Dean's Weekly Message
September 14, 2026
Dr. Edward A. Stenehjem Named Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
I am thrilled to announce that Edward A. Stenehjem, MD, MSc, Professor and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine, has been named Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, effective October 15. Dr. Stenehjem was selected after a national search, where he stood out for his many contributions to our school operations.
Since joining the School of Medicine in July 2023 to lead operations for the Department of Medicine, he has standardized data across divisions, implemented a new funds-flow model, and equipped the department’s leaders with the skills to maintain financial sustainability.
Dr. Stenehjem has been a tremendously successful faculty leader, serving as the interim head of the Division of Infectious Diseases during the critical recruitment of new leadership. He also has served as interim Clinical Director and Division Head of Transplant Medicine, unifying lung, liver, and kidney transplantation into a cohesive division aligned with UCHealth’s strategy and service-line infrastructure. Under his guidance, CU Anschutz has created the first-in-the-nation Division of Transplant Medicine.
As Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Dr. Stenehjem will be focused on key priorities for the future of the school:
- Strategic growth and market presence. Working with department chairs, hospital executives, and CU Medicine and School of Medicine leaders, along with community partners, Dr. Stenehjem will target growth opportunities on campus and in the community while expanding capacity to provide virtual care.
- Access, quality, and operational excellence. A key goal will be to align departmental clinical leadership and quality teams with UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital’s leadership structure to deliver consistent performance, using standardized operational data and disciplined performance management.
- Responsible digital and AI-enabled transformation. In partnership with fellow leaders at the school and campus, Dr. Stenehjem will work to establish a governance framework that integrates AI-enabled tools into clinical and administrative workflows, reduces cost, and returns time to clinicians, all while safeguarding equity, privacy, and patient trust.
I would like to thank Anne Fuhlbrigge, MD, MS, interim Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, for her many years of service as Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Stenehjem on his important new role.
CU Radiation Oncologists Among the Top Performers in AI Competition
A team from Department of Radiation Oncology, led by Assistant Professor Kai Wang, PhD, were top performers at the HECKTOR (HEad and neCK TumOR) Challenge of the 29th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, which is the primary annual meeting in medical image analysis.
Teams from around the world participated in the competition. With PET and CT scans of head-and-neck cancer patients from 11 hospitals in North America and Europe, teams were tasked with building AI systems that do three things automatically: outline the tumor and the involved lymph nodes on the scans, determine the cancer stage, and predict each patient's risk of recurrence. Typically, these tasks take significant time from expert physicians.
The system built by the CU Anschutz School of Medicine team is called HERMES (Hybrid Ensemble for Radiotherapy-target segmentation, Malignancy staging, and Event-free Survival), and the team released the code openly so other researchers and clinics can build on it.
Others from Radiation Oncology where were on the team with Dr. Wang: Ryan Lanning, MD, PhD, Associate Professor; Meixu Chen, PhD, Assistant Research Professor; Elie Nasr, DO, PGY5; and Moyed Miften, PhD, Professor.
Bravo! Congratulations to this team for their outstanding performance!
Celebrating National APP Week 2026: The Pulse of Progress
As we begin National Advanced Practice Provider Week, September 21-25, we have much to celebrate. This year’s theme, “The Pulse of Progress: APPs Powering Tomorrow,” recognizes the role APPs have in patient care, education, scholarship, and innovation across our campus.
Over the past year, many APP colleagues have been recognized by their teams and at the institutional, state, national, and international levels for excellence in clinical practice, education, leadership, and service. They have published and presented their scholarship, and we are proud of their exceptional work happening here and the recognition our APPs continue to receive.
APPs work alongside physicians, nurses, researchers, educators, staff, and many other colleagues throughout our clinical and academic community. Together, they care for patients, educate learners, lead quality improvement efforts, conduct research, and develop new approaches to care. This shared work is central to our identity and who we are as an academic medical center.
The Office of Advanced Practice has partnered across adult and child health in recognition of National APP Week. Multiple events are planned throughout the week, including the Annual APP Conference, which will offer sessions focused on clinical practice, leadership, and professional development. Poster presentations will highlight scholarship and innovation led by APPs and interdisciplinary teams across campus. New this year, the College of Nursing has joined the conference as a partner. Colleagues from the Women’s Health track will participate as speakers, poster presenters, and educational contributors.
