Monthly Momentos: February 2025
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.
A promising new gene therapy for heart failure, the annual student-led clinic symposium, and integrating mental health at the Sundance Film Festival are among this month’s notable achievements.
Kudos
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The American Medical Group Association named John Barrett, MD, to its Board of Directors for a three-year term. Barrett is the executive medical director for the Community Physician Group and interim chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.
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Valerie Flattes, PhD, APRN, MS, ANP-BC, associate professor of nursing, received the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 2025 State Award for Outstanding Contributions. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership. It is given to only one recipient from each state.
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J. David Symons, PhD, professor of nutrition and integrative physiology, received a grant from the American Heart Association for undergraduate student training. As part of Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR), he will direct a training program about lipotoxicity-induced cardiovascular and metabolic complications.
Achievements in Education
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The third annual student-led clinic symposium at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine took place on January 27, with Spencer F. and Spencer P. Eccles in attendance. The symposium gives medical students a chance to share community health service-learning projects with clinic leaders, school faculty, and peers. A patient from Rose Park shared his journey and the positive impact student-led clinics have had on his health. The Eccles expressed support and gratitude for the work being done in student-led clinics.
U of U Health was recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of 64 simulation and education programs to know in 2024. This list features programs dedicated to advancing their workforce and service lines through innovative education and simulation initiatives that enable learners to master essential health care skills.
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Although residency programs are not required for DDS graduates, the School of Dentistry has historically had a high number of its graduates placed in very competitive advanced dental education programs across the country. This year, the School of Dentistry had a 100% placement rate for fourth-year and recently graduated students. These statistics put the school at the top of dental schools in the country:
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6-for-6 into orthodontics
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5-for-5 into pediatrics
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2-for-2 into oral and maxillofacial surgery
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Molly Knapp, MA and Brandon Patterson, MA, MSI, faculty librarians at the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, conducted a scoping review to understand the extent of literature on librarian involvement in competency-based medical education co-authored. Their findings were published in the Journal of the Medical Library Association.
Achievements in Clinical Care
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U of U Health was recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of 100 hospitals and health centers with great neuroscience and spine programs in 2024. This list features programs that set the standard for care nationally and globally by advancing patient care, pioneering innovative research, and increasing access to critical care services.
Achievements in Research
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A research team led by Ting Ting Hong, MD, PhD (College of Pharmacy), and Robin M. Shaw MD, PhD (Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute), developed a new gene therapy that reverses heart failure in large animal models. Their findings were published in Nature Regenerative Medicine. TikkunLev Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focusing on precision therapies for failing heart muscle, is developing the treatment for human trials.
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Rachel Hess, MD, associate vice president for Research-Health Sciences, is a senior author on a new study that published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. The findings show COVID-19 infection is associated with a nearly eightfold increase in chronic fatigue syndrome. The pandemic may be related to a spike in new diagnoses of this highly debilitating, understudied condition, which predominantly impacts women.
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Michael Kay, MD, PhD, professor of biochemistry, joined other experts for a commentary about the risks of mirror life for Science. Synthetic organisms, mirror-reversed on the molecular level from natural life, could be a possibility within decades. They could interact with humans and the environment in unpredictable, potentially dangerous ways.
Achievements in Community Collaboration
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U of U Health is the Official Health and Wellness Partner for the Sundance Film Festival. At Sundance 2025, U of U Health engaged with attendees and enriched the festival experience with mental health consultations and Stress First Aid for Sundance staff impacted or displaced by devastating fires in California, massage therapy, community screenings, and a panel discussion about portrayals of mental health challenges in film and media. Special thanks to our teams in marketing and communications, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, and the Resiliency Center for sharing their expertise.
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Huntsman Canter Institute community champions Rosie and Halle Peralta hosted an event for the Bee Strong Cancer Foundation. Attendees participated in wellness workshops on mindfulness, yoga, kickboxing, and healthy cooking. Jandrely Lopez Morales, MD (Greenwood Health Center), led a cancer education discussion. Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Mobile Cancer Screening and Education Clinics provided on-site mammogram services.