Read article – In a rural New England case study, researchers at the Geisel School of Medicine found that head trauma causing a person to black out, and lead exposure — even through hobbies — may more than double a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. According to the article, the researchers said that “From a public health perspective, our findings and the literature encourage the use of lead substitutes and helmets [with activities], which are general health recommendations that may also reduce the risk of [Parkinson’s].”

Read article – A profile of former Geisel School of Medicine faculty member Jason McLellan. McLellan started a research lab at Dartmouth in 2013 where he was part of a group that determined the three-dimensional structures of the coronavirus spike protein.

Read article – A profile of ConnectShareCare, an online support group for caregivers and those who are going through bereavement. The new service involves researchers from The Dartmouth Institute and medical staff from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. “There’s probably something very nice (about) being able at 9 o’clock at night to log on when you have a moment to take a breath and see if there’s something there that can be helpful to you,” said Kathy Kirkland, MED ’86, professor of medicine and professor of The Dartmouth Institute.

Read article – Antonia Altomare, assistant professor of medicine, was named to the Union Leader’s2021 class of “40 Under Forty.” The program honors individuals for their career achievements, community involvement, and contributions to New Hampshire. Altomare was credited with helping lead efforts against COVID-19 at the state’s largest hospital.

Read article – Michael Calderwood, associate professor of medicine, is quoted in an article on the rising number of COVID-19 cases in New Hampshire. Noting that he feels comfortable going without a mask in most situations, Calderwood said, “I would not feel that way of I were not vaccinated … In fact, I’d be very fearful.”

Read article – Continued coverage of how John-Erik Bell, associate professor of orthopaedics and associate professor of The Dartmouth Institute, has developed NextAR, an augmented reality-assisted shoulder replacement technology. Bell said, “I’m very proud to have been part of the development, and the first in this country to implement, a new technology that I expect will be widely adopted by orthopaedic surgeons worldwide and improve quality of life for many people.”(Similar coverage in The Nashua Telegraph).

Read article – Laura Tafe, associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, has been elected the president of the Association for Molecular Pathology. The article mentions that Tafe joined Geisel as an assistant professor in 2010 with a split role in surgical pathology and molecular pathology.

Read article – Nancy Morden, research consultant and former physician-researcher and study co-author, discusses Dartmouth-led research on the role U.S. health systems play on racial inequality in prescription of pain medicine. “Our findings likely reflect systematic racial bias throughout the course of care leading to pain medicine receipt,” said Morden.

Read article – Jay Buckey Jr., professor of medicine, who spent time aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1998, is featured in an interview about the recent space flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. Buckey says, “It definitely seems like there’s a possibility we’re going to have more people up there with private space stations, a lot more going on in lower orbit. I think that’s pretty exciting, it’s about time.” The segment mentions that Buckey is the director of the space medicine innovations lab at Dartmouth.

Read article – Steven D. Leach, the Preston T. and Virginia R. Kelsey Professor and director of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, is quoted on how the 40th Prouty raised more than $4 million in support of cancer research and patient and family support services at Dartmouth’s and Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center. According to a news release, Leach said, “It is inspiring the way our community gets involved and rallies around the Cancer Center to support cancer research and patient and family support services.”