I am grateful for the expertise, leadership, and commitment our APP colleagues bring to patients, learners, and their communities every day. I also want to thank everyone who planned this year’s events, contributed to the program, and supported advanced practice across our campus.
Please join me in celebrating our APP colleagues during National APP Week.
Featured News
Cardiac Tissue Biobanks Advance Heart Disease Research in Children and Adults
After heart transplants, CU Anschutz School of Medicine researchers use diseased hearts to help answer lingering questions of how the disease occurs and ways to improve treatment.
Many of these samples are frozen and stored in the pediatric and adult cardiac tissue and blood biobanks, which are overseen by faculty in the Division of Cardiology and the Department of Pediatrics. More than 1,400 heart samples and 500 blood specimens have been stored in the adult biobank, making it one of the largest adult cardiac tissue biobanks in the country.
This week, learn more about these biobanks, the research, and the physicians and scientists behind the work in a Department of Medicine newsroom article. These investigators say heart failure is often complex, and the best way to move science forward is studying these tissues.
“…We do not have all the answers, and we cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy,” says Benjamin Kopecky, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cardiology, who co-leads the adult blood and tissue biobank. “Biomedical research directly informed by human biology can improve our patient-centered approach and outcomes.”
Read More About Heart Disease Research
Faculty and Staff Updates
Amanda Piquet, MD, Professor of Neurology, has been named Associate Medical Director of the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute’s adult Clinical Translational Research Center (CTRC) at CU Anschutz. Dr. Piquet is the Celine Dion Foundation Endowed Chair in Autoimmune Neurology, and she brings substantial knowledge and experience in clinical research and clinical trials to the CTRC leadership.
Allison Krebs has been named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Philanthropic Strategy and Chief Philanthropy Officer for the School of Medicine. She has been a valued partner with our faculty in raising more than $3 billion of philanthropy for this campus, personally garnering over $270 million in philanthropic gifts, including more than 15 endowed chairs. She is one of the leading philanthropy professionals in academic medicine and a respected national voice in the field, frequently sought conference speaker, and passionate advocate for advancing health through philanthropy.
Roger Harned, MD Professor of Clinical Practice of Radiology, received the Society for Pediatric Interventional Radiology’s Gold Medal Award, the highest honor given to a member of the society. Awardees are recognized for substantial contributions to the specialty of pediatric interventional radiology through clinical excellence, education, mentoring, and research; extraordinary contributions to enhance the development and stature of pediatric interventional radiology; and outstanding life service.
The Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety and Efficiency has awarded 13 Clinical Effectiveness & Patient Safety (CEPS) grants. CEPS grants have totaled more than $4.3 million to support quality and patient safety initiatives at Children’s Hospital Colorado and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital since 2007. The CEPS Grantees website includes a list of grantees and their projects.
Featured Events
9/15
Faculty Development Workshop
Tuesday, September 15, 4–5 p.m.
Strauss Library Reading Room
Kimberly O'Hara, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, is presenting Clinical Teaching Tips Using the One-Minute Preceptor Model. This interactive faculty development workshop will explore a practical approach to clinical teaching and for providing feedback to learners. More information can be found at the Faculty Development Workshops webpage.
9/15
Acade-mingle Networking Event
Tuesday, September 15, 5–7 p.m.
Benson Faculty Club Lounge
The Academy of Medical Educators is hosting the Acade-mingle Networking Reception immediately after the faculty development workshop. The reception is open to all faculty and provides an opportunity to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and build new collaborations. Register for the Acade-mingle Networking Event online.
9/17
Bite by Byte: Educators Roundtable
Thursday, September 17, 11 a.m.–Noon.
Zoom link available on the Bite by Byte webpage
Matt Zuckerman, MD, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, will present the Bite by Byte: AI and Educators Roundtable, a discussion-based session exploring how educators are navigating learner AI reliance, anxieties, and responsible AI use in teaching. Bring your experiences, questions, and ideas as colleagues share perspectives and approaches to supporting authentic learning in an AI-enabled environment.
