Voices of U of U Health
2025 Year in Review
With a new year on the horizon, we pause to reflect on the pivotal moments of 2025.
This year-end recap shows how our work in clinical care, research, education, and community collaboration continues to have significant societal impact. It also highlights how we are evolving together—as one unified health system—to serve our rapidly growing state and region for many more generations to come.
The following is just a sampling of the inspiring work taking place on our campus and throughout the community as we prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Placing the Building Blocks for Vision 2030
In February, we welcomed Bob Carter, MD, PhD, as executive vice president of health sciences and CEO for U of U Health. Dr. Carter hit the ground running, rolling out an ambitious strategic vision for the next five years.
This vision for the future invites our U of U Health community to take a new, collective approach to:
- Care access and coordination
- High-quality, patient-centered care
- Leading-edge research innovation and education
- Employee and community well-being
- Financial health and stability
- System alignment
For the first time, clinical leaders and department chairs in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah collaborated to develop goals in these areas. Achieving these goals takes all of us working toward a common purpose: the present and future health of our patients, communities, and teams.
Together, we put many essential building blocks in place this year to ensure a promising future ahead. Much more to come in 2026 as we take action on our strategic vision.
New Leaders and Leadership Roles
New system leadership roles were created to guide our journey to become an integrated academic health system:
- Sam Finlayson, MD, MBA, was named system chief clinical officer.
- Dan Lundergan, MHA, was named system chief operating officer and continues in his role as CEO for Hospitals & Clinics.
- Charlton Park, MBA, was named system chief financial and analytics officer.
- Erica Bisson, MD, MPH, was named system chief medical officer and system associate chief clinical officer.
- Rachel Hess, MD, MS, was named inaugural system chief research officer for U of U Health.
- Gina Hawley, DrPH, MHA, was named system associate chief operating officer and continues in her role as chief operating officer for Hospitals & Clinics.
- Tracey Nixon, MSN, RN, was named system chief nurse executive.
- Donna Roach, MS, CHCIO, CDH-E, LFCHIME, LFHIMSS, was named system chief digital information officer.
- James Sanders, PhD, was named system chief analytics & insights officer.
- Christian Sherwood, MA, was named system chief human resources officer.
- Kathy Wilets, MPA, was named system chief communications officer.
- Joe Borgenicht was named system chief marketing officer.
- Kencee Graves, MD, was named chief medical quality officer.
- Jim Hotaling, MD, MS, FECSM, was named inaugural chief innovation officer for U of U Health and continues serving as associate vice president of research for innovation and translation.
- Brad Cairns, PhD, was named CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute.
- Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA, was named CEO of the John A. Moran Eye Center and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
- Brett Graham, MBA, MPA, was named interim CEO for Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
- Kristina Callis Duffin, MD, MS, was named interim dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and continues serving as chair for the Department of Dermatology.
- Cynthia Beynon, PhD, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE, was named assistant dean for Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.
- James Keddington, DDS, was named vice dean for the School of Dentistry.
- David Okano, DDS, MS, was named assistant dean for advanced dental education programs in the School of Dentistry.
- Danielle Wingrove, DDS, EdD, was named assistant dean of curriculum for the School of Dentistry.
- David Eldredge, MSW, LCSW, was named the new executive director of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
- Adam Bress, PharmD, MS, professor of population health sciences, was named inaugural program director for the new the Integrating Medicine and Policy to Achieve Healthcare Transformation (IMPACT) Program. Valerie Vaughn, MD, MS, SFHM, ACP, associate professor of internal medicine, was named associate program director.
- Scott Summers, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, and Jared Rutter, PhD, professor of biochemistry, were named co-directors of the newly renamed Center for Metabolic Health.
- Shawn Steidinger, MLS, was named associate director of clinical, research, and education at the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library.
- Darin Ryujin, MS, MPAS, PA-C, was named inaugural vice chair for Advocacy, Success, and Impact in the Division of Physician Assistant Education and Sciences at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.
- Michael A. Zimmerman, MD, was named chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery.
- Grace Lim, MD, MSc, MBA, was named chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, & Pain Medicine, effective February 2026.
- James Ashworth, MD, was named interim chair for the Department of Psychiatry.
- Jason Hunt, MD, MS, was named inaugural chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
- John Barrett, MD, was named chair of the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine.
