View this email online

UIC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs • Vol. 9, Issue 1

The college’s M. Christine Schwartz Experiential Learning & Simulation Laboratory is among the largest at any U.S. nursing school. (Photo: UIC College of Nursing/Jordyn Harrison)

The UIC College of Nursing’s M. Christine Schwartz Experiential Learning & Simulation Laboratory has become the only nursing simulation program in Illinois to receive the Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™ from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL). This three-year recognition highlights the dedication to excellence in health care simulation practices in the Schwartz Simulation Laboratory, located on the college’s Chicago campus.

Additionally, the college is continuing its impressive momentum as one of the highest-ranking nursing schools in the country by focusing on upgrading the college’s infrastructure to meet the needs of its students and faculty. Through the renovation of the first-floor auditorium of the 55-year-old building on the College of Nursing Chicago campus, they increased the capacity from 92 to 160 seats and increased accessibility. The ribbon cutting for the fully modernized and updated Carolyn Jarvis Auditorium took place in February.

More About the College of Nursing's Accomplishments

More About the Simulation Endorsement at UIC Nursing

A welcoming and comfortable living space in the Hope House Rockford home for girls. (Photo: One Hope United)

Drs. Jennifer Geiger, Sonya Leathers and James Swartz of the Jane Addams College of Social Work (JACSW) have received nearly $1 million in funding from One Hope United (OHU) to evaluate their Hope Houses for youth involved in the child welfare system. The OHU Hope Houses offer a therapeutic and compassionate alternative to standard institutional group settings, fostering well-being, educational success and independent living skills.

OHU currently has 10 Hope House locations throughout Florida and recently opened four new locations in Illinois. JACSW and its research partners at Florida State University and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago will collect data and analyze outcomes from the Hope Houses with the aim of demonstrating the positive impact for youth in foster care.

Additionally, every young person discharged from a Hope House who is admitted to UIC will be eligible for full-tuition scholarships and other supportive services through a variety of UIC programs.

More About the OHU Study at UIC Today

Chicago Tribune Coverage of OHU Hope Houses

Dr. Robert Cohen (left) and Dr. Leonard Go of the MinER Center. (Photo: Martin Hernandez/UIC)

Since 2014, the School of Public Health's Mining Education and Research (MinER) Center has provided education and clinical services for treatment of black lung disease, and conducted research related to health and safety in the mining industry. With new funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the center is collecting and analyzing data from across the U.S. to determine best practices and protocols for treating black lung disease. Center director Dr. Robert Cohen notes that modern mining technology is affecting younger populations of workers, and that clinics are needed now more than ever.

More About the MinER Center at UIC Today

UIC students and staff who worked to advance environmental justice in Tsumeb, Namibia. (Photo: UIC School of Public Health)

A team of students from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, the UIC School of Public Health and the UIC School of Law travelled to Namibia to investigate a public health crisis in the mining town of Tsumeb. They conducted fact-finding, interviewed affected residents, and consulted with environmental and industry experts, ultimately confirming the credibility of allegations against local smelting operations. They also helped residents navigate procedures for registering their claims with the UN in support of an investigation into human rights abuses in Tsumeb.

More About the Namibia Trip at UIC Applied Health Sciences

The College of Dentistry's new Department of Population Oral Health will be a cornerstone for population-based oral-health research and innovation. (Photo: UIC College of Dentistry)

With the launch of the new Department of Population Oral Health (DPOH), the UIC College of Dentistry is solidifying its place at the forefront of oral-disease prevention, public health education and community-based research. As an evolution from the college's longstanding Division of Prevention and Public Health Sciences, the new department will direct service learning in the doctor of dental medicine program at community-based sites that support nearly 10,000 patient visits each year. In partnership with the UIC School of Public Health, it will also oversee the joint doctor of dental medicine-master of public health program which prepares graduates to combine their clinical knowledge with public health approaches to addressing population oral health.

More About DPOH at UIC Today

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin speaking during a press conference at Mile Square Health Center on February 19. (Photo: Aaron Atchison)

The UI Health Mile Square Heath Center hosted a press conference for Senator Dick Durbin, who spotlighted how cuts to Medicaid could impact community health, especially regarding access to cancer screenings. Senator Durbin cited a recent study which found that the cuts will likely result in one million missed cancer screenings in just two years. Joining him were Dr. Karriem Watson, Mile Square Health Center executive director, and Dr. Pamela Ganschow, director of cancer prevention and survivorship clinical programs at the University of Illinois Cancer Center. In her remarks at the event, Dr. Ganschow noted that today’s 70% cancer survival rate could backslide due to this reduction in coverage for screenings.

Read Senator Durbin's Press Release

Dr. Anand Srivastava and Dr. Santosh Saraf. (Photo: Jenny Fontaine/UIC)

Under a $3.78 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Dr. Anand Srivastava and Dr. Santosh Saraf of the College of Medicine are studying a treatment for kidney disease among people with sickle cell disease. There are limited treatments for people with sickle cell, who experience survival rates that may be 20 to 30 years shorter than for people without the disease. The researchers hope to demonstrate the efficacy of empagliflozin, a drug already FDA-approved for treatment of diabetes, in slowing the progress of chronic kidney disease, which is often a serious complication among sickle cell patients.