9/21-9/22
Rocky Mountain Genome Stability Symposium
Monday, September 21–September 22
What happens when the mechanisms that protect our genomes fail, and how can understanding those failures improve human health? The Rocky Mountain Genome Stability Symposium brings together leaders and emerging stars who are studying genome maintenance from fundamental mechanisms to cancer, aging, innate immunity, and therapeutic response. Join us to hear exciting science, discover connections across disciplines, and experience the extraordinary concentration of genome stability expertise at CU Anschutz and across the region. Speakers include Takashi Akera, PhD, Senior Investigator at the National Institutes of Health; Eros Lazzerini Denchi, PhD, Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute; and Kyle Miller, PhD, Professor of Radiation Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Register for the Rocky Mountain Genome Stability Symposium online.
9/24
"The Pulse of Progress: APPs Powering Tomorrow" Office of Advanced Practice Annual Conference
Thursday, September 24, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Donald M. Elliman Conference Center
Attendees can look forward to a dynamic day of learning and connection, featuring inspiring keynote speakers, evidence-based educational sessions, and specialty breakout tracks in Adult Health, Child Health, and Women's Health, along with professional development content relevant to APPs across practice settings. Additional details about The Pulse of Progress are available in the campus calendar listing.
9/28
DAWN Open House
Monday, September 28, 5–7 p.m.
Anschutz Health & Wellness Center
12348 E Montview Blvd.
DAWN is an interprofessional, student-run clinic that provides care to people in the Aurora community, particularly those without health insurance. DAWN stands for Dedicated to Aurora’s Wellness and Needs. Launched in 2015, the clinic, which is now in the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, includes more than 400 volunteers who provide free primary and specialty care to patients who have nowhere else to turn.
Register for DAWN Open House online.
For questions, contact Executive Director Ryan Mockabee, [email protected].
10/2-10/4
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. Learn more about the Narrative Writing for Clinicians Workshop.
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 [email protected].
11/1
Spark Tank Team Applications Open
Applications due Thursday, November 1
Find more information on the Spark Tank webpage.
The Academy of Medical Educators invites applications for Spark Tank, which is scheduled for February 11, 2027. Team applications are open for those interested in pitching innovative ideas that leverage AI to advance health professions education, with up to $15,000 in seed funding available to help bring winning projects to life.
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 visit the Mentorship Academy website 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 [email protected].
Recent Publications
Ernest E. Moore, MD, Distinguished Professor of Surgery, is a co-author of an article, “ Bioengineered acellular tissue engineered vessels versus autogenous fistulae for haemodialysis access: a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial,” published August 18 by The Lancet Digital Health.
Bruce Appel, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, is corresponding author of an article, “Zebrafish oligodendrocyte lineage cells use the postsynaptic protein Gephyrin to myelinate GABAergic axons and limit myelin sheath growth,” published June 29 by Nature Communications. Natalie J. Carey, PhD, who was a student in the Neuroscience Graduate Training Program, and Caleb A. Doll, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, are co-authors.
Craig Forester, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Srinivas Ramachandran, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, are corresponding authors of an article, “Fragmentation patterns of human telomeric chromatin in plasma cfDNA,” published September 4 by Nature Communications. Five co-authors are from our campus.
Yuwei Dai, MD, who is formerly a Visiting Researcher in Radiology, and Harrison Bai, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology, are corresponding authors of an article, “A multitask framework for automated multi-frame right upper quadrant ultrasound interpretation and clinical decision support,” published September 7 by Nature Communications. Five co-authors are from our campus.
James Barry, MD, Adjoint Professor of Pediatrics, is a co-author of a perspective article, “A global framework for artificial intelligence education in medicine: international working group recommendations,” published September 9 by npj Digital Medicine.
Elan Eisenmesser, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, is corresponding author of a research article, “N-terminal processing unlocks global dynamics for substrate engagement in Spl proteases,” published July 24 by Science Advances. Nine co-authors are from our campus.
Paul J. Norman, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, and Neus Font-Porterias, PhD, former postdoctoral fellow in the Norman Lab, are co-authors of a research article, “Recovering the precolonial population structure of Khoe-San descendant populations,” published September 2 by Science Advances.
Leslie M. Barnard, MPH, DrPH, Research Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Colorado School of Public Health and investigator with the Injury & Violence Prevention Center and the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, is corresponding author of an original investigation, “Extreme Risk Protection Orders Among Military Service Members and Veterans,” published August 28 by JAMA Network Open. Eight co-authors are affiliated with our campus.
Jennifer Nicholas, MD, Professor of Clinical Practice of Radiology, is a co-author of a research article, “Pregnancy diet based on ancestral patterns increases growth in subcortical fetal brain regions,” published August 31 by PNAS.
