UIC Department of Medicine

09/11/2026

Earlier this year, UI Health researchers in our Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center wanted to study the impact of chronic kidney disease on people with sickle cell disease.

Of the about 100,000 people in the U.S. who have sickle cell disease, more than half will develop chronic kidney disease at some point in their lives.

“Once kidney disease develops, patients with sickle cell disease have a very rapid decline in kidney function,” said Dr. Santosh Saraf, the director of our Adult Sickle Cell Center.

“We do not really understand why or how the kidneys are damaged, and there are currently no therapies approved that have been rigorously tested to look at how they might affect kidney function.”

Learn how the center’s new, five-year, $3.78 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute is aiming to change that: https://bit.ly/3ZnwqbO

09/04/2026

Congratulations to Sue Hammerschmidt, Medical Education Coordinator in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy, on receiving the inaugural 2026 Graduate Medical Education Legacy Award!

The award is given in recognition of a lifetime of distinguished service and transformative contributions to Graduate Medical Education, and a lasting legacy of excellence, leadership, and service.

Please join us in congratulating Sue on this well-deserved honor and celebrating the lasting impact she has made on colleagues, trainees, and the GME community!

09/04/2026

Congratulations to Steven Dudek, MD, ATSF, on his election to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Board of Directors as an At-Large Director!

Dr. Dudek is Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy in the UIC Department of Medicine. His election to the ATS Board reflects his leadership and contributions to pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Dudek on this outstanding achievement!

08/20/2026

Applications are now open for the T32 Precision Lifestyle Medicine and Translation Research (PREMIER) Postdoctoral Training Program at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Learn more: go.uic.edu/PREMIER
Apply: go.uic.edu/T32_PREMIER
Application deadline: October 30, 2026

08/19/2026

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Stockton Mayer, DO, as chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Mayer is a valued and respected faculty member in the Department of Medicine. He received his medical degree at Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine before completing an internal medicine residency and infectious diseases fellowship at the University of Illinois Chicago. He joined the Department of Medicine in 2014 and has served as interim chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases since January 1, 2025.

Dr. Mayer’s clinical and research interests include improving care for underserved populations in Chicago and abroad. In Chicago, he co-leads the UIC Outbreak Response Team and collaborates to deliver innovative care to patients who inject drugs. Abroad, he works with partners in Guatemala to develop comprehensive care programs for resource-limited settings. Dr. Mayer is involved in clinical research studies including COVID-19 treatment studies and HIV therapeutic trials.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Mayer on his appointment and thanking him for his outstanding leadership as interim chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases.

08/06/2026

Meet our 2026–2027 Internal Medicine Residency Program Chief Residents!

Since stepping into their roles in June, our Chief Residents have already been making an impact through their leadership, mentorship, and commitment to resident education and patient care.

We are proud to recognize this exceptional group of physicians and look forward to all they will accomplish throughout the academic year.

Learn more about our Chief Residents: go.uic.edu/Chiefs

07/15/2026

Dr. Stockton Mayer Discusses the Ongoing Cyclosporiasis Outbreak on FOX 32 Chicago.

In a recent FOX 32 Chicago interview, Dr. Stockton Mayer, an infectious diseases specialist at UI Health and faculty member in the University of Illinois Chicago Department of Medicine, shares expert insights on the current cyclosporiasis outbreak, including its symptoms, treatment, and practical steps people can take to help reduce their risk.

As of July 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of 1,645 laboratory-confirmed, domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis across 34 states. However, the actual number of cases is likely higher due to reporting delays and underreporting.

Watch the interview to learn more:

Dr. Stockton Mayer, an infectious diseasees specialist at UI Health, joins us to talk more about cyclosporiasis and how the cases in Illinois compare to other states.

06/26/2026

A fond farewell to our Internal Medicine Residency program graduates. You will be dearly missed, and we wish you all the success and happiness in your endeavors.

06/24/2026

The Department of Medicine hosted an Ideas on Tap Research Mixer on June 23rd featuring DOM training programs and trainees. Greatness is happening here! .

06/24/2026

University of Illinois Cancer Center member Abiola Ibraheem, MD, led discussions on global cancer collaboration at the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) networking reception during the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The reception convened oncology leaders, researchers, members of the African diaspora, and international professionals to advance partnerships in cancer research, clinical trials, and workforce development across Africa.

Dr. Ibraheem is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine, an oncologist at UI Health, and AORTIC Vice President for North America.

She has played a longstanding role in strengthening collaboration between AORTIC and ASCO, including serving as ASCO's inaugural liaison to the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Council.

Her leadership also extends to the Best of ASCO Africa 2026 event in Abuja, Nigeria, which focuses on improving access to new cancer therapies and technologies across Africa and advancing global cancer equity.