Author: awesterb@bsdad.uchicago.edu

How do you teach advancing health equity? Improv may be a (serious) answer


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Marshall Chin, MD, MPH, gained more than he expected when he enrolled in a local improv class. The general internist and health equity advocate at the University of Chicago Medicine not only learned storytelling and comedy techniques, he discovered an innovative way to teach medical students at the Pritzker School of Medicine about advancing health equity. “As I got more involved in improv, I began to realize that the emotional intelligence and listening skills we were learning really translated well to the day job and could be a potentially very powerful way of teaching about equity,” said Chin, Richard Parrillo Family Distinguished … Read More

Deep learning can diagnose lung cancers with high accuracy when accounting for uncertainty


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While artificial intelligence used to be confined to science fiction, it is now part of our reality, found technologies from facial recognition to digital transcription and music recommendation systems. But using artificial intelligence for lifesaving purposes can still be risky. Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine are trying to mitigate this risk by developing algorithms that can use deep learning to determine whether images of cancerous tissue come from either of two lung cancers, with high certainty. This technology comes closer to being safe for use with patients because it also estimates how confident it is about its predictions. … Read More

2022 Department of Medicine Annual Report


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The 2022 Department of Medicine Annual Report entitled “ Innovation, Impact  & Inclusion” is available for viewing at the link below: 2022 DOM Annual Report FINAL The Annual Report highlights the tremendous efforts and accomplishments of the faculty in every aspect of the tripartite mission throughout FY22.

Ira Blumen,MD Named Interim Chief, Section of Emergency Medicine


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Ira Blumen, MD, professor of medicine, has been named  as Interim Chief for the Section of Emergency Medicine effective November 1, 2022. Dr. Blumen will assume the interim role following the appointment of Thomas Spiegel, MD as UCM Vice President and Health System Chief Quality Officer. Dr. Blumen received his MD from the University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School in 1981 and completed his emergency medicine residency training at the University of Illinois (U of I) affiliated hospitals in 1984, where he also served as chief resident. Following his residency training he served as a clinical instructor in the … Read More

Monica Peek,MD,MPH- Elected to the National Academy of Medicine


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Monica Peek, MD,MPH, the  Ellen H. Block Professor for Health Justice in the Department of Medicine, has been elected to the  National Academy of Medicine (NAM). This prestigious honor reflects her “or international leadership in reducing health disparities, through research on how structural racism and the social determinants of health perpetuate disparities among African Americans. Her cutting-edge research has informed national guidelines and best practices regarding shared decision-making between patients and physicians and community-engaged strategies to improve health among African Americans.”   Dr. Peek joins seven faculty from the Department of Medicine, Vineet Arora, MD, Marshall Chin, MD, Graeme Bell, PhD. … Read More

Tim Murgu,MD Received Prestigous WABIP Dumon Award


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Tim Murgu ,MD , Professor of Medicine  (Pulmonary/Critical Care) was named as a recipient of the  World Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP)  Dumon Award in recognition of his accomplishments and commitment to bronchology and interventional pulmonology (IP). The Dumon Award is named for Jean-Francois Dumon  who is recognized today as the “father” of interventional bronchoscopy. From his Centre Laser in Marseille, France, he generously hosted bronchoscopists from around the world. By providing observational and hands-on experiences to hundreds for almost thirty years, he rejuvenated the art and science of rigid bronchoscopy, laser resection, video-assisted airway imaging, and stent … Read More

Gracias Family Foundation gives $3 million to help drive a cure for heart disease


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The Gracias Family Foundation has committed $3 million to new early-stage nanomedicine research led by the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering aimed at reducing atherosclerosis, the inflammation of the arteries that can lead to heart attack, at the cellular level. “The Gracias Family Foundation and Antonio Gracias have shown tremendous leadership on this critically important health issue that affects all Americans,” Paul Alivisatos, president of the University of Chicago, said. “The investment by the Gracias Foundation will support the research and teaching activity of UChicago faculty who are driving toward a cure.” The leading cause of death … Read More

Blase Polite, MD Appointed Northwest Indiana Chief Physician


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Blase Polite, MD,  Professor of Medicine  (Section of Hematology/Oncology) has been appointed as Chief Physician for the forthcoming  University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) multispecialty care facility in Crown Point, Indiana. UCM recently broke ground on the new facility, which is expected to open in spring of 2024 As Chief Physician, Dr. Polite will work to ensure world-class medical care is provided on a consistent basis by establishing strong clinical services and through the execution of key strategic and operational priorities. He is also charged with synchronizing the expansion of the Care Network in Northwest Indiana with the activities of the Medical … Read More

David T. Rubin, MD to be honored by Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation


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David T. Rubin,MD, the Joseph B. Kirsner Professor of Medicine; Professor of Pathology and Chief, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition will be honored as the 2022 Champion of Mission Advancement by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation – Illinois Carol Fisher Chapter at the “Evening of Hope” gala on 9/22/2022.  Dr. Rubin is a renowned gastroenterologist who specializes in the treatment and assessment of digestive diseases. His clinical expertise includes inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis). The Crohn’s  & Colitis Foundation is  a non-profit, volunteer-fueled organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and improving … Read More

New I3LUNG project to fund AI tools for improving treatment and outcomes for lung cancer patients


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The University of Chicago Medicine has joined the I3LUNG project, a research initiative funded by a five-year, €10M grant from the European Union to develop a decision-making tool for creating individually tailored lung cancer treatment plans. The project will use artificial intelligence (AI) software and machine learning to analyze a wide range of information from clinical data, radiology images, and biological characteristics of tumors. “This highly innovative project has the goal of using machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict the outcomes of immunotherapy, which is something we are not currently capable of doing,” said Marina Garassino, MD, Professor of Medicine and the leader of … Read More