Daniel W. Sherbenou, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, is corresponding author of a research article, “Multiple Myeloma Cells Resistant to T-cell Therapies Exhibit a CD45+ Immunoevasive Phenotype,” published August 4 by Cancer Immunology Research. Ten co-authors are from our campus.
Michael R. Verneris, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, and Elena Woods, PhD, Research Associate in Pediatrics, are corresponding authors of an article, “Altered tonsillar microbiome in children with Down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea,” published August 27 by Scientific Reports. Nine co-authors are from our campus.
Austin Gillen, PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Medicine, is a co-author of an article, “Transcriptional landscape of canine hematopoiesis and cross-species comparisons revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing,” published August 31 by Scientific Reports.
Bruce Appel, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, is corresponding author of an article, “Zebrafish oligodendrocyte lineage cells use the postsynaptic protein Gephyrin to myelinate GABAergic axons and limit myelin sheath growth,” published June 29 by Nature Communications. Natalie J. Carey, PhD, who was a student in the Neuroscience Graduate Training Program, and Caleb A. Doll, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, are co-authors.
Craig Forester, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Srinivas Ramachandran, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, are corresponding authors of an article, “Fragmentation patterns of human telomeric chromatin in plasma cfDNA,” published September 4 by Nature Communications. Five co-authors are from our campus.
Yuwei Dai, MD, who is formerly a Visiting Researcher in Radiology, and Harrison Bai, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology, are corresponding authors of an article, “A multitask framework for automated multi-frame right upper quadrant ultrasound interpretation and clinical decision support,” published September 7 by Nature Communications. Five co-authors are from our campus.
James Barry, MD, Adjoint Professor of Pediatrics, is a co-author of a perspective article, “A global framework for artificial intelligence education in medicine: international working group recommendations,” published September 9 by npj Digital Medicine.
Elan Eisenmesser, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, is corresponding author of a research article, “N-terminal processing unlocks global dynamics for substrate engagement in Spl proteases,” published July 24 by Science Advances. Nine co-authors are from our campus.
Paul J. Norman, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, and Neus Font-Porterias, PhD, former postdoctoral fellow in the Norman Lab, are co-authors of a research article, “Recovering the precolonial population structure of Khoe-San descendant populations,” published September 2 by Science Advances.
Leslie M. Barnard, MPH, DrPH, Research Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Colorado School of Public Health and investigator with the Injury & Violence Prevention Center and the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, is corresponding author of an original investigation, “Extreme Risk Protection Orders Among Military Service Members and Veterans,” published August 28 by JAMA Network Open. Eight co-authors are affiliated with our campus.
Jennifer Nicholas, MD, Professor of Clinical Practice of Radiology, is a co-author of a research article, “Pregnancy diet based on ancestral patterns increases growth in subcortical fetal brain regions,” published August 31 by PNAS.
Daniel W. Sherbenou, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, is corresponding author of a research article, “Multiple Myeloma Cells Resistant to T-cell Therapies Exhibit a CD45+ Immunoevasive Phenotype,” published August 4 by Cancer Immunology Research. Ten co-authors are from our campus.
Michael R. Verneris, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, and Elena Woods, PhD, Research Associate in Pediatrics, are corresponding authors of an article, “Altered tonsillar microbiome in children with Down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea,” published August 27 by Scientific Reports. Nine co-authors are from our campus.
Austin Gillen, PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Medicine, is a co-author of an article, “Transcriptional landscape of canine hematopoiesis and cross-species comparisons revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing,” published August 31 by Scientific Reports.
Social Spotlight
Last week, the Office of Student Affairs and the Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education hosted Welcome Wednesday activities, including a student organization fair, games on Boettcher Commons, and ice cream to end the day. It was the perfect opportunity for students to connect and enjoy a beautiful afternoon.
Follow CU Anschutz School of Medicine on Social Media
Announcements
Now Hiring: Director of Teaching Scholars Program
The Academy of Medical Educators is seeking a Director of the Teaching Scholars Program. This faculty leadership role will guide our flagship 18-month faculty development program, helping develop future leaders in health professions education through educational scholarship, curriculum development, mentorship, and leadership development. We’re looking for an experienced medical educator who is passionate about developing the next generation of leaders in health professions education. A job summary and application instructions are available in the job listing on CU Careers.
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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