Dean's Weekly Message
June 1, 2026
Celebrating Our 2026 Graduates
It’s been two weeks since our graduation ceremonies, but this is my first message to you since that great event, and it’s definitely worth your time to check out the photos, news stories, and social media links highlighting our amazing Class of 2026. You can find coverage on our Hooding and Oath Ceremony 2026 webpage.
It was a terrific day, made even more impressive by the teams who mobilized to move the festivities inside after cold and rain kept us from our original plans to hold the event outdoors.
We recognized our graduates and their loved ones as well as faculty and staff members, each who have offered their help to these new physicians, scientists, and physician assistants on their way to productive careers.
My advice to the class: Be courageous! Go out and change the world! We’ll be cheering their successes for years to come.
Launching New Office of Clinical Trials
I’m excited to announce that CU Anschutz is launching the new Office of Clinical Trials to strengthen and accelerate our ability to bring cutting-edge treatments to patients, expand faculty investigator opportunities, and position the campus as a world-class destination for clinical trials.
The new CU Anschutz Office of Clinical Trials will be led by Adit Ginde, MD, MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research for the CU Anschutz School of Medicine Office of Research and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Clinical Trials for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
The CU Anschutz Office of Clinical Trials will consolidate and coordinate clinical trials infrastructure across campus, health system, and industry partnerships to create a predictable and transparent administrative and financial structure to accelerate clinical trials implementation and ensure long-term growth and sustainability. A primary goal is exceptional startup timelines and high participant enrollment in clinical trials.
Faculty and staff can find additional details, including frequently asked questions, on the Office of Clinical Trials webpage.
We look forward to the bright future that the CU Anschutz Office of Clinical Trials will deliver for the campus, the patients who depend on us to provide innovative care options, and our partners and sponsors seeking greater alignment and coordination in bringing discoveries to our communities.
The Office of Clinical Trials will be a key step forward as we head toward Top 10!
Building Stronger Leaders Together
This spring, faculty leaders across the School of Medicine participated in Leadership 360 assessments as part of our commitment to leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and continuous growth.
This type of intentional feedback provides leaders with confidential, structured input from supervisors, peers, and direct reports to help them better understand how their leadership is experienced by others. The goal is not evaluation or judgment, but development — creating meaningful opportunities for reflection, growth, and intentional practice.
Strong leadership has a direct impact on faculty engagement, team effectiveness, psychological safety, and the overall work environment. By investing in leadership development, we support the success of our people and our missions. Individual responses remain confidential and will be used to support each leader’s personal and professional development. Aggregate insights will help inform future leadership programming, resources, and institutional strategies across the school.
We are deeply grateful to the leaders who completed the process and their colleagues who took the time to provide feedback. Your engagement allows us to support excellence in leadership across our community.
Incredible Community Benefits Provided by Our Campus Partners
UCHealth recently announced that it has invested at least $1.6 billion in community benefit programs in the most recent fiscal year.
That’s a tremendous commitment to Colorado communities!
“We are based in Colorado, and we are here for Colorado,” said Tom Gronow, EdD, MHA, President and CEO of UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora.
They announced the news in May in an article in UCHealth Today that included an impressive array of examples from across the state. With 15 hospitals and more than 200 clinics in Colorado, the UCHealth footprint reaches communities across our great state.
For the School of Medicine, the support is incredibly valuable. UCHealth provides hundreds of millions that strengthen our education and research work, which in turn make us even better clinicians. It is truly a virtuous cycle.
The article also notes that UCHealth is the state’s largest provider of Medicaid services, which ensures medical care for our state’s most vulnerable people. Here’s a snapshot of that vital care:
- UCHealth doctors and hospitals provide 30% of Colorado’s Medicaid care, more than twice that of the next-largest health care entity in the state.
- Medical providers at UCHealth facilities support patients who rely on Medicaid during nearly 1.4 million visits annually.
“Our goal is to take care of as many Coloradans as we can,” Dr. Gronow said. “It’s what we do every single day. We provide access to care and to cures.”
Similarly, Children’s Hospital Colorado makes extraordinary commitments that are valuable community benefits. In its 2025 Community Benefit Report, which was filed in November 2025, the hospital reported a net community benefit of $440.6 million in 2024.
Featured News
CU Anschutz Researchers May Now Understand Why Chikunguna Virus Infections Turn Chronic
Thomas “Tem” Morrison, PhD, Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, and his lab are beginning to understand more about the progression of the infection. This work could help lead to treatments that would be significant for public health in regions of the world hit hardest by the virus.
In a new paper published in Nature Microbiology, Morrison and his colleagues, including Kristen Zarrella, PhD; Ryan Sheridan, PhD; and Brian Ware, say they’ve discovered that chikungunya virus, an arthritogenic alphavirus, persists in joint-associated macrophages, a specialized type of white blood cell that helps the body defend against pathogens.
