In the News
Read the Full Article @ The Vineyard Gazette
December 18, 2025
Many Islanders know someone with Lyme disease and are used to checking themselves and their kids for its tell-tale bullseye rash. Where to stock up on permethrin, a synthetic tick repellent, is typical dinner table conversation. In recent years, alpha-gal, a potentially life-threatening tick-borne allergy to red meat and other mammalian products caused by the bite of a lone star tick, has become so commonplace that it’s shaping cafeteria menus at schools and the hospital.
“It’s affecting quality of life in so many aspects,” said Island tick biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds. “I’ve talked to a lot of people that are stopping hiking on the trails. They’re stopping gardening [and] anything that they used to enjoy.”
A new Island nonprofit, Tick Free MV, is trying to change that.
Read the Full Article @ MV Times
December 3, 2025
Tick Free MV is an Island-wide effort to take aligned action to reduce the number of ticks on the Vineyard. The nonprofit was officially launched on Thursday and includes some of the leading experts on tick research on the Island and the country.
“This really feels like an existential threat. If we don’t deal with this, people won’t want to live here,” Jeff Levy, the co-chair of Tick Free MV and CEO of Martha’s Vineyard Medical, said in an interview with The Times.
Read the Full Article @ The Vineyard Gazette
December 3, 2025
Board co-chair Jeff Levy, CEO of Martha’s Vineyard Medical told the Gazette Thursday that the dramatic rise in Island alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy that causes people to be allergic to red meat, presents a pressing need to take action, especially where the deer population is concerned.
Deer are a main carrier of ticks on the Vineyard.
“We’re 100 square miles, and this will be the largest area that we know of where anyone has undertaken the combination of deer management and other proven interventions needed to dramatically reduce the level of tick-borne illnesses and allergies,” he said in a phone interview. “It will take significant investment and sustained commitment, but as I think about it, this is truly an existential threat to the Island.”
Read the Full Article @ Vineyard Gazette
December 2, 2025
As the Vineyard struggles with a lack of primary care physicians, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital launches virtual primary care, which it hopes can clear its extensive patient waiting list.
The hospital’s newest addition joins other efforts to increase primary care on the Island. Vineyard Medical Care on State Road in Vineyard Haven was poised to close its practice earlier this year, but was purchased by new owner Jeff Levy this spring.
Under the name Martha’s Vineyard Medical, the office was able to retain its 1,000 patients, clear its waiting list, and hopes to treat as many as 3,000 patients.
Read the Full Article @ MV Times
November 14, 2025
Our own Kelley Ellsworth provides insightful commentary on how to navigate the Thanksgiving table with alpha-gal.
“… caution is imperative when food is prepared by others, and suggests that those affected by alpha-gal read all food labels themselves. “Others may use substances such as beef broth or bacon to add a richness to their dishes. Custards, flans, and icing can contain gelatin or carrageenan,” Ellsworth said. She added that dairy-free items, fish, and poultry can include carrageenan, which can also trigger an alpha-gal reaction.
August 21, 2025
The Vineyard Gazette covered Tick Talk 2025, helping us reach an even broader audience in our Island community with the latest research, treatment and prevention.
“Check for ticks and advocate for yourself if you have unexplained symptoms,” said Georgi Prevosti, who has suffered from Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses, resulting in neurological lapses. “Or if you’re deep in the fight against Lyme now, this is hope that you’ll join me on the other side, along [with] thousands of others who have healed.”
It was a great conference and we look forward to hosting the next one in August 2026.
Read the Full Article @ Vineyard Gazette
Read the Full Article @ Vineyard Gazette
August 14, 2025
The Vineyard Gazette interviewed our CEO Jeff Levy, Dr. Gerry Yukevich and Patrick Roden-Reynolds, one of the Island’s leading tick experts, in advance of Tick Talk 2025.
“People are scared to go into their yards. They’re not hiking, gardening and spending time outside in their yard anymore. I’ve got people that are kinda scared to live their lives here,” said Roden-Reynolds
Having all the necessary information about ticks and tick-borne illnesses is essential for living on the Island, according to Martha’s Vineyard Medical owner Jeff Levy.
Read the Full Article @ Daily Mail
August 13, 2025
All eyes are on Martha’s Vineyard as cases of alpha-gal continue to skyrocket. There were two positive tests reported in 2021, and last year more than 500 positive tests of Vineyarders who had to cut meat and dairy from their diets.
“Cases of alpha-gal syndrome are 'skyrocketing,' experts have warned, with data from Martha's Vineyard Hospital showing 532 out of 1,254 tests, or 42 percent, resulting positive for the condition last year.”
The Daily Mail spoke to our own Dr. Gerry Yukevich as well as Dr. Ed Caldwell and leading tick expert Patrick Roden-Reynolds, who all spoke at our Tick Talk 2025 conference.
Listen to the Full Interview on Sound Cloud
August 10, 2025
Big thank you to Ray Whitaker for an interesting and informative interview with our CEO Jeff Levy on MVY’s Vineyard Current show.
Jeff talks about the future of one of the Vineyard's most vital resources for health care access - not only from the patient's point of view, but as someone who wants to see this invaluable island wellness resource thrive for years to come.
Read the Full Article @ MV Times
July 8, 2025
Big thank you to Eunki Seonwoo with the Martha's Vineyard Times for this great article about how Island healthcare providers are overcoming staffing shortages on Martha’s Vineyard. At Martha’s Vineyard Medical, we’re working hard to add to our current staff, which includes long-time MDs Gerry Yukevich, Kathleen Koehler and Bill Tsikitas. We've also extended Wednesday hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and opened Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. to better serve the community
Read the Full Article @ The Vineyard Gazette
May 16, 2025
And so it begins! The Vineyard Gazette broke the news that our CEO Jeff Levy would be taking over the practice so that it can remain as one of the only freestanding medical care facilities left on the Island, which has struggled to provide enough primary care physicians to residents.
Levy told the Gazette that “as a cornerstone of our Island’s health and well-being, we are proud to continue providing compassionate care to our primary care and walk-in patients — and we’re excited to expand access for a host of new patients,” he said.
“Primary care practices across the country are at a crossroads. We are choosing to expand and innovate in order to meet the growing needs of our community.”