Eighteen BUSM Faculty Promoted to Associate Professor

The following BUSM faculty have been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor:

Chitalia_Vipul_BUSM Vipul Chitalia, MED, Medicine (Nephrology), is an emerging national and international physician scientist in the field of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Focusing on cardiovascular manifestations in patients with CKD and using thrombosis as a disease model, he was the first to uncover the highly prothrombotic effect of some of the retained solutes in CKD patients. This work explained observations from several clinical trials that in the past had shown CKD as a strong and independent risk factor for thrombosis. These discoveries now have been developed into a ‘theranostic’ platform with a biomarker program and potential druggable therapeutic targets, which has attracted interest from the biotech industry. Dr. Chitalia serves as a scientific advisor to several leading biotech companies in the greater Boston area and also is an Associate Scientific Advisory Board Member of Science Translational Medicine, where his work has been lauded as “the most mechanistic contribution to the field of chronic kidney disease and vascular biology.”
.
Cohen_Robyn_BUSM Robyn T. Cohen, MED, Pediatrics, is an outstanding clinician and Director of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Allergy. She has been responsible for the growth of the Division, which includes the expansion of services offered to pediatric pulmonary patients and the development of a program in Pediatric Allergy. These clinical expansions include a more comprehensive inpatient consult service, and the creation of a pediatric bronchoscopy service and an oral food challenge program. A national expert on asthma health disparities as well as the pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease, Dr. Cohen has 29 original research publications, co-chaired the American Thoracic Society workshop on the Clinical and Research Priorities for Sickle Cell Lung Disease, and is an invited member of the American Society of Hematology expert panel to create and publish evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the cardiopulmonary care of patients with sickle cell disease.
.
Figueira-Marisol-BUSM Marisol Figueira, MED, Pediatrics, is a clinician and investigator who has made significant contributions to the care of children at Boston Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Figueira has mentored dozens of pediatric infectious diseases fellows. She bridges both primary and subspecialty care, and over the past decade, she has established a primarily Latino practice within BMC where she delivers high-quality care using evidence-based practice and receives high ratings from both her patients and staff. Dr. Figueira also has been a critical member of the Maxwell Finland Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, to assess treatments and new vaccine antigens in the treatment and prevention of Experimental Otitis Media.
.
Francis_Jean_BUSM Jean M. Francis, MED, Medicine (Nephrology), is a clinician educator and innovator. His work has led to improved care of patients with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) on a national level through the adoption in other institutions of a multidisciplinary team approach for management of patients with TMA, which he began at BMC. He has been invited to give more than 25 national and international lectures on TMA and TMA team building. His clinical innovation also is reflected by a collaborative effort between BMC and Brigham and Women’s Hospital to create a pancreas transplant program, for which he serves as medical director. Dr. Francis has been elected as one of 11 national representatives for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) Pancreas Transplantation Committee. He represents all pancreas and islet cells transplant programs in UNOS Region One (New England).
.
Gabel_Christopher_BUSM Christopher V. Gabel, MED, Physiology & Biophysics, Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, is a leader in the field of axon regeneration in C elegans neurobiology. His lab also develops various biophotonic techniques and applications including sub-cellular laser ablation. Although the field of C elegans is particularly competitive, Dr. Gabel has continued to be well funded for his innovative research, with numerous high-impact publications on the intrinsic cellular mechanisms of neuronal regeneration, including the roles of critical subcellular calcium signaling, activity dependent cellular mechanisms and post-translational modifications. He has a number of ongoing collaborations with scientists at Harvard, Rutgers and Princeton, and his work has been presented at numerous national conferences. Dr. Gabel has served on an NIH study section and as an invited grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation, the European Cooperation in Science and Technology, the European Research Council and the UK Research Council.
.
Garcia-Marcos_Mikel_BUSM Mikel Garcia-Marcos, MED, Biochemistry, is a pioneering investigator studying the mechanisms by which intercellular communication takes place and how its dysregulation underlies human disease. His work in this field since his arrival at BUSM in 2015 has resulted in more than 15 publications, many as corresponding author, in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, Science Signaling and Journal of Cell Biology. He has led collaborations not only within the University but also with investigators at institutions including Yale and University of California. His well-funded research program includes two R01 NIH grants and a prestigious four-year award from the American Cancer Society. He has been named the Karin Grunebaum Cancer Research Fellow, an award given to junior investigators at BUSM and Harvard Medical School, for two years in a row, one of only four fellows in the history of the Foundation to do so.
.
