After a medical school experience mostly shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2023 graduates from the University of Colorado School of Medicine are ready to take the next step into their profession.

Kara Mason | May 22, 2023

Dear Colleagues, 

These unusual spring showers are bound to bring radiant summer flowers – and we have much to be excited about at the Department of Medicine as we spring into growth.

The legislative session has formally closed and House Bills 23-1215 and 23-1243 were significantly amended from their original versions. The prohibition on charging facility fees for telehealth, preventive care and clinics and services remain out of the bill. A study examining facility fees will be finalized by Oct. 1, 2024 and will be led by HCPUF.

We have several Division Head searches underway, all of which are moving forward smoothly.

Department of Medicine | May 19, 2023

On a trip five years ago, as he was about to check off the last of all 50 states he’d visited, Daniel Pastula jumped out of the car for a quick photo at the Maine state line. After memorializing the moment, Pastula glanced down to an unwelcome surprise – his pant legs were crawling in ticks.

Debra Melani | May 18, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's May 17, 2023 Grand Rounds, Collins Lectureship – "Clinical and Administrative Borderland: Qualitative Analysis of the VA Wide Electronic Health Records of Veterans with Kidney Disease in the Era of the VA MISSION Act," presented by Ann M. O'Hare, MD, professor of medicine, Division of Nephrology, investigator, VA HSR&D Center of Excellence, affiliate investigator, Group Health Research Institute, University of Washington.

Department of Medicine | May 17, 2023

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz), in partnership with the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), launched the Hummingbird Initiative today, a program that aims to increase diversity in the state’s behavioral health workforce. 

Julia Milzer | May 17, 2023

It is with great pleasure that we celebrate the University of Colorado School of Medicine Class of 2023 with a hooding and oath ceremony on Monday, May 22, at 10:15 a.m.

School of Medicine | May 17, 2023

Steve Haberkorn knows he’s not the first person to pursue a career in medicine out of a desire to help people. That’s why he did it, though – to help where he can and work to improve people’s lives.

Rachel Sauer | May 15, 2023

The University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Sickle Cell Treatment and Research Center entered its 50th year with a major research victory: An experimental gene therapy has been successful in curing a patient of sickle cell disease (SCD), which affects millions of people around the globe.

Kara Mason | May 11, 2023

The University of Colorado School of Medicine is No. 8 for primary care and No. 26 for research, according to the latest Best Medical School rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report. This is the sixth time in the past eight years that the CU School of Medicine has ranked in the top 10 for primary care.

Greg Glasgow | May 11, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's May 10, 2023 Grand Rounds, "Personality as Prognosis: Does Being Nice Increase Your Risk of Cancer?," presented by Chief Medical Residents Meryl Colton, MD, MSc and Yunan Nie, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | May 10, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's May 9, 2023 Research and Innovation Conference: “Transformative Learning in GME, COVID-19 & Beyond,” presented by Benjamin Vipler, MD, MEd, FACP, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | May 09, 2023

With each study into world-class cyclists being pushed to the physiological limit, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus researchers get deeper insight into high-performance metabolism. They are also gaining clues about how to head off serious diseases in the general population through early detection and personalized interventions.

Chris Casey | May 08, 2023

One of the initially scheduled speakers at this spring’s “Transforming Healthcare” series on May 2 bowed out for a more spontaneous event: his own wedding. With his high-school diploma newly in hand and his little-known CAR T-cell therapy giving him time, the young man decided to embrace the future – now.

Debra Melani | May 08, 2023

Paul Herzegh’s lung cancer story began six years ago on a beautiful April morning, roadtripping back home to Boulder from visiting friends in Virginia. He was 68, in otherwise good health, and felt some small kinks in his chest.

Hardly any time later, he had a diagnosis: stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that originated in the cells lining the outside of his lungs. At that point, he didn’t know much beyond “the conventional wisdom that 'lung cancer is a killer,’” he explained Saturday evening, emphasizing the air quotes because, well, the conventional wisdom was wrong.

Rachel Sauer | May 05, 2023

• Sachin Wani Celebrated as Inaugural Rady Family Chair and Director of the Katy O. And Paul M. Rady Esophageal and Gastric Center of Excellence
• CU Anschutz Faculty Awardees
• StARR, NIH T32, and ADEAR T32 Training Programs Accepting Applications
• Register with ORCiD

Department of Medicine | May 05, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's May 3, 2023 Grand Rounds – Meiklejohn Visiting Lecture: "Thoughts on Healthcare Disparities in 2023," presented by Alicia Fernandez, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine; Director, UCSF Latinx Center of Excellence; Associate Dean of Population Health and Health Equity, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | May 03, 2023

About 40 people recently gathered at the Anschutz Health Sciences Building to celebrate the newly named Katy O. and Paul M. Rady Esophageal and Gastric Center of Excellence and honor Sachin Wani, MD, as the inaugural center director and recipient of the Katy O. and Paul M. Rady Esophageal and Gastric Center Chair.

Guest Contributor | May 02, 2023

When discussing recent high-profile industrial chemical spills in places such as East Palestine, Ohio, and Philadelphia, the first step in public health response is identifying the harm these chemicals pose, according to Lisa Bero, PhD. 

Matthew Hastings | May 02, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's May 2, 2023 Research and Innovation Conference: "Cysteinyl Leukotrienes and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression," presented by Seth Furgeson, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | May 02, 2023

Sixty-five-year-old actor and comedian Ray Romano revealed recently that he had a heart stent placed after doctors discovered a blockage in one of the arteries that delivers blood to the heart. Stents are small tubes that open arteries to restore blood flow. 

Greg Glasgow | May 01, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's April 26, 2023 Grand Rounds: "Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game: Ethical Challenges in Heart Transplantation," presented by Prateeti Khazanie, MD, MPH, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | April 26, 2023

For 30% to 40% of lymphoma patients who receive CAR T therapy, the treatment is a godsend. Typically given to lymphoma patients for whom other treatments have proven ineffective, CAR T therapy involves removing immune cells from the body via a blood draw, reengineering them to become better cancer fighters, then reintroducing them to the bloodstream, where they seek out and destroy cancer cells. 

Greg Glasgow | April 25, 2023

Dear Colleagues, 

I have largely ditched my winter jacket and can start to see the colors of spring all around me! In that vein this communication will reflect a lot of positive change in the coming weeks. 

On the leadership front, we are wrapping up semi-finalist visits for the Division Head of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. We also had our first Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division Head candidate visit this week. Division Head candidates for the Division of Cardiology will begin their in-person site visits in mid-May, and wrap in June. Finally, I am beginning to put together the contours of our pulmonary division chief search including committee members and engagement with a national search firm. Recruitment is never easy, but we are moving smoothly throughout these searches. I want to thank all of our search committee chairs, members and participating faculty and staff for their engagement with these hires. We could not do this without you!

Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc | April 21, 2023

Looking for events happening on campus? Wondering how to better promote your event? Need a one-stop-shop for all campus events? Look no further than the CU Anschutz Medical Campus Events Calendar. 

Kiley Carroll | April 20, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's April 19, 2023 Grand Rounds – Holocaust, Genocide and Contemporary Bioethics Program: "On Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity: from East West Street to the Rohingya and Ukraine," presented by Philippe Sands, international human rights lawyer, professor of law, University College London and author of "East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity".

Department of Medicine | April 19, 2023

Bad news, confirmed bachelors: If you’re diagnosed with heart failure, you’re at greater risk of dying sooner than women or previously married men who receive a similar diagnosis, new research shows.

