22 at the University of Vermont - Register now to secure your spot! Dear Colleagues:   As part of a research study on effective science communication, my colleagues and I are offering free science communication training opportunities. Participants will learn how to communicate with audiences about the value and importance of their work as well as science more generally. ***************************************************************************** *        WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? We are conducting the study at George Mason University and the University of Vermont.   Any faculty member, post-doctoral researcher, or graduate student is welcome to participate. *        WHAT PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASKED TO DO (1) Complete a few short surveys about science communication. Additional information will be sent to participants once they register for the study. (2) Meet with us virtually to record a short video of you discussing your research or a science topic of your choosing. This recording will be kept confidential. Additional information will be sent to participants once they register for the study. (3) Participate in one of three types of training to which you will be randomly assigned. Additional information will be sent to participants once they register for the study. Trainings will be in-person, and all university-related COVID protocols will be observed. BENEFITS PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE In addition to the personal and societal benefits associated with science communication training, participants will receive financial compensation based on the group to which they are assigned. *        PLEASE HELP PROMOTE THIS STUDY Please circulate this message to graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty colleagues at your institution.   Register now to secure your spot!        *        TO REGISTER: https://gmuchss.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a9NOecNXyaH1Tb7   Thank you for reading and considering this invitation. If you have questions about this study, please contact Dr. Chris Clarke at cclark27@gmu.edu Sincerely,   Chris Clarke - Associate Professor, Department of Communication; cclark27@gmu.edu Katherine Rowan – Professor Emerita, Department of Communication; krowan@gmu.edu Xiaoquan Zhao – Professor, Department of Communication; xzhao3@gmu.edu Thalia Goldstein – Associate Professor, Department of Psychology; tgoldste@gmu.edu   Department of Communication George Mason University Fairfax, VA [IRBNet number: 1555681-1]   For general information, you may also contact:   epscor@uvm.edu   Christopher Koliba, Ph.D. Director, Office of Engagement Associate Director, VT EPSCoR   Susanmarie Harrington, Ph.D. Professor of English Director of Center for Teaching and Learning and UVM Communicates