More About Treating Sickle Cell at UIC Today

CRISPR is a technology that allows scientists to treat certain diseases at their source in the genome. (Photo: Stock)

In 2021, the research team of Dr. Brad Merrill of the University of Illinois College of Medicine produced a breakthrough in CRISPR gene editing technology with a technique for programming sequential edits in DNA, which mimics the natural process of gene activation. In a recent study, they have demonstrated proof of concept for using this technique with pluripotent stem cells, which are key to making cell-based therapies for regenerative medicine. Merrill’s team is currently testing the technique to produce pancreatic beta cells for people with type 1 diabetes, which could eliminate the need for insulin injections.

More About Gene Editing at UIC Today

The new MS in Physiology for Therapeutic Development prepares students to become clinical trial specialists. (Photo: College of Medicine)

The University of Illinois College of Medicine has launched a new Master of Science program in Physiology for Therapeutic Development that will provide rigorous education in human physiology and disease, enabling students to translate scientific discoveries into effective, patient-centered clinical trials. In an environment where trials are increasingly complex and diverse, students will be prepared for all facets of clinical trials, from trial design and regulatory affairs to participant recruitment and data interpretation, in both academic and industrial environments.

More About the New Program at UI College of Medicine

The latest cohort of graduates from the Dental Assistant Certification Program celebrated their accomplishment on March 6 (Photo: Aaron Atchison).

The UI Health Mile Square Health Center (MSHC) continues to expand on its primary mission of delivering exceptional patient care, while focused on community-based training and workforce development. MSHC celebrated the continued success of the Dental Assistant Certification Program with the graduation of its 9th cohort and aims to incorporate the progressive training of the UIC College of Dentistry’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program. Together, the programs set a new standard for how we collaboratively care for the patients we serve.

The AEGD program is designed to prepare practicing dentists with the training needed to work within the communities we serve with the goal of enriching these oral health professionals with a greater understanding and sensitivity to patient populations. The Mile Square Health Center’s Dental Assistant Certificate Program is a nearly cost-free educational opportunity for members of the community interested in pursuing a health professions education – especially in oral health and dentistry.

More Details and Photos from the Graduation

Dr. Saria Lofton will test a diet and nutritional program through four MSHC locations. (Photos: UIC, UI Health)

Dr. Saria Lofton of the College of Nursing has received $2.98 million from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to test a diet and nutrition program for Black women with high blood pressure. The randomized trial will enroll 150 participants who will receive 12 weeks of grocery delivery, cooking classes and education on nutrition and hypertension management, with six months of follow-up and support. The study is being conducted through four Mile Square Health Center locations: South Shore, Englewood, Auburn Gresham and the main location.

More About FIM+Dash at UIC Nursing

Children from St. Malachy School showing their beautiful smiles at the event. (Photo: UIC)

The UIC College of Dentistry hosted its annual Give Kids A Smile day, part of a national initiative of the American Dental Association Foundation. This year’s event welcomed nearly 100 children from St. Malachy School, located in Chicago’s Near West Side. The children received free comprehensive oral exams, teeth cleaning and sealants, oral health education and dietary recommendations. The event exemplifies the college’s commitment to Chicago families who may struggle to find dental care for their young children.

Photos from Give Kids a Smile day at UIC Today

On March 16, the project to increase pedestrian safety entered Phase II of construction, involving installation of curb extensions and a raised crosswalk across Taylor Street at Hermitage Avenue. Taylor Street will be closed from Paulina Street to Wood Street.

Construction Details and Map of Detour Routes

UIC Research Week 2026, the annual celebration of research discovery, innovation and collaboration at UIC, will run from Monday, April 20 to Friday, April 24, featuring series of seminars, presentations, meetings and events to showcase the work of our faculty, staff, students and research trainees. Details at the Research Week website.

The Office of Innovation advances innovation and entrepreneurship on campus, connects UIC to the Chicago ecosystem and engages industry partners.

A team with UIC roots is taking gene editing and synthetic biology to the next level with their company, Syntax Bio. They are leveraging the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) system’s properties to turn genes on and off in specific orders. Using their proprietary Cellgorithm™ technology, the team can change stem cells into types of specialized cells for use in research or development of new therapeutics.

The UIC Office of Research Integrity in OVCR has released guidelines for authorship and recommendations for how to handle authorship disputes. They are intended both as an educational resource and as a tool to help prevent and handle authorship disputes.

NIH released a new data management plan template which will be effective on May 25, 2026. Research teams are encouraged to reach out to DMSPSupport@uic.edu with questions or to get support with the new requirements.

Based on his 40 years as an emergency medicine physician, educator and public health leader, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Robert Barish wrote an op-ed for Crains Chicago Business emphasizing the impact public AHCs have on patients, communities, health systems and the economy.

