The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

06/03/2026

As millions of fans prepare to travel for the World Cup, Rhode Island’s health care community is preparing too. ⚽🏥

Leonard Mermel, professor of medicine and medical director of epidemiology and infection control for University Health, spoke about the broad range of concerns hospitals are planning for ahead of the games — from infectious diseases and heat stroke to overdoses and mass casualty events.

“It all comes down to preparation.”

Hospitals across the region are increasing training, reviewing emergency response plans and preparing staff and supplies for a potential influx of visitors during one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Read more:

"What if somebody happens to be traveling and unknowingly has something like Ebola?"

06/03/2026

Michelle, a Rochester, MN, native and Brown PLME student, graduated in 2023 with a degree in computational biology. Interested in , she led a 2025 study finding that image-guided thermal ablation can safely treat recurrent non-small cell after stereotactic body radiation therapy.

➡️What does your day look like?

I’m now a fourth-year medical student on a sub-internship in Interventional Radiology, and I spend most of my day doing clinical work, which involves assisting with procedures, checking on hospitalized patients, and learning a ton!

➡️What sparked your interest in interventional radiology and image-guided thermal ablation?

I've really been interested in interventional radiology because the procedures that are done by interventional radiologists are innovative and offer solutions to problems where no other option may exist. One of my particular interests relates to , and my mentor, DaeHee Kim, MD, divisional director of interventional radiology, and I studied the options for treating lung cancer that has recurred under conventional therapies. With something like NSCLC, conventional treatment is surgery but there are patients who are not candidates for various reasons. These patients typically undergo radiation therapy, but among those who have recurred despite radiation, a discussion with a multidisciplinary tumor board is needed as there’s limited data on what else we can offer. Many times, these patients get referred to interventional radiology for ablation, which offers them another chance at curative treatment, and I found that to be really powerful.

➡️What do you enjoy outside of Brown?

I’m part of the Society of Interventional Radiology and I was one of their Medical Student Scholars for 2025. I’m also very excited by the clinical trial space, especially in IR, so part of my work outside of school involves educating trainees and early-career IRs about upcoming clinical trials that could inform treatment. I also get to spend my free time throwing pottery (although I’m still very much a novice), running, or going on impromptu ice-cream runs with my friends.

More in the latest Cohorts!
https://medical.brown.edu/news/2026-05-06/cohorts-michelle-mai

06/03/2026

Could a migraine drug also help protect vision? 👁️

New research led by Brown’s Chien-Hsiang Weng, clinical associate professor of family medicine, found that a class of migraine-prevention drugs may be linked to a lower risk of glaucoma.

The study tracked more than 74,000 patients — and the findings could open new avenues for understanding both migraine and eye disease.

Read more:

Lower glaucoma rates emerge in large migraine cohort study

06/02/2026

Concierge medicine is often discussed through the lens of access and equity. But in a new opinion piece, Yul Ejnes ’82 MD’85, clinical professor of medicine, argues it also reflects a growing demand among physicians for greater autonomy in clinical practice.

Ejnes writes that the appeal of concierge care is not simply smaller patient panels — it’s the ability for physicians to regain control over scheduling, workflows and patient interactions in an increasingly standardized health care environment.

“A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in medicine.”

He argues that improving physician satisfaction and strengthening the primary care workforce will require health systems to give clinicians a stronger voice in operational decision-making.

What role do you think physician autonomy plays in retention and burnout?

Concierge medicine offers lessons for all practices, especially regarding physician autonomy and job satisfaction, the author says.

06/02/2026

Can a video game help reduce dementia risk? 🎮🧠

New reporting from WCVB Channel 5 Boston highlights research led in part by Professor Rich Jones, professor of neurology and of psychiatry and human behavior, through the landmark ACTIVE study. Participants who played a “speed-of-processing” brain game over 20 years saw a 20% reduction in dementia incidents.

Read more about the emerging technologies changing Alzheimer’s care and prevention:

Technology is opening new paths for patients living with Alzheimer’s disease.

06/02/2026

New research from Brown University found that serotonin may reduce “belief stickiness,” helping people update old beliefs even when faced with new evidence. The findings could reshape how scientists understand and treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The study, co-authored by Brown cognitive scientist Frederike Petzschner, suggests SSRIs like escitalopram may help the brain become more flexible and receptive to change — opening new possibilities for pairing medication and therapy more effectively.

🧠 Read more:

A study co-authored by a Brown University computational cognitive neuroscientist showed how an SSRI improves cognitive flexibility, suggesting a new way of thinking about obsessive-compulsive disorder.

06/01/2026

Horseshoe Bend
By Akshay Amesur ’24 MD’29
Paige, AZ, May 2022

During my preclinical elective in planetary health, I came to understand landscapes like this as living systems that shape human health. The river’s path through the arid terrain is a reminder that water, clean air, and stable climates are foundational to human well-being. Environmental health shapes patterns of disease, access to safe drinking water, food security, and exposure to extreme heat. When ecosystems are disrupted, communities experience the consequences in rising respiratory illness, vector-borne disease, and mental health stressors. Conversely, thriving natural environments promote resilience and disease prevention. Planetary health teaches us that caring for landscapes like this is a vital component of caring for patients as individuals and communities.

More in the newest edition of Medicine@Brown out now:
https://medicine.at.brown.edu/

06/01/2026

A newly published study is reshaping how scientists think about communication within the brain.

Researchers identified a previously unknown transport system formed by astrocytes — brain cells traditionally viewed as support cells — that appears to connect distant brain regions through large-scale molecular networks.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Bess Frost described the discovery as “foundational,” highlighting its potential implications for future neuroscience research and our understanding of disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

In mouse brains, star-shaped astrocytes form flexible networks that may offer another way for brain regions to communicate.

06/01/2026

A growing number of researchers are challenging one of the core assumptions behind modern dieting: that long-term weight management is primarily a matter of willpower.

New research on mindful eating suggests the brain’s reward systems may play a far greater role in eating behavior than previously understood — opening the door to lower-cost, behavior-based public health interventions.

Professor Judson Brewer spoke about the effectiveness of mindful eating as a way to reduce overeating, noting that many eating patterns are driven by stress and habit cues rather than physiological hunger.

As obesity rates continue rising globally, researchers say sustainable solutions may depend less on restriction and more on understanding human behavior.

Researchers suggest that practicing Mindful Eating, rather than focusing on restrictive diets, may help address rising global obesity rates by reshaping how the brain responds to rewards.

05/24/2026