Voices of U of U Health
Monthly Momentos: June 2026
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.
Major land acquisition represents a pivotal moment for Utah’s evolving health care needs, the link between air pollution and surgical outcomes, three-year plan for improving community health, and more June highlights.
Kudos
- University of Utah Health Hospitals & Clinics was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as among the nation's hospitals patients would highly recommend, earning a five-star patient recommendation rating based on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data.
- Alexandra Flis, MD, medical director of the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital and president of the University of Utah Health Hospitals & Clinics Medical Board, received the Emerging Leader Award from Drexel University College of Medicine. The award recognizes early-career physicians who demonstrate outstanding leadership, service, and contributions to advancing patient care and access.
- Sharon Bigger, PhD, MA, RN, a fellow in the College of Nursing, and Djin Tay, PhD, BSN, assistant professor of nursing, received the Fellow in Palliative Care Nursing designation from the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. This honor recognizes national leadership and significant contributions to advancing palliative and hospice nursing through clinical care, education, mentorship, and professional service.
- Donna Roach, CHCIO, FCHIME, FHIMSS, system chief digital information officer for University of Utah Health, was recognized on Becker’s Hospital Review’s Women in Health IT to Know list for 2026. The honor recognizes influential leaders who are shaping the future of health care through digital innovation, technology modernization, and data-driven transformation.
- Katie Gilmore, a PharmD student in the College of Pharmacy, was elected 2026-27 Speaker of the House for the National Executive Committee of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP).
Leadership Announcements
- Randall T. Peterson, PhD, was appointed associate vice president of health sciences initiatives. A nationally recognized scientist and former dean of the College of Pharmacy, Peterson will work with University of Utah Health leadership to advance enterprise-wide initiatives, foster collaboration across the health sciences, and support innovation that strengthens the university's impact as a leading academic health system.
- David B. Larson, MD, MBA, was named chair of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences. Larson joins University of Utah Health in September from Stanford University, where he served as Executive Vice Chair and Acting Chair of Radiology and led initiatives in quality improvement, clinical operations, and artificial intelligence.
- Lisa Mische Lawson, PhD, CTRS, was named chair of the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies. She succeeds Lorie Richards, PhD, who served as department chair for nearly 15 years and returns to service as associate professor.
Achievements in Clinical Care
- University of Utah Health announced the purchase of approximately 46 acres of land within The Point, a 600-acre mixed-use development near the border of Salt Lake and Utah counties at Point of the Mountain. This land purchase marks a pivotal moment for Utah’s evolving health care needs. U of U Health will build a new health campus and serve as the exclusive health care provider within The Point. The project does not change U of U Health’s existing commitments in West Valley and Vineyard. Together, these are complementary efforts that reflect our broader strategy for expanding access to care in Utah and the region.
- Huntsman Cancer Institute announced a new affiliation with Portneuf Cancer Center in Pocatello, Idaho, expanding access to cutting-edge cancer care, clinical trials, and specialty expertise for patients across southeastern Idaho. The partnership brings nationally recognized cancer resources closer to home while strengthening care throughout the Mountain West.
Achievements in Education
- Research by Brandon Patterson, MA, and Nena Schvaneveldt, MSLIS, faculty of the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, contributed to a newly adopted national companion document guiding information literacy instruction in nursing education. The document was developed through the Association of College and Research Libraries.
- The Department of Dermatology celebrated the graduation of residents Ali Eisenbeiss, MD, Amber Jimenez, MD, Shreya Sreekantaswamy, MD, and Skylar Westerdahl, MD, along with Mohs Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellow Jenn Strunck, MD. Their completion of training reflects years of dedication to patient care, scholarship, and clinical excellence, and marks the next step in preparing the future leaders of dermatology.
Achievements in Research & Innovation
- New research led by anesthesiologist John F. Pearson, MD, found that exposure to high levels of fine particulate air pollution before surgery was associated with a greater risk of post-surgical complications among nearly 50,000 patients from the Wasatch Front. These findings, published in Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, highlight the impact of environmental factors on patient outcomes and could help inform future public health and environmental policies.
- Researchers Christopher Conrady, MD, PhD, Akbar Shakoor, MD, and Albert T. Vitale, MD, at the John A. Moran Eye Center identified which forms of endophthalmitis carry the highest risk of vision loss. Published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, their findings could help clinicians identify high-risk patients earlier and improve treatment decisions.
- Presentations from Vitae 2026, U of U Health’s annual science storytelling event, are now available online. This year’s speakers included Nathan Blue, MD, MSCI, Christopher Depner, PhD, Yue Lu, PhD, Chelsey Schlechter, PhD, MPH, Tyler Starr, PhD, and Djin Tay, PhD, RN, FCPN. They shared the stories behind their groundbreaking work in maternal-fetal health, sleep science, nanotechnology, population health, infectious disease, and cancer care.
Community Collaboration
- U of U Health welcomed more than 200 second-grade students from Nibley Park and Whittier elementary schools for Let’s Pretend Hospital, an interactive event designed to make health care accessible and engaging through hands-on lessons in anatomy, emergency care, medication safety, and hospital hygiene.
- U of U Health released its 2026–2029 Community Health Improvement Strategy, a three-year roadmap developed with input from thousands of Utah residents, local health districts, community organizations, and health care partners. The plan focuses on expanding access to care, improving behavioral health resources, and addressing social determinants of health to better meet the needs of communities across the state.