Dean's Message

March is an exciting time at VTCSOM, as we celebrate two events showcasing the culmination of four years of dedication and hard work. On Match Day (March 21st), we find out where our Class of 2025 students will continue their professional training, and one week later (March 28th), we feature their findings from four years of research at the Medical Student Research Symposium!

This fall’s launch of our new curriculum has firmly centered the VTCSOM identities of master adaptive learner, system citizen, and scientist physician at the heart of our students’ journey to becoming patient-centered physicians. Each identity demands that our students hone their ability to ask just the right question — for themselves as learners, for their patients, and for the broader medical and scientific community. VTCSOM’s research curriculum fosters our students’ curiosity starting in Year 1 and supports them along a four-year odyssey to answer their scientific questions, a path that demands resilience, is often convoluted, and always sparks more questions!

On March 28th, we will highlight our students’ discoveries. The Class of 2025 has explored everything from the pathophysiology of cancer, pulmonary, and cardiovascular diseases to ways to improve our health system. At the symposium, every student will present a poster detailing their work, and a select group of students, chosen by faculty for special recognition, will give rapid-fire talks presentations.

Our students' research achievements are not possible without our dedicated and skilled research mentors and research teams who help them navigate the discovery process. At VTCSOM, we are fortunate to have over 100 faculty research mentors, along with many others (faculty, trainees, and staff) who serve as co-mentors. Research is a team sport, and our medical education team is profoundly grateful for the contributions of our academic community to our students' growth as inquiry-driven scholars. We are excited to honor and hear from our Mentors of the Year, Drs. John Epling and Michelle Rockwell, Department of Family and Community Medicine, at this year's Research Symposium. Their collaborative mentorship approach has shaped and inspired numerous students over the years. Their research is particularly appealing to students because of the tangible and immediate way their findings impact patient outcomes and the health system. Drs. Epling and Rockwell exemplify teamwork and dedication, helping our students thrive as researchers.

We invite you to join us on March 28th from noon to 5 pm to explore posters, listen to exciting presentations, and share food and conversation with our Class of 2025 students as they wrap up their research endeavors at VTCSOM!

Leslie LaConte

Associate Dean, Research
Director, Foundational Science Curriculum

Nikki Worthington

Director, Clinical Research Education

 

Editor’s note: The next issue of Progress Notes will be published Monday, April 7th. All submissions should be sent to VTCSOMAdvancement@vt.edu no later that Friday, March. 21st.

News Around Campus

Social Media

Events

Humanism Notes

A submission from Dr. Rebecca Pauly for the upcoming ARTiculation series:

I hear you say
        My plate is full
        I am having trouble sleeping
        I am more tearful these past six months
        My energy is low
        I find it hard to engage

But, do I listen to know
        Your mother’s health is declining
        She will likely move in with you and your family
        At night your mind races
        You have been through changes
        Too numerous to count
        You are now an empty nester
        And how you long for the noisy chatter of teenagers
        You no longer attend exercise classes 
        You just don’t have the time
        You seem to be pulling back 
        From activities that gave you joy

I should listen to understand
        You feel burned out 
        You hope wellness can be restored
        You know your current state is not sustainable
        You are open to discussing your stressors
        You believe joy is just below the surface
        Needing dedicated nurturing

What I hear and how I can listen
        Words communicate
        Feelings held tightly to the chest
        I will listen to the words and beyond
        For values, vision, content, and context
        To respond to the human cry of emotions

When I have truly listened 
        I witness your opening up
        I catch a glimpse into your soul
        As if a bud is expanding to reveal
        A vivid sun-soaked yellow blossom
        Creating a collaborative 
        Awareness for healing

Publishing

Sarah Parker, associate professor and chair of the Department of Health Systems and Implementation Science (HSIS), Laurie Wolf, assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and director of human factors implementation at Carilion Clinic, and colleagues from the Human Factors Center of Excellence at Carilion, published “Virtual Monitoring Technician Performance in High-Fidelity Simulations of Remote Patient Monitoring: An Exploratory Study” in Simulation in Healthcare.

Nicholas Rider, professor in HSIS and associate chief medical information officer for the Section of Allergy-Immunology at Carilion Clinic, and a colleague published the editorial, “The 2024 Nobel Prizes: AI and Computational Science Take Center Stage,” in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Michelle Rockwell, Co-Director of Health Systems Science and Interprofessional Practice, Phase 1, along with colleagues from across the country, published “Demographic Variation in US Outpatient Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic” in Health Affairs.

