The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Mitchell as Associate Executive Administrator and Senior Director of Finance for the Department of Medicine (DOM) effective August 1, 2022.  Mark was selected for this critical role after a national search. Mark received his BS in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2000 and his MPA from Northwestern University in 2009.  He started his career at the University of Chicago 16 years ago as the section administrator in Rheumatology, and took on the role of Director of Post-Award Administration in 2008.  Mark has served as … Read More

Luis Barreiro, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Section of Genetic Medicine) , has been appointed as chair of the Committee on Genetics, Genomics & Systems Biology (GGSB), effective June 15, 2022. Barreiro’s research focuses on linking functional genomic studies of the immune system to an evolutionarily informed understanding of human variation in immune responses to infection and susceptibility to immune-related disorders. His research has generated landmark papers showing that genetic ancestry and natural selection drive population differences in immune responses in humans and describing how the social environment and epigenetic changes play a key role in the regulation of innate immune … Read More

The Department of Medicine, in conjunction with the Comprehensive Cancer Center, recently hosted a group of  international oncologists from developing countries to learn about our innovative cancer programs in clinical care, research and education, as well as our efforts in global cancer health.  The oncologists are part of ASCO’s ( American Society of Clinical Oncology)  International Development and Education Award (IDEA) program that pairs each recipient with an ASCO member mentor, with the goal of developing long-term relationships to improve cancer care in their countries. The visiting oncologists participated in clinical shadowing and presentations from some of our most distinguished … Read More

A new study by researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine has found that 255 COVID-19-related deaths could have been prevented during the Alpha and Delta waves had vaccine coverage been more equitable across 52 of Chicago’s zip codes. William Parker, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care)  as well as Public Health Sciences at the University of Chicago, conducts research on the allocation of health resources. He became interested in studying vaccine coverage in Chicago after witnessing the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout. “I felt it was important to rigorously quantify the consequences of inequity in vaccine coverage,” Parker said. In … Read More

Over the past decade, researchers have made great strides in the development and administration of cancer immunotherapies, which use the body’s own immune system to treat disease. However, the therapies don’t work for every person or with every type of cancer, and gaps in our understanding of exactly how the body mounts an anti-cancer immune response has slowed progress toward making them universally effective. In a new study, researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Amsterdam have brought insight into one crucial step in the anti-cancer immune response process: T cell priming. Previous … Read More

Dean Kenneth Polonsky, MD recently announced  the winners of this year’s annual Distinguished Faculty Awards for the Biological Sciences Division. Since 2011, the BSD Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) has been honoring fellow faculty members for their contributions to our collective missions of excellence in education, research, diversity and inclusion, program innovation, service to the community and patient care. Winners from the Department of Medicine are: Distinguished Leader in Diversity and Inclusion Monica Peek, MD, Ellen H. Block Professor for Health Justice (General Internal Medicine) Distinguished Investigator Bhakti Patel, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine) Distinguished Leader in Program … Read More

Dr. Olufunmilayo Olopade, the Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics and the founding director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health, was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences on April  29, 2002 in Washington DC.  Election to the National Academy of Sciences is a widely accepted “ mark of excellence” in science and is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive. Members are elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.  Dr. Olopade joined the Department of … Read More

Esra Tasali, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Section of Pulmonary/Critical Care), has been appointed as the Director of UChicago Sleep Center effective March 15, 2022.  This newly structured Sleep Center is the result of joint, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative efforts across several departments in the Biological Sciences Division. The UChicago Sleep Center will have three missions in clinical care, education, and research and builds on our longstanding and rich tradition in sleep medicine. In this new role, Dr. Tasali will oversee all aspects of the Center including clinical operations, research, and educational activities. She will work closely with Dr. Kenneth Lee … Read More

Published in Science Daily 2/10/2022 and reported on Good Morning America on 2/11/2022 Men with high levels of body fat have lower bone density and may be more likely to break a bone than those with normal levels of body fat, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Most studies have shown positive or neutral effects of body fat mass — the weight of fat in your body — on bone health. Lean mass is the entire weight of your body, including organs, skin and bones, minus fat. Health care providers … Read More

The Department of Medicine is pleased to  announce the appointment of Keme Carter, MD as Associate Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Education. Dr. Carter currently serves as Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Emergency Medicine and Associate Dean for Admissions at the Pritzker School of Medicine. In her new role, Dr. Carter will work closely with Drs. Doriane Miller, interim Vice Chair for DEI and John McConville, Vice Chair of Education, as well as program directors across the Department to oversee recruitment, GME climate as it relates to DEI, GME affinity groups and faculty development. … Read More