Geisel School of Medicine News

“Strong and thriving.” That was Interim Dean Steven Leach’s assessment of the Geisel School of Medicine during the annual State of the Medical School address on Wednesday, June 3, where he reflected on a year of transition and the deep connections he made with the Geisel community.

Read article—Features Daniel Lucey, a clinical professor of medicine, discussing a rapidly growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo caused by the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus. "The virus already has a head start, and now we're playing catch up," said Lucey.

Read article—Steven Woloshin, a professor of health policy and clinical practice, comments on technologies in cancer screenings and how the public should know if the benefits of the tests outweigh the risks.

Read article—Jamie Banks '97, founder and president of Quiet Communities, is featured discussing the health impacts of data center noise, particularly low-frequency hums that can travel long distances and penetrate homes. "Noise has far-ranging effects on physical and mental health," Banks said.

Read article—Quotes Shelby Sullivan, a professor of medicine, as the lead author of a study evaluating a novel endoscopic procedure to prevent weight regain after patients discontinue GLP-1 weight-loss medications. "What's particularly encouraging is that the benefit appears to increase over time rather than fade, and that it behaves like a drug in terms of dose response," said Sullivan.

Read article—Features Michael Cole, a professor of molecular and systems biology, in an article examining new approaches to targeting MYC, a cancer-driving protein long considered "undruggable." The article highlights a breakthrough pancreatic cancer drug targeting RAS proteins and reports that Cole is investigating compounds that could block MYC's ability to activate certain other genes involved in tumor growth.  (Similar coverage in MisrYoum.)

President Sian Leah Beilock has made the promotion of health and wellness a top priority for Dartmouth from the beginning of her tenure. In October 2023, Dartmouth launched Commitment to Care, a strategic plan to support student mental health. 

Read article—Features Megan Romano, an associate professor of epidemiology, discussing the health risks associated with PFAS, or "forever chemicals," which are commonly found in drinking water, food, and consumer products. "They have really unique properties, and that's part of what has made them so attractive to industry. Unfortunately, we're learning that it is also something that makes them toxic and causes problems in the human body," Romano said.

Read article—Features Ugis Gruntmanis, a professor of medicine, discussing the fertility risks associated with testosterone therapy amid rising use of the hormone among young men. Gruntmanis said that while testosterone can suppress sperm production, "the effect is reversible once patients stop taking testosterone," though it can take time for normal sperm production to return.

Read article—Features Michael Cole, a professor of molecular and systems biology, in an article on new approaches to targeting MYC, a cancer-driving protein long considered "undruggable." The article reports that Cole is investigating compounds that could block MYC's ability to activate genes involved in tumor growth following a breakthrough pancreatic cancer trial targeting RAS proteins.

Read article—Quotes Roy Herbst, the incoming director of the Dartmouth Cancer Center, in an article about China’s ascendance as a powerhouse in drug development.

Read article—An op-ed co-authored by Daniel Lucey, a clinical professor of medicine, argues that the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda exposes major weaknesses in the global pandemic preparedness system, particularly in conflict zones. "These emergencies persist not because the world lacks scientific knowledge, but because conflict, inequity, collapsing vaccination systems, and political fragility continue to erode the foundations of public health," the co-

Read article—A parenting column by Miriam Voran, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, discusses the importance of unstructured play in children's emotional and social development, including for their mental health. "Through play, children practice emotion regulation, self-control, social skills and problem-solving," says Voran. "Play is a child’s work; it’s their path to growth."

Historically, medical students, residents, and physicians experience higher rates of stress—such as anxiety, depression, and related mental illness that affects quality of life, productivity, and patient care—but lower rates of seeking support.

Read article—Quotes Shane Chapman, Matthew Davis, and Matthew LeBoeuf, faculty in the Department of Dermatology, in a three-part series on preventing and treating melanoma and other forms of skin cancer as summer approaches. New Hampshire’s older population, lighter skin and hair types, and concentrated sun exposure contribute to elevated skin cancer risk, Chapman said. Additional stories in this series are here and here.

Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine celebrated the MD Class of 2026 during the school’s Investiture ceremony on Saturday, May 9, when 94 medical students received their Doctor of Medicine.

Read article—Features Nick Jacobson, an associate professor of biomedical data science and psychiatry, discussing the development of an AI therapy chatbot designed to support mental health care. "One of the things that’s exciting about this type of generative AI… is that it’s accessible all the time," Jacobson said.

Read article—Features Corneliu Stanciu, an assistant professor of psychiatry, discussing the health risks and treatment challenges associated with kratom and its synthetic derivative, 7-OH, which are marketed as herbal supplements but function like opioids. "The problem is that there's no standard when it comes to testing," Stanciu said.

Read article—Nicholas Cochran-Caggiano, a professor of emergency medicine, co-authors an article examining how new federal Medicaid work requirements could threaten patients' access to care and the financial stability of emergency departments nationwide. "The experiences of Arkansas and Georgia serve as cautionary tales, highlighting that bureaucratic barriers, not lack of effort, often drive disenrollment," the co-authors wrote.

Read article—Features research from Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock examining vaccine hesitancy before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, finding stable uptake of TDAP vaccines but declines in HPV vaccination. "We are now seeing that there’s an absolute meteoric rise in oral cancers, especially HPV-associated," says Ilana Cass, Guarini '24, professor of obstetrics and gynecology.