The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Raghavendra Mirmira, MD, PhD, as Professor of Medicine in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, and Director of the newly established Translational Research Center effective November 1, 2019.  Dr. Mirmira is an international leader in Type 1 diabetes research—specifically the biology of islet cells. Dr. Mirmira recently served as the Eli Lilly Professor in Pediatric Diabetes, Director of the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Director of the Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases and Co-Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Indiana University School … Read More

New research suggests that the chronic stress that comes with low social status in adult monkeys continues to influence their immune system up to a year later, even after their social status has improved. The study by researchers at the University of Chicago and Duke University found that the adult monkeys’ previous status in their community’s social hierarchy had a lingering effect on how their genes behaved. The findings extend established ideas around biological embedding, which suggest that it is experiences in the first few years of our lives – such as being raised in a safe, caring environment, versus … Read More

Since commercial approval two years ago to treat some blood cancers, CAR T-cell therapy continues to show so much promise that University of Chicago Medicine researchers have expanded their studies to see how else the breakthrough treatment can be used to fight other forms of the disease. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of CAR T-cell therapy for adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and for children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. UChicago Medicine became the first site in Chicago and Illinois to be certified to offer both treatments, which involves a revolutionary process that uses … Read More

EngAGE is a new pilot project helping adults 65 and older stay active with a little assistance from Amazon’s voice-controlled speaker Alexa. The project is part of a 14-week research effort that’s underway at the University of Chicago Medicine to see whether Amazon Alexa’s technology can coach older adults through daily exercises designed to increase their mobility, balance and stay active while at home. This is something especially vital for those who’ve recently been hospitalized and to help avoid disability and falls. “I can order physical therapy to jump-start rehabilitation, but, unfortunately, most people don’t continue the exercises on their … Read More

Billings Auditorium, a center of communal learning for students and faculty at the Pritzker School of Medicine, is not the newest, flashiest, or best-lit of the many large, tiered classrooms on the University of Chicago campus. It is, however, revered as a venue for addressing some of the challenges that most affect human lives. How to strengthen the doctor-patient relationship. How to improve equity in the US health care system. How to reduce violence, increase reproductive justice, use technology for the good of our patients. Billings Auditorium is an important gathering space for grand rounds, influential speakers, and the box … Read More

The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Diana Bolotin, MD, PhD as Chief of the Section of Dermatology effective August 1, 2019.  For the past 17 months, Dr. Bolotin has been serving the Department of Medicine and the Section of Dermatology in an interim capacity where she has demonstrated remarkable leadership, fortitude and thoughtful academic vision. Under her leadership, the Section of Dermatology has already realized remarkable success including the recruitment of three outstanding faculty members, Drs. Mark Hoffman, Oluwakemi Onajin and Victoria Barbosa, as well as clinical growth at both UCM onsite and satellite clinics, … Read More

Sonali Smith,MD, the Elwood V. Jensen Professor, has been named as the Interim Chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology effective immediately.  Dr. Smith, currently the Director of the Adult Lymphoma Program,is an internationally recognized expert in lymphoma therapeutics who has made outstanding contributions to the field through her clinical care, education and clinical research. Dr. Smith serves in a number of leadership positions with national and international visibility.  She is Vice-Chair of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Lymphoma Committee where she oversees clinical trial development at the cooperative group level and mentors faculty across the country.  She serves as chair … Read More

Walter Stadler,MD, the Fred C. Buffet Professor of Medicine, has been appointed as Dean for Clinical Research for the Biological Sciences Division effective immediately.  Dr. Stadler recently served as Chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology , a position he held since 2013,and was also Associate Dean for Clinical Research from 2007-2014. As Dean for Clinical Research, Dr. Stadler will oversee strategy and operations of the Office of Clinical Research and will work to expand the role of clinical research in the Biological Sciences Division.  He will continue to be involved in clinical and research activities in the Section of Hematology/Oncology … Read More