It's easy to feel a bit lethargic during the hot, lingering days at the end of summer. But with September around the corner, we have crisper air and two exciting events to look forward to.

As someone who loves the game, I'm excited to invite the University community to join us for the Second Annual UR Tennis Tournament at the Tennis Club of Rochester on Saturday, September 7 at 2 pm. This year's event will feature doubles matches on six courts, with a total of 24 spots available. There will be refreshments after the event at 4 pm. I can't wait to hit the courts with colleagues for some fun and friendly competition. Please email me directly if you're interested, as space is limited. (Spectators are welcome to come cheer on their colleagues!)

We also have another great event on the horizon: Wilmot Warrior Weekend. The Rochester community will come together on September 21 and 22 for a full weekend of cycling, walking, and running through the Town of Webster. I'd love to see many of you there, so join our team, the UR DOMinators, and we can help raise crucial funds for cancer research and patient care.

I hope everyone makes the most of these last days of summer. Send your vacation and family photos to the Levy Letter – we'd love to see how you've been enjoying the season!

Be well,
Ruth O'Regan, MD

Appointment: Lisa Vargish, MD, MS, from Geriatrics & Aging, was named URSMD Advisory Dean. She will advise a quarter of the incoming Class of 2028. Senior Associate Dean David Lambert, MD, said “Dr. Vargish's education, clinical experiences, and understanding of the curriculum will contribute to her success in this new role. Her student-centric approach and kind manner will benefit our student body.”

Awards: Cynthia Monaco, MD, PhD, from Infectious Diseases, received an NIH K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award for her project "Influence of the Cervicovaginal Phageome on Health and Disease in Women Living with HIV."

Awards: Katherine Krol, MD, from Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, received a funding award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the project "A REsearch Study to Advance the CF THerapeutics Pipeline for People without Modulators (REACH)."

Publication: Valerie Lang, MD, MHPE, from Hospital Medicine, is co-author of "Mentoring: Shaping the professional identity of the academic internal medicine hospitalist," published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Publication: Allison Magnuson, DO, Chair Ruth O’Regan, MD, and Ajay Dhakal, MBBS, from Hematology/Oncology, are co-authors of "Impact of systemic disease on CNS disease control after stereotactic radiosurgery to breast cancer brain metastases (The SYBRA Study)," published in NPJ Breast Cancer.

In the News: Ghinwa Dumyati, MD, from Infectious Diseases, shares her expertise in the article "What's Your Antibiotic IQ?," published in Senior Planet from AARP.

Funding Opportunity for Aging and Cancer Research

The Wilmot Cancer Institute and University of Rochester Aging Institute have partnered to introduce a pilot program aimed at fostering innovative research at the intersection of aging and cancer. With up to $50,000 available for promising projects, this initiative encourages collaborations that pave the way for NIH R01-level grant applications. Letters of intent are due by September 16. Download the RFA here.

Help Shape Research, Support Scholarly Activities: Complete 2 Quick Surveys

The DOM's Research Leadership team is gathering your input to strengthen research and academic work. Faculty and trainees are invited to participate in two brief surveys, both are due by September 30. The Data Training Needs Survey aims to identify training gaps for those involved in research, and the Annual Scholarly Review Survey tracks faculty review activities. Each survey should take five minutes and will guide future initiatives, and move our research forward.