Rachel Sauer | April 19, 2023

One of life’s greatest certainties is its uncertainty – that the unexpected, unplanned, and unpredicted may happen and we do the best we can to handle it.

Rachel Sauer | April 16, 2023

When the PACT Act went into effect January 1, after being signed into law in August, many U.S. veterans were able to access benefits for an expanded list of health conditions presumed to be caused by exposure to toxic substances.

Rachel Sauer | April 14, 2023

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have partnered with UCHealth to pilot a streamlined way to conduct clinical trials that could cut down on costs, time and extra lab work, while enabling patients to more easily enroll in research studies.  

Kelsea Pieters and Megan Lane | April 12, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's April 12, 2023 Grand Rounds: "Rheumatoid Arthritis: Update on Treatment Strategies," presented by Larry W. Moreland, MD, professor of medicine and orthopedics, Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | April 12, 2023

Cancer patients younger than 65 who are discharged to a skilled nursing facility following hospitalization are less likely to receive cancer treatment and hospice care before death, new University of Colorado Cancer Center research shows.

Rachel Sauer | April 12, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's April 11, 2023 Research and Innovation Conference: "Making Fat from Fat: The Role of Maternal Triglycerides Driving Baby Fat and Childhood Obesity Risk," presented by Linda A. Barbour, MD, MSPH, professor of medicine and obstetrics and gynecology, Divisions of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | April 11, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's April 11, 2023 Research and Innovation Conference: "Modeling Acute Bacterial Infection in a Host Compromised with Preexisting Kidney Disease," presented by John Montford, MD, associate professor of medicine and nephrology, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | April 11, 2023

Whether they are coming from across the state, across the region, or across the country, more than 1,000 people each year arrive at the University of Colorado Cancer Center for treatment, surgery, or a second opinion on their cancer diagnosis.

Greg Glasgow | April 10, 2023

Can a smartphone app reduce the need for medication in patients with Type 2 diabetes? That’s what Marc Bonaca, MD, professor of cardiology in the University of Colorado School of Medicine, set out to discover.  

Greg Glasgow | April 10, 2023

Involuntary displacement of people experiencing homelessness will likely lead to a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality over a 10-year period.

Kelsea Pieters | April 10, 2023

In this issue:

• Jennifer Christie Named Division Head for Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• New Ad Highlights Our Extraordinary People
• Inaugural DOM Staff Mentorship Program Celebrates Success
• Shark Tank Competition Call for Applications
• 2023 Match Day Results

Department of Medicine | April 07, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's April 5, 2023 Grand Rounds: Brettell Lecture – "Competency-based Medical Education and Coproduction: Partners on the Road to Transformation," presented by Eric S. Holmboe, MD, Chief Research Milestones Development and Evaluation Officer, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Department of Medicine | April 05, 2023

Whole-brain radiation therapy used to treat brain metastases is a significant cancer treatment that, while generally well-tolerated, can have serious long-term side effects, including dementia. Neither clinicians nor patients undertake it lightly.

Rachel Sauer | March 29, 2023

The University of Colorado School of Medicine honored seven clinicians with the school’s first-ever Distinguished Clinician Awards on Tuesday.

Mark Couch | March 29, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's March 29, 2023 Grand Rounds, "Multiple Myeloma in 2023: An Oncological Success Story," presented by Peter Forsberg, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Blood Cancer and BMT Program, Division of Hematology, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | March 29, 2023

The Department of Medicine’s Staff Mentorship Program recently concluded its pilot year with a recognition event celebration luncheon. Begun to address issues that came to light from WellDOM staff surveys and focus groups, the program – which kicked off in March 2022 – set goals to facilitate staff career development and to build an inclusive mentoring culture centered on learning, creativity, sharing new ideas and working towards a shared vision. The intended outcomes were to increase staff work satisfaction, sense of self-efficacy, networking, connection and collaboration, and to decrease staff attrition, isolation and burnout.

Department of Medicine | March 28, 2023

Before receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis eight years ago – a diagnosis that resulted from persistent self-advocacy – Carolyn Degrafinried spent one awful weekend wondering if she was losing her mind.

Rachel Sauer | March 23, 2023

Many stages occur on the path to getting rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the body, especially the joints. If providers could spot the predictive biomarkers and intervene early enough, there is a strong likelihood they could delay, or even prevent, RA from developing.

Chris Casey | March 22, 2023

In a forthcoming memoir, actor Sam Neill of “Jurassic Park” fame reveals that he’s been battling angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, also known as AITL.

Chris Casey | March 22, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's March 22, 2023 Grand Rounds, the Neff Invited Lecture: "Contributions of Environmental and Social Determinants to Health Disparities in COPD," presented by Nadia N. Hansel, MD, MPH, Interim Director, Department of Medicine; Interim Physician-in-Chief, The Johns Hopkins H.ospital; Professor, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | March 22, 2023

Because the study was performed in a small number of people over a short period of time, the results don’t necessarily apply to the general population, said Dr. Dave Kao, a cardiologist and health data expert at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study. However, the study is consistent with others that have found coffee is safe and it offers a rare controlled evaluation of caffeine’s effect, Kao added.

ABC News | March 22, 2023

Because early detection offers the best chance of surviving cancer, screening tests that involve one quick blood draw are generating excitement. If approved, rather than scheduling downtime and facing intimidating procedures, patients could undergo screening for multiple cancers at once, just by rolling up their sleeves during routine doctor exams.

Debra Melani | March 20, 2023

Audrey Bergouignan, PhD, isn’t looking for people with obesity to start running marathons. She just wants them to walk across the room. 

Greg Glasgow | March 20, 2023

They are going to Pittsburgh and Providence, to Omaha and Oakland, to Santa Barbara and St. Louis. They will learn to be doctors at Travis Air Force Base, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, at the Mayo Clinic.

Rachel Sauer | March 17, 2023

Dear All, 

There are many happenings in the Department of Medicine to share this week! A few highlights include:

• Jennifer Christie, MD, FASGE, AGAF, has been appointed the new Division Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, starting Sept. 16, 2023. Dr. Christie is a world-renowned physician-scientist, clinician and administrator. We are so fortunate to have her leading this division and as part of our team. You will find more details about Dr. Christie in her official announcement.
  
  

Department of Medicine | March 17, 2023

Earlier this month, medical professionals, patient advocates, industry innovators, federal policymakers, and public health officials, including two members of the University of Colorado Cancer Center, gathered at the White House for the Cancer Moonshot Colorectal Cancer Forum.  

Greg Glasgow | March 16, 2023

For many, a necessary but often frustrating step in accessing health care services is determining whether a provider is in their health plan network.

Rachel Sauer | March 14, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's March 14, 2023 Research & Innovation Conference: "Novel Methods to Improve Identification of Hereditary Cancer Syndromes," presented by Swati G. Patel, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director, Gastrointestinal Hereditary Cancer Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | March 14, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's March 14, 2023 Research & Innovation Conference: "Expanding Treatment of Hepatitis C Among Patients with Substance Use Disorder," presented by Erin Bredenberg, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | March 14, 2023

For medical students, Match Day is the culmination of many years of commitment, hard work, and sacrifice as they discover the next phase of their journey to becoming future physicians.

School of Medicine | March 14, 2023

Wells Messersmith, MD, specializes in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, or cancers of the gut. As the division head of the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Division of Medical Oncology, Messersmith is pushing the frontiers of anticancer treatments from the intersection of precision medicine and immunotherapy.

Kristen O'Neill | March 11, 2023

The Gates Grubstake Fund invokes the memory of Gold Rush prospectors who received seed money, “grubstakes,” for food and supplies so they could search for treasure. The funding supports the work of modern-day prospectors – translational researchers affiliated with Gates Institute – whose work developing cell- and gene-based therapies could make a difference in human lives. In 2022, four awardees received $350,000 each to support their work.

