The Division of Immunology hosted the latest IntMed holiday party 🎉 Check out more photos from this evening: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2026/01/21/immunology-holiday-party-2026/

Every year for ten years, @uiowa has featured researchers from IntMed on banners hanging around downtown Iowa City. We are proud to have 4 among this year's 40 highlighted. Congrats to them and to their faculty mentors! https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2026/01/22/dare-to-discover-2026/

Postdoctoral fellows Dr,. Ivan Budnik, and Dr. Abhishek B. Jha have each received an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. Read more about the work they will pursue with this funding: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2026/01/20/budnik-jha-earn-aha-postdoc-research-awards/

Congratulations, Dr. Cook! The American Society for Clinical Investigation has selected Daniel Cook, MD, PhD, for a Young Physician-Scientist Award. Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2026/01/15/asci-recognizes-cook-with-young-physician-scientist-award/

Faculty, trainees, and staff all get shout-outs in this month's Internal Medicine Honor Roll. See how these 15 department members all showed up for each other over the last month. https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2026/01/15/internal-medicine-honor-roll-january-2026/

The ADA selected Dr. Zaher for a Postdoctoral Fellowship. With this award, Zaher will research how oxidative stress disrupts insulin production in beta cells. Congrats! Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2026/01/14/zaher-awarded-ada-postdoctoral-fellowship-to-advance-beta-cell-research/

Our faculty took a break from typical routines and gathered at Wilson's Cider House for a holiday party. Thank you to our faculty for an incredible 2025. We are so grateful for all their work and dedication. See more pictures: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2026/01/12/faculty-holiday-party-2026/

Drs. Maryjane Farr & Joseph Hill (UT Southwestern Medical Center) briefly assessed the impact of former IntMed Chair Dr. Frank Abboud’s cardiovascular research and @IowaMed career in CIRCULATION. https://bit.ly/4jBtMIM

In a new pub, Drs. Andrea Weber and Marcus Osman review how integrated models can improve treatment engagement & liver transplant outcomes for people with alcohol use disorder. Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2026/01/12/weber-osman-on-bridging-liver-disease-treatment-and-addiction-care/

Congratulations to Brad Dixon, MD, on an outstanding career with Iowa City VA Health Systems and our Division of Nephrology. In recent weeks, colleagues came together at two celebrations to honor Dixon's decades of service. Thank you for, Dr. Dixon, for your lasting impact.

The Department of Internal Medicine sends condolences to those touched by the life of Charles M. Helms, MD, PhD. He is remembered by his colleagues for his "great (and interesting) humor" and being a "fundamentally kind, decent, and humble man." https://bit.ly/49wEiMP

The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology recently celebrated the career of Caryn Berkowitz, MD, emeritus professor and medical director of Advanced Nutritional Services. Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. Berkowitz! We are grateful for all your contributions to the division.

Building community and staying connected to hobbies matters in residency. Through socials, intramural sports, and writing events, the Humanities & Wellness Committee helps residents recharge, connect, and support one another beyond clinical training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaM0USbbeoo

We capped off 2025 by honoring Michael J. Welsh, MD, as the residency training program that launched his career celebrated his impact and established an annual Distinguished Alumni Award in his name. Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/12/11/welsh-recognized-by-residency-program/

Our multidisciplinary lung transplant team has delivered top outcomes across 300+ procedures, earning national recognition in October for leading one-year survival rates: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/10/27/lung-transplant-program-attains-top-national-ranking-in-one-year-patient-survival/

In August, GI emeritus Douglas LaBrecque, MD, was honored by the World Gastroenterology Organization with their highest honor—a lifetime achievement award. Read about his impact: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/08/22/labrecque-awarded-highest-honor-from-world-gastroenterology-organisation/

In April, Cardiology’s Ryan Boudreau, PhD, received a $7.6M R35 grant that combines three projects, all aimed at better understanding heart disease. Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/04/23/boudreau-combines-heart-disease-research-projects-under-new-nih-r35/

The division of Immunology sure knows how to put on a proper feast. 🤩 Earlier this week, the team got together for a hearty Holiday lunch.

Our 2025 recap continues. In March, the department established a new division for hospital medicine led by Jeydith Gutierrez, MD. Read more about the division's priorities: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/03/26/internal-medicine-establishes-division-of-hospital-medicine/

2025 In Review 🧪🔬 By February, we learned that seven members across three divisions earned postdoc research awards from the American Heart Association, fueling a variety of projects. Read about each investigator's project: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/tag/aha-postdoctoral-awards/

Say hello to 2025: In Review. Our recap of some of the biggest stories from each month of 2025 starts in Jan. with a homegrown app called qUIkcoach: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/01/16/quikcoach-homegrown-app-offers-trainees-and-faculty-real-time-360-degree-feedback-on-clinical-encounters/

Our last Honor Roll of 2025 is up and more than a dozen nominations fill out this month's ranks. See what inspiring activity led to these 14 recognitions. https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/12/16/internal-medicine-honor-roll-december-2025/

Nicholas Arnold, MD, was recently named Director of the Emergency Response Team. Read more about how Dr. Arnold draws on his experiences as a former IntMed chief resident in his new role: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/12/12/arnold-named-director-of-emergency-response-team/

Our Distinction in Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) track is a hands-on learning experience that teaches residents how to use bedside ultrasound to inform real-time patient care. Hear what resident Patrick Vosters, MD, has to share about the curriculum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GoHMsK8cxs

Our residency program put on an event to celebrate Michael J. Welsh, MD, and his recent selection for the 2025 Lasker DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award. Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/12/11/welsh-recognized-by-residency-program/

Double the awards, double the impact. 💪 Dr. Nicole Fleege earned Winn + VISN23 career development awards to improve outcomes for cancer patients, including rural and veteran communities. Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/12/08/fleege-recognized-with-dual-career-development-awards/

Our providers go that extra mile. Especially Susan Kaliszewski, PA-C, who recently received a Going the Extra Mile (G.E.M.) Award! The G.E.M. Award recognizes Iowa River Landing employees who go to great lengths to help patients, visitors, and colleagues. Congratulations, Susan!

