Dean's Weekly Message
September 21, 2026
Dr. Messersmith Named Director of Cancer Center
I am excited to announce that Wells Messersmith, MD, Professor of Medicine, has been named Director of the CU Anschutz Cancer Center, effective October 1. Dr. Messersmith brings vast experience and expertise, and we are fortunate that he will be leading the Cancer Center team!
A faculty member since 2007, Dr. Messersmith currently serves as head of the Department of Medicine’s Division of Medical Oncology. He also is the Cancer Center’s Associate Director for Clinical Services and Chief Medical Officer of Oncology Services at UCHealth. He recently was named the inaugural holder of the Emily Coe Atherton Endowed Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Research at CU Anschutz.
We selected Dr. Messersmith after an extensive national search, and he succeeds Richard Schulick, MD, MBA, who stepped down in December 2025. Dr. Messersmith is the fourth leader in the Cancer Center’s 41-year history.
When I came to CU Anschutz, I did so to work on behalf of people who are deeply committed to combining scientific rigor with compassion and discovery with patient care. Dr. Messersmith is the epitome of that commitment. His work reflects the very best of what we strive to do at CU Anschutz: advance science, care for patients with empathy and purpose, and lead in ways that bring others along.
I’ve been impressed by Dr. Messersmith’s approach to personalized therapies and drug discovery for gastrointestinal cancers. His approach — matching the right treatment to the right patient — reflects where the future of cancer care must go.
Our partners at UCHealth are equally enthusiastic about Dr. Messersmith’s appointment.
Elizabeth B. Concordia, UCHealth president and CEO, said: “We are excited that Dr. Messersmith, UCHealth’s CMO of oncology services, will now lead the CU Anschutz Cancer Center, helping its expert investigators and specialists continue their fight against cancer by expanding the reach of advanced treatments. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and our locations in northern and southern Colorado already offer many clinical trials that are sponsored by CU faculty, and this is directly improving the lives of our patients. This partnership will continue to grow with Dr. Messersmith’s leadership.”
I want to thank the search committee expertly co-led by Cathy Bradley, PhD, Professor and Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health and Deputy Director of the Cancer Center, and Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc, Executive Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs, Quality, and Research, and Professor and Chair of Medicine.
Join me in congratulating Dr. Messersmith as he takes on this important new role.
Children’s Hospital Colorado is Again Ranked in Top 10
Children’s Hospital Colorado is still the one of the best pediatric hospitals in the country!
Last week, U.S. News & World Report released its 2026–2027 Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll, a distinction awarded to only 10 children’s hospitals in the United States. Ranked No. 1 in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, Children’s Colorado continues to lead in pediatric care, innovation, and outcomes for families in our communities and beyond.
In addition to its top state and regional ranking, Children’s Colorado was recognized for excellence across all ranked specialties. Five of its specialties landed among the national top 10:
- Cardiology and heart surgery, No. 2
- Diabetes and endocrinology, No. 5
- Pulmonology and lung surgery, No. 6
- Gastroenterology and GI surgery, No. 8
- Neonatology, No. 8
“Every day, we are honored to be part of the moments that matter most, helping families navigate both the challenges and celebrations that shape a child’s life,” said Jena Hausmann, president and CEO of Children’s Colorado, in the hospital’s announcement of the rankings.
“This recognition belongs to our extraordinary team members whose compassion, expertise, and unwavering commitment go above and beyond to make a difference for children and families every day. We are deeply grateful for the trust families place in us and inspired to support them in the moments that can change everything.”
Congratulations to everyone who helps make Children’s Colorado a true standout!
U.S. Army STAR Program Partnership Will Be a National Model
I’ve always said we have stars shining brightly on our campus. Now, we have a new partnership with the U.S. Army that adds to our luster.
The University of Colorado Anschutz and UCHealth will be the inaugural site as the U.S. Army Medical Command and the Office of the U.S. Army Surgeon General launch a comprehensive military-civilian medical partnership through the new U.S. Army STAR Program.
The initiative is designed to serve as a national model for health care collaboration and integration. Military and civilian health care providers will share clinical expertise, strengthen medical readiness, and develop best practices with the potential to improve care for service members and civilian patients alike.
The new STAR partnership was announced September 14 in a signing ceremony at CU Anschutz featuring Lt. Gen. Mary Izaguirre, U.S. Army surgeon general and commanding general of U.S. Army Medical Command. I had the privilege of speaking at the signing ceremony alongside leaders from campus and beyond at the ceremony announcing this important partnership. I thank Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman for attending.
“We are taking a journey together,” Izaguirre told the gathering, recalling her visit last year to CU Anschutz, where she met with leaders of the Combat Medicine Research Center at the Department of Emergency Medicine and discussed ways to foster medical collaboration.
Vik Bebarta, MD, Founding Director of the Combat Center and Chair of Emergency Medicine, hailed the agreement: “What the Army is building with us goes deeper than anything we’ve done before. We have spent years making the case that military and civilian medicine are stronger when we work together. STAR puts that idea into action. It builds readiness before we need it, relationships before a crisis, and a team that can respond when the country calls. Today, we make that real.”
I’m grateful to Dr. Bebarta and his team for the years of work that made this possible, and I look forward to welcoming our Army colleagues to campus.
Featured News
There Aren’t Enough Clinical Trials on Suicide Prevention. A New Analysis Asks Why.
Every day, about 134 people in the United States die by suicide, and suicide death rates have been trending upward for many years. Yet there are relatively few clinical trials studying suicidal thoughts and behaviors and how to reduce suicide risk, says Ian Stanley, PhD, a clinical psychologist and an expert on suicide prevention in the Department of Emergency Medicine.
In a new newsroom article, Dr. Stanley explains why that is and the work he and colleagues recently published in JAMA Network Open.