Read More About the Research
Faculty Updates
Lilliam Ambroggio, PhD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics in the Section of Emergency Medicine, has been selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for 2026–27 for Italy. Fulbright Scholar Awards are prestigious fellowships that offer scholars transformative opportunities to teach and conduct research abroad while strengthening their professional development and fostering long term connections that enrich their careers, campuses, and communities. Among the achievements of alumni are 63 Nobel Prizes, 98 Pulitzer Prizes, and 83 MacArthur Fellowships.
Kristen Boyle, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, will be honored in July as a 2026 Excellence in Nutrition Fellow of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). The recognition program honors outstanding nutrition professionals who are 10 or more years past their terminal degree and have been an ASN scientist, clinician, or professional member for five or more years. Fellows have demonstrated significant impact in their respective career paths, as well as meaningful service to the Society.
Gretchen J. Domek, MD, MPhil, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, has been named as the Inaugural Chairholder of the William K. Frankenburg Endowed Chair in Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation will celebrate Dr. Domek with a investiture ceremony in November.
PAPSTER Awards to Support Collaborative Research
The Program to Advance Physician Scientists and Translational Research has announced awardees for its 2026 CU ASPIRE (CU Anschutz SOM Programmatic Incubator for Research) program, which is designed to support collaborative research groups with up to $100,000 per year for up to two years. These newly funded teams include faculty from five departments across the School of Medicine, as well as the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Arizona, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Team leaders of the awardees and their projects are:
James Costello, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Co-Director, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource: “NPEPPS Dual Roles in Cancer Therapy: Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy Resistance Mechanisms.”
Cristin Welle, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Departments Neurosurgery and Physiology and Biophysics: “Creating a Cognitive Neuroprosthesis for Enhanced Executive Function.”
The Program to Advance Physician Scientists and Translational Research also announced its 2026 scholars in the Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Program, which is funded by an award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The scholars, projects, and their mentors are:
Benjamin Borg, MD, resident in Surgery. Dr. Borg’s research will focus on improving donor heart preservation during transplantation.
Mentor: Matthew Stone, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Dima Malkawi, MD, resident in Surgery. Dr. Malkawi’s research focuses on advancing personalized treatment strategies for early-onset colorectal cancer through an integrated approach that combines population-level outcomes research with prospective biomarker investigation.
Mentor: Christopher Lieu, MD, Professor of Medicine-Medical Oncology, Associate Director for Clinical Research, CU Anschutz Cancer Center.
Current scholar Sadie Meller, MD, resident in Pediatrics, was approved for funding for an additional year on her award. Dr. Meller’s project examines how microglia, which are spinal cord resident immune cells, respond to Enterovirus D68 infection and may drive the progression of acute flaccid myelitis.
Mentor: Ken Tyler, MD, Louise Baum Endowed Chair of Neurology.
Featured Events
6/4
New Leader Orientation
Thursday, June 4
Anschutz Health Sciences BuildingThe Office for Faculty Development is hosting a full-day new leader orientation event designed for new Chairs, Vice Chairs, Division and Section Chiefs, Associate and Assistant Deans, and other newly appointed institutional leaders seeking to learn more about School of Medicine infrastructure and resources across the campus. Topics covered include research funding, relationships with outside practices, finance, faculty and staff support structures, appointments and promotions processes, philanthropy, and innovations. Register or nominate a new leader for the orientation. For questions, please contact [email protected].
7/9
Postdoc Research Day (PDRD)
Thursday, July 9
Donald Elliman Conference Center, Anschutz Health Sciences BuildingPDRD is an annual event that brings together members of our university community to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of postdocs at CU Anschutz, CU Denver, and affiliated hospitals. This year’s theme is “The Postdoc Collective,” focusing on cross-disciplinary thinking, collaboration, and innovation in research. This event is not just for postdocs! Graduate students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend. Whether you are here to support colleagues, learn something new, or network with emerging scientists, your presence makes a difference.
PDRD Registration & Abstract Submission
Lightning talk abstract deadline May 15 | Poster abstract deadline June 24
PDRD Questions?
Recent Publications
James A. Feinstein, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics, is author of a Perspective article, “When Closure Finds You,” published May 23 by The New England Journal of Medicine.
Kelly S. Doran, PhD, Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, is corresponding author of “A fungal pathobiont promotes Streptococcus vaginal persistence and pathogenesis through physical and metabolic interactions,” published May 13 by Cell Host & Microbe. Four co-authors are from our campus.
Joaquin M. Espinosa, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Executive Director of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, is a co-author of a review article, “Vaccination in individuals with Down syndrome: immune vulnerability, safety, efficacy and opportunities,” published May 19 by npj Vaccines. Three co-authors are from our campus.