Toni Lapp | March 10, 2023

Abigail Lara, MD, is a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist with a subspecialty in scarring lung diseases. As an associate professor, physician and administrator on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Lara deftly shifts focus between the “pure adrenaline” of caring for patients in the ICU and the serene tenacity she brings to her leadership roles in the classroom and administration.

Kristen O'Neill | March 10, 2023

Optimism. Intelligent risk-taking. Relentless incrementalism. These are but a few hallmarks of the leadership of Vineet Chopra, MMBS, MD, MSc. Chopra’s specialty is hospital medicine, with a research focus on patient safety and preventing hospital-acquired complications. 

Kristen O'Neill | March 10, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's March 7, 2023 Research & Innovation Conference: "Functional Consequences of Acetylation on Sarcomeric Proteins," presented by Kathleen Woulfe, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | March 07, 2023

In this issue:

• Six Research Day abstracts to be selected for Research Awards
• New Associate Division of Hematology Head for Clinical Affairs
• Swati Patel Invited to White House Colorectal Cancer Moonshot Forum
• 7th Annual DOM Shark Tank Competition Call for Applications
• Vote Now: U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals

Department of Medicine | March 03, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's March 1, 2023 Grand Rounds: "Accelerating evidence-based innovation: can we do it and what is needed?," presented by Douglas Corley, MD, PhD, Director, Delivery Science and Applied Research, The Permanent Medical Group; Associate Member, University of California, San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center; Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.

Department of Medicine | March 01, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Feb. 28, 2023 Research & Innovation Conference: "Engaging Stakeholders to Design a Physical Activity Support Program for Adults with Overweight or Obesity: Preliminary Findings," presented by Danielle M. Ostendorf, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | February 28, 2023

Research by a team that includes two faculty members from the University of Colorado School of Medicine may change the treatment paradigm for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an allergic condition that causes chronic inflammation in the esophagus that can lead to esophageal narrowing and dysfunction.

Greg Glasgow | February 27, 2023

It’s a fact. Health disparities exist across all levels of the healthcare system. Kamal Henderson, MD, assistant professor, Division of Cardiology, takes a pragmatic approach to his work in the clinic and his research. He’s guided by a single question:

Guest Contributor | February 27, 2023

Not long after Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2012, Lori Walker’s daughter came home shaken from a party.

“Mom, what does pot do to the heart?” she asked Walker, PhD, an associate professor of cardiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Debra Melani | February 24, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Feb. 22 Grand Rounds: "The Impact of Health Policy on Outcomes and Equity," presented by Karen Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH, associate professor, Co-Director, Center for Health Economics and Policy, Institute for Public Health; Director, Center for Health Services and Policy Research, Washington University School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | February 22, 2023

All Sophie Rosenberg and her parents should be worrying about is kindergarten and playdates. Instead, hospital visits and leg braces overshadow the 5-year-old’s life, and her parents dedicate their time to the search for a miracle.

Staff | February 21, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Feb. 21, 2023 Research & Innovation Conference – "GrittyWork: Improving Patient, Clinician and Organizational Outcomes through Evidence-Based Hospitalist Staffing Models," presented by Marisha Burden, MD, professor of medicine, Head, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Angela Keniston, MSPH, assistant professor of medicine, Director, Data and Analytics, Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | February 21, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Feb. 21, 2023 Research & Innovation Conference: "Discovering T Cell Epitopes in Granulomatous Lung Disease," presented by Michael T. Falta, PhD, assistant research professor of medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | February 21, 2023

In May 2022, the Colorado Legislature passed, and Gov. Jared Polis signed into law, House Bill 1326 – the “fentanyl accountability” bill. Among other actions, the bill introduced stricter criminal penalties for possessing smaller amounts of fentanyl or other drugs laced with fentanyl.

Rachel Sauer | February 17, 2023

Dear Colleagues, 

These past couple of weeks have been full of important updates. We are well on our way with the Valuing Each Other WellDOM workshops which I have been kicking off along with division members and leaders. The workshops focus on understanding how we feel valued, providing a tool that I hope we can use in our day to day interactions, and the importance of remembering that we can only do great things if we come together. I appreciate the energy and enthusiasm of these sessions and it’s great to see many of you there.

Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc | February 17, 2023

Four early career researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center have received Institutional Research Grants (IRGs) from the American Cancer Society (ACS) for 2023 through the parent grant awarded to the CU Cancer Center. IRGs are intended to support junior faculty members to obtain preliminary results that will enable them to compete successfully for federal research grants.  

Greg Glasgow | February 17, 2023

Ramona Koren remembers “falling apart” when she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a decade ago. Her life turned upside down, and she had “no clue” what to do next.

Chris Casey | February 15, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Feb. 15, 2023 Grand Rounds: "Life After Critical Care," presented by Margaret Herridge, MD, MPH, professor of medicine, Critical Care and Respiratory Medicine, Director of Critical Care Research, University of Toronto.

Department of Medicine | February 15, 2023

An ancient human foraging instinct, fueled by fructose production in the brain, may hold clues to the development and possible treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

David Kelly | February 13, 2023

In this issue:

• Next DOM Executive Vice Chair Begins July 1
• Mid-Course Review for Assistant Professors
• WellDOM Small Grants Program
• DOM Research Day Call for Abstracts
• AB Nexus Research Collaboration Grant Program
  
  

Department of Medicine | February 10, 2023

Even though the COVID-19 public health emergency classification will expire this spring, the lingering effects of the pandemic remain. A constant puzzle to solve since the first year of the pandemic has been “long COVID,” a condition in which those infected with the virus have symptoms that linger months or even years after they have cleared the initial infection. 

Greg Glasgow | February 10, 2023

When her PhD research project led to the discovery of a unique bacteria that might be responsible for triggering rheumatoid arthritis, Meagan Chriswell knew just what to call the newly discovered bacteria: subdoligranulumdidolesgii(Suhb-doe-lih-gran-you-luhm dee-doe-les-ghee-eye), named after the Cherokee word for arthritis and rheumatism.

Greg Glasgow | February 08, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Feb. 8, 2023 Grand Rounds: "APP-Physician Best Practices: Leveraging Multidisciplinary Teams to Create Thriving Systems," presented by Gaby Frank, MD, FACP, SFHM, Associate Director, Department of Medicine Denver Health & Hospital Authority; Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Kasey Bowden, MSN, FNP, AG-ACNP, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | February 08, 2023

About one in five people worldwide will develop cancer in their lifetimes and in 2020, the most recent year for which data are available, cancer accounted for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide.

Rachel Sauer | February 04, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Feb. 1, 2023 Grand Rounds – "Physical Activity, Physical Function, and Frailty in CKD," presented by Kirsten L. Johansen, MD, Chief of Nephrology, Hennepin Healthcare; professor of medicine, University of Minnesota.

Department of Medicine | February 01, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 31, 2023, Research and Innovation Conference, "Macrophages in the Right Ventricle," presented by Sue Gu, MD, MScPH, instructor of medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratory, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 31, 2023

Jason Persoff, MD, listens to storms in much the same way he listens to patients: unhurriedly, questioningly, observing details that indicate background and environmental elements influencing and shaping the present moment.