- Alana Welm, PhD, was named chair for the Department of Oncological Sciences.
- Charles (Chuck) Ray, MD, PhD, was appointed interim chair of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences.
Achievements in Research
U of U Health surpassed the half-billion dollar mark with $531 million in research funding for FY2025, a testament to the research community's perseverance. These investments support U of U Health's mission of delivering exceptional societal impact by fueling research, advancing knowledge, improving health in Utah and worldwide, and supporting the training of future scientific leaders.
Examples of high-impact research from the past year include:
- Decades of foundational research led by Wesley Sundquist, PhD, chair of the Department of Biochemistry, paved the way for a first-of-its-kind, long-acting HIV prevention drug novel therapy. Lenacapavir received FDA approval in 2025.
- Adam Bress, PharmD, professor of population health sciences and investigator at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, is leading a $21.6 million, five-year study funded by the National Institute on Aging to understand the connections between hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. Findings could reveal how blood pressure affects brain health and inform better treatments.
- Brenda Heaton, PhD, associate director for research in the School of Dentistry, is leading an $8 million, eight-year project funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to investigate the factors that influence oral health disparities.
- Katsu Funai, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and integrative physiology, led a study in mice that suggests Ozempic causes less loss in muscle mass than expected, though muscles may get weaker even when muscle mass is unchanged. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, highlight a need for clinical studies in humans to understand Ozempic’s side effects.
- New research, led by Larissa McGarrity, PhD, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, shows weight stigma—and not weight itself—has the biggest impact on mental health and healthy behaviors in the years after weight-loss surgery. The results, published in Health Psychiatry, suggest interventions targeting weight stigma could significantly improve patient health.
- Nasser Sharareh, PhD, research assistant professor of population health sciences, led a study revealing surprising “danger zones” for food insecurity among new Utah refugees—including when they get their first job. Published in PLOS One, the findings lay groundwork for timely interventions to reduce health risks and address food insecurity’s $53B cost to the U.S. health care system.
- A study led by Nina de Lacy, MBA, MD, Michael Ramshaw, and Wai Yin Lam from the Department of Psychiatry introduced RiskPath, an open-source software toolkit that uses Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to predict whether individuals will develop progressive and chronic diseases years before symptoms appear. The findings, published in Patterns, could transform how preventive health care is delivered.
- For the first time, research led by Adrian Rothenfluh, PhD associate professor of psychiatry, created genetically modified fruit flies that can become addicted to cocaine. Results of the study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, show the flies will self-administer cocaine if given the option. This new model could prove valuable to the rapid development of new therapies to prevent and treat cocaine use disorder, which affects 1.5 million people nationwide.
- A research team led by Nathan Blue, MD, MSCI, professor of obstetrics and genecology, discovered previously unknown warning signs for stillbirth and newborn complications using AI-based pregnancy analysis. Their findings, published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, found that within a category of pregnancies that are currently treated identically under clinical guidelines, the risk of serious complications can vary by a factor of 10. The new analysis is an important step toward more personalized pregnancy care.
- Experts from U of U Health and Hogle Zoo joined forces to diagnose and treat Diego, a 650-pound California sea lion. The team used anesthesiology, veterinary science, and advanced imaging—led by radiology professor Edward Quigley, MD, PhD—to identify Diego's condition as spinal disease and find a treatment to alleviate his symptoms.
Achievements in Clinical Care
- For the 16th consecutive year, Vizient, Inc. recognized U of U Health as a top performer for clinical quality and accountability, with a national ranking of #8 for inpatient care and #4 for ambulatory care.
- For the 12th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report ranks University of Utah Hospital #1 in Utah and the Salt Lake City metro area. Additionally, U of U Health is nationally ranked #9 for ophthalmology and #34 for rehabilitation.
- For the second consecutive year, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, in partnership with U of U Health, is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals in all 11 pediatric specialties evaluated, including six top 25 rankings.
- Becker’s Healthcare named University of Utah Hospital to its list of Great Hospitals in America in 2025.
- U.S. News & World Report ranked University of Utah Hospital among its 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. The hospital earned the “High Performing” rating for providing highest-quality labor and delivery services.
- Newsweek named Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital to its list of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers in 2025, ranking #4 in the region.
- U of U Health received a 2025 American Medical Association Joy in Medicine Award with silver status.
