Dr. Poznansky is a medical innovator whose work bridges academic discovery and clinical care. As a leader in the field of leukocyte migration and the modulation of leukocyte trafficking and function, he has linked discovery with the development of new vaccines and immunotherapies for cancer, pandemic viruses and immune mediated diseases including type 1 diabetes and ALS. Dr. Poznansky has gained national and international recognition for establishing a new model for translational research that accelerates the process by which basic biological discoveries move towards products and technologies that improve patient care and treatment. Since 2008 he has served as the founder and director of the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center (VIC) at MGH, which is putting this model into practice. The goal of VIC is to enable efficient and rapid transition of promising technologies through preclinical development and into the clinical stage of development through technology spin outs, partnerships or out licensing. He oversees the research work of a large team of investigators, postdoctoral fellows and other trainees addressing key research questions regarding these new therapeutics and vaccines and leads an operational team that facilitates the execution of business, regulatory, manufacturing, and other product development tasks associated with the preclinical translation of these candidates. VIC currently has 9 vaccines and immunotherapies in development, including a new B cell therapy for neuroinjury and neurodegenerative diseases and new self-assembling T cell targeted therapeutic vaccine for cervical cancer. Four of these technologies have recently reached large animal preclinical or first in human testing. The team at VIC has also developed a novel high dimensional immunology program that uses state of the art omics technologies to define broad immune profiles in cancer, infectious and immune mediated diseases to inform diagnosis, clinical decision making and vaccine and immunotherapy design. Dr. Poznansky is the scientific founder of Celtaxys, ACTx, Vicapsys, Aperisys, Voltron Therapeutics and Cellibrium.

With over 18 years of hands-on experience in rural pediatric healthcare, Dr. Julie Bassett brings a unique blend of clinical insight, care coordination, and educational leadership to her role as Academic Advisor at Lake Country Rural Health.

Julie began her career as an educator before earning her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine and completing a pediatric residency year at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. She and her husband went on to establish and operate Lake Oconee Pediatrics, where she managed every aspect of the practice—from patient care and clinical coordination to office management and staff training.

Most recently, Julie has served as a Care Plan Coordinator and Medical Assistant at Oconee Valley Healthcare, where she continues to advocate for patient-centered care and improved health outcomes. Her deep understanding of the challenges faced by rural practices, combined with her passion for mentoring and problem-solving, make her an invaluable resource for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Julie is excited to support the mission of Lake Country Rural Health by guiding and advising students and interns who are passionate about making a difference in underserved communities.

 Dr. Eric Silver attended medical school in his hometown of London, England. He came to the United States in 1974 and completed his OB/GYN residency at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Prior to joining the St. Mary’s Women’s Center, Dr. Silver was a partner with Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates, Inc. in Fairfield, OH, for 30 years. He is board certified as a fellow in the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.