Rachel Sauer | January 27, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 25, 2023 Grand Rounds—"Updates in Nephrology," presented by Anna Jovanovich, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine; Renal Section, Rocky Mountain Regional VA; Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Department of Medicine | January 25, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 24, 2023 Research and Innovation Conference: "Complement and the Kidney," presented by Joshua M. Thurman, MD, professor of medicine, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 24, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 24, 2023 Research and Innovation Conference: "Leveraging Innovative Mixed Methods in the VA Transitions Nurse Program," presented by Christine D. Jones, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine, Interim Associate Director, Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center; Co-Director, Veterans Affairs Advanced Health Services Research and Development Fellowship Program, Divisions of Geriatric Medicine and Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 24, 2023

A project co-created by University of Colorado Cancer Center leader Jamie Studts, PhD, to boost lung cancer screening rates in Kentucky has proven so successful that Studts has received a grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF) to create an enhanced version of the program that will roll out in two more states in the coming years.

Greg Glasgow | January 23, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Each January and February, the School of Medicine facilitates the annual PRiSM review for faculty and the equivalent annual check-in for staff. Like all faculty, I also go through this process with our Dean. For years, I have embraced the gift that is feedback and the opportunity to grow. These sessions should operate as a platform for open conversation regarding improvement, strengths and hopes for the future. As I begin the process of reviewing my direct reports, I am reminded of the incredible work that our leaders put into this each year for the benefit not only of the individuals they guide, but the teams they support. I encourage you to make effort in your own evaluation, as with so many labors – it is very much a product of the energy invested.

Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc | January 20, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 18, 2023 Grand Rounds: "Case Study in Medical Care for Immigrant and Refugee Adults" presented by Janine Young, MD, FAAP, professor, Department of Pediatrics; Chief, Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Newborn Medicine, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 18, 2023

Bonnie Dahl knows chance and circumstance played key roles in halting her pancreatic cancer, one of the most deadly and insidious forms of the disease.

Debra Melani | January 17, 2023

In addition to the research and clinical work she performs as a member of the University of Colorado Cancer Center, Swati Patel, MD, also just completed a one-year term as president of the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer (CGA-IGC), an international professional medical organization dedicated to taking care of patients who may be at increased risk of GI cancer based on family history and genetics.  

Greg Glasgow | January 17, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 17, 2023 Research and Innovation Conference – "Regulation of Body Weight: Relevance to Obesity," presented by Dan Bessesen, MD, professor of medicine, Director, Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Health and Wellness; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 17, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 17 Research and Innovation Conference – "Innovating in Digital Education: An Online Course in Bayesian Reasoning," presented by Amiran Baduashvili, MD, associate professor of medicine, Associate Vice Chair of Education, Director, Advanced Hospital Medicine Clinical Scholars Program, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 17, 2023

When his mom fell off a ladder on New Year’s Eve a number of years ago, after deciding that was as good a night as any to clean the leaves from her gutters, one of the first things Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, did after she got home from the hospital was take her pulse.

Rachel Sauer | January 12, 2023

The scholars represent the next generation of palliative care leaders and demonstrate the Foundation’s commitment to whole-person care for people with serious illness

The Cambia Health Foundation has announced the selection of 12 emerging palliative care leaders for its Sojourns® Scholar Leadership Program. In its ninth year, this program identifies, cultivates and advances the next generation of palliative care leaders.

Department of Medicine | January 12, 2023

2022 was a year that saw significant new hires, the opening of a state-of-the-art health and sciences building, and the launch of a new Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, but it also was a year that offered plenty of challenges and new problems to solve. 

Greg Glasgow | January 12, 2023

Carey Candrian, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has received a five-year award from the NIH’s National Institute on Aging to develop a novel intervention to improve care for sexual and gender minority older adults in hospice.

Mark Couch | January 11, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 11 Grand Rounds: "Ethics, Bias & Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare," with Matthew DeCamp, MD, PhD, associate professor, Center for Bioethics and Humanities and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 11, 2023

When it comes to treating cancer, doctors have many tools in their arsenal. For decades, cancer was treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — broad tools that affect healthy cells along with the cancer cells they are meant to eradicate. 

Greg Glasgow | January 11, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 10 Research & Innovation Conference – "Standardized Risk Assessment for Perioperative Delirium," presented by Robert B. Metter, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Director, Inpatient Medicine Consult Service, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 10, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Jan. 10, 2023 Research & Innovation Conference – "Hastening Improvement in Lung Cancer Outcomes: Screening, Survivorship and Social Change," presented by Jamie Studts, PhD, professor of medicine, Division of Medical Oncology; Co-Leader, Cancer Prevention and Control; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | January 10, 2023

As growing numbers of people diagnosed with cancer receive testing to have their cancer genetically sequenced, researchers and clinicians are learning volumes more about specific mutations and genetic alterations that can occur in each type of cancer.

Rachel Sauer | January 09, 2023

A necessary part of the scientific process is sometimes being wrong, and Eric Pietras, PhD, was wrong. He’s the first to admit it.

When Pietras, a University of Colorado Cancer Center member and associate professor of hematology, joined the CU School of Medicine in 2015, a significant body of research suggested that inflammation activated blood-forming stem cells, which normally are dormant in bone marrow.

Rachel Sauer | January 06, 2023

In this issue:

• State of the Department 2022
• Top 10 Most-Watched Videos of 2022
• PAGE Accepting Applications for the Mid-Career Faculty Women's Leadership Development Program
• Updated NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy
• CU Cancer Center Receives $20M Gift to Advance Esophageal Cancer Research and Care

Department of Medicine | January 06, 2023

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have discovered a new mechanism for slowing scarring of heart tissue — a process known as cardiac fibrosis.

Greg Glasgow | January 06, 2023

On January 2, tennis great Martina Navratilova revealed that she has been diagnosed with two unrelated cancers: stage 1 throat cancer and early-stage breast cancer. 

Greg Glasgow | January 04, 2023

Patients with disabilities often face medical providers who make inaccurate assumptions about their quality of life that can lead to paternalism and substandard care, according to an essay published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). 

David Kelly | January 04, 2023

Depending on the day and the publication, the ideal number of steps to take daily is 10,000. Or 3,000. Or maybe an in between 7,000.

Rachel Sauer | January 03, 2023

For many people, receiving a cancer diagnosis may require learning a new vocabulary ­– terms that can be useful guideposts for defining the disease and its treatment.

Rachel Sauer | January 03, 2023

Watch the Department of Medicine's Dec. 21, 2022 Grand Rounds – "The Pendulum of Patient Autonomy: Looking Back and Looking Forward," with Tiffany Gardner, MD, Chief Resident of Quality and Patient Safety and Dante Mesa, MD, Chief Medical Resident, Internal Medicine Residency Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | December 21, 2022

Dear Colleagues,

This week marks the end of our Research Listening Tour, and on behalf of our Vice Chair for Research Janine Higgins, PhD, and Associate Vice Chairs for Research Mary Weiser-Evans, PhD, and Fernando Holguin, MD, I want to sincerely thank all of you who attended sessions and gave feedback online. Your participation and input will help inform our planning as we think about how to grow our research programs and rankings in the years ahead.

Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc | December 16, 2022

CU Innovations Annual Report 2022
CU Anschutz Medical Campus

CU Innovations | December 14, 2022

Colorado leads the nation in auto theft, and, unfortunately, Denver and Aurora are two of the prime targets for thieves. On campus thus far in 2022, there have been 106 recorded reports of stolen vehicles and 39 attempted auto thefts, more than double from last year. The rise was especially troubling during November, when criminals stole or attempted to steal 23 vehicles.

Staff | December 14, 2022

Watch the Department of Medicine's State of the Department 2022, presented by Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc, Robert W. Schrier Chair of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc | December 14, 2022

A good death can take many forms. Because each person is unique, with different personal and cultural beliefs and expectations, there is not a single definition of a good death.

