Department of Medicine

Haley Simpson Highlights Decades of Progress in Cancer Care

Lillian Harbison — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:57:31 +0000

Haley Simpson, MD, PhD

The five-year relative cancer survival rate for all cancers combined has reached 70% for people diagnosed between 2016 and 2021 in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. For Dr. Haley Simpson, MD, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology, this milestone reflects decades of progress in both research and patient care.

“When we see such success like this, it is really a marker of all of the work that has been put into this over decades. In my field, multiple myeloma, the last 15 years have been huge strides of progress in what therapies we have available for patients. This is just evidence of all the hard work that millions of people—scientists, physicians, nurses, the patients themselves—have all been putting in over decades and decades. The thing that matters the most is that it means that people are around to spend time with their families who otherwise wouldn’t have had that chance,” explained Dr. Haley Simpson.

Dr. Simpson’s research focuses on advancing treatment strategies for multiple myeloma, with an emphasis on translating scientific discovery into improved outcomes for patients. Her work complements her clinical care, allowing her to bring emerging therapies and evidence-based innovations directly to the bedside.

Recent findings in multiple myeloma treatment highlight the impact of these advances. “(Last) September, the five-year survival follow-up was published from one of our CAR T-cell therapies for (multiple myeloma), and there are a subset of the patients who were treated, (who) were very sick people who’d been fighting the disease for years and years. A handful of those people are alive without evidence of the cancer at all, even looking at a detailed study in the bone marrow,” said Simpson.

Through her research and clinical expertise, Dr. Simpson continues to play a role in the progress that is extending survival and improving quality of life for patients with cancer.

Read the ABC11 article she was featured in here.

Featured UME Educator: Jennifer Maguire, MD

Lillian Harbison — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:47:53 +0000

Jennifer Maguire, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Division Chief of Inpatient Services for Pulmonary and Critical Care.

Tell us a little about how you got interested in education and your background?

I first became interested in education during my fellowship when I realized how much I enjoyed breaking down complex concepts for learners. It started with giving lectures, and from there, I was asked to take on more formal teaching roles. Over time, I moved into course leadership, starting with the first-year respiratory course and later adding the fourth-year critical care selective. Most of what I’ve learned has been through hands-on experience, curriculum development, and working alongside amazing colleagues and students rather than formal training.

How did you get involved in your current role?

My passion for quality improvement (QI) on the hospital side really opened the door to this opportunity. When the School of Medicine created the Faculty Director role for CQI and Accreditation, it felt like a natural fit. It combines my interest in systems improvement with my commitment to education. I’ve learned so much about accreditation and continuous quality enhancement—it’s been a great challenge and growth opportunity.

Tell us about you new role in undergraduate medical education?

I recently stepped into the role of Faculty Director for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Accreditation in the School of Medicine. In this position, I work with a team to make sure we maintain compliance with LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education) standards and continuously improve the quality of our programs. That means monitoring key metrics across the curriculum, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategies that align with accreditation requirements.

One of the reasons I was excited to take on this role is because it gave me the chance to learn something completely new. Accreditation and CQI are complex and dynamic—they involve understanding systems-level processes, data analysis, and strategic planning, which is very different from my previous focus on direct teaching and curriculum development. It’s been incredibly rewarding because I’m growing professionally while contributing to the long-term success of our medical school.

What advice would you give to a 1st-year medical student? A 4th-year student?

For first-year students: Focus on building a solid foundation and give yourself permission to not know everything right away. Ask questions, stay curious, and remember that medicine is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure you take care of yourself along the way.
For fourth-year students: Use this time to refine your clinical skills and think about the kind of physician you want to be. Relationships and professionalism will carry you far, so invest in those. And don’t forget to enjoy the process as you’ve worked hard to get here, so take pride in how far you’ve come and be excited for the future!

New Once Weekly Investigational Oral Regimen Shows Strong 48 Week Results, Highlighting the Need for Easier HIV Treatment Options

Morgan Duerden — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:11:09 +0000

A Phase 2 study led by Dr. Joe Eron, chief of the Division of Infectious diseases and a member of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID), shows an investigational once‑weekly, all‑oral combination of islatravir (ISL) and lenacapavir(LEN) maintains high levels of virologic suppression through 48 weeks in adults living with HIV. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the findings underscore a growing priority in HIV care: expanding access to simpler, more flexible treatment options that fit the realities of people’s lives.