- The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation recognized U of U Health as a Wellbeing First Champion for having credentialling applications that are free from overly broad and invasive mental health questions.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Huntsman Cancer Institute to its list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs in 2025
- U of U Health earned a HIMSS Level 7 distinction—the highest possible—for effectively incorporating the Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model in acute and ambulatory care.
- 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.
- The American Heart Association released new data showing that Utah leads the nation in stroke response times. Utah is the only state where more than 85% of patients with acute ischemic stroke receive intravenous thrombolytics within 45 minutes of arriving at the hospital.
Achievements in Education
In 2025, we celebrated 1,478 health sciences graduates across our five schools and colleges.
As reflected in high program rankings and high levels of research funding, each school or college is nationally recognized for various accomplishments and competencies.
College of Health Rankings
- No. 10 Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Program
- No. 12 Kinesiology PhD Program
- No. 17 Physical Therapy DPT Program
- No. 29 Audiology Program
- No. 32 Speech-Language Pathology Program
- No. 37 Occupational Therapy MOT Program
School of Medicine Rankings
- No. 3 Physician Assistant Program
- No. 34 NIH Research Funding
College of Nursing Rankings
- No. 4 Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program
- No. 6 Nurse-Midwifery Program
- No. 12 Online Master’s in Nursing Program
- No. 17 NIH Research Funding
- No. 22 Doctor of Nursing Practice Program
- No. 39 Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program
College of Pharmacy Rankings
- No. 8 NIH Research Funding
- No. 26 Doctor of Pharmacy Program
Dental School Expands Research and Clinical Care
Expanding its research and clinical oral health integration enterprises was a big focus for the School of Dentistry in 2025. In its second year of operation, the new Office of Research has submitted more than $12 million in extramural grants, with $2.1 million in grants already awarded in 2025. The school established advanced integrated dental care at Huntsman Mental Health Institute’s new Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center. It also launched a dental service line at the West High School Clinic—for a total of 11 clinical sites—making it one of the largest dental school networks in the country.
Bringing Medical Education to Southern Utah
The Utah legislature earmarked $5.5 million for the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine to launch its MD expansion in St. George, Utah. The Southern Utah Regional Medical Campus will welcome 10 MD students in the fall of 2026. The Physician Assistant program was ranked #3 in the nation, its highest placement ever. The school also celebrated its first graduating class of Intermountain Health Population Health Scholars and a 98% match rate.
College of Nursing Revamps the Learning Experience
The College of Nursing redesigned the BS, MS, and DNP programs using a competency-based model that emphasizes concept-driven learning, continuous and progressive assessment, and real-world application. This new approach prepares students to deliver evidence-based, person-centered care in any setting. The college also introduced a new problem-based learning model in the PhD program. It’s the first of its kind in U.S. nursing education. Students work in small groups to investigate contemporary problems, acquire scientific skills, and strengthen readiness for research careers in academia and industry.
More Life Campaign Increases Awareness in College of Health Programs
The College of Health launched its More Life marketing campaign in 2025. Its purpose is to encourage new enrollment and showcase how college programs and degrees help redefine the human health span. The campaign drove a meaningful rise of interest in the college’s website, including a 31.98% increase in new users and a 6.61% growth in engaged sessions—leading all schools and colleges in website performance. More Life will continue into 2026 to promote continued growth in undergraduate recruitment.
College of Pharmacy Nationally Recognized for Research Funding
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy ranked the College of Pharmacy No. 8 nationwide for total research funding in FY2024. With over $28.8 million in research support, the college continues its steady rise from No. 11 in FY2023 and No. 16 in FY2022. Combined with award-winning work from research faculty and the 50th Anniversary of the Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program, 2025 was a year defined by research excellence, despite a challenging landscape.
Library Gives Utah Physicians Free Access to PubMed
The Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library launched a partnership with Intermountain Health to expand access to evidence-based resources for Utah physicians. Through our joint article delivery service, Utah-licensed physicians (MD or DO) can request full-text articles directly from PubMed. The new system is easy to sign up for and ensures fast, reliable access to the research doctors need. This collaboration strengthens clinical decision-making, supports evidence-based practice, and ultimately enhances patient outcomes across the state.
Expanding Access to Care
- U of U Health broke ground on the University of Utah Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital in West Valley, made possible through a $75 million gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. The new medical campus will bring multi-specialty care directly to the more than 725,000 residents living west of I-15, while creating new opportunities for education and economic growth.
