Dean's Weekly Message
August 31, 2026
School of Medicine Town Hall Highlights from Education Leadership
Last Wednesday, Executive Vice Dean of Education Shanta Zimmer, MD, hosted a School of Medicine Town Hall focused on how we are advancing medical education to prepare the next generation of physicians. She was joined by Jennifer Adams, MD, Associate Dean of Medical Education, and Geoffrey Connors, MD, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, for a conversation about innovation across the continuum of medical education — from acceptance through residency and fellowship.
A central focus of the discussion was the Peak-to-Peak Pathway, our new accelerated three-year MD program, which is currently enrolling its inaugural class. Peak-to-Peak is designed for students who enter medical school with a strong sense of their career direction and pairs an accelerated medical education with a direct pathway into a participating residency program. By reducing the time and cost of medical education while maintaining all required curriculum, we aim to place physicians into the workforce sooner and address critical shortages, particularly in primary care and rural communities.
The program builds on the Trek curriculum and longitudinal integrated clerkship, which emphasize patient-centered learning. Dr. Adams emphasized this accelerated pathway does not eliminate required educational experiences; instead, it reduces some elective and unstructured time and creates a directed match to residency. “Here, graduates go into 230 different specialties…one four-year training program for 230 different jobs. That’s a very complex ask. If you can start preparation for the actual specialty as early as possible, graduates are better prepared when they finish that training program and go out into the world,” said Dr. Adams. “The end of the story's already written; they can actually focus on learning for learning's sake and becoming the best possible doctor they can be.”
The conversation also highlighted the importance of strengthening Graduate Medical Education; close collaboration between undergraduate and graduate medical education; and partnerships with departments, health systems, and communities across Colorado. This work connects physicians to rural communities, vulnerable populations, and areas facing significant care shortages. The panel also discussed the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, including the need to ensure that technology enhances—not replaces—the curiosity, clinical reasoning, human connection, and critical thinking that define excellent physicians.
Thank you to all who tuned in and asked thoughtful questions! If you missed the livestream or want to revisit it, the recording is available on the Dean’s Office website.
A Neurosurgery First for Colorado
The Advanced Therapies in Movement Disorders Program at CU Anschutz recently completed its first high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) dual target procedure for Parkinson’s disease. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the treatment — as an adjunct to medication treatment — for appropriate patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease.
The treatment targets the dentatorubral thalamic tract, which is associated with tremor, and the pallidothalamic tract that is involved in rigidity (stiffness), bradykinesia (slowness of movements), and dyskinesias (involuntary movement). Treating the recently approved FDA-approved target — the pallidothalamic tract — and performing this dual target approach is a first within the region.
Our team leading the procedure included Daniel Kramer, MD, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, and Drew Kern, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology. They reported that the immediate benefits for the patient were dramatic and the team awaits to learn the longer-term outcomes. The department shared this good news in an Instagram post.
Statewide Conversation on Long COVID
I welcomed Colorado Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera and other top state officials to our campus last Wednesday for an important conversation on long COVID and what we’ve learned from the care we’ve offered to thousands of patients through the clinic we established in partnership with UCHealth in 2020.
Kristine Erlandson, MD, MSc, Professor of Medicine, gave updates on research, including our campus participation in the multicenter longitudinal observational study of the epidemiology and pathobiology of long COVID. We were selected as a site for the second phase of the study, known as RECOVER (Research COVID to Enhance Recovery).
We should be exceptionally proud of our leadership in helping providers across the state care for patients. We have led work in novel methods for providing long COVID care through the Colorado Multidisciplinary Translation Network, which leverages digital provider support through Project ECHO.
At the meeting, we heard from many others, including Sarah Jolley, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Long COVID clinic. Thanks also to Cathy Bradley, PhD, Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health; James DeGregori, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and interim Director of the CU Anschutz Cancer Center; and Mercedes Rincon, PhD, Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, for providing research updates.
We’ve been doing some fascinating and influential science in this area. Last summer, Dr. DeGregori and colleagues published an important study in Nature that reported that respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs.
New Chief Education Officer at Denver Health
Maria Moreira, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine, has been named Denver Health’s new chief education officer. Dr. Moreira has been a faculty member at Denver Health for 21 years and a member of the Office of Education for the past seven. She serves as medical director of continuing education and simulation at Denver Health and director of professional development and well-being for the Emergency Department.
Dr. Moreira brings a wealth of experience leading educational programming across the continuum, including pre-health, undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, faculty development, continuing education, and simulation. She previously served as program director of the Denver Health Emergency Medicine residency, leading the program through a period of growth and strengthening its recruitment, selection, and educational programs.