“The encouraging finding from this analysis is that suicide-prevention research is feasible to conduct ethically,” Dr. Stanley says. “It doesn’t mean there’s zero risk, but there's an opportunity for us to anticipate risk, manage and mitigate it responsibly, and get treatments into the hands of people who need it. When I think back, any major advance in medicine came because we were willing to tackle a difficult problem carefully. Suicide prevention research shouldn't be an exception to that.”
Read More About Suicide Prevention Clinical Trials
Faculty and Staff Updates
Lilia Cervantes, MD, MSCS, Professor of Medicine and Director of Immigrant Health, has been selected to receive the 2026 Sommer Klag Advocacy Achievement Award. The award committee selected Dr. Cervantes in recognition of her advocacy to address access to life-sustaining kidney care in the U.S. They commended her leadership in shifting policies, professional norms, and public understanding by making “emergency-only hemodialysis” visible as a preventable harm — and then converting that visibility into durable, repeatable public health policy change nationwide. The award is presented by the American Public Health Association and Johns Hopkins Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy.
Eric Poeschla, MD, Professor of Medicine, has been awarded a three-year, $600,000 basic research grant from the Advanced Research and Invention Agency of the U.K. The funding is part of a program project grant centered at Oxford University. The five-lab consortium will seek to reprogram the human innate immune system to enable rapid virus-agnostic antiviral protection. The scientific focus centers on the cytosolic viral RNA sensor MDA5 and its roles in defense against respiratory viruses and in inflammaging by HIV-1.
Hannah Kimmel Supron, MD, MPH, Chief Resident of the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency, has been selected as a 2026–2027 Doximity Clinical AI Leader Fellow. Doximity is the largest verified network of health care professionals in the United States, connecting clinicians across specialties and care settings. During this highly competitive fellowship, Dr. Kimmel Supron will collaborate with Doximity teams to test, refine, and help shape real-world clinical AI tools. The program offers a unique opportunity for physician leaders to contribute to the future of AI innovation in medicine while ensuring that these technologies meet the needs of clinicians and patients.
Marisha Burden, MD, MBA, Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division of Hospital Medicine, and a team from the CU Anschutz School of Medicine have been awarded a grant from the ABIM Foundation through its Professionalism in Action grant program. The CU team will develop a professionalism-based framework for the responsible use of workforce data in health care. The project will explore how organizations can use workforce data in ways that balance organizational needs with professional values, trust, and responsible stewardship.
Featured Events
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].
9/30
Tattered Cover Talk
Wednesday, September 30, 6 p.m.
Tattered Cover Book Store, 2526 E. Colfax Ave.
Kaia Kinkel, PhD candidate, and Charles Sagerstrom, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, both members of the Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Development PhD Program, will present, “What Are GMOs, Really?” They will discuss what genetically modified organisms are; how they’re used in medicine, agriculture, and scientific research; and why they’re such powerful tools for understanding how life develops.
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.
10/5-10/8
CU Anschutz Climate & Health Week
October 5–8
Climate & Health Week will bring together thought leaders, faculty, staff, students, health professionals, and community partners to tackle emerging challenges and advance solutions for health and resilience in a changing climate. Events will showcase work underway across CU, connect our campuses and Colorado’s health and climate communities, bring national experts to Colorado, and forge new collaborations across disciplines. Details and registration can be found on the CU Anschutz Climate & Health Week website.
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].
10/29
Pediatric Research Day
Thursday, October 29, 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Education 2 South Auditorium and Lobby
The CU Anschutz Department of Pediatrics, Colorado Child Health Research Institute, and Adult & Child Center for Outcomes Research & Delivery Science will host the third annual Pediatric Research Day. This year’s keynote speaker is Matthew DeCamp, MD, PhD, from the Center for Bioethics and Humanities. Additional events include a panel about AI; a poster session; flash talks; awards; and a mission moment around tapestries made from bowties of the late Steve Berman, MD. Registration for Pediatric Research Day is now open.
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
Anna H. Abrams, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, is corresponding author of an article, “ Clinicians’ Experiences With Law Enforcement in a Pediatric Emergency Department,” published September 10 by Pediatrics. Five coauthors are from our campus. In addition to the article, Dr. Abrams describes her abstract in an accompanying video.
Yuhree Kim, MD, MPH, Research Associate in Dermatology, and Maryam M. Asgari, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of Dermatology, are coauthors of an article, “A genome-wide meta-analysis of actinic keratosis identifies 12 novel loci and overlap with keratinocyte carcinoma and pigmentation,” published September 12 by Communications Biology.
Yuhree Kim, MD, MPH, Research Associate in Dermatology, and Maryam M. Asgari, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of Dermatology, are coauthors of an article, “A genome-wide meta-analysis of actinic keratosis identifies 12 novel loci and overlap with keratinocyte carcinoma and pigmentation,” published September 12 by Communications Biology.
Social Spotlight
The 30th Annual Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center Symposium brought eye care professionals and trainees together for a day of learning, connection, and conversations around the latest in ophthalmology.
Watch the event recap on LinkedIn.
Follow CU Anschutz School of Medicine on Social Media
Announcements
Free Bagels for APPs
The School of Medicine Dean's Office is sponsoring a free bagel and coffee for all APPs in recognition of National APP Week. Beginning September 21, faculty may redeem this offer on campus at Woodgrain Bagels, Tstreet Cafe, or Woodmill: a Sandwich Shop.
Enjoy one bagel and one medium coffee, or other offerings up to a value of $8.25. Faculty who are eligible should watch for an email that they must present to redeem the offer. They must either print or present an electronic copy of the email.
The offer is valid through September 25, or until 500 faculty members have redeemed, whichever comes first.
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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