The Levy Letter

2/20/26

Building Health Equity Research Partnerships

Over 200 health care providers, researchers, trainees, and community leaders gathered at our 4th annual Research in Health Equity Symposium on February 6. Attendees exchanged expertise and learned how to build partnerships across disciplines and with the community to improve health for all. View event photos.



		Top Stories

Faculty Receive Named Professorships

Congrats to Kirsi Järvinen-Seppo, MD, PhD, of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Marie Laryea, MDCM, of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, and Sai Reddy, MD, of Nephrology, on their new named professorships!

Office of Wellbeing Welcomes Several Fellows from DOM

Megan Lyons, MD, of Primary Care, Mallory Manning, PA-C, of Hospital Medicine, Emily Salib, MD, of Highland Hospital, and Brenda Tesini, MD, of Infectious Diseases, are among eight new fellows who will develop innovative projects over the next year that promote well-being for their colleagues.



		Bulletin Board

Two Ways Tech Improves Clinical Workflows, Saves Time: Imprivata Tap-n-Go technology streamlines access to eRecord, email, and essential applications, and Secure Chat updates coming February 25 will reduce interruptions and support clearer, more actionable communication for clinicians.

U.S. News Best Hospitals Rankings: Eligible faculty can log on to Doximity via desktop or mobile app to vote in the 2025 rankings. The process is quick and easy, and your support helps URMC continue to achieve rankings that accurately reflect the quality of care we provide.

Geriatric Medicine Community-Wide Grand Rounds: Learn how visual art can transform home care for older adults at 8 a.m., Wednesday, February 25, and find out whether operative or non-operative management is best for acute appendicitis in older adults at 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 4.

Seeds for Collaboration: Faculty and postdocs are invited to mix and mingle on Thursday, February 26, 4:30-6 p.m. in the LeChase Assembly Room (G-9576). Colleagues mingle for 30 minutes, followed by three five-to-eight-minute research talks and discussions.

UR Mentor LAB: Apply now for this group-based peer mentoring initiative open to faculty at all stages of their careers. Small groups meet four times throughout the academic year to foster faculty growth, collaboration, and leadership. Apply by 12 p.m., Thursday, February 26.

Geriatric Faculty Scholars Program: The UR Aging Institute seeks SON and SMD junior and mid-career academic faculty interested in geriatric education development and advancing the Age-Friendly Health System model. Apply by Monday, March 30, for a chance to receive $5,000 to enhance teaching and leadership skills and support career development as academic educators in geriatrics and gerontology.



		Off the Clock

Top left: Angela Branche, MD, David Dobrzynski, MD, and Paulina Sudnik, MD, post at the Colosseum. Lower left: Angela Branche, MD, David Dobrzynski, MD, selfie at the men's giant slalom alpine skiing event in Milan. Right: Angela Branche, MD, David Dobrzynski, MD, pose at the US vs. Latvia Olympic men's hockey game. When in Rome, you must see the Colosseum, and this year, you can take a quick trip to check out the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics! On their way to the RSVW26 research meeting in Rome, Angela Branche, MD, and David Dobrzynski, MD, stopped in Milan to watch the USA Men’s Hockey team handily defeat Latvia 5 to 1, and to witness the speed and agility of men’s giant slalom alpine skiing. Paulina Sudnik, MD, later joined the pair in Rome for a tour of the city’s most famous landmark.



		Special Announcements

In the News: Danielle Marino, MD, of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, spoke with WXXI News about the importance of knowing your risks and getting screened for colorectal cancer.

In the News: Neil Gupta, MD, of Cardiology, spoke to Rochester Business Journal about managing patients’ hypertension in real time via remote blood pressure monitoring and wearable technology.

Award: Erika Ramsdale, MD, of Hematology & Oncology, received NIH’s AIM-AHEAD Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource Collaborative Training Program. Congratulations, Dr. Ramsdale!

Publication: Cynthia Monaco, MD, PhD, of Infectious Diseases, led the study “The Enteric DNA Virome Differs in Infants at Risk for Atopic Disease” published in Gut Microbes.

Publication: Edward Walsh, MD, of Infectious Diseases, led the study, “Efficacy, Immunogenicity, and Safety of the Bivalent Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Prefusion F Vaccine in Older Adults Over 2 RSV Seasons” in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Publication: Brendan Guercio, MD, of Hematology & Oncology, led the study, “Neoadjuvant Nivolumab with or without Ipilimumab for Cisplatin-ineligible Patients with Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer” in Clinical Cancer Research.

Publication: Daniel Lachant, DO, of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, led the study, “Efficacy and Safety of Oral Treprostinil in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension on Background Monotherapy or Dual Therapy” in Advances in Therapy.

Publication: Edith Williams, MS, PhD, of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, led the study “The Impact of a Peer-Mentoring Intervention on Self-Reported Flare and Disease Activity Among African American Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)” published in Lupus.

Publication: Benjamin Korman, MD, of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, co-led the study, “Mixed Effects of Complement in a Chronic Murine Model of Inflammatory Erosive Arthritis and Pulmonary Vascular Disease” in PLOS One.



		Social Spotlight

The Levy Letter is always looking to learn about good things happening here!
Email us with your ideas.