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This monthly community newsletter from Dr. Mitchell Rosner, interim Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, highlights how UVA Health serves our patients and the community. To stay up to date on operations, clinical services, and research efforts featured in UVA Health Community Update, subscribe here.

Dear Friends of UVA Health,

As we approach Thanksgiving, I’ve been reflecting on the importance of time — how quickly it passes in the midst of our daily responsibilities and how meaningful it can be to pause and reconnect with what and who matter most in our lives. As a leader, I find myself feeling deeply grateful for the many people across our community who give their time and energy to caring for others and strengthening the wellbeing of our neighbors. On a personal note, I am feeling especially grateful for the gift of health, for my family that grounds and strengthens me, for colleagues whose devotion inspires me, and for the patients who entrust me with their care. 

This sense of gratitude also extends to the remarkable work taking place across our health system and in the communities we serve. Included in this edition, you’ll read about important findings from our researchers, a new community paramedicine vehicle that strengthens access to care, advances in women’s health through innovative treatment options, and a special moment of joy for our pediatric patients.

News Feature

UVA Health at the Forefront of Understanding Alpha-Gal Syndrome

For more than a decade, UVA Health has led the world in uncovering, defining, and treating alpha-gal syndrome, the tick-borne allergy sometimes called the “meat allergy.” The condition was first discovered by UVA Health’s Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills, whose groundbreaking work transformed what had once been a medical mystery into an understood allergy.

Dr. Platts-Mills and his colleagues now have published findings confirming the first known death caused by alpha-gal syndrome after meat consumption. The finding, which has received far-reaching national attention, underscores the importance of recognizing delayed allergic reactions and reflects UVA Health’s continued leadership in advancing diagnosis, awareness, and patient care. Below are a few facts to keep in mind about alpha-gal syndrome: 

• It’s triggered by the Lone Star tick, found throughout the eastern United States. Bites from the tick, including larvae often mistaken for chiggers, can sensitize people to alpha-gal, a sugar found in mammalian meat.
• There are delayed allergic reactions. Symptoms such as hives, nausea, severe abdominal pain, or anaphylaxis typically appear 3-5 hours after eating beef, pork, or lamb.
• People who have been bitten by the Lone Star tick or think they may have been should seek care if they have severe abdominal pain several hours after eating mammalian meat to determine if they are having an allergic reaction. Doctors should be on the lookout for cases as well.
• Research continues. UVA Health remains at the forefront of understanding how environmental factors — such as pollen exposure, exercise, or alcohol — can intensify reactions.

Other News

Community Partnership Expands Access to Care Through Paramedicine

Last month, we were honored to accept an extraordinary gift from our longtime partners at Carter Myers Automotive: a fully equipped Ford Explorer that expands UVA Health’s community paramedicine services. This vehicle provides a new way for our clinicians to safely reach patients where they are, particularly those who face barriers to care due to chronic illness or limited support at home. Our community paramedics already are making a difference by helping patients avoid unnecessary emergency room visits. This donation will translate directly into healthier communities.

I am deeply grateful to Carter Myers Automotive for their generosity. Over the years, they have supported UVA Health in many ways. This month, they continued their tradition of giving back by donating $25,000 in proceeds from their “Fuel the Fight” campaign to support transportation needs for children receiving cancer care at UVA Health Children’s. Their ongoing belief in our work is helping us reach more families with the care and support they deserve.

Research Highlight: Advancing Nonhormonal Treatment for Menopause Symptoms

• Who: JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, director of midlife health at UVA Health, and emeritus executive director of the North American Menopause Society 
• Focus: Expanding safe, effective, nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes and night sweats — symptoms that affect up to 80% of women during menopause.
• Discovery: As the U.S. lead for the Oasis II clinical trial that tested elinzanetant, a newly FDA-approved medication sold as Lynkuet, Dr. Pinkerton helped demonstrate the drug’s effectiveness in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes. In women ages 40-65, Lynkuet reduced hot flashes by 50% or more in over 70% of participants after 12 weeks, compared with about 40% of patients receiving placebo. Early improvements appeared within one week, with benefits sustained through 26 weeks.
• Why it matters: Lynkuet offers a nonhormonal option for women who cannot (or prefer not to) use hormone therapy — including those at higher risk for breast or ovarian cancer — and also may help with menopause-related sleep disturbances.
• Learn more: Dr. Pinkerton’s expertise was featured in national outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN.com.

A ‘Super’ Surprise for Our Youngest Patients

Before I close, I want to share a moment of joy from UVA Health Children’s. During a routine window-washing this month, our patients were greeted not by technicians, but by Spider-Man, Batman, Iron Man, Captain America, and even Deadpool rappelling down the building to wave hello. 

I am grateful to UVA Health’s Facilities team, including Derek Wilson and Warren Britts, and our partners at Valcourt Building Services, who helped make this possible. Their ingenuity transformed an ordinary task into an unforgettable experience for our kids and their families. Moments like these remind us that hope, surprise, and delight are also part of healing, and they matter just as much as the care we provide each day.

In Closing

As you celebrate the holiday, I hope you find time to reflect and enjoy moments of gratitude with the people who matter most. As always, I am thankful for the trust you put in UVA Health. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Mitch

Mitchell H. Rosner, MD, MACP, FRCP
Chief Executive Officer, UVA Health
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Virginia
Henry B. Mulholland Professor of Medicine