UIC Department of Medicine

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

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:

Cyclosporiasis outbreak: What to know before your next grocery trip 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.

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.

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.

The Department of Medicine proudly congratulates Dr. Ece A. Mutlu and Dr. Santosh L. Saraf on their recent investitures at the Sweeney Society Celebration of Excellence and Impact.

Dr. Mutlu was invested as the Thomas J. Layden, M.D. Professor in Digestive and Liver Diseases, and Dr. Saraf was invested as the A. Tom Petropulos M.D., FACC, Professor for Professionalism in Medicine.

These endowed professorships recognize their exceptional contributions to patient care, research, education, mentorship, and leadership. We are honored to celebrate their achievements and the lasting impact they continue to make across our institution and beyond.

Congratulations to both faculty members on this well-deserved recognition.

In an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) at the American Thoracic Society International Conference 2026 in Orlando, Jerry A. Krishnan, MD, PhD, associate vice chancellor for population health sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago, discussed findings presented during the session “NIH RECOVER and C4R Cohorts: Pulmonary Complications and Immune Dysfunction in Long COVID Across the Lifespan.”

In the Q&A, Dr. Krishnan highlights how long COVID, heterogeneity, respiratory complications and immune dysfunction are shaping future research and clinical care.

Long COVID Lung Damage and Immune Dysfunction Across the Lifespan: Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD | AJMC Jerry A. Krishnan, MD, PhD, discusses NIH RECOVER findings on long COVID, pulmonary complications, and immune dysfunction at ATS 2026.

The Department of Medicine is proud to share that Dr. Heather Heiman has been named a fellow of Drexel University College of Medicine’s National Leadership Program.

Heather Heiman, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and Professor of Medicine and Medical Education has been accepted to the 32nd class of fellows in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program. This prestigious program is dedicated to preparing leaders for senior-level executive roles in schools of medicine by developing the professional and personal skills required to lead in today’s complex health care environment. The ELAM program has been specially developed for senior faculty at the associate or full professor level who demonstrate the greatest potential for assuming executive leadership positions at academic health centers within the next five years.

A team of experts from the University of Illinois Chicago, College of Medicine (UICOM), led by Dr. Radhika Sreedhar, published a groundbreaking study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine addressing the critical transition of patients from hospital to home.

The research highlights a structured curriculum designed to equip fourth-year medical students with the essential skills to provide clear and effective discharge instructions. Student performance was directly linked to better patient knowledge of urgent "red flag" signs, a key to preventing readmissions.

This work demonstrates UICOM's commitment to bridging the gap between medical education and patient-reported outcomes, ensuring our future physicians are prepared to lead safe and effective care transitions.

Learn more here: https://rdcu.be/fh9ss