Rachel Sauer | December 14, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has been named one of the top academic institutions in the world for innovation, according to Nature’s 2022 Innovation Index report. The report ranked CU Anschutz in the top four universities globally for forging the strongest innovations links.

Julia Milzer | December 14, 2022

Watch the Department of Medicine's Dec. 13, 2022 Research & Innovation Conference – "Inter-Hospital Transfers: Provider Perspectives on Care Coordination Challenges" presented by Amy Yu, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | December 13, 2022

Vice Chancellor for Research Thomas Flaig, MD, delivered the annual State of Research Address on Dec. 6 to an online audience of more than 500 scientists, students and staff from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 

Megan Lane | December 12, 2022

If any of the 86% of Americans lacking a current bivalent booster took a shot on the omicron-targeting vaccine right now, their chances of being sick with COVID-19 on Christmas Day would fall by as much as half.

Debra Melani | December 12, 2022

Actress Kirstie Alley, best known for her role as Rebecca Howe on the 1980s sitcom “Cheers,” died Monday at age 71. According to a representative for the actress quoted in People magazine, Alley died from colon cancer after a short battle with the disease.

Greg Glasgow | December 06, 2022

Paul O’Hara grew up in a large Midwestern family where loyalty and toughness run deep. About nine years ago, Paulie, as he was called by his siblings, leaned into his family’s caring and stout nature when he was diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of under 20%.

Chris Casey | December 06, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus today announced the creation of the Katy O. and Paul M. Rady Esophageal and Gastric Center of Excellence, made possible by a $20 million philanthropic investment from Katy O. and Paul M. Rady.

Julia Milzer | December 06, 2022

In this issue:

• Next Director of Service Named for the DOM at Denver Health
• 2022 Fellowship Match Results
• CU ASPIRE Program Announces Second Round of Funding

Department of Medicine | December 02, 2022

Watch the Department of Medicine's Nov. 30, 2022 Grand Rounds – "Evolving Crisis Standards of Care to Meet New Challenges" presented by Anuj Mehta, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Denver Health and Hospital Authority.

Department of Medicine | November 30, 2022

Watch the Department of Medicine's Nov. 29, 2022 Research and Innovation Conference, "Career Development Special Topic: Starting a Research Lab" presented by Traci R. Lyons, PhD, associate professor of medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Department of Medicine | November 29, 2022

Two important numbers to keep in mind are that 50.5% of the U.S. population is female, and that cancer will account for more than 606,000 deaths in the United States this year, making it the second-leading cause of death.

Rachel Sauer | November 28, 2022

A new study from researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has identified a less invasive way to treat a subset of head and neck cancers that could potentially change the standard of care for patients.

Kelsea Pieters | November 28, 2022

Earlier this month, voters made Colorado the second state — after Oregon — to decriminalize psilocybin and psilocin, the psychedelic compounds found in so-called “magic mushrooms.”  

Greg Glasgow | November 15, 2022

Xander Bradeen began his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado Boulder planning to major in neuroscience as a pre-med student, the first in his family to pursue a college education. Then he learned about prairie voles.

Rachel Sauer | November 14, 2022

University of Colorado Cancer Center member Erin Schenk, MD, PhD, has been named one of the CU School of Medicine 2022 Translational Research Scholars and received four-year grant support to facilitate exploration and new lines of research.

Rachel Sauer | November 07, 2022

Gifts of significance don’t always have to be large monetary contributions. Sometimes, the most impactful gifts don’t involve money at all.

Kiley Carroll | November 07, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have been awarded a $2 million grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to contribute to the creation of the Kidney Tissue Atlas that will help improve care to patients with life-limiting kidney diseases.

Mark Couch | November 03, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus hosted its second annual Research Awards ceremony on Oct. 25. More than 125 people gathered to recognize the contributions of their fellow colleagues with cheers and standing ovations. With eight different award categories and over a dozen individual awardees, the event highlighted the significant depth, strength and teamwork of the CU Anschutz research community.

Megan Lane | October 31, 2022

Corralling four research programs, 12 shared resources, a 28-member leadership team, and a $23 million grant is a huge job — but it’s one that Michaela Montour has performed at the University of Colorado Center with ease for more than 20 years.  

Greg Glasgow | October 31, 2022

If it seems like many of your friends and family are sick right now, they’re not alone. Cold and flu season is off to a roaring start, and is on track to be especially fierce as respiratory viruses surge among children and older populations.

Rachel Sauer | October 28, 2022

University of Colorado Cancer Center member Bryan Haugen, MD, always knew he was a science person. His question was if he wanted to be a MD or a PhD. After completing his bachelor’s degree at Saint Olaf College in Minnesota, he did a few years of research at the Mayo Clinic before starting medical school there.

Jessica Cordova | October 27, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have discovered that a unique bacteria found in the gut could be responsible for triggering rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in people already at risk for the autoimmune disease. 

Greg Glasgow | October 26, 2022

Much of the work of health care happens because of a strong support base – the childcare, household labor, and other jobs that allow health care providers to show up every day at the clinic or hospital.

Rachel Sauer | October 25, 2022

Chancellor Don Elliman delivered his annual State of the Campus Address on Oct. 19 to an in-person audience for the first time since 2019. 

Matthew Hastings | October 20, 2022

When a Twitter follower praised Elon Musk’s new “awesome, fit, ripped and healthy” look, the billionaire entrepreneur replied that his secret was “fasting” and “Wegovy.” Given society’s obsession with celebrities and weight loss and Musk’s massive following on Twitter, a viral tweet was born.

Chris Casey | October 19, 2022

Before “wellness” was a commonly discussed concept, before health care as a profession widely recognized that clinician well-being can correlate with patient well-being, Lotte Dyrbye, MD, MHPE, took a gap year between her undergraduate studies and medical school.

Rachel Sauer | October 18, 2022

The best screening test for colorectal cancer is the screening that gets done, because it decreases a person’s chances of getting colorectal cancer and significantly reduces their risk of dying from colorectal cancer.

Rachel Sauer | October 13, 2022

As lead investigator or sub-investigator on numerous clinical trials at the University of Colorado Cancer Center — many of them investigating new treatments for head and neck cancer — Jessica McDermott, MD, has been instrumental in improving access to cancer clinical trials for patients from medically underserved communities.

Greg Glasgow | October 11, 2022

A newly established fellowship program in the University of Colorado School of Medicine will help participants prepare for administrative leadership roles in academic medical centers, with a focus on providing guidance and understanding around health care leadership.

Rachel Sauer | October 10, 2022

University of Colorado Cancer Center members Moumita Ghosh, PhD, and Eric Clambey, PhD, have received a grant from the American Lung Association (ALA) to study how epithelial progenitor cells and immune cells may impact each other to shape the outcome of lung cancer. 

Greg Glasgow | October 03, 2022

Researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have created a new way of measuring cancer lesions’ response to treatment that could better inform the development of new cancer drugs.

Kelsea Pieters | September 29, 2022

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and, when caught and treated early, is considered curable. But when prostate cancer becomes metastatic, meaning it spreads to distant organs, it is no longer considered curable and novel treatment strategies are needed.

Rachel Sauer | September 28, 2022

The University of Colorado School of Medicine was one of 36 study sites for a clinical trial that shows that diabetes drugs liraglutide and insulin glargine, when taken with metformin, allow patients to achieve and maintain their target blood levels for a longer time compared to two other commonly used diabetes medications.  

Greg Glasgow | September 22, 2022

Among physicians who see at least one adult patient with significant intellectual disability (ID) in an average month, close to 75% of those surveyed report usually or always communicating with someone other than the patient during the visit, new research shows.