Brian Hansen, class of 2025, along with his mentor Peter Apel and Murillo Adrados, both faculty in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and other colleagues from the Institute for Orthopaedics & Neurosciences at Carilion, co-authored “Modifications to the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Predicts Complications after Total Joint Arthroplasty,” which was published in The Journal of Arthroplasty.

Liliana Ladner, class of 2025, Collin Tanchanco Ocampo, class of 2026, their mentor Michelle Theus, professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, Eric Marvin, associate professor of neurosurgery, and other Virginia Tech faculty and students published “The Weight of Multiple Hits: How TBI and Infectious Encephalitis Co-modulate Adverse Outcomes” in Brain Injury.

Tyler Shick, class of 2025, his mentor Justin Weppner, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, and colleagues from Carilion Clinic, Radford University Carilion, and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, published “Randomized Controlled Trial: Preliminary Investigation of the Impact of High-Intensity Treadmill Gait Training on Recovery Among Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury” in Neurotrauma Reports.

Alan Dogan, class of 2026, and his mentor Robert Gourdie, professor of emergency medicine, published “Stabilizing Milk-derived Extracellular Vesicles (mEVs) through Lyophilization: A Novel Trehalose and Tryptophan Formulation for Maintaining Structure and Bioactivity during Long-term Storage” in the Journal of Biological Engineering. Co-authors include other faculty and students from Virginia Tech.

Patrick Beck, class of 2024, Maegan Gabby, class of 2027, their mentor Zhi Sheng, assistant professor of internal medicine and neurosurgery and at FBRI, and other Virginia Tech colleagues published “Molecular Basis of Oncogenic PI3K Proteins” in Cancers (Basel).

Alumni Update

Calling the Class of 2015:

Its time to celebrate your milestone! The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine officially welcomes you back to Roanoke, Virginia for your ten year reunion!

Join us on Friday, May 2nd through Sunday, May 4th for a great time in Roanoke with old classmates, faculty, staff and students.

Check out the Class of 2015 Reunion page for the weekend’s agenda and details!

Registration Form: https://aimsbbis.vt.edu/vtcsomclassof2015reunion

Update us on what is happening!

Are you moving on to private practice or a fellowship? Did you get married? Have a baby? Get published, receive an award, or promoted? Tell us about it! Please fill out our survey.

Carilion Recruitment

Interested in returning to Roanoke or the surrounding areas to work and play? Carilion Clinic has outstanding employment opportunities available in many specialties. Visit Carilionclinic.org, scroll to Careers and then Physician Careers for more information. You may also reach out to Andrea Henson, director of physician recruitment & onboarding (ahenson@carilionclinic.org) or 540-224-5241.

Spotlight on Giving

Over the past few years, VTCSOM has experienced significant growth in both the number of gifts and the number of donors, reflecting the strong support and commitment of our community.  Each new Giving Day has seen more individuals come together to contribute, underscoring the collective belief in our mission and vision.

This year, thanks to your generosity and enthusiasm, VTCSOM raised $315,435.13 from 197 unique donors - a tremendous achievement that will directly benefit our students, faculty, and programs.  

Thank you for making Giving Day 2025 a success!!!!

Take Note

Match Day is coming! Fourth-year students will learn the location and clinical specialty of their residency, marking the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication. During a private ceremony, they will receive envelopes revealing their residency match. In the public ceremony that follows, students will share their exciting next steps with classmates and guests.

Date: March 21st
Time: Noon - 1 PM
Location: Jefferson Center
Address: 541 Luck Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016

The Last Note

Every year, physicians and medical students come together for a spirited competition, raising funds for the scholarship while honoring Morgan’s legacy. More than just a basketball game, the event represents camaraderie, community spirit, and a shared dedication to preserving Morgan’s memory.

“This night is incredibly special for us because it allows us to reconnect with friends and community supporters we may not have seen in a while,” said Dan Harrington, Morgan’s father and former vice dean of the medical school. “Sometimes, the game gets a little intense, but fortunately, we have plenty of doctors on hand.”

To date, the scholarship has raised over $550,000 to support students, highlighting both the event’s profound impact and the generosity of its supporters. Medical students eagerly look forward to participating in a game that carries meaning far beyond the final score.