- Huntsman Cancer Institute broke ground on a second comprehensive cancer center in Vineyard, Utah. The new center creates expanded capacity for cancer research, care, education, and training. The Utah County location was selected to ease the travel burden for patients in central and southern portions of the state.
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute celebrated the opening of Utah’s first comprehensive crisis care center. The Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center provides 24/7 walk-in care for adults ages 18 and older experiencing mental health or substance use crises regardless of their ability to pay.
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute also opened the Youth Crisis Center, a specialized 24/7 crisis stabilization program designed exclusively for children and adolescents ages 5-17 experiencing mental health emergencies.
- In partnership with CommonSpirit, a team of U of U Health hospitalists and emergency physicians provide care at Holy Cross – Salt Lake and Holy Cross – Jordan Valley. This extension of services ensures consistent patient care while giving Holy Cross patients access to the expertise of U of U Heath providers.
- Utah expanded Medicaid coverage to include comprehensive dental care to all eligible adults through a partnership between the School of Dentistry and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
- The Substance Use & Pregnancy—Recovery, Addiction, and Dependence Clinic (SUPeRAD) opened its new location at the Population Health Center near Rose Park. SUPeRAD is Utah’s first program dedicated to providing care for individuals navigating substance use disorders before, during, and after pregnancy.
Engaging and Serving the Community
- U of U Health received $262.6 million in philanthropic support in FY2025.
- A Community Collaboration Council was formed with representatives from U of U Health and university campus partners to improve access to health care and health information and advance career pathways for the community.
- In 2025, U of U Health hosted 20 community health fairs in partnership with local nonprofit organizations where we provided more than 1,100 dental, vision, hearing, diabetes, and mammography screenings and 500 flu and COVID vaccinations. We also donated 400 coats and 600 pairs of shoes for children.
- As the Official Health & Wellness Partner for the Sundance Film Festival, U of U Health engaged with attendees and enriched the 2025 festival experience with community screenings and panel discussions. Licensed mental health professionals from Huntsman Mental Health Institute and U of U Health’s Resiliency Center provided confidential Stress First Aid (SFA) consultations for Sundance staff impacted or displaced by devastating fires in California.
- U of U Health provided $144.3 million in uncompensated care for patients in FY2025.
Campus Transformation
- Construction of the James LeVoy Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation is nearing completion. A soft opening is scheduled for February 2026, with the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow in April.
- Construction continues on the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine building, with expected completion in August 2026.
- Construction continues on the Utah Mental Health Translational Research Building at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, with expected completion in 2027.
Major Achievements, Awards, and Recognition
- Forbes named University of Utah Health to its list of America’s Best Larger Employers for 2025. Forbes also recognized U of U Health as one of America’s Best-in-State Employers in 2025.
- Becker’s Healthcare named U of U Health to its list of Top Places to Work in Healthcare in 2025.
- U of U Health received a 2025 American Medical Association Joy in Medicine Award with silver status. This recognition, valid for two years, recognizes our commitment to fostering joy, purpose, and meaning among physicians and care teams.
- Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital celebrated its five-year anniversary.
- 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.
- The Utah MRI Research Center in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences completed the installation of Utah’s first Siemens Free.Max scanner.
- The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine launched the Integrating Medicine and Policy to Achieve Healthcare Transformation (IMPACT) Program. IMPACT aims to recruit, retain, and support exceptional clinician-scientists at all academic ranks who are dedicated to impactful late translational, health services, and outcomes research.
- Randall J Olson ,MD, retired after nearly five decades of leadership as CEO for the John A. Moran Eye Center and Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology.
- Mary Beckerle, PhD, stepped down as CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute after nearly two decades of leadership. She will serve on the Huntsman Cancer Foundation board and continue in her role as distinguished professor of biology and oncological sciences.
- Bob Carter, MD, PhD, executive vice president for health sciences and CEO for U of U Health, was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine for his contributions to advancing personalized medicine through research and creating new cancer therapies.
- Bruce Edgar, PhD, professor of oncological sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute researcher, was elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences for his contributions to the scientific study of cell growth and proliferation.
- Wesley Sundquist, PhD, chair of the Department of Biochemistry, was named to TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world for a research discovery that has the potential to transform global HIV prevention.
