Brainwaves
Yale School of Medicine Department of Neurology
Faculty Affairs
This section includes updates on Mentoring, Wellness, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Our goal is to highlight one topic in each domain. If you have a suggestion for a future topic of interest, please email Lauren Sansing, MD, MS.
Mentoring and Promotions
The promotions process can be daunting, so we want to provide information to make it as transparent as possible. The Department has two committees to help faculty through promotions, and this newsletter highlights the roles of each committee:
Neurology Mentoring Committee
This committee meets four times a year to review faculty before they are proposed for promotion. We restructured this committee this year in the hopes of aligning the mentorship faculty are receiving around the promotions process. The committee is now comprised of the Director of Mentoring (who chairs the committee), the Chiefs or Academic Chiefs of each division, the Vice-Chairs of Faculty Affairs, Education, and Clinical Affairs, the VA Chief, and the Chair of Neurology. We aim to discuss each faculty member 18-24 months before the end of their term, with feedback from the Director of Mentoring after the meeting to discuss readiness for promotion by the end of term. This timeline aims to give faculty time to work on any potential gaps and ensure the promotions process goes smoothly at the Appointments and Promotions (A&P) Committee level.
Neurology A&P Committee
This is the committee that reviews and votes on all faculty appointments and promotions at the Associate Professor rank and above on all tracks in the Department. The Committee reviews each portfolio twice: first to determine if it should move forward for solicitation of letters of evaluation, and then to re-review with the letters to determine if the portfolio will move forward to the Yale School of Medicine A&P Committees. Voting is done by closed ballot by all faculty at or above the rank to which the faculty member is being proposed. The Office of Academic and Professional Development (OAPD) provides more information on the timeline and process.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Update on Leaves
Sabbatical and triennial, child rearing, and caregiver leaves are great benefits offered by Yale School of Medicine. These benefits are outlined on the OAPD website's Child Rearing section.
Wellness
Yale Medicine offers a number of wellbeing resources. This quarter, we are highlighting the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP is offered through Optum, a mental health service specialist. Yale Medicine employees have access to the EAP for assistance with any issue that may be causing emotional distress, as well as legal and family issues. Optum provides short-term counseling with licensed professionals. There is no co-pay or other cost to you. According to Optum, potential issues could include:
1. Managing stress
2. Finding support for anxiety, depression, or substance abuse
3. Improving relationships at home or work
4. Finding childcare or elder care resources
5. Getting advice on finances
6. Accessing legal services
7. Finding other resources or support
To access the EAP, you can call their 24/7 service line toll-free at 866-781-6396. The Optum EAP website provides more information. Please contact Dr. Sansing with any issues or feedback on the program.
News
Health Headlines: Doctors expect stroke deaths to increase worldwide
The World Health Organization predicts that annual deaths from stroke around the world will reach 10 million by 2050. Hardik Amin, MD, board-certified vascular neurologist and medical stroke director at Yale New Haven Hospital, discussed with WTNH News 8 the symptoms of stroke, the importance of seeking immediate medical care, and how to lower the risk of stroke.
Source: WTNH News 813 Oct 2023'Our America: Unforgettable'
Alzheimer's disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that not only damages the memory and identity of the people who suffer from it, but their loved ones as well. This ABC News documentary explores the impact of Alzheimer's disease on the Latinx community and pulls on the knowledge of experts in the field, including Yale Assistant Professor of Neurology Carmen Carrión, PsyD, a neuropsychologist with vast experience treating diverse patient populations.
Source: ABC News6 Oct 2023Could depression and anxiety be early signs of MS?
Although such symptoms do not directly predict the disease, their frequent appearance in the years preceding the illness adds to experts’ understanding of the life-changing condition.
Source: Medical News Today:4 Oct 2023Smilow Shares: AL Amyloidosis
On September 12, 2023, our experts presented on diagnosis, care, and treatment of AL Amyloidosis.
14 Sep 2023Phone. Keys. Wallet … Brain?
Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and of neurology, spoke to The New York Times about memory shifts as people age, how we can remember a bit more, and when to discuss forgetfulness with a doctor.