Rachel Sauer | September 19, 2022

A new phase 2 clinical trial led by University of Colorado Cancer Center member Robert Lentz, MD, may offer hope for patients with metastatic colon cancer for whom standard therapy is no longer effective. Lentz is mentored by Wells Messersmith, MD, associate director of clinical services at the CU Cancer Center.

Greg Glasgow | September 07, 2022

As genetic counseling and genetic testing continue gaining importance in the world of cancer, the new co-director of hereditary cancers in the University of Colorado Cancer Center is aiming to increase awareness of these important resources for patients.

Rachel Sauer | September 06, 2022

Many college students enter their freshman year unsure of what they want to major in, let alone what they’ll do after they graduate. Then there are students like Hussna Yasini, who entered her first year of college at the University of Colorado Denver knowing she could earn a reserved spot at the CU School of Medicine after she completed her undergraduate studies. 

Greg Glasgow | September 06, 2022

Focused on warding off a cold-weather surge of coronavirus infections and on revamping the COVID-19 vaccine response, health experts approved a new and likely improved version of the vaccine for the first time since the virus emerged.

Debra Melani | September 05, 2022

Amira Del Pino-Jones, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has been named the CU School of Medicine’s associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Greg Glasgow | August 26, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered how to extract critical information about breast cancer tumors and disease progression by analyzing blood plasma rather than using more invasive tissue biopsies.

“This is simply a blood draw,” said the study’s senior co-author Peter Kabos, MD, associate professor of medicine in the medical oncology division at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and CU Cancer Center member. “This allows us to look under the surface to see the defining characteristics of the disease. The advantage is that we don’t need to do repeated tissue biopsies.”

David Kelly | August 25, 2022

Advance care planning — thinking about what kind of care you want and whom you want by your side at the end of your life — can be difficult under any circumstances. But for sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients — including individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, queer, or intersex — those conversations are often made even more difficult due to stigma, fear, and discrimination.

Greg Glasgow | August 17, 2022

For many researchers, the end of a post-doctoral fellowship and entry into a junior faculty position can be a time without a map.

Rachel Sauer | August 12, 2022

In November 2021, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus was designated a Rare Disease Center of Excellence by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). CU Anschutz experts are highlighted in the latest edition of Denver magazine 5280 for their work in research and treating rare diseases.

Kiley Carroll | August 08, 2022

A cancer diagnosis can be difficult to work through in the best of circumstances, but factor in barriers related to language, insurance status, educational achievement, geographic location, income level, and more, and the cancer journey — everything from prevention and screening to diagnosis and treatment — can become nearly impossible to traverse. 

Greg Glasgow | August 05, 2022

Denver-area magazine 5280 recently published its list of top doctors for 2022. On this year’s list, CU School of Medicine faculty members continue to be ranked among the best. We're proud to congratulate the 193 CU School of Medicine faculty members honored with the title "Top Doctor."

School of Medicine | August 02, 2022

This week, members of the University of Colorado School of Medicine Class of 2026 became new medical students, entering medicine at a critical and often tumultuous time.

Rachel Sauer | July 29, 2022

A new study from the University of Colorado Cancer Center explores which lung cancer patients are the best candidates for novel therapies that directly target a gene identified as driving certain cancers.

Julia Milzer | July 27, 2022

For residents training in specialties such as internal medicine, pediatrics, and emergency medicine, hands-on training is vital when it comes to practicing skills like stabilizing an airway or taking a patient’s medical history. When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), however, training all too often happens in a classroom or online, with no real-world experience to reinforce the lessons or allow for learning opportunities.   

Greg Glasgow | July 26, 2022

BA.5, the latest omicron variant, now accounts for nearly every new SARS-CoV-2 infection in the state, and community levels are high across the Denver metro area, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

Debra Melani | July 26, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have investigated how antiviral proteins called interferons interact with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, focuses on how the innate arm of the immune system defends against this coronavirus. The work resulted from a collaborative effort by multiple scientists, including the laboratories of Mario Santiago, PhD, associate professor of medicine, and Eric Poeschla, MD, professor of medicine, both at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Kelsea Pieters | July 25, 2022

What’s it like living when you are dying?

It’s a question palliative care provider and instructor Jonathan Treem, MD, fields so often, he derived an analogy in answer.

It’s like being in a perpetual horror movie, where a killer lurks inside your home, he says. You’re the main character, alone with the murderer, who lies in wait. As you creep from dark room to dark room, searching for a monster sure to overpower you, the dread builds.

Debra Melani | July 22, 2022

Currently, there are no disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s disease that can change the progression of the disease. An international team of scientists led by faculty at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is hoping to change that.

Julia Milzer | July 21, 2022

Longtime Colorado innovation leader Lisa Neal-Graves has been named CEO of the Aurora Wellness Community (AWC), a partnership between the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and the Aurora community that aims to improve access to primary care for underserved populations in Aurora. The center also will offer services to promote physical, mental, and financial well-being within the community, with a particular focus on housing, food security, generational care, community building, and connection. 

Greg Glasgow | July 20, 2022

The bad news about endometrial cancer — cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus — is that it is one of the few cancers that is increasing in incidence even as most other cancers are on the decline, thanks to advances in treatment and prevention.  

Greg Glasgow | July 18, 2022

Large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) is one of the most aggressive lymphomas and accounts for about 30% of all lymphoma diagnoses.

Rachel Sauer | July 14, 2022

Ward McNeilly thought he was a goner.  

It was summer 2021, and the sarcoma that had started in the Denver resident’s left thigh seemed to be under control, subdued by radiation and chemotherapy following a surgery in 2018 to remove the initial tumor and another surgery in 2019 to remove cancerous tumors in his groin. McNeilly was doing so well, in fact, that his doctors at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital authorized a “chemo vacation” to give his body a break from some of the side effects of the treatment.

Greg Glasgow | July 11, 2022

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care professionals admit they felt tired. Despite doing work they love, the days could be long or frustrating or very, very disheartening.

Rachel Sauer | June 28, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus discovered that while exercise activates muscles, which is critical for bone health, intense exertion over long periods contributes to a metabolic cascade that may lead to a loss of bone mineral density (BMD).

Chris Casey | June 21, 2022

It takes a certain tenacity to ride a bike across the country. That's even more true when a person is suffering from a rare disease. But Glenn Frommer is doing just that, and inspiring others along the way. Frommer is riding over 5,300 miles from San Francisco to Boston to raise funding and awareness for polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

Kiley Carroll | June 21, 2022

A new study published in today’s issue of PLOS Pathogens is the first to link SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells to lung function and those who suffer from long-term COVID symptoms. Long COVID currently affects hundreds of millions of Americans.

Laura Kelley | June 09, 2022

Although interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it is a difficult condition to diagnose. By the time ILD is visible in a CT scan, it is often at an advanced state and difficult to treat. 

Greg Glasgow | June 08, 2022

During the May 27 spring convocation, the Graduate School announced the recipients of the dean’s awards, formally recognizing graduate students and faculty who have made a positive impact on the training environment and culture at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Guest Contributor | June 08, 2022

Today, the AB Nexus program announced its fourth round of grant awards to faculty from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Boulder. From advancing new cancer and diabetes treatments to developing AI tools to diagnose dementia, the selected teams bring together experts from multiple disciplines to advance basic science and translational research that improves human health and well-being.

Megan Lane | June 06, 2022

Short people might be the same as you and me, unless you’re tall.

Kelsea Pieters | June 02, 2022

The median age for receiving a bladder cancer diagnosis is 73, and a significant number of those living with the disease are in their 70s and 80s.