Dr. Moreira brings extensive national educational leadership experience, including as a former board member and president of the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine. Her contributions to education and teaching have garnered numerous local, regional, and national awards, reflecting the significant impact of her work.
She succeeds Abraham Nussbaum, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, who has served in the role for a a decade. He has been a visionary leader in Denver Health’s Office of Education, and we are fortunate that he will continue with Denver Health.
Featured News
Elevating EMS Training in Rural Colorado
This month, a new Colorado law took effect recognizing EMS as “an essential service in the state,” joining police and firefighters.
But to take on all the roles that EMS programs are being asked to handle requires expertise and training. That’s what Andra Farcas, MD, FAEMS, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, and her colleagues are helping to provide across Colorado.
Farcas, who is dual board-certified in emergency medicine and EMS, focuses on rural EMS medical direction, quality assurance and improvement, and prehospital education. She says the challenges in rural parts of the state to provide EMS are mighty, from retaining clinicians to limited access to hospitals. Some drives to care can take upwards of 45 minutes.
Farcas and her colleagues are helping communities manage those hurdles.
“Rural agencies and hospitals in Colorado are doing an amazing job caring for their patients, often with limited resources,” she says. “Our goal is to support their efforts and help overcome inequities in care by taking the resources we are very thankful to have at a major urban academic medical center into small communities. We work with those agencies to help further equip them with the tools they need to provide care to rural populations that is just as high-quality as the care provided in urban areas.”
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Faculty Updates
Melanie Cree, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, has been featured in several media outlets in recent weeks discussing her influential work related to understanding and treating polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, a hormonal condition affecting 1 in 8 women worldwide. Notably, the Associated Press distributed a widely published article.
Cristina Velazquez, a third-year PhD student in the Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Development Program, and Mariana de Vito, an Integrated Physiology PhD student in the Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, were selected to receive the Scholarship for Researchers Committed to Advancing Congenital Heart Defect Research in Underrepresented Communities for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Featured Events
9/9
Dean’s Distinguished Seminar Series: Debra Houry, MD, MPH
Wednesday, September 9, 3 p.m.
Hensel Phelps West Auditorium, Research 1 North
The School of Medicine proudly presents Debra Houry, MD, MPH, Senior Fellow, Yale University School of Public Health. Dr. Houry will present “Lead Like a Doctor: Lessons from Medicine, Outbreaks, Public Service and Health Innovation.” Drawing on experiences from clinical medicine, outbreak response, federal leadership, and emerging health technologies, she will also discuss how innovations such as AI-enabled tools, real-time data systems, and advanced diagnostics are reshaping decision-making and creating new opportunities to improve health. See more information on the Dean's Distinguished Seminar Series here.
9/10
Faculty FORUM
Thursday, September 10, 5 p.m.
Room 1203, Anschutz Health Sciences Building
Conflict is inevitable; navigating it effectively is an essential skill. Faculty are encouraged to join this interactive session exploring conflict styles, communication and deescalation techniques, and collaborative problem-solving strategies. Participants will gain practical tools to approach workplace conflict with greater confidence and foster more constructive outcomes. Faculty members should register for the Faculty FORUM online.
9/11
CU Sports Medicine Fall Symposium
Friday, September 11, 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Stadium Club at Folsom Field, University of Colorado Boulder
The focus of this year's course is the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of upper-extremity injuries. The conference will offer an in-person and virtual option, but the virtual option will not be live-streamed. Recorded presentations will be sent to both virtual and in-person attendees after the conference. CME credit will only be offered for the in-person attendees. Register for the Sports Medicine Fall Symposium online.
10/14
Narrative Writing for Clinicians Workshop
October 2–4
Over three days, a small cohort of clinicians works closely with a faculty of leading clinician-writers and editors to develop a piece of their own narrative writing. The format alternates small-group workshops, where you receive detailed feedback on your work, with plenary sessions on craft, editing, and the writing life. You will leave with a revised piece, concrete approaches to carry forward, a clearer sense of how writing fits your professional life, and connections to a community of clinician writers. Details for the Narrative Writing for Clinician Workshop are available here.
10/14
New Faculty Orientation
Wednesday, October 14, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Donald M. Elliman Conference Center, Anschutz Health Sciences Building
The Office for Faculty Development is hosting the annual New Faculty Orientation on October 14. This daylong event provides a structured overview of the school and campus, including introductions to essential units, resources, and services. Participants will have opportunities to network with colleagues and meet campus leaders, ensuring a strong foundation of knowledge and connections as they begin their faculty roles. Faculty can register for the orientation online. For questions, contact aimee.gardner@cuanschutz.edu.