Source: The New York Times11 Sep 2023Women in Medicine Month Spotlight: Naila Makhani, MD, MPH
Learn about our Dr. Naila Makhani during Women in Medicine Month!
8 Sep 2023Christine Gummerson, MD Honored as Consultant of the Year
The Department of Emergency Medicine has honored Christine Gummerson, MD, a PGY4 resident in the Department of Neurology, with the Consultant of the Year Award. By voting for her to receive this award, the residents in the Departmtent of Emergency Medicine have specifically acknowledged Dr. Gummerson not only for her outstanding dedication to her myriad responsibilities as a consultant, but also for her unwavering professionalism and commitment to improving the lives of her patients.
8 Sep 2023Brain Fog: New Study Examines Causes of This Long COVID Symptom
A new study finds that neuroinflammation and blood-brain-barrier dysfunction are not likely drivers of the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Long COVID, giving researchers more clues in their quest to uncover what actually may be the culprit. This study is the first time researchers have tested a large cohort of people living with Long COVID for spinal fluid markers of brain inflammation and blood-brain-barrier dysfunction.
10 Nov 2023Can Diabetes Drugs Lower the Risk of Age-Related Dementia?
In patients with diabetes, recent studies have found a positive correlation between taking metformin, a blood sugar medication, and lowered risk of dementia. While promising, this link is not definitive, and experts like Yale's Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, MD, PhD, advise that patients maintain a healthy weight and diet and exercise in order to preserve cognitive wellbeing.
Source: WebMD6 Nov 2023Moeller, Brewster, and Thanas Win the 2023 Rosemarie L. Fisher, MD, Excellence in Graduate Medical Education Award
Two Yale School of Medicine (YSM) faculty and one staff member have won the 2023 Rosemarie L. Fisher, MD, Excellence in Graduate Medical Education (GME) Award: Jeremy Moeller, MD, residency program director for the Neurology program; Ursula Brewster, MD, fellowship program director for the Internal Medicine Nephrology Fellowship Program; and MarySarah Thanas, MPH, program coordinator for the Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program.
2 Nov 2023Researchers Identify Key Genes in the Development of the Primate Brain
Yale researchers have revealed the molecular origins of the developmental differences that distinguish primates from mice.
Source: YaleNews26 Oct 2023Myasthenia Gravis: New Drugs and a Road to Individualized Treatment
Yale researchers learn more about a challenging disease.
Source: Yale Medicine17 Nov 2023What's on the Horizon for Myasthenia Gravis – Cell-based therapies, broader B-cell targeting, and immune tolerance are all in the works
Major advances in treatment options have been game-changers for people diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG). Experts comment on current MG treatment methods, as well as exciting new research.
Source: Medpage Today6 Nov 2023Schwamm Receives American Heart Association 2023 Chairman’s Award
The American Heart Association presented its 2023 Chairman’s Award to Lee H. Schwamm, MD, FAHA, of Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Schwamm was recognized during the presidential session on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 at the Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023.
Source: American Heart Association1 Nov 2023
Publications
- Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia in patients with multiple sclerosis on anti-CD20 therapy: Pathogenesis, risk of infection, and disease managementAlvarez E, Longbrake E, Rammohan K, Stankiewicz J, Hersh C. Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia in patients with multiple sclerosis on anti-CD20 therapy: Pathogenesis, risk of infection, and disease management. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders 2023, 79: 105009. PMID: 37783194, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105009.
- Single cell in vivo optogenetic stimulation by two-photon excitation fluorescence transferTong L, Han S, Xue Y, Chen M, Chen F, Ke W, Shu Y, Ding N, Bewersdorf J, Zhou Z, Yuan P, Grutzendler J. Single cell in vivo optogenetic stimulation by two-photon excitation fluorescence transfer. IScience 2023, 26: 107857. PMID: 37752954, PMCID: PMC10518705, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107857.