Gordon, Craig Eric_BUSM Craig Eric Gordon, MED, Medicine (Nephrology), is recognized as an international expert in the management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dr. Gordon has served as Associate Director of the Evidence Review Team for three clinical practice guidelines developed by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), the leading international organization for clinical practice guidelines in Nephrology, including an upcoming update to the KDIGO guidelines on HCV in patients with CKD. The KDIGO guidelines as well as publications and national/international presentations delivered by Dr. Gordon paved the way toward an increased awareness of the importance of HCV in CKD patients from a diagnostic, treatment and infection control perspective. Recently, Dr. Gordon served as guest editor of a supplemental issue of Hemodialysis International focused on HCV in CKD. Additionally, Dr. Gordon has worked in the area of procedural safety beginning with the development of the concept of a medical procedure service and later through publications identifying best practices in procedural safety for kidney biopsy and thoracentesis. He has lectured extensively related to procedural safety in various venues nationally.
.
Gradus, Jaimie L_BUSM Jaimie L. Gradus, MED, Psychiatry and SPH, Epidemiology, has achieved national recognition for her research addressing the epidemiology of trauma and trauma-related disorders and suicide outcomes among people with these experiences. An epidemiologist at the VA National Center for PTSD, Dr. Gradus’ trauma research focuses on suicidal behavior, health risks associated with exposure to traumatic stress and PTSD, and gender differences. Twenty-five of her 50 peer-reviewed papers are as first or senior author. She is the PI on two NIH R01 grants. In addition, Dr. Gradus designed a nationally disseminated PTSD 101 web-based curriculum on the epidemiology of PTSD, and has contributed to the development of nationally disseminated web-based courses on suicide prevention for VA clinicians.
.
Huang_ChrisEdit Christopher Huang, MED, Medicine (Gastroenterology), is a clinician-educator with a special interest in endoscopy education and training, and expertise in performing advanced procedures such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasonography, endoscopic mucosal resection of premalignant tumors and stenting of malignant gastrointestinal strictures. His skill set allows him to provide a unique service to patients with oncologic, biliary or pancreatic disorders. Dr. Huang has made significant contributions toward improving the Fellowship Program’s endoscopy training curriculum by developing several endoscopy-related lectures, integrating simulation training and implementing tools for the evaluation of procedural competency.
.
Jones_Matthew-BUSM Matthew Jones, MED, Medicine (Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care), studies inflammatory responses to acute bacterial pneumonia. Dr. Jones is the director of the GMS PhD Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine and regularly mentors graduate students. He is a member of several institutional committees and a reviewer of several peer-reviewed journals in addition to being co-PI on an NIH R01 grant extending through 2022, and is co-I on six others (U01, R35, R56 and 3 R01s). Dr. Jones has given invited national and international presentations and has served as a member of multiple Department of Defense research review panels on respiratory health.
.
Murphy, George James_BUSM George James Murphy, MED, Medicine (Hematology & Medical Oncology), is an accomplished investigator, mentor and teacher. Dr. Murphy is one of the founding co-directors of the Boston University and Boston Medical Center’s Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM), which now houses 50 members and 100 affiliated faculty with sizable extramural funding. His research focuses on the creation and differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their use in understanding both development and disease. His laboratory’s accomplishments include the generation of widely used protocols and platforms for the study of sickle cell anemia and hereditary amyloidosis. He also has pioneered methodologies for the large-scale production of blood cells from stem cells allowing for the first in human trials of iPSC-derived platelet transfusions. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Murphy plays a central role in the Hematology T32 Training Program, and is engaged in community outreach to inspire the next generation of scientists.
.
O'Brien-Sharon-BUSM Sharon E. O’Brien, MED, Pediatrics, is a distinguished clinician educator and leader. In addition to directing the division of Pediatric Cardiology for the past 16 years, she has been co-directing/directing the Pediatric Specialty Group within the Department for the last 13 years overseeing its expansion in multiple clinical areas. Most recently she was promoted to Vice-Chair for Subspecialty and Acute Care Services, Pediatrics. Dr. O’Brien has taught clinical cardiology to medical students, pediatric residents and fellows in the lecture halls as well as the ambulatory clinics for almost 20 years. She is a thought leader within the Department directing the Pediatric Faculty Development program, which provides an innovative 10-month curriculum for early faculty to explore topics important to their career advancement. She is a dedicated member of the organization, serving on the BU Medical Group’s Development and Governance committees.
.
