Title of page MGH Research Scholars Vol. 11Thanks to you and your generous support, our MGH Research Scholars are accomplishing extraordinary things each day. Together, we’re taking new discoveries as far as we can, as fast as we can — toward new possibilities in disease prediction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

We hope you find this update informative and inspiring. Please email us your comments and questions, and be sure to visit our website for more news and updates.
Rochelle Walensky

Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, Takes Post as 19th Director of the CDC

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, officially began her post as the 19th director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In a statement, Dr. Walensky, former chief of the Infectious Diseases Division and Steve and Deborah Gorlin MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020, acknowledged the heartache and hardships caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but also expressed hope for the future.

“Better healthier days lie ahead. But to get there, COVID-19 testing, surveillance, and vaccination must accelerate rapidly. We must also confront the longstanding public health challenges of social and racial injustice and inequity that have demanded action for far too long.”

Read her recent Opinion in The New York Times ›
Messages of support from Dr. Walensky’s colleagues ›

"I agreed to serve as CDC. director because I believe in the agency’s mission and commitment to knowledge, statistics and guidance. I will do so by leading with facts, science and integrity — and being accountable for them, as the CDC has done since its founding 75 years ago."
- Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH
Steve and Deborah Gorlin MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020
Gailt Alter

Galit Alter, PhD, Named a Bostonian of the Year

Galit Alter, PhD, Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022, Kristine and Bob Higgins MGH Research Scholar 2012-2017, was recently named a Bostonian of the year by The Boston Globe for her groundbreaking research and efforts encouraging collaboration among scientists during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full story in The Boston Globe ›
Check out Dr. Alter’s Tik Tok channel explaining her research ›

"It is clear that the more we break down barriers to collaboration, the faster science goes."
- Galit Alter, PhD
Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022
Kristine and Bob Higgins MGH Research Scholar 2012-2017
Raymond Chung

Raymond Chung, MD, Will Serve as President of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

Raymond Chung, MD, Kevin and Polly Maroni MGH Research Scholar 2013-2018, was elected president of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) for the upcoming year.

Read more ›
Jordan Smoller

Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD, Elected President of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics

Jordan W. Smoller, MD, ScD, Tepper Family MGH Research Scholar 2014-2019, has been elected president of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics (ISPG)

Read more ›