Carver College of Medicine

Balancing medical school and marathon training takes planning, flexibility, and dedication.

For medical student Maddie Block, running has been a passion, a challenge, and something that keeps her grounded through the demands of medical school.

This spring, Maddie raced in the pro field of the Boston Marathon, an experience she called “a dream come true.” She also qualified for the 2028 Olympic Trials in the marathon and plans to spend the summer racing for fun before ramping up her schedule this fall.

A physical therapist, researcher, and longtime leader at Iowa, Richard Shields (85MA) has helped shape the future of physical therapy education and spinal cord injury research.

As chair of the physical therapy department for the last 20 years, Shields has led the program through decades of growth, helping it maintain a top five national ranking and become a benchmark for physical therapy programs across the country. His research has advanced understanding of movement, skeletal muscle, and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injuries.

Congratulations to Richard Shields, PT, PhD, FAPTA, on receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement.

MD graduate Daniel Moe shared this advice for future medical students: “Medical school is a team effort! Be intentional about finding your support system and find time for them even when life gets busy.”

Daniel matched in internal medicine at University of Iowa Health Care. 🩺💛

A trauma surgeon, advocate, and proud Hawkeye, Roxie Albrecht (84MD) has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for patients in Oklahoma and across the country.

As the inaugural trauma medical director at OU Health, Albrecht helped build Oklahoma’s statewide trauma system and led the state’s first Level 1 trauma center. Her work has shaped trauma care through advocacy, research, mentorship, and national leadership.

Congratulations to Roxie Albrecht, MD, on receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement.

Congratulations to our 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. 💛🩺

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor we bestow upon our graduates. This year’s honorees are changing medicine and changing lives through leadership, innovation, research, education, and service. https://uiowa.pulse.ly/wfulnsllyu

Everyday actions like driving, crossing the street, or answering a phone rely on the brain’s ability to track time.

New University of Iowa Health Care research maps how neurons move through parts of the prefrontal cortex during timing-related activities — findings that could help guide more precise treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Amy Stanford, MD, associate medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital, explains how neonatal hemodynamics is helping transform care for extremely premature infants.

Learn how this innovative approach is improving survival, reducing complications, and shaping the future of neonatal care.

MD graduate Hend Al-Kaylani shared this advice for future medical students: “The single best thing you can do in medical school is be kind to others — patients, employees, classmates, people you pass in the hospital hallways. Not only is it the right thing to do, but the karma comes back to you in ways you would never expect. When you lift others up, you lift yourself up too.”

Hend matched at University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, for a preliminary year before she pursues ophthalmology training🩺💛

Language didn’t just appear overnight.

New research suggests key genetic roots of human language ability predate our split from Neanderthals. These regulatory sequences have an outsized impact on language despite making up a tiny fraction of our DNA.

From speech-language pathology to sonography, Kenzie Theisen found her calling in helping patients through their best and hardest days.

Now the radiation sciences graduate is preparing to begin her career at University of Iowa Health Care ’s university campus, supporting patients in women’s health.