Richard T. Ellison III shares outlook on COVID-19 virus, vaccines, and treatment

More than two years since the COVID-19 global pandemic began, the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues its rampage through rapidly evolving mutations and gaps in population immunity. But the outlook for managing COVID-19 is brighter than in those first dark days of 2020, according to infectious disease specialist Richard T. Ellison III, MD, Professor of Medicine and Hospital Epidemiologist at UMass Memorial Medical Center. 

“We’re in a very good point in that most people in the United States have now been vaccinated or may have actually had COVID before, so there is a lot of immunity to serious disease,” Dr. Ellison said.

David Harlan has been appointed to lead the JDRF Center of Excellence in New England

Congratulations to David Harlan, MD, Co-Director of the UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence, for being appointed to director of the JDRF Center of Excellence in New England. 

For nearly 40 years, Dr. Harlan has been conducting research exploring the pathophysiology underlying diabetes. He also brings years of experience as an endocrinologist with expertise in diabetes and metabolism. A renowned basic and clinical investigator, his current research is focused on beta cell biology and the anti-beta cell immune response.

Jennifer Reidy Elected to Massachusetts Medical Society’s Women Physicians Section

Congratulations to Jennifer Reidy, MD, MS, FAAHPM, Chief of Palliative Care and Associate Professor of Medicine, for being elected into the Massachusetts Medical Society's Women Physicians Section. 

Celebrating Juneteenth

The second commemoration of Juneteenth as a federal holiday took place on Sunday, June 19. Considered the longest running African American holiday in the United States, Juneteenth marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to ensure that all who were enslaved were set free, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

In a recent memo, Dr. Dickson shared the following thoughts, “Juneteenth is a time to celebrate the beauty and richness of Black American culture, but it’s also an opportunity to reflect on this country’s painful history of slavery and the systemic impact that racial injustice continues to have today…At UMass Memorial, that conversation must involve working toward solutions that eliminate the health and health care disparities that impact our patients and the communities we serve. Confronting racism, micro-aggressions and unconscious biases while elevating hope and opportunities for healing is a delicate balance."

It's Men's Health Month

The month of June is Men's Health Month, a time to raise awareness about health care for men. Learn more below about how UMass encourages care and healthy living for men of all ages. 

Important screenings for men include: High cholesterol, High blood pressure, Eye exam, Body mass index, Diabetes Colorectal cancer, and Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.