CU Anschutz School of Medicine

‘We've Never Had a Human Medical Student Before': A CU Trainee Rotates Through an Animal Cancer Clinic Tristan Seawalt was the first student from the CU Anschutz School of Medicine to take a comparative oncology course at CSU's Flint Animal Cancer Center.

Congrats to Tristan Seawalt for being the first medical student from the CU Anschutz School of Medicine’s Fort Collins Regional Medical Campus at Colorado State University to take a comparative oncology course at CSU’s renowned Flint Animal Cancer Center 👏 ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4nnicS1

New CU Anschutz Research Explores the Connection Between the Gut and Skeletal Health Researchers at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine say microorganisms living in the gut may hold the key to improving symptoms of osteoarthritis, help heal stubborn fractures, and more.

Researchers at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine say microorganisms living in the gut may hold the key to improving symptoms of osteoarthritis, help heal stubborn fractures, and more. https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/gut-skeletal-health-research

We’re Not Saying the Fitzsimons Building Is Haunted, But … Is the Fitzsimons Building haunted? The historic army hospital turned administrative offices of CU Anschutz is a curiosity, with strange sites and sounds.

Shadowy figures, unexplained noises, and doors opening and closing on their own are all part of the Fitzsimons building lore. Read more spooky campus tales ⬇️ https://news.cuanschutz.edu/campus-community/were-not-saying-the-fitzsimons-building-is-haunted-but-
#Halloween #ScaryStories

Amid the Noise About Tylenol, There’s a Real Risk: An Overdose Acetaminophen poisoning accounts for about 56,000 emergency-room visits a year. A CU Emergency Medicine toxicology expert is investigating a new treatment.

Acetaminophen poisoning accounts for 56,000 emergency department visits annually in the United States. Kennon Heard, MD, PhD, is researching a new treatment for these overdoses. https://news.cuanschutz.edu/emergency-medicine/heard-toxicology-acetaminophen-poisoning

An Understudied Type of Breast Cancer Poses a Lurking Threat Matt Sikora, PhD, seeks better answers for lobular breast cancer, which can be harder to detect & has lower survival rates after several years than other types.

Matthew Sikora, PhD, associate professor of pathology and CU Cancer Center member, focuses his research on lobular breast cancer, which is often understudied, can be harder to detect, and has lower survival rates after several years than other types. Learn more: https://bit.ly/47B9b2S

Even Small Drops in Vaccination Rates for U.S. Children Can Lead to Disease Even small drops in vaccination rates for US children can lead to disease outbreaks

In this Q&A, David Higgins, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of pediatrics, shares what is happening with the decline of childhood vaccination nationally and what parents can do ⬇️
https://bit.ly/476Ih2I

‘Mostly Benign’: Sleep Paralysis Demons Explained While often a scary experience, Katherine Green, MD, medical director of the CU Sleep Center, says sleep paralysis is a case of misaligned activity between the brain and body.

Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? While often a scary experience, Katherine Green, MD, medical director of the CU Sleep Center, says sleep paralysis is a case of misaligned activity between the brain and body ⬇️
https://bit.ly/3KTMhek

Congrats to Richard D. Krugman, MD, distinguished professor of pediatrics, for receiving the 2025 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows program Lifetime Achievement Award! ⬇️
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/krugman-lifetime-achievement-rwjf

CU Anschutz Announces Study Using Groundbreaking Neuropixels Technology to Unlock New Insights Into Parkinson’s Disease CU Anschutz doctors employed the first FDA-approved use of Neuropixels technology to study the impact of Parkinson's disease on patient executive function.

CU Anschutz is the first site with FDA authorization to use Neuropixels technology during brain surgery to study executive function and unlock insights into Parkinson’s disease. Read more about the study: https://bit.ly/4o4iX2R

CU Cancer Center Leader Jamie Studts, PhD, Receives NIH Grant to Improve Lung Cancer Screening Programs Nationwide Jamie Studts, PhD, has received an NIH grant to launch a multi-phase process to improve lung cancer screening efforts at 60 sites across the U.S.

