Voices of U of U Health
Monthly Momentos: October 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.
Bob Carter inducted into National Academy of Medicine, researchers receive $21.6M grant from National Institutes on Aging, new laboratory training center opens, and more October highlights.
Kudos
- Bob Carter, MD, PhD, CEO for U of U Health and executive vice president for health sciences, was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine. Election to the academy is among the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, recognizing exceptional professional achievement and commitment to service. Carter joins eight other University of Utah researchers who have been elected to the academy.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Gina Hawley, DrPH, chief operating officer for U of U Health Hospitals & Clinics and system associate chief operating officer, to its list of Academic Medical Center COOs to Know in 2025. This list recognizes COOs who ensure that care delivery is efficient, effective, and aligned with the mission of advancing medicine.
- Andrea Wallace, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate dean for research at the College of Nursing, was invited to present at the National Institute of Nursing Research 40th Anniversary Scientific Symposium. She highlighted the college’s Screener for Intensifying Community Referrals for Health (SINCERE) program as a model for prevention and health promotion.
- Kaden Brown, MS, a 2025 graduate of the College of Health’s Master of Athletic Training program, earned a gold medal in tumbling at the World Games in Chengdu, China. His success reflects both his excellence as an athlete and his dedication to the field of athletic training.
- Catherine Soehner, MLS, BSN, executive director of the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library received a presidential citation from the president of Core, a division of the American Library Association, for her work leading the fundraising and sponsorship committee.
Leadership Announcements
- Rachel Hess, MD, MS, was named inaugural system chief research officer for U of U Health. Hess will lead the strategic direction of U of U Health’s research enterprise, connecting discovery, innovation, and clinical care to create greater impact for patients and communities.
- Gina Hawley, DrPH, MHA, was named system associate chief operating officer, and Erica Bisson, MD, MPH, was named system associate chief clinical officer for U of U Health. Hawley continues in her role as chief operating officer for Health Hospitals & Clinics, while advancing operational and system integration. Bisson continues her role as system chief medical officer, while guiding alignment across care lines to enhance clinical standards and coordination of care.
Achievements in Research
- Adam Bress, PharmD, professor of population health sciences and investigator at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, is leading a $21.6M, five-year study funded by the National Institute on Aging on the connections between hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. Findings could reveal how blood pressure affects brain health and informs better treatments.
- Molly Gallop, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy and physiology at Earlham College and past postdoctoral fellow at U of U Health, and Amandine Chaix, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition and integrative physiology, led a study revealing the long-term effects of the ketogenic diet, raising important questions about its safety and efficacy for improving metabolic health. The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest that ketogenic diets may have dangerous long-term health risks if the results hold true in people.
- Ka-Ho Wong, research associate of neuroimmunology at U of U Health, led a study showing a sharp rise in rates of cognitive disability within the nation over the past decade. Adults under the age of 40 experienced the greatest increase in risk, with 2023 rates of nearly 1 in 10. The findings, published in Neurology, emphasize a need for interventions to address cognitive difficulties early, whether via community health education or individual awareness and treatment.
Achievements in Education
- ARUP Laboratories and the U’s Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Advanced Practice Clinical Laboratory Training Center. This new lab bolsters educational opportunities for medical laboratory sciences students and helps address a critical need for highly trained laboratory professionals nationwide.
- The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy ranked the College of Pharmacy No. 8 nationwide for total research funding in FY2024. With nearly $30M in research support, the college continues its steady rise from No. 11 in FY2023 and No. 16 in FY2022.
Achievements in Clinical Care
- For the second consecutive year, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, in partnership with U of U Health, is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals in all 11 pediatric specialties evaluated, including six top 25 rankings: Cardiology & Heart Surgery (No. 12); Neurology & Neurosurgery (No. 16); Nephrology (No. 18); Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (No. 20); Orthopedics (No. 22); Urology (No. 22).
- Becker’s Healthcare named Huntsman Cancer Institute to its list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs in 2025. The list highlights cancer centers led by world-renowned experts who are driving innovation, ensuring patient safety, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cancer treatment and research.
- As of September 2025, a team of U of U Health hospitalists are live at Holy Cross, Jordan Valley (HC-JV). This extension of services, made in partnership with CommonSpirit, gives patients at Holy Cross Hospitals access to the expertise of U of U Health physicians and providers.
Achievements in Community Collaboration
- The School of Dentistry took part in U of U Health’s Healthy Start event in West Valley City, where faculty, students, and staff helped numerous families with their oral health needs, including 172 individual screenings, 68 child dental cleanings, applied fluoride varnish for 141 individuals, placed 82 sealants, and distributed more than 200 dental hygiene bags to support long-term oral health.
- U of U Health Plans hosted its third annual quarterly partners meeting, drawing a record 150+ attendees from community-based organizations and nonprofit partners who work with vulnerable and underserved communities. These collaborators refer people to U of U Health for care and connect them to health insurance.