🚨 96 Internal Medicine clinicians have been named on the list of Patient's Choice Award recipients for 2025. Each of our outpatient division is represented, amongst the Top 10% of providers in the nation, for excellence in patient care. Congratulations! https://bit.ly/4iEhkHH

Katie Robinson, MD, PhD, recently published research showing that weight-related stigma in healthcare often stems from structural components of clinical care. Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/12/01/robinson-highlights-association-between-weight-stigma-and-healthcare-avoidance/

There's big news in the MICU! Dr. Desmond Barber steps in as Medical Director, while Dr. Kevin Doerschug moves into a new quality leadership role. Read more about Barber's transition: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/12/02/barber-named-micu-medical-director/

Just before the Thanksgiving break, members of our Immunology division had a noon-hour pre-holiday potluck feast of their own. No turkey, no problem!

Don't miss the Season 1 finale of Heroic Herstories! Dr. Maureen Connolly talks about her multifaceted career and the family life that grounds her. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG8dB0JN3Cc

T-VEC and RP1 are re-writing the rules of melanoma treatment. In his new publication, Hematology & Medical Oncology Fellow Dr. John Smestad breaks down what’s ahead for oncolytic virotherapy. Learn more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/11/25/when-viruses-heal-smestad-on-oncolytic-virotherapy/

Twenty new hospitalists have joined our new Division of Hospital Medicine these last few months. We're so excited they're here and for you to get to know them. Welcome to Internal Medicine! https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/11/25/new-faculty-and-app-additions-2025-4/

The Katies' conversation with Dr. Maureen Connolly marks Heroic Herstories' Season Finale! Since settling in Iowa, Connolly has been deeply involved in the Iowa City community as a clinician. Tune in to hear her story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG8dB0JN3Cc

The OINC Newsletter released its Fourth Issue! The newsletter's recent edition is a great way to learn more, and so is their website: https://holden.uihealthcare.org/education-training/medical-students-residents-and-fellows/opportunities-information-and-networking

Heroic Herstories’ Season 1 finale is almost here! In the meantime, don’t miss the Katies’ conversation with Dr. Mary Beth Fasano, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics in Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology at Carver College of Medicine. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZrlZmaH1g0

As GLP-1s are prescribed more, it’s important to know how they affect other medications, especially cancer-fighting drugs. In a video interview with ONCOLOGY, Joseph Dillon, MBBCh, explained how GLP-1s can affect efforts to fight neuroendocrine tumors. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3JNBHW8

Dr. Mary Beth Fasano wears many hats, from treating both adults and children to previously serving as Allergy & Immunology Fellowship Director. But before pursuing medicine, she wanted to put her analytical skills to use in the FBI! Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZrlZmaH1g0

The November Internal Medicine Honor Roll is up! Residents, fellows, faculty, and staff, and even some with multiple nominations, it's a busy month! Thank you to these outstanding members and their nominators. https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/11/17/internal-medicine-honor-roll-november-2025/

Make sure to catch this week's Herstories, where the Katies speak with Dr. Rachael Dirksen about what drew her to Internal Medicine. Tune in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28lkvBJxqgw&list=PLUXqsOsH3OjsIO7NeNtNC4pCwaWlGcF9I&index=1

UI clinicians Leon Jons, MD, and Amanda Pitts, ARNP, DNP, provide care in a GLP-1 pilot program that has received a 97% patient satisfaction rating. Read more about the pilot: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/11/13/glp-1-pilot-program-receives-97-patient-approval-rating-at-half-year-mark/

The Lung Biology and Cystic Fibrosis Research Center is helping pave the way at the University of Iowa for research labs to shrink their environmental footprint. With plans to earn Iowa’s first My Green Lab certification, the team is leading the way. https://bit.ly/4nWMrzw

From English major to Internal Medicine! Learn more about how Dr. Rachael Dirksen’s undergraduate English advisor inspired her unexpected path to medicine on this week’s Herstories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28lkvBJxqgw

Alejandro Comellas, MD, delivered the 13th annual memorial McLennan lecture last week on management of COPD & the future of its treatment. Dr. Comellas's family was in attendance as was Dr. Gerry McLennan's wife, Christine.

Mohammed Milhem, MBBS, researches immunotherapies for treatment-resistant melanoma patients. In his recent study, participants had a 33.6% response rate to a new therapy. Read more: https://cancer.uiowa.edu/news/ui-health-care-oncologists-lead-way-studying-new-methods-enhance-immune-response-tumors

@intmedatiowa.bsky.social Iowa Liver team is rocking it in DC! 💪 #TLM25 @aasldnews.bsky.social

Not only is Kyle Brown, MD, a GI doctor, she also led the GI fellowship here at UI Health Care for many years. Learn about her time and experiences as a fellow here: https://imiowapodcasts.podbean.com/

IntMed’s Colleen Campbell, PhD, MS, LGC served as Program Chair for ASHG — the world’s largest human genetics meeting. Held in Boston this year, she helped organize sessions for the four-day conference. Read more: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2025/11/06/campbell-chairs-ashg-annual-meeting/

The 5th annual LaBrecque lecture last week hosted Nancy Reau, MD, from Rush University. Dr. Reau dove deep on Hepatitis B & the search for a cure. Doug LaBrecque, MD, & his family were also in attendance.