The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

A leader in medicine. A champion of public health. A proud Brown alumna.

Congratulations to Erica Schwartz ’94 MD’98 on her Senate confirmation as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As she takes the helm of one of the nation's foremost public health institutions, Dr. Schwartz brings decades of experience in medicine, public service and leadership to a role that impacts millions of lives.

We are proud to celebrate this remarkable milestone and wish her every success in the years ahead.

👏 Join us in congratulating Dr. Schwartz in the comments!
CDC

Senate confirms Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, bringing new leadership to troubled agency Dr. Erica Schwartz has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

👏 Congratulations to Lisa Menard-Manlove, M.D. '00!

The Warren Alpert Medical School alum and clinical assistant professor of family medicine has been named chief medical officer at Wood River Health after more than two decades serving patients and families in the community.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Menard-Manlove on this well-deserved leadership role! 🎉

Read more:

Wood River Health names new chief medical officer HOPKINTON – Wood River Health, a health services provider based in the Hope Valley village of Hopkinton, has promoted Dr. Lisa Menard-Manlove to the role of chief medical officer. Menard-Manlove has worked at Wood River Health for more than two decades, most recently serving as its associate medic...

Stories about scientific breakthroughs often focus on the discoveries—but what about the people who make those discoveries possible?

Every year, Brown's Multidisciplinary Teaching Laboratories (MDL) team helps more than 2,000 students build confidence in the lab, from first-time biology students to future physicians and researchers. They prepare labs, teach essential techniques, support faculty and create an environment where curiosity can thrive.

It's a behind-the-scenes look at the scientists helping shape the next generation of scientists.

🔬 Read their story:

💬 Did you have a mentor, lab instructor or technician who helped spark your love of science? Give them a shoutout in the comments!

Meet the scientists behind the science, at Brown’s Multidisciplinary Teaching Laboratories The staff members at Brown’s Multidisciplinary Teaching Laboratories support future scientists and doctors by helping them master laboratory techniques, creating a safe and exciting learning environment and nurturing their sense of discovery.

Can the way clinicians communicate improve treatment outcomes?

In a recent Brain Trust: Conversations in Psychopharmacology discussion, Walter A. Brown, clinical professor emeritus of psychiatry and human behavior, explores the science behind the placebo effect—and why it should be viewed as an important part of healing rather than a nuisance.

From patient expectations to therapeutic alliance, Brown discusses practical, evidence-based ways clinicians can harness mind-body mechanisms to improve care.

Listen to the conversation. 🎧
https://ow.ly/SzAW50ZvbyV

How should clinicians balance patient care with growing administrative demands?

Rahul Vanjani, clinical assistant professor of medicine at Brown University, spoke about physicians’ concerns regarding upcoming Medicaid work requirements and the potential implications of requiring clinicians to assess and document whether patients qualify for exemptions.

The conversation highlights important questions for the medical community around administrative burden, clinician expertise, moral distress, and preserving trust in the physician-patient relationship.

Read the article:

Doctors ‘Cringe’ at Possibility of Documenting Which Medicaid Enrollees Too Sick To Work - KFF Health News Final regulations on Medicaid work requirements say enrollees must regularly obtain documentation — possibly from medical professionals — to prove that they’re too sick to work. Doctors say the rules put them in a tough spot.

"Natural" doesn't always mean safe.

As kratom products return to store shelves in Rhode Island, Brown physician and researcher Philip Chan co-authored a timely op-ed examining what patients and the public should know about this increasingly common substance.

The piece explores why medical experts remain concerned about kratom's safety, the lack of strong evidence supporting its use, and why conversations with healthcare providers matter before trying unregulated products.

Read the op-ed:

Think twice before using kratom and other ‘gas station drugs’ - The Boston Globe Just because kratom is all natural doesn’t mean it’s healthy to ingest, write two Rhode Island doctors.

🍷 New research suggests the health risks of alcohol may begin with as little as one drink per day.

Christopher Kahler, Ph.D. ’91, professor of psychiatry and human behavior, joined WPRI 12 to discuss the study’s findings and what they could mean for public health.

🎥 Watch the interview:

Community Focus: New study shows one drink a day comes with risks A new study reveals that the health risks of alcohol begin with just one drink a day.

🧠 New international guidance is helping shape the future of care for chordoma, a rare bone tumor that affects the base of the skull and spine.

Ziya Gokaslan, M.D., P'18 ScM'19, chair and professor of neurosurgery, helped lead a global consensus group that updated recommendations to reflect advances in molecular biomarkers, precision treatment and shared decision-making.

Read more:

Chordoma Guidance Moves Into Age of Shared Decision-Making A consensus update for chordoma 11 years in the making focuses on a multidisciplinary approach, use of biomarkers and lays out site-specific protocols.