- Amino-terminal proteolytic fragment of the axon growth inhibitor Nogo-A (Rtn4A) is upregulated by injury and promotes axon regenerationSekine Y, Wang X, Kikkawa K, Honda S, Strittmatter S. Amino-terminal proteolytic fragment of the axon growth inhibitor Nogo-A (Rtn4A) is upregulated by injury and promotes axon regeneration. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2023, 299: 105232. PMID: 37690690, PMCID: PMC10622843, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105232.
- Anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy in postpartum women with neurological conditionsAnderson A, Rowles W, Poole S, Balan A, Bevan C, Brandstadter R, Ciplea A, Cooper J, Fabian M, Hale T, Jacobs D, Kakara M, Krysko K, Longbrake E, Marcus J, Repovic P, Riley C, Romeo A, Rutatangwa A, West T, Hellwig K, LaHue S, Bove R. Anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy in postpartum women with neurological conditions. Annals Of Clinical And Translational Neurology 2023, 10: 2053-2064. PMID: 37675826, PMCID: PMC10647007, DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51893.
- Impaired pre-synaptic plasticity and visual responses in auxilin-knockout miceCheng X, Tang Y, Vidyadhara D, Li B, Zimmerman M, Pak A, Nareddula S, Edens P, Chandra S, Chubykin A. Impaired pre-synaptic plasticity and visual responses in auxilin-knockout mice. IScience 2023, 26: 107842. PMID: 37766983, PMCID: PMC10520332, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107842.
- Mapping Lesion-Related Epilepsy to a Human Brain NetworkSchaper F, Nordberg J, Cohen A, Lin C, Hsu J, Horn A, Ferguson M, Siddiqi S, Drew W, Soussand L, Winkler A, Simó M, Bruna J, Rheims S, Guenot M, Bucci M, Nummenmaa L, Staals J, Colon A, Ackermans L, Bubrick E, Peters J, Wu O, Rost N, Grafman J, Blumenfeld H, Temel Y, Rouhl R, Joutsa J, Fox M. Mapping Lesion-Related Epilepsy to a Human Brain Network. JAMA Neurology 2023, 80: 891-902. PMID: 37399040, PMCID: PMC10318550, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.1988.
- Influence of menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use on MS symptom fluctuations: A pilot studyTaylor H, Alhasan S, Saleem M, Poole S, Jiang F, Longbrake E, Bove R. Influence of menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use on MS symptom fluctuations: A pilot study. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders 2023, 77: 104864. PMID: 37480738, PMCID: PMC11090415, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104864.
- Neuronal transcriptome, tau and synapse loss in Alzheimer’s knock-in mice require prion proteinStoner A, Fu L, Nicholson L, Zheng C, Toyonaga T, Spurrier J, Laird W, Cai Z, Strittmatter S. Neuronal transcriptome, tau and synapse loss in Alzheimer’s knock-in mice require prion protein. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2023, 15: 201. PMID: 37968719, PMCID: PMC10647125, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01345-z.
- From drab to Fab; PLP1's fit is redressed for MS.Bayer A, O'Connor K. From drab to Fab; PLP1's fit is redressed for MS. Science Immunology 2023, 8: eadl0618. PMID: 37801515, DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adl0618.
- CD4dimCD8bright T cells are inversely associated with neuro-inflammatory markers among people with HIVAlbalawi Y, Shull T, Virdi A, Subra C, Mitchell J, Slike B, Jian N, Krebs S, Sacdalan C, Ratnaratorn N, Hsu D, Phanuphak N, Spudich S, Trautmann L, Al-Harthi L. CD4dimCD8bright T cells are inversely associated with neuro-inflammatory markers among people with HIV. AIDS 2023, 38: 1-7. PMID: 37792358, PMCID: PMC10715695, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003743.
- 382 Moral Distress in Resuscitation Policy Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods StudyJubanyik K, Vergara-Greeno R, Welch R, Kim N, Showstark M, Kashyap N, Herbst J, Tolchin B. 382 Moral Distress in Resuscitation Policy Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study. Annals Of Emergency Medicine 2023, 82: s167-s168. DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.08.410.