11/6
2026 Mentorship Academy
Friday, November 6
Donald M. Elliman Conference Center, Anschutz Health Sciences Building
The CU Anschutz School of Medicine co-hosts this daylong event with faculty from the University of Michigan. The event alternates between Ann Arbor and Aurora each year, and this year, the academy will be hosted in Aurora in the Elliman Conference Center. Space will be limited to 200 individuals on a first-come, first-served basis. Save the date and watch this space in October to make a reservation.
1/13
Emerging Leaders Development Program
Wednesdays, January 13–May 26
90 minute in-person sessions
Registration is now open for the inaugural cohort of the Emerging Leaders Development Program (ELDP), hosted by the Office for Faculty Development. The ELDP is designed for early-career faculty who are interested in honing skills to secure future leadership opportunities within academic medicine. The ELDP program consists of ten 90-minute, in-person sessions with content aligned with the Center for Creative Leadership framework, emphasizing personal leadership growth as the basis for later leading others and leading organizations. Register and learn more on the ELDP website. For questions, contact aimee.gardner@cuanschutz.edu.
Recent Publications
Ramón A. Lorca, PhD, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is corresponding author of an article, “ Understanding Physiological Adaptations of Pregnancy to the Chronic Hypoxia of High Altitude to Inform Obstetrical and Neonatal Care,” published on August 14 by Physiological Reviews. Co-authors are Germán A. Arenas, PhD, a CU Anschutz postdoctoral fellow; Lorna G. Moore, PhD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and Colleen G. Julian, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, and investigators from Chile and the United Kingdom.
Andrea Bonetto, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, is corresponding author of a research article, “An FGF21-IGFBP1 tumor-liver relay drives musculoskeletal defects in colorectal cancer cachexia,” published August 27 by Nature Communications. Sixteen co-authors are from our campus.
Marc P. Bonaca, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Executive Director of CPC Clinical Research, is corresponding author of a commentary, “Great Strides…Now It’s Time to Run,” published August 25 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Kyle O. Rove, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, is corresponding author of an original investigation, “Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in Pediatric Urology Patients Undergoing Complex Lower Urinary Tract Reconstruction,” published August 26 by JAMA Surgery. Megan A. Brockel, MD, Professor of Clinical Practice of Anesthesiology, and Duncan T. Wilcox, MBBS, MD, Professor of Surgery, are co-authors.
Patrick T. Wilson, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, is corresponding author of an original investigation, “Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure and Continuous Albuterol for Pediatric Asthma Exacerbations: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” published August 26 by JAMA Network Open. Four co-authors are from our campus.
Melissa Murphy, PhD, Visiting Associate Professor of Medicine, is a co-author of an article, “Engaging families to improve high-risk infant follow-up participation: a mixed methods study,” published August 21 by the Journal of Perinatology.
Andrea Bonetto, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, is corresponding author of a research article, “An FGF21-IGFBP1 tumor-liver relay drives musculoskeletal defects in colorectal cancer cachexia,” published August 27 by Nature Communications. Sixteen co-authors are from our campus.
Marc P. Bonaca, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Executive Director of CPC Clinical Research, is corresponding author of a commentary, “Great Strides…Now It’s Time to Run,” published August 25 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Kyle O. Rove, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, is corresponding author of an original investigation, “Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in Pediatric Urology Patients Undergoing Complex Lower Urinary Tract Reconstruction,” published August 26 by JAMA Surgery. Megan A. Brockel, MD, Professor of Clinical Practice of Anesthesiology, and Duncan T. Wilcox, MBBS, MD, Professor of Surgery, are co-authors.
Patrick T. Wilson, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, is corresponding author of an original investigation, “Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure and Continuous Albuterol for Pediatric Asthma Exacerbations: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” published August 26 by JAMA Network Open. Four co-authors are from our campus.
Melissa Murphy, PhD, Visiting Associate Professor of Medicine, is a co-author of an article, “Engaging families to improve high-risk infant follow-up participation: a mixed methods study,” published August 21 by the Journal of Perinatology.
In Memoriam
Condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Karl Hammermeister, MD, Professor Emeritus of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology, who passed away July 21. Dr. Hammermeister was a truly impactful member of the cardiology group at the University and at the VA. He was a valued mentor to junior faculty, all of whom would credit him with having a profound impact on their career development. A Memorial and Celebration of Life will be held on November 14, at 1–4 p.m. at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Social Spotlight
Gabriella Albert, a PhD student in the CU Anschutz School of Medicine, has received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Cancer Institute. With this grant, Albert will build on her research in the lab of CU Anschutz Cancer Center leader Eduardo Davila, PhD, studying T cell-based immunotherapy exhaustion.
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Announcements
There will be no message on September 7 due to the Labor Day holiday.
Have a good week,
John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA
Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
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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