Monthly Momentos: October 2024
This ongoing blog series celebrates people, milestones, and achievements from across our health system. Content is adapted from monthly updates shared with the University of Utah Board of Trustees.
Testifying before Congress, a first-ever research grant for oral health inequities, and a look back at the history of Building 521 are just some of the noteworthy highlights from October.
Kudos
- Wes Sundquist, PhD, chair of the Department of Biochemistry, received the 2024 Horwitz Prize for his groundbreaking work on a new class of anti-HIV drugs. Of the 111 previous recipients, 51 have gone on to win Nobel Prizes. His studies have helped lead to a new class of anti-HIV drugs.
- Ann Butt, EdD, RN, CHSE, associate professor of nursing, was inducted as a fellow with the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education. This honor recognizes Ann’s academic leadership, innovative research and scholarship, application of evidence-based and novel teaching-learning strategies, and mentorship of students, staff, and faculty.
- Scott Ward, PhD, PT, FAPTA received the 2024 Rodney Miyasaki Lifetime Leadership Award from the Utah Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association for his contributions to the field of physical therapy throughout his career.
- José E. Rodríguez, MD, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences Workforce Excellence at U of U Health, was selected for the first edition of the Becker’s Healthcare “Hispanic and Latino Leaders to Know” list. This recognition celebrates leaders for their valuable contributions to health care organizations, programs, and partnerships that promote greater access to care and educational pathways—particularly in underserved communities.
- Brenda Heaton, PhD, MPH, Associate Dean for Research at the School of Dentistry, received an $8 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to lead an eight-year study of the complex causes of oral health inequities by integrating data at the population, provider, and patient levels. NIDCR selects only one recipient for this award each year. This is the largest research grant the School of Dentistry has received to date.
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Leadership Appointments
- University of Utah Medical Group appointed David Steinberg, MD, MMM, as chair of the Finance Committee and Physician Lead for Contracting and Provider Enrollment. Steinberg is chair of the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Executive Medical Director of the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital.
Achievements in Clinical Care
- University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics is one of 464 hospitals to receive a 5-star rating for patient recommendations. The list was compiled by Becker’s Hospital Review using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data from CMS.
Achievements in Education
- On Sept. 11, 2024, Joey Mattingly, PharmD, MBA, PhD, Vice Chair of Research for the College of Pharmacy, testified before the U.S. Congress on the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in influencing the cost of health care. The University of Utah provided Mattingly with access to the law firm in Washington, D.C., that supports the U’s federal government affairs efforts.
- “Remembering 521,” a documentary tribute to the long-standing School of Medicine (Building 521) debuted during Alumni Weekend for the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. The documentary features former leadership, alumni, and current faculty and staff who were integral to Building 521.
Achievements in Research
- A multinational research team led by U of U Health biochemists Helena Safavi, PhD, and Ho Yan Yeung, PhD, discovered the venom of a deadly marine cone snail offers clues for developing better medications to treat diabetes and hormone disorders. The findings, published in Nature Communications, reveal a component within the venom that mimics a human hormone called somatostatin, which regulates the levels of blood sugar and various hormones in the body.
- An interdisciplinary team of U of U Health researchers led by Nancy Daher, PhD (Family & Preventive Medicine), received $6.53 million in funding from the EPA to monitor and address indoor air pollution in schools. The project aims to develop effective and energy-saving air quality management plans for schools statewide.
- A $9 million collaboration between the Department of Pediatrics and Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital aims to expand whole-genome sequencing for children with suspected genetic disorders. Led by Josh Bonkowsky, MD, PhD, this project makes use of comprehensive databases and AI tools developed at U of U Health to find diagnoses and develop more targeted treatments.
- A cross-disciplinary team at the University of Utah received a first-of-its kind grant from the Commonwealth Fund to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment in Utah. Cross-campus collaborators include researchers and medical providers from U of U Health South Main Clinic, the College of Social and Behavioral Science, and the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. They will evaluate ways to sustain clinics that provide both mental and physical health services. Methods include reducing barriers to reimbursement and expanding access to graduate student trainees and psychiatry residents and fellows.
Achievements in Community Collaboration
- More than 500 people attended the Latinx/Hispanic Health and Heritage Health Fair sponsored by U of U Health and hosted by Take Care Utah. The event featured a variety of free screenings, including mammograms, dental, vision, and diabetes checks provided by U of U Health Plans, School of Dentistry, The Wellness Bus, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Moran Eye Center, and Speech-Language-and-Hearing Clinic.