- Development of neural repair therapy for chronic spinal cord trauma: soluble Nogo receptor decoy from discovery to clinical trialHoward E, Strittmatter S. Development of neural repair therapy for chronic spinal cord trauma: soluble Nogo receptor decoy from discovery to clinical trial. Current Opinion In Neurology 2023, 36: 516-522. PMID: 37865850, PMCID: PMC10841037, DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001205.
- Remission of severe myasthenia gravis after autologous stem cell transplantationSchlatter M, Yandamuri S, O'Connor K, Nowak R, Pham M, Obaid A, Redman C, Provost M, McSweeney P, Pearlman M, Tees M, Bowen J, Nash R, Georges G. Remission of severe myasthenia gravis after autologous stem cell transplantation. Annals Of Clinical And Translational Neurology 2023, 10: 2105-2113. PMID: 37726935, PMCID: PMC10646993, DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51898.
- Outcomes in Patients With Poststroke SeizuresMisra S, Kasner S, Dawson J, Tanaka T, Zhao Y, Zaveri H, Eldem E, Vazquez J, Silva L, Mohidat S, Hickman L, Khan E, Funaro M, Nicolo J, Mazumder R, Yasuda C, Sunnerhagen K, Ihara M, Ross J, Liebeskind D, Kwan P, Quinn T, Engel J, Mishra N. Outcomes in Patients With Poststroke Seizures. JAMA Neurology 2023, 80: 1155-1165. PMID: 37721736, PMCID: PMC10507596, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.3240.
- NaV1.7: A central role in painWaxman S, Dib-Hajj S. NaV1.7: A central role in pain. Neuron 2023, 111: 2615-2617. PMID: 37678164, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.08.011.
- Development and validation of a novel score to predict brain death after out-of-hospital cardiac arrestKitlen E, Kim N, Rubenstein A, Keenan C, Garcia G, Khosla A, Johnson J, Miller P, Wira C, Greer D, Gilmore E, Beekman R. Development and validation of a novel score to predict brain death after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation 2023, 192: 109955. PMID: 37661012, DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109955.
- Associations of Sex, Race, and Apolipoprotein E Alleles With Multiple Domains of Cognition Among Older AdultsWalters S, Contreras A, Eissman J, Mukherjee S, Lee M, Choi S, Scollard P, Trittschuh E, Mez J, Bush W, Kunkle B, Naj A, Peterson A, Gifford K, Cuccaro M, Cruchaga C, Pericak-Vance M, Farrer L, Wang L, Haines J, Jefferson A, Kukull W, Keene C, Saykin A, Thompson P, Martin E, Bennett D, Barnes L, Schneider J, Crane P, Hohman T, Dumitrescu L, Abner E, Adams P, Aguirre A, Albert M, Albin R, Allen M, Alvarez L, Apostolova L, Arnold S, Asthana S, Atwood C, Ayres G, Barber R, Barnes L, Barral S, Bartlett J, Beach T, Becker J, Beecham G, Benchek P, Bennett D, Bertelson J, Biber S, Bird T, Blacker D, Boeve B, Bowen J, Boxer A, Brewer J, Burke J, Burns J, Bush W, Buxbaum J, Byrd G, Cantwell L, Cao C, Carlsson C, Carrasquillo M, Chan K, Chase S, Chen Y, Chesselet M, Chin N, Chui H, Chung J, Craft S, Crane P, Cruchaga C, Cuccaro M, Culhane J, Cullum C, Darby E, Davis B, DeCarli C, DeToledo J, Dickson D, Dobbins N, Duara R, Ertekin-Taner N, Evans D, Faber K, Fairchild T, Fallin D, Fallon K, Fardo D, Farlow M, Farrell J, Farrer