Nicole Larrea, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology practicing at Denver Health, is corresponding author of an original research article, “Intrauterine Balloon Tamponade Duration for Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” published May 7 by Obstetrics and Gynecology. Co-authors from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are Katlynn Adkins, MD, Assistant Professor; Kent Heyborne, MD, Professor Emeriti; and Claire Schultz, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor.
Lori A. Crane, PhD, MPH, Professor of Community and Behavioral Health in the Colorado School of Public Health, is corresponding author of a research brief, “Accuracy of Surveys for Estimating Coverage for Hepatitis A and B Vaccinations in Adults,” published May 21 by Preventing Chronic Disease. Five co-authors are affiliated with our campus.
Jennifer L. Jung, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, is author of an original study, “Comparison of Pediatric Patients with Pars Planitis Who Underwent Treatment Versus Observation at a Tertiary Referral Eye Center,” published in the June 2026 issue of Retina. Eight co-authors are from our campus.
Benjamin Vipler, MD, MEd, Associate Professor of Medicine, and Erin Vipler, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, have been recognized for writing one of the top 10% read articles in 2024 published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine. The article is “Things We Do for No Reason™: Furosemide-albumin coadministration for diuretic resistance.”
Andrés F. Henao-Martínez, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease, is editor of the book, Global Health, Climate Change, and Emerging Infectious Diseases, published this spring. Lakshmi Chauhan, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine; Samantha Kaplan, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine; and Daniel M. Pastula, MHS, Professor of Neurology, Medicine, and Epidemiology, are authors of chapters.
Kelly S. Doran, PhD, Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, is corresponding author of “A fungal pathobiont promotes Streptococcus vaginal persistence and pathogenesis through physical and metabolic interactions,” published May 13 by Cell Host & Microbe. Four co-authors are from our campus.
Joaquin M. Espinosa, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Executive Director of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, is a co-author of a review article, “Vaccination in individuals with Down syndrome: immune vulnerability, safety, efficacy and opportunities,” published May 19 by npj Vaccines. Three co-authors are from our campus.
Nicole Larrea, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology practicing at Denver Health, is corresponding author of an original research article, “Intrauterine Balloon Tamponade Duration for Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” published May 7 by Obstetrics and Gynecology. Co-authors from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are Katlynn Adkins, MD, Assistant Professor; Kent Heyborne, MD, Professor Emeriti; and Claire Schultz, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor.
Lori A. Crane, PhD, MPH, Professor of Community and Behavioral Health in the Colorado School of Public Health, is corresponding author of a research brief, “Accuracy of Surveys for Estimating Coverage for Hepatitis A and B Vaccinations in Adults,” published May 21 by Preventing Chronic Disease. Five co-authors are affiliated with our campus.
Jennifer L. Jung, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, is author of an original study, “Comparison of Pediatric Patients with Pars Planitis Who Underwent Treatment Versus Observation at a Tertiary Referral Eye Center,” published in the June 2026 issue of Retina. Eight co-authors are from our campus.
Benjamin Vipler, MD, MEd, Associate Professor of Medicine, and Erin Vipler, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, have been recognized for writing one of the top 10% read articles in 2024 published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine. The article is “Things We Do for No Reason™: Furosemide-albumin coadministration for diuretic resistance.”
Andrés F. Henao-Martínez, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease, is editor of the book, Global Health, Climate Change, and Emerging Infectious Diseases, published this spring. Lakshmi Chauhan, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine; Samantha Kaplan, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine; and Daniel M. Pastula, MHS, Professor of Neurology, Medicine, and Epidemiology, are authors of chapters.
Social Spotlight
Two decades ago, the Fitzsimons Army Hospital became CU Anschutz, home of the School of Medicine. Since then, the campus has swelled in size, in employees, and in impactful research.
The Spring edition of the Medicine Today magazine explores the collaborations that bolstered research projects, enhanced patient care, and provided the foundation for robust medical education. See the full LinkedIn post.
Announcement
Out of Office and Planning My Return
As I mentioned in mid-May, I will be out of the office for about a month to receive medical care for a mass on my kidney. I am fortunate that it is treatable and I will be receiving excellent care. While I am away, Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc, and Shanta Zimmer, MD, our extraordinary Executive Vice Deans, will have the full authority of the deanship. The Dean’s Office team will continue to produce a Weekly Message from the Dean’s Office because there are so many highlights happening at our school and on campus that I don’t want you to miss! Rest assured, I’m confident that I will make a strong recovery and I look forward to returning to the office to keep working with you toward our goal of Top 10 in 10!
Have a good week,
John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA
Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and
Dean, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine
The Dean’s weekly message is an email news bulletin from John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA, Dean of the CU Anschutz School of Medicine, that is distributed to inform CU Anschutz School of Medicine faculty members, staff, students and others about issues pertaining to the school’s mission of education, research, clinical care and community service.
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