Jamie Studts (@hawkeyestudts.bsky.social), PhD, professor of medical oncology and CU Cancer Center leader, has received a grant from the NCI to start a multi-phase process to improve lung cancer screening efforts nationally ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4pJ5lf8

Placing patients and their families at the center of everything we do is the core of our mission at CU Anschutz School of Medicine. Dean Sampson shared this reminder in his message for Patient-Centered Care Month. Read the full message: https://bit.ly/4nPMUEd

Documentary Recounts CU Anschutz Pediatrician Steve Berman’s Impact A new Rocky Mountain PBS special chronicles the life and legacy of the late Steve Berman, MD, a pediatrician and faculty member at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine.

The life and legacy of Steve Berman, MD, is chronicled in a new Rocky Mountain PBS special, “Steve Berman, An American Pediatrician.”

Learn more about Berman's impact: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/steve-berman-pbs-documentary

Are Earthworms the Answer to Perfusion Woes? Heiko Yang, MD, PhD, received an NIH grant to study earthworm hemoglobin as a substitute for blood in the machines that keep deceased donor organs alive.

Heiko Yang, MD, PhD, has received a National Institutes of Health grant to study earthworm 🪱 hemoglobin as a substitute for red blood cells 🩸 in the machines that keep deceased donor organs alive ⬇️
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/department-of-surgery/earthworms-blood-substitute-organ-perfusion

Can Wearing a Smartwatch Combat Burnout? New research led by CU Anschutz School of Medicine Chief Well-Being Officer Lotte Dyrbye, MD, MHPE, finds that smartwatches may contribute to reducing burnout and improving resilience.

New research led by CU Anschutz School of Medicine Chief Well-Being Officer Lotte Dyrbye, MD, MHPE, finds that smartwatches may contribute to reducing burnout and improving resilience.

Learn more: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/smartwatch-burnout-research-dyrbye

Why Studying Hospital Chatter Matters A quarter of a hospital clinician’s day can be spent messaging about their work. A new research focus aims to figure out how to improve secure message efficiency for the sake of providers and patients...

Jessica Clawson, MD, is researching how chat systems are used by hospital care teams and what improvements can be made to support the health care workforce and enhance patient experience. Learn more in part four of our research series: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/secure-chats-research-2025

Congrats to Children's Hospital Colorado! We're proud of all our faculty members and all those who make the top-of-the-line pediatric care possible. This recognition is a testament to the hard work done every day for the youngest patients!

Simulation Gives Second-Year Medical Students an Early Introduction to the Operating Room Second-year students at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine got a taste of what the operating room is like at a simulation exercise on campus.

Rising CU Anschutz School of Medicine second-year students participate in an operating room simulation exercise to prepare for their clinical rotations ⬇️
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/operating-room-simulation-medical-students

Virginia Borges, MD, MMSc, professor of medical oncology, breaks down how to prevent breast cancer and more ⬇️

CU Anschutz School of Medicine Researchers Identify New Method for Treating Alcohol Use Disorder CU researchers found that tolcapone may treat alcohol use disorder by increasing activation of the prefrontal cortex, improving behavioral control.

Researchers in the Department of Psychiatry at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine found that the drug tolcapone increases behavioral control by increasing activation of the prefrontal cortex to help treat alcohol use disorder. https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/tolcapone-alcohol-use-disorder

Vik Bebarta, MD, Named Chair of CU Anschutz Department of Emergency Medicine Vik Bebarta, MD, has been named Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, effective October 1.

We are excited to announce the appointment of Vik Bebarta, MD, as Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine, effective October 1. Read the full announcement: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/vik-bebarta-dem-chair-announcement

Using Novel AI and Single-Cell Techniques to Advance Autoimmune Therapies In the Zhang Lab at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine, researchers work to uncover pathways that could lead to targeted therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions.