L, Fernandez-Hernandez V, Foroud T, Frosch M, Galasko D, Gamboa A, Geschwind D, Ghetti B, Goate A, Grabowski T, Graff-Radford N, Griswold A, Haines J, Hakonarson H, Hall K, Hall J, Hamilton R, Hamilton-Nelson K, Han X, Hardy J, Harrell L, Head E, Henderson V, Hernandez M, Honig L, Huebinger R, Huentelman M, Hulette C, Hyman B, Hynan L, Ibanez L, De Jager P, Jarvik G, Jayadev S, Jin L, Johnson K, Johnson L, Jun G, Kamboh M, Kang M, Karydas A, Kathryn G, Katz M, Kauwe J, Kaye J, Keene C, Keller B, Khaleeq A, Kim R, Knebl J, Kowall N, Kramer J, Kukull W, Kunkle B, Kuzma A, LaFerla F, Lah J, Larson E, Lerch M, Lerner A, Leung Y, Leverenz J, Levey A, Li D, Lieberman A, Lipton R, Lopez O, Lunetta K, Lyketsos C, Mains D, Manly J, Mark L, Marquez D, Marson D, Martin E, Masliah E, Massman P, Masukar A, Mayeux R, McCormick W, McCurry S, McDonough S, McKee A, Mesulam M, Mez J, Miller B, Miller C, Mock C, Moghekar A, Montine T, Monuki E, Mooney S, Morris J, Mukherjee S, Myers A, Naj A, Nguyen T, O'Bryant S, Ormsby K, Ory M, Palmer R, Parisi J, Paulson H, Pavlik V, Paydarfar D, Perez V, Pericak-Vance M, Peterson R, Polk M, Qu L, Quiceno M, Quinn J, Raj A, Rajabli F, Ramanan V, Reiman E, Reisch J, Reitz C, Ringman J, Robertson E, Rodriguear M, Rogaeva E, Rosen H, Rosenberg R, Royall D, Sano M, Saykin A, Schellenberg G, Schneider J, Schneider L, Seeley W, Sherva R, Shibata D, Small S, Smith A, Smith J, Song Y, Spina S, St George-Hyslop P, Stern R, Stevens A, Strittmatter S, Sultzer D, Swerdlow R, Tilson J, Tosto G, Trojanowski J, Troncoso J, Tsuang D, Valladares O, Vance J, Van Deerlin V, Van Eldik L, Vardarajan B, Vassar R, Vinters H, Vonsattel J, Wang L, Weintraub S, Welsh-Bohmer K, Wheeler N, Wijsman E, Wilhelmsen K, Williams S, Williams B, Williamson J, Wilms H, Wingo T, Woltjer R, Woon M, Younkin S, Yu L, Zhao Y, Zhou X, Zhu C, Adegoke O, Aisen P, Apostolova L, Ashford M, Beckett L, Bernard M, Bernhardt H, Borowski B, Cabrera Y, Cairns N, Carrillo M, Chen K, Choe M, Clanton T, Coker G, Conti C, Crawford K, Das S, Donohue M, Fleisher A, Flenneiken D, Fletcher E, Fockler J, Forghanian-Arani A, Foroud T, Fox N, Franklin E, Gessert D, González H, Green R, Gunter J, Harvey D, Hergesheimer L, Ho C, Householder E, Hsaio J, Jack C, Jackson J, Jagust W, Jahanshad N, Jimenez G, Jin C, Jones D, Kantarci K, Khachaturian Z, Knaack A, Koeppe R, Kormos A, Landau S, Mahboubi P, Malone I, Masterman D, Mathis C, Miller G, Montine T, Moore S, Morris J, Neu S, Neuhaus J, Nho K, Nir T, Nosheny R, Nudelman K, Okonkwo O, Perrin R, Pizzola J, Potter W, Rafii M, Raman R, Reid R, Reiman E, Risacher S, Rossi Chen S, Ryan L, Salazar J, Saykin A, Schwarz C, Senjem M, Shaffer E, Shaw L, Shen L, Silverberg N, Smith S, Taylor-Reinwald L, Thal L, Thomopoulos S, Thompson P, Toga A, Tosun-Turgut D, Trojanowski J, Truran Sacrey D, Veitch D, Vemuri P, Walter S, Ward C, Weiner M, Wilmes K, Yushkevich P, Zimmerman C. Associations of Sex, Race, and Apolipoprotein E Alleles With Multiple Domains of Cognition Among Older Adults. JAMA Neurology 2023, 80: 929-939. PMID: 37459083, PMCID: PMC10352930, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2169.