UIC Department of Medicine

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

Congratulations to the UI COM Class of 2026! https://go.uic.edu/comm2026

The UIC Department of Medicine was proud to participate in the SNMA Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC) 2026, held April 1–5 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Under the theme "Bridging Generations with Hope: Illuminating the Voices & Vision of the Future of Medicine," the conference brought together more than 3,000 pre-medical students, physicians, alumni, and healthcare professionals from across the country for an energizing and inspiring experience.

The DOM team shared an exhibit booth alongside colleagues from Family Medicine, Med-Peds, and Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine. Over three days in the Professional Exhibit Hall, the team connected with outstanding pre-med and medical students and prospective residents — building meaningful relationships and sharing opportunities within the Internal Medicine Residency Program. AMEC 2026 served as a valuable platform for networking, mentorship, and advancing the future of medicine.

The UIC Department of Medicine celebrated an outstanding Scholarly Activities Day on April 7, 2026. This year's theme — AI, Team Science, and the Use of Real-World Clinical Data — set the stage for an inspiring afternoon of discovery. With 98 posters on display and oral presentations at Moss Auditorium, our faculty, residents, fellows, postdocs, students, and staff demonstrated the depth and breadth of research happening across our department.

We're proud to recognize this year's Scientific Excellence Award winners:
🏆 Junior Faculty: Medha Priyadarshini, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
🏆 Resident: Michael Gianarakis, Division of Academic Internal Medicine
🏆 Fellow/Postdoc (Co-Winners): Alison Ha, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy | Natalia Saldivia, Neurobiology & Gene Therapy
🏆 Student: Sinead Campos, Division of Nephrology
🏆 Staff: Lisa Butler, Division of Academic Internal Medicine

Thank you to our keynote speaker Dr. Manisha Desai (Stanford University), oral presenters Dr. Hema Krishna, Dr. Yang Pan, and Dr. Ameen Salahudeen, moderator Dr. Niranjan Karnik, and every poster presenter, judge, and attendee who made this day a success.

The future of medicine is being shaped right here. We can't wait to see what comes next!

New curriculum materials are now available on the Advancing Disability-Inclusive Healthcare (ADIH) website from the ADIH steering committee at the University of Illinois College of Medicine!

The updated, open-access content includes didactic modules, featured stories of people with disabilities, and a comprehensive overview of the Patient Instructor simulation program. Newly added materials include more learning modules, a new community member snapshot, and guidance for the Patient Instructor Program.

Although the project is focused on the training of medical students, all content is shaped for use by learners across interdisciplinary health professions. Colleagues and community members are encouraged to browse and share the curriculum: https://adih.uic.edu/

Reach out at [email protected] with comments, suggestions, or opportunities to collaborate.