Rachel Sauer | June 01, 2022

In a recent survey of more than 6,500 physicians from across the United States representing a broad spectrum of racial and ethnic diversity, nearly 30% of respondents reported experiencing discrimination and mistreatment from patients or patients’ family members or visitors.

Rachel Sauer | May 19, 2022

The term burnout has been tossed around frequently the past two years.

Most people know the feeling, but what can you actually do about it? Tyra Fainstad, MD, visiting associate professor of internal medicine, and Adrienne Mann, MD, assistant professor of hospital medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine decided they wanted to do something to address the root of the problem, so they created and implemented Better Together, a physician coaching program for trainees. The duo answers common questions and addresses misconceptions about burnout.

Editor’s note: This interview was edited for clarity and brevity. 

Kiley Carroll | May 16, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have discovered an enzyme that regulates heart stiffness, setting the stage for developing novel treatments for heart failure. 

Greg Glasgow | May 16, 2022

Michelle Barron, MD, presented for the Women in Leadership Speaker Series on April 27, a perfect choice by organizers seeking a woman leader during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barron, a professor of medicine in the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a top infectious diseases expert in the state, was front and center of the public health crisis during the past two and a half years.

Kiley Carroll | May 09, 2022

Well over 1.3 million Americans are living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network. The potentially debilitating disease turns the body’s immune system against itself, attacking tissues and joints. Left untreated, the disorder can lead to deformed joints and disability.

Laura Kelley | May 09, 2022

A coaching program aimed at decreasing burnout among female resident physicians significantly reduced emotional exhaustion and imposter syndrome while increasing self-compassion over a six-month period, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

David Kelly | May 06, 2022

For some people with type 2 diabetes, the E word can evoke dread: exercise.

Rachel Sauer | May 04, 2022

Moksha Patel, MD, is a busy man. He recently finished a fellowship in the Division of Hospital Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he is now a senior instructor. He’s been appointed lead physician informaticist for the Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Efficiency at CU Anschutz and is working toward an MBA at CU Denver.

Kelsea Pieters | May 02, 2022

Efforts by hospitals to protect people from COVID-19 by restricting them from visiting family members in ICUs may have contributed to a significant increase in stress-related disorders, according to a study led by University of Colorado School of Medicine researchers.

Mark Couch | April 25, 2022

Each year we honor one of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus’s greatest assets – our remarkable faculty – with the faculty awards. These accolades recognize superior accomplishments in teaching and leadership.  

The awards are special not only because they acknowledge outstanding performance in our core areas as a university, but also because they are recognition by colleagues and students of this exemplary work.

Staff | April 25, 2022

To understand why Beau Gill built a mental cupboard for Jeff and Spike, first you must travel back with him to the small town of Catemaco in Mexico’s state of Veracruz.

Rachel Sauer | April 20, 2022

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper visited the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus on April 14, hearing from CU and UCHealth leaders on how they joined efforts in the battle against COVID-19 and touring the new Anschutz Health Sciences Building (AHSB). The senator’s aim was to take lessons learned back to the U.S. Capitol to help guide legislation and manage the country’s future health crises.

Matthew Hastings | April 19, 2022

In 1986, Jill Norris had a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in hand and pondered what to do next. She decided to pursue a doctorate in epidemiology and applied to a few schools. An invitation from a renowned figure in the field not only cemented her decision but also set her on a lifelong professional path to an elite position among her peers and now, international recognition.

Guest Contributor | April 18, 2022

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among adult men. In recent decades, however, research and treatment innovation for this disease have lagged. Thomas Flaig, MD, vice chancellor of research for CU Denver and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, recently presented findings from a 10-year-long effort to study bladder cancer biomarker development and treatment.

Laura Veith | April 11, 2022

James Burton, MD, a transplant hepatologist, regularly sees the ravages caused by alcohol in patients. A decade ago, most severe alcohol-related liver cases were in older patients, but increasingly, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Burton and his colleagues are treating younger patients.

Chris Casey | April 05, 2022

Adolescents with severe obesity may not pursue metabolic bariatric surgery for weight loss due to lack of information, difficulties with access to care, and because of social stigma, according to a newly published study led by a University of Colorado School of Medicine researcher.

School of Medicine | April 04, 2022

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has once again recognized the University of Colorado (CU) Cancer Center as one of the best cancer centers in the country. On March 31, the NCI officially renewed the CU Cancer Center’s “comprehensive” designation with a strong rating, the best ever received at the CU Cancer Center. The award recognizes the center’s strengths in basic, translational, clinical, and population science research, as well as leadership and resources devoted to community outreach and engagement and cancer research, training, and education.

Greg Glasgow | March 31, 2022

As Americans cross their fingers, hoping the pandemic stays behind them, scientists across the country remain focused on the novel coronavirus, intent on combating its next move.

Debra Melani | March 28, 2022

While conducting research for her doctoral dissertation, Channing Tate, PhD, MPH, spoke with 144 older Black adults about hospice care – what they knew about it, whether they’d consider it, what their experiences with hospice had been.

Rachel Sauer | March 25, 2022

Colorectal cancer, the third most commonly-diagnosed cancer in the United States (excluding skin cancers) and second leading cause of cancer-related mortality, is increasingly affecting people in their 20s and 30s, recently published research shows.

Rachel Sauer | March 23, 2022

As a young girl in the 1940s, Helen Morris, MD, saw a world rocked by atrocities and on the brink of momentous change. Eighty years later, Morris, who was among a small group of women doctors in Colorado early in her career, sees history repeating itself.

Chris Casey | March 21, 2022

Two faculty members at the University of Colorado School of Medicine are key contributors to a set of COVID-19 guidance for cardiologists released today by the American College of Cardiology. 

Greg Glasgow | March 16, 2022

While practicing medicine at Denver Health, Lilia Cervantes, MD, researcher and associate professor of hospital medicine and director of immigrant health at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, treated socially marginalized patients with kidney failure who had no access to standard dialysis care. These patients could only receive dialysis at the emergency room when their health was in critical condition. 

Kiley Carroll | March 09, 2022

Whether it’s dangerous side effects with Ambien or poorer heart health with type 2 diabetes, women often react to drugs and disease differently than men. Yet studies behind these sex and gender differences in medical science are still relatively scant.

Kiley Carroll | March 07, 2022

Dianne Primavera wouldn’t take no for an answer.  

Greg Glasgow | March 07, 2022

The strength of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus is built in part on the ties between practitioners and researchers — field experts working regularly in hospitals or clinics using what they have seen in their practice to inform their research. This is where innovation and truly life-altering discoveries are made.

The Surgical/subspecialists Clinical Outcomes Research (SCORE) Fellowship at ACCORDS is a one-of-a-kind opportunity allowing physicians to gain skills and begin their work in outcomes-based research. The fellowship is designed to train outstanding physician-researchers in clinical translational and outcomes research. Since 2014, SCORE has primarily focused on surgeons and subspecialists interested in research training.

Laura Veith - ACCORDS Writer | March 02, 2022

March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, and to get the latest information on the disease, we spoke with University of Colorado (CU) Cancer Center member Elaine Lam, MD, FACP, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Greg Glasgow | March 02, 2022

CU Sports Medicine — a multidisciplinary program involving the School of Medicine’s departments of orthopedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics — serves a wide range of patients: from toddlers to seniors, elite athletes to weekend warriors. To help dispel some misconceptions about the field and highlight what sets CU’s program apart from the competition, we interviewed three experts to learn from the pros.