Prentice_Julia Julia C. Prentice, MED, Psychiatry, is an emerging leader of VA health policy. Her research focuses on health quality and treatment outcome correlations with appointment wait times in the VA healthcare system that has resulted in major policy changes throughout the VA system. Dr. Prentice also has mapped treatment outcomes to specific medications now supported by grants totaling about $3M. Dr. Prentice serves on several national VA committees. She has mentored or is mentoring eight PhD students, MD fellows, post-doctoral fellows or junior investigators and has had 20 invited national lectures and policy presentations, including several with top VA administration.
.
Prudent_Nicole Nicole Prudent, MED, Pediatrics and SPH, Community Health Sciences, is a physician, educator, mentor and public health practitioner. A trusted and established voice in the Haitian community, Dr. Prudent was instrumental in developing health-related leadership and mentoring programs for youth, which provide multi-disciplinary and multi-level public health interventions for improving the care and health status of this community. Her work encompasses community health promotion and health education. Dr. Prudent co-founded the nonprofit community-based organization Youth and Family Enrichment Services Inc., which provides remedial and enrichment academics after school and during the summer for new immigrant children, and a music education program where children learn discipline, perseverance, harmony and teamwork, in addition to new means of self-expression, through orchestra practice and public performance.
.
Serrao, Richard A_BUSM Richard A. Serrao, MED, Medicine (Infectious Diseases), is a consummate clinician in general medicine and infectious diseases. Predominantly at the VA Boston Healthcare System, his impact is evident across BU and other VA affiliates. His yearly commitments are spread among an impressive 10 months on five different teaching services (medicine wards, inpatient and outpatient medicine consults, inpatient infectious disease consults, and primary and subspecialty care in ID/HIV clinic). Most notable is Dr. Serrao’s development and leadership (Medical Director) of the Ambulatory Diagnostic Treatment Center (ADTC), an extraordinary model for providing timely quality care to patients and educating the next generation of primary care providers. Dr. Serrao’s work in the ADTC has left an indelible imprint on scores of BMC residents and BU students. He is the recipient of several teaching awards and continues to serve as an associate director for the inpatient internal medicine core clerkship, contributing to innovative teaching curricula and the mentoring and career development of a significant portion of the medical student body.
.
Siracuse_Jeffrey_BUSM Jeffrey J. Siracuse, MED, Surgery and Radiology, is an expert in both peripheral and aortic vascular surgery. He led BMC in becoming certified to perform complex endovascular fenestrated abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. He has authored or coauthored more than 90 peer-reviewed original manuscripts with a research focus on perioperative optimization and comparative effectiveness of vascular and endovascular surgical procedures. He has received both NIH and specialty society funding. Dr. Siracuse serves on multiple regional and national committees, including the Society for Vascular Surgery’s (SVS) Coding and Reimbursement Committee, and is the Chair of the SVS Appropriateness Committee and the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society’s (VESS) Membership Development Committee. He has also been a principal and co-investigator in many clinical trials as well. Dr. Siracuse recently received a grant from the VESS to perform a prospective study examining perioperative nutritional optimization in patients with critical limb ischemia.
.
Walkey_Allan_BUSM Allan Walkey, MED, Medicine (Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care), is a leading expert in the clinical impact of atrial fibrillation in sepsis. Dr. Walkey’s research seeks to improve processes and outcomes of critical care, reduce cardiovascular complications of sepsis, better account for patient goals in the delivery and evaluation of healthcare, and develop novel methods to compare outcomes in observational research. He has a demonstrated track record of high-impact research with >100 publications, many in top-tier journals such as JAMA, JAMA Internal Medicine and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Walkey also serves as co-Director of the Center of Implementation and Improvement Sciences, seeking to improve the rigor of efforts to translate research into practice.
.
Wilson_Andrew Andrew A. Wilson, MED, Medicine (Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep & Critical Care), is a pulmonary and critical care clinician-scientist with long-standing focus on regenerative medicine and stem cell biology. His research seeks to advance the understanding of and treatment for genetic causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the lung and liver diseases associated with the alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), largely through the platform of patient-derived stem cells. He has overseen the creation of and directs one of the world’s largest repositories of reprogrammable blood samples associated with highly characterized participants in the Framingham Heart Study. In addition to laboratory-based science, he also leads an epidemiological study to define the incidence of and risk factors for liver diseases associated with AATD. Dr. Wilson is the founding director of the Alpha-1 Center at BU and BMC, one of the largest clinical centers for patients with AATD in the region. Since 2008 he has supervised 19 trainees in one of the most demanding scientific laboratory disciplines.