Read the Op-Ed by Dr. Barish

UIC has become a member of the Milken Institute’s Women’s Health Network chaired by Dr. Jill Biden, with Dr. Pauline Maki and Dr. Shikha Jain appointed as UIC representatives.

U.S. News & World Report has designated the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics as a ‘High Performing Hospital’ for Maternity Care.

Dr. Audrius Polikaitis, chief information officer for the Hospital & Clinics, was recognized by Becker’s Health IT in 135 Hospital and Health System CIOs to Know.

Dr. Trevonne Thompson was named regional dean for the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford.

Dr. Jerry Krishnan was named Interim Vice Dean for Research at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Dr. Heather Prendergast was appointed Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Dr. Eileen Collins, dean of the College of Nursing, was quoted in two Crains Chicago Business articles, one about the recent narrowing of professional degree classification and another about the use of AI and simulation in education.

Dr. Colin Haley, clinical associate professor at the College of Dentistry, was honored by UIC for Excellence in Teaching.

Dr. Carolyn Dickens, associate dean for faculty practice and partnerships at the College of Nursing, was honored by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners with a State Award for Outstanding Contributions in Illinois.

Dr. Alex Stagnaro Green, former regional dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, penned an op-ed in Rockford Register Star about the college receiving an Excelsior award.

Beckers Health IT noted that the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics was among 17 organizations that went live with TEFCA in November, 2025.

David Chestek, UI Health chief medical information officer, served as a panelist for HealthLeaders’ recent The Winning Edge event, and appeared in an article about the event.

Dr. Ana Bedran-Russo, associate dean for research at the College of Dentistry, was installed as president of the Academy of Operative Dentistry.

Dr. Lindsay Slater Hannigan of the College of Applied Health Sciences was interviewed by Wired about her role as head for sports sciences for U.S. Figure Skating.

Dr. Gitika Thakur, postdoctoral research associate at the UI College of Medicine Rockford, received a 2025 AWIS-Chicago Area Chapter Innovator Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to innovation and research.

For the annual celebration of Match Day, 281 medical students at the University of Illinois College of Medicine learned where they will spend the next three to seven years for their residency training –166 students from Chicago campus, 64 from Peoria and 50 from Rockford. Additionally, the Retzky College of Pharmacy celebrated by welcoming 28 residents into their programs.

More About Match Day

The UIC College of Nursing’s Midwest Nursing History Research Center hosted a symposium to mark the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event provided a forum for reflection on the impact and disparate outcomes of the pandemic, while encouraging healing, growth and understanding with an aim of informing future problem solving.

More About the COVID Symposium at College of Nursing

April 3 – Dr. Gary Kruh Cancer Research Symposium (University of Illinois Cancer Center)

April 4 – Annual UICOMP Health Disparities Forum (College of Medicine Peoria)

April 7 – UIC Global Health Colloquium: In Observance of World Health Day (School of Public Health)

April 10 – Chancellor Miranda’s Chair Chat with Magic Johnson

April 10 – UICOMR Research Day 2026 (College of Medicine Rockford)

April 14 – Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series: Roeland Nusse, PhD (College of Medicine)

April 15 – AI.Health4All Seminar: Geoffrey Bowker, PhD, UC Irvine (College of Medicine)

Apr 17 – 17th Annual Minority Health Conference (School of Public Health) 

April 20-24 – UIC Research Week Events (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research)

April 21 – Collective Singing and Music as Social Medicine (Odehmenan Health Equity Center)

April 23 – UI COM Innovation Day (College of Medicine)

May 20 – AI.Health4All Seminar: Soroush Saghafian, PhD, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government (College of Medicine)

June 17 – AI.Health4All Seminar: Hong Yu, MS, PhD, FACMI, University of Massachusetts Lowell (College of Medicine)

Various Research-Related Webinars (Center for Clinical and Translational Science)

Resulting from a partnership between the UIC School of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health, a new report details the health risks and inequities faced by Illinois' homeless population, and proposes recommendations for addressing these inequities.

More About Illinois Homelessness Mortality and Morbidity at the School of Public Health

The Mile Square Health Center Dental Assistant Certification Program has graduated 71 dental assistants since 2022. The program boasts an 80% placement rate for its graduates, who collectively have gone on to earn nearly $2 million that contributes to local community economies.

In calendar year 2025, the Urban Health Program had 496 students participate in its programming for middle school, high school and college students. For more than 45 years, the Urban Health Program has served as UIC’s leading initiative for recruiting, retaining and graduating students in the health sciences.

The UI Health Department of Graduate Medical Education was selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as one of only 95 organizations nationwide to receive additional Medicare-funded Residency slots. UI Health was awarded funding for five full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to support the Psychiatry-Family Medicine combined program.

The Pulse of UI Health is an e-newsletter that provides news, celebrations and recognitions from across the university's academic health enterprise. To submit content or learn more please email vcha@uic.edu.

UIC Office of The Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System

914 South Wood Street, MCA (MC 973)
Phone: (312) 355-5473 | Email: VCHA@uic.edu

VCHA.UIC.EDU