Valerie Gleaton | March 01, 2022

“Quality over quantity.” It’s a familiar piece of advice for everything from shopping habits to food choices. But the concept is especially important when it comes to health care. In fact, it’s what led a coalition of CU Anschutz Medical Campus entities — the School of Medicine, the College of Nursing, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, and Children’s Hospital Colorado — to establish the Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety and Efficiency in 2012. 

Valerie Gleaton | March 01, 2022

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, which – if not treated quickly – often leaves victims with devastating disabilities. While clear stroke treatment guidelines in emergency departments have resulted in rapid care for years, for a unique patient population that suffers in-hospital strokes (IHS), the treatment hasn’t always been so speedy.

Holli Keyser | February 24, 2022

In celebration of Black History Month, CU Anschutz is launching the “Get To Know” series to highlight Black excellence on campus year-round – leaders, innovators and change makers who are accomplishing the extraordinary in their fields every day. The “Get To Know” series will expand throughout the year as an inclusive platform for voices on our campus. 

Matthew Hastings | February 22, 2022

Following up on a 2018 study that identified an epigenetic modifier known as histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11) as a potential therapeutic target for treating obesity and diabetes, researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine have published new research that finds HDAC11 regulates G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) called beta-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs).

Greg Glasgow | February 11, 2022

For health care workers, one of the most troubling aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is people who get and recover from the virus, only to have additional — often more severe — symptoms arise weeks or even months later. Known in medical journals by names like “post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)” or “long-haul COVID,” the condition can have debilitating effects even among the previously young and healthy. 

Greg Glasgow | February 11, 2022

Asthma is a chronic condition that can cause airways in the lungs to become inflamed and narrowed. A common perception of obesity is that it involves low-grade systemic inflammation.

Rachel Sauer | February 08, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus – home to Children’s Hospital Colorado, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and the CU School of Medicine – has been designated as a NORD Rare Disease Center of Excellence for its research and commitment to advance care for patients with rare diseases.

Staff | February 08, 2022

In 2016, Colorado voters approved a new state law that provided medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients. This law authorizes a physician, who is identified as the attending physician, to prescribe a lethal dose of medications that results in death.

School of Medicine | January 11, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that having one kind of autoimmune disease can lead to another.

David Kelly | January 04, 2022

A troubling new variant of the COVID-19 virus first observed by South African scientists has now been found in other parts of the world, including Portugal, Botswana, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It has been found in several U.S. states as well, including Colorado, New York, Hawaii, and Minnesota. Researchers are concerned, as the new variant — dubbed the Omicron variant by the World Health Organization — shows signs of being more contagious than previous variants. It may also be less susceptible to current COVID-19 vaccines.

Greg Glasgow | November 29, 2021

The wind kicked up as soon as everyone “died,” cold and fierce around the dozens of students, faculty members, and staff members lying on the concrete and browning grass.

Rachel Sauer | October 27, 2021

Scientists at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, along with colleagues at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, have discovered specific genetic biomarkers that not only show who is infected with COVID-19, but offer insights into how severe the disease might be, filling a major diagnostic gap.

David Kelly | October 26, 2021

Elder abuse and neglect are major problems – they happen to one in 10 older adults in the United States – and often hide in plain sight.

Chris Casey | October 19, 2021

From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, communities of color have been hit hardest by the worst public health crisis in the past 100 years.  

Valerie Gleaton | October 14, 2021

Carey Candrian, PhD, knew the statistics.

“Nearly 50% of older LGBTQ adults say their doctor doesn’t know that they’re LGBTQ, and the stress of hiding takes up to 12 years off their life,” Candrian says. “Seventy-six percent of LGBTQ older adults fear having adequate support as they age. Thousands still experience discrimination, harassment, and abuse when seeking or living in senior housing. These are big numbers.”

Greg Glasgow | October 08, 2021

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have been awarded a $3.7 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to support establishing a center that specializes in the study of the causes of rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and other autoimmune diseases.

School of Medicine | September 21, 2021

Ideas and innovation don’t always co-exist with convenience. On the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, the road to a novel mask design to address the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic took some unexpected twists and turns.

Rachel Sauer | September 08, 2021

Celebrating exceptional women on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus? No problem.

Kiley Carroll | September 08, 2021

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave full approval to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 and older. The approval provides the FDA’s strongest endorsement to the Pfizer vaccine, which previously had been approved under an emergency use authorization.

Greg Glasgow | August 25, 2021

As the country rides a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it faces a riptide that’s threatening its course. The delta variant, the now-predominant strain of coronavirus, prompted President Joe Biden’s call for booster shots for all vaccinated adults on Aug. 18 and underscored discussions at a research summit that ran parallel to the president’s nationwide address.

Debra Melani | August 24, 2021

Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc, chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine at the University of Michigan Health System, has been named chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, effective Oct. 18, 2021.

School of Medicine | August 12, 2021

Each year, Denver-area magazine 5280 publishes its list of top doctors. On this year’s list, which came out last week, CU School of Medicine faculty members continue to be ranked among the best. We are proud to congratulate the 138 CU School of Medicine faculty members honored with the title Top Doctor.

School of Medicine | August 04, 2021

In March of 2020, thousands of scientists from around the world, including researchers from the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine, united to answer a pressing and complex question: What genetic factors influence why some COVID-19 patients develop severe, life-threatening disease requiring hospitalization, while others escape with mild symptoms or none at all?

Kelsea Pieters | July 08, 2021

In her second year on the job at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Carey Candrian, PhD, was shadowing a hospice admissions nurse as she interviewed a dying woman in the patient’s home.

Debra Melani | June 17, 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday recommended a nationwide pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine because six women who received the vaccine have experienced a rare type of blood clot.

Greg Glasgow | April 16, 2021

A lot has changed in the 20 years since University of Colorado School of Medicine researchers Meredith Mealer, PhD, RN, and Marc Moss, MD, started studying the effects of stress on critical-care nurses.

Greg Glasgow | April 14, 2021

James Burton, MD, professor of medicine and medical director of liver transplantation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, says he and his colleagues are already starting to see the effect pandemic drinking is having on patients.  

Valerie Gleaton | February 15, 2021

A pilot program to offer mental health services offered resident physicians at the University of Colorado School of Medicine provides a model for confidential and affordable help, according to an article published today by the journal Academic Medicine.

School of Medicine | February 04, 2021

Patients need and deserve the undivided attention of clinicians providing their care, but frequent interruptions and pressure to be responsive to colleagues can have detrimental impacts on the quality of care.

School of Medicine | January 28, 2021

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stress and uncertainty weighed heavily on many of those on the front lines. Lilia Cervantes, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Denver Health and the University of Colorado Division of Hospital Medicine, and a physician-scientist, was one of the first to work in a COVID-19 unit. The night before her first shift at Denver Health, Cervantes, also a mother of two daughters, went online to make a will.

Guest Contributor | January 07, 2021

With the FDA emergency approval of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer last week and Moderna approval due any day, immunizations against the deadliest pandemic in the past 100 years will begin this week.

School of Medicine | December 14, 2020

Each year, Denver-area magazine 5280 publishes its list of top doctors. The annual list was recently released, and year after year, our CU School of Medicine faculty members were ranked among the best. We're proud to congratulate the more than 160 CU School of Medicine faculty members honored with the title top doctor.

School of Medicine | August 12, 2020

By its definition, science is the systematic knowledge gained through repeated observations of the world around us. And, as history indicates, the first pioneers of scientists were Indigenous people, whose contributions in modern science must not be overlooked.

Guest Contributor | June 03, 2020

A research team led by scientists from the Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation (CFReT) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine has identified a potential target for treating heart failure related to fibrosis.

School of Medicine | September 17, 2019