- Mark Yandell, PhD, professor of human genetics, was named to Modern Healthcare’s 2025 Innovators list.
- Jacob George, PhD, director of the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, was named the inaugural Solzbacher-Chen Endowed Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Utah.
- The American Medical Group Association named John Barrett, MD, chair of the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, to its Board of Directors for a three-year term.
- Lisa Taylor-Swanson, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, was voted co-president of the Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR).
- Lisa Fallert, chief operating officer of University of Utah Health Plans, was named among the Top 50 COOs at the 2025 OnCon Icon Awards.
- Theresa Werner, MD (oncology), Christy Porucznik, PhD, MSPH (public health), and Courtney Scaife, MD (surgery), completed year-long fellowships with the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program. Kencee Graves, MD (internal medicine), Rachel Weir, MD (psychiatry), and Kristi Smock, MD (pathology), were selected as 2026 ELAM fellows. At ELAM’s 30th anniversary celebration, U of U Health was recognized with the Institutional Award for the Advancement of Women in Medicine and the Sciences.
- Joey Mattingly, PharmD, MBA, PhD, vice chair of research for the College of Pharmacy, was named a 2025 Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association.
- Nathorn (Nui) Chaiyakunapruk, PharmD, PhD, professor of pharmacotherapy, was named a 2025 Clarivate “Highly Cited Researcher,” placing his publications among the top 1% most cited worldwide
- Jessica Osterhout, PhD, assistant professor of neurobiology, was selected as a 2025 Pew Scholar by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
- Jia-Wen Guo, PhD, associate professor of nursing, Jenny Alderden, PhD, assistant professor of nursing, and nursing alumna Stacie Hunsaker, PhD, were inducted into the American Academy of Nursing.
- Dorothy (Dart) Schmalz, PhD, chair of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, was named a Fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences.
- The American Public Health Association recognized Brenda Heaton, PhD, associate dean for research and section head for population health at the School of Dentistry, as the inaugural recipient of the Scott L. Tomar Mid-Career Public Health Professional Award.
- Kara Dassel, PhD, FGSA, associate dean for academic affairs at the College of Nursing, received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Gerontological Society of America and the Academy of Gerontology in Higher Education.
- Steve Bell, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies, received the 2025 Legacy Award from the Utah Recreation Therapy Association.
- Valerie Flattes, PhD, APRN, MS, ANP-BC, associate professor of nursing, received the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 2025 State Award for Outstanding Contributions.
- Becker’s Healthcare named University of Utah Health to its list of Simulation and Education Programs to Know in 2024.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Mary Beckerle, PhD, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute (former) and associate vice president of Cancer Affairs, to its list of Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know in 2025.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Charlton Park, MBA, MHSM, system chief financial and analytics officer for U of U Health, to its list of Academic Medical Center CFOs to Know in 2025.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Gina Hawley, DrPH, chief operating officer for U of U Health Hospitals & Clinics, to its list of Academic Medical Center COOs to Know in 2025.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Christian Sherwood, MA, Chief Human Resources Officer for U of U Health Hospitals & Clinics, to its 2025 list of CHROs and chief people officers to know.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Donna Roach, MS, CHCIO, FCHIME, FHIMSS, chief information officer at U of U Health, to its list of Hospital and Health System CIOs to Know in 2025.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Mari Ransco, MA, associate executive director of patient experience at U of U Health, to its list of Hospital and Health System CXOs to Know in 2025.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Jen Simmons, BSN, RN, director of nursing quality at U of U Health, to its list of Patient Safety Experts to Know in 2025.
- Becker’s Healthcare named Grant Lasson, MBA, system chief strategy officer for U of U Health, to its list of chief strategy officers to know in 2024.
- Donna Baluchi, MLIS, became the first health sciences librarian to officially hold a faculty role within the Leadership Through Scholarship Fellowship.
- 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.
- Claire Wulfman, MPH, a master of public health graduate, received the prestigious Fulbright Award for the 2025–2026 academic year.
- Kaden Brown, MS, a 2025 graduate of the College of Health’s Master of Athletic Training program, won a gold medal in men’s tumbling at the World Games in Chengdu, China.
- The American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education awarded two College Pharmacy students—Lauren Naatz, MS (molecular pharmaceutics), and Jared Seale, MS (medicinal chemistry)—a prestigious pre-doctoral fellowship for the 2025–2026 academic year.