Fan Zhang, PhD, and the researchers in the Zhang Lab are helping lead the way toward potential new treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Learn more in part three of our research series: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/ai-single-cell-autoimmune-research-2025

Denver Broncos Coach Finds the Perfect Treatment Team at the CU Cancer Center Diagnosed with a yolk sac tumor in 2024, Denver Broncos coach Zack Grossi was treated by Laura Graham, MD, after a chance meeting in the ER.

With treatment at the @@cucancercenter.bsky.social, Denver Broncos passing game specialist Zack Grossi is cancer-free ⬇️
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/cancer-center/denver-broncos-coach-zack-grossi-yolk-sac-tumor

CU Anschutz Receives $50M Challenge Gift to Transform Mental Health Care CU Anschutz Receives $50M Challenge Gift to Transform Mental Health Care

The Anschutz Foundation has committed up to $50 million to CU Anschutz to jumpstart a sweeping new initiative in mental health ⬇️
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/news-stories/cu-anschutz-receives-50m-challenge-gift-to-transform-mental-health-care

What to Know About Unverified Links Between Acetaminophen and Autism When used appropriately, acetaminophen is safe for pregnant women and their unborn babies, says CU Anschutz developmental pediatrician Sandra Friedman, MD, MPH.

What do researchers know about the causes of autism? Where does Tylenol potentially factor in? In this Q&A with Sandra Friedman, MD, MPH, professor of pediatrics, she answers these questions and more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/42eMyhQ

A Clinical Study at the Forefront of Investigating Rare Kidney Diseases NEPTUNE, a multi-site clinical study, brings together different types of researchers to learn more about what drives some types of kidney disease.

James Dylewski, DO, is among a group of researchers and clinicians seeking to better understand rare kidney disease and how to more effectively treat patients. Read more about the study in part two of our research series: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/research-series-neptune-2025

Lavanya Kondapalli, MD, associate professor of cardiology, and other physicians published an in-depth review article, “The Impact of Mental Health on Cardiovascular Disease in Women.” Read about this new research ⬇️
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/research-women-heart-mental-health

An Orthopedic Surgeon’s Advice for Avoiding Ski Season Injuries The weeks leading up to a day on the slopes are a big part of staying healthy, says CU sports medicine physician Eric McCarty, MD.

It's not yet fall, but it's a great time to start preparing for ski season. We asked CU sports medicine physician Eric McCarty, MD, for advice on building up endurance prior to ski season. Read the full Q&A: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/ski-season-injury-prevention-mccarty

CU Anschutz Launches Groundbreaking Pancreatic Cancer Program with $15 Million Philanthropic Gift New CU Anschutz program harnesses AI and data technologies to uncover treatment breakthroughs and improvie outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.

@cuanschutz.bsky.social is launching a new program in collaboration with the @cucancercenter.bsky.social and CU Innovations aimed at tackling pancreatic cancer, thanks to a $15 million philanthropic gift ⬇️
https://bit.ly/3VpTpkC

Endocrine Experts Unveil New Guidelines for Women with Preexisting Diabetes in Pregnancy and Preconception Care CU School of Medicine professor Linda Barbour, MD, explains newly-released diabetes and pregnancy recommendations from the Endocrine Society and the European Society of Endocrinology.

CU endocrinologist Linda A. Barbour, MD, MSPH, FACP, was part of a multidisciplinary panel that developed new pregnancy and preconception care recommendations for women with preexisting diabetes ⬇️
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/endocrine-diabetes-reproductive-guidelines

Investigating the ‘Dark Side’ of Gut Microbes in the Ost Lab A healthy gut microbiome is a balancing act, but things can go awry. CU School of Medicine researcher Kyla Ost, PhD, wants to know the mechanisms that make that so.

Part one of our new research series looks at the Ost Lab to learn about the 'dark side' of gut microbes. Read more about the work of Kyla Ost, PhD: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/research-series-ost-lab