Department of Medicine Newsletter

The Department of Medicine is committed to creating a diverse environment where our extraordinary faculty, staff, and trainees can do their best work. Read here about some of our efforts to build a workplace where all our people are treated with dignity and respect.

Judith Auerbach was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Rebecca Berman was elected to the council of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM).

Peter Chin-Hong was nominated for a Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) media award in the category of Outstanding Live TV Journalism for the segment, “Reggie Aqui Interviews Doctor and Mpox Patient on His Experience.”

Carla Kuon published a book, The long Covid solution: A holistic, integrative approach to post viral recovery.

Larissa Thomas received the Macy Foundation Catalyst Award for Transformation in Graduate Medical Education.

Steve Pantilat received the Award for Excellence in Education and Training from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Emily Silverman’s podcast, The Nocturnists, was awarded the Sharp Index Award for Media Leadership for the series, “Shame in Medicine: The Lost Forest.” It was also nominated for an Ambie Award in the Best Indie Podcast category by the Podcast Academy.

The SFVA Geriatric Emergency Department was awarded Silver Level Accreditation by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Michelle Albert was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle reporting on increased cardiovascular-related deaths, particularly in people from communities of color, due to impacts from Covid. As president of the American Heart Association, she also rang the bell opening the New York Stock Exchange in honor of National Heart Month.

Susan Buchbinder was quoted by NBC News discussing the results of the Mosaico HIV vaccine clinical trials.

Peter Chin-Hong spoke to the Washington Post attributing the success of the Mpox outbreak response to the aligned efforts of government, academic institutions, scientists, and public health. He was also quoted by the New York Times comparing Covid-19 symptoms between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients and by ABC News about the US plan to test travelers from China for Covid.

Kenneth Covinsky spoke to the Washington Post doubting the overall benefits of a new Alzheimer’s drug approved by the FDA.

Monica Gandhi wrote an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle suggesting new Covid-19 healthcare policies to keep the virus at endemic levels. She was also featured on Bloomberg’s Crash Course podcast discussing the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that developed Covid-19 vaccines.

Pamela Ling spoke to the New York Times revealing how tobacco company R.J. Reynolds is circumventing recent California tobacco prohibitions.

Gregory Marcus spoke to NPR commenting on Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during an NFL game. He was also featured in the Washington Post explaining how the blow to Hamlir’s chest could have triggered a commotio cordis condition or an aneurysm.

Javid Moslehi spoke to the New York Times explaining how the blow to Damar Hamlin’s chest could have caused an arrhythmia.

Tung Nguyen was quoted by NBC describing the nuances of the Covid-19 travel requirements for travelers from China.

Connor O’Brien spoke to the Washington Post detailing the initial efforts involved in diagnosing and treating Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest.

Hilary Seligman was quoted by NPR discussing hospital programs that prescribe fruits and vegetables to patients.

Zian Tseng was quoted by MedPage Today speculating that Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was arrhythmia-related.

Bob Wachter was quoted in the New York Times commenting on the underuse of Paxlovid. He was also quoted by the Washington Post agreeing with the FDA’s strategy to streamline the coronavirus vaccine into a yearly regimen and by the San Francisco Chronicle and Axios discussing the current state of Covid-19.

RECENT GRANTS OF NOTE

Monica Gandhi and team: a grant renewal of $1.2M over 1 year from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for a project entitled, “Collaborative community networks to optimize implementation of low barrier COVID-19 testing efforts among diverse Latinx populations in Northern California.”

Annie Luetkemeyer and team: a grant supplement of $1.2M over 1 year from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for a project entitled, “Evaluation of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis to reduce sexually transmitted infections in PrEP users and HIV-infected men who have sex with men.”

Maria Dall’Era and team: a cooperative agreement of $5M over 5 years from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a project entitled, “Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in biologic and clinical SLE outcomes.”