Joe Eron

For many people living with HIV, daily medication is effective but not always easy. Stigma, pill fatigue, and the day‑to‑day demands of life can make strict adherence challenging. Missed doses can increase the risk of viral rebound and drug resistance, making the need for alternative dosing schedules more important than ever. The investigational ISL+LEN regimen—taken once weekly—has the potential to address these challenges by reducing dosing frequency while maintaining strong antiviral activity.

Dr. Eron, the UNC Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine, emphasized the importance of broadening treatment choices.

“People living with HIV deserve options that work not only medically, but practically. Daily pills are effective, but they’re not the right fit for everyone. Seeing such strong suppression with a once‑weekly regimen is incredibly encouraging. It suggests we may be able to offer patients a simpler approach that still delivers the control they need.”

Read more details regarding the study on the IGHID website.

Investigators lead study to understand earliest effects of Type 1 Diabetes in young children

Morgan Duerden — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:09:53 +0000

Janice Hwang, MD, MHS, chief of the UNC Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, is a Principal Investigator for BRAINY-T1D along with Drs. Aysenil Belger and Nina Jain.

BRAINY-T1D is a nationwide effort aimed at understanding the earliest effects of Type 1 Diabetes in young children. Spanning eleven campuses from UC Davis to UNC-Chapel Hill, the study goes beyond typical T1D research by examining the neurological side of the disease beginning at age four.

For children diagnosed between ages four and nine, the transition into constant glucose monitoring, insulin management, and emotional stress is immediate, yet the effects of these early challenges on cognition, learning, and long-term neurologic outcomes are still poorly understood. BRAINY-T1D seeks to address this critical gap.

The study aims to follow each child every three months, looking not only at diabetes management but at the entire ecosystem around them: family functioning, emotional well-being, and most of all, brain health. As Dr. Stephen Hooper, a pediatric neuropsychologist and one of UNC’s lead investigators on the project, explained, the team has built a comprehensive neurocognitive battery, a standardized set of tests of brain function, that evaluates everything from overall intellectual abilities to attention, executive function, memory, social cognition, and processing speed. Each child will complete this battery at enrollment and again eighteen months later, allowing researchers to track how their brains adapt over time. A similar timeframe will be followed for sophisticated brain imagining and various laboratory measures for tracking fluctuating glucose levels.

This study is one-of-a-kind because it goes beyond glucose numbers. Its purpose is to understand how fluctuations in blood sugar and early disease management shape the brain, not just the body.

With the coordinating center based at the University of Minnesota, the goal is ambitious—enrolling 800-900 children from families of all backgrounds. A study of this size naturally comes with challenges. Young children, for example, can be unpredictable, energetic, and sometimes unwilling to complete standardized testing or remain still for a brain scan. UNC and other sites are prepared for this, drawing on experience from infant imaging studies and staffing highly trained professionals who work patiently with children to guide them through assessments. Language can also present obstacles. To ensure Spanish-speaking families are fully included, the team selected tests available in both English and Spanish and has hired bilingual examiners. Despite careful planning, Hooper acknowledges that unexpected challenges are inevitable in a study of this size, and the team has structures in place to address these issues, ensuring that participation remains inclusive and supportive for families.

BRAINY-T1D is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). At UNC, the study is led by an interdisciplinary group of investigators whose expertise spans neuroimaging, endocrinology, pediatrics, occupational therapy and pediatric neuropsychology. Principal Investigators include Dr. Aysenil Belger, whose work uses advanced imaging to understand cognition and emotion; Dr. Janice Hwang, whose research bridges metabolism and neuroscience; and Dr. Nina Jain, a leader in pediatric diabetes care and clinical management. Additional team members include Dr. Stephen Hooper, a pediatric neuropsychologist who helped lead the national neurocognitive subgroup in the first 18 months of the study, collaborating with experts across all eleven sites to design a scientifically rigorous and reliable assessment battery. Together with faculty such as Dr. Uzay Emir, Dr. Rebecca Vitale, and Dr. Vanessa Jewell—and supported by site coordinator Victoria Burnette and research assistants Caroline Romack, Milena Sanchez, and Jad Kassab—the UNC team brings a uniquely comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to the study.

An important component of BRAINY-T1D at UNC is the Community Advisory Board (CAB), which includes parents of children newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The CAB provides guidance on study design, communication, and procedures to ensure that the research addresses questions that matter most to families. Researchers like Jewell play a crucial role on the CAB, offering both professional expertise and personal perspective as a parent. Parents have influenced many aspects of the study, including its name, logo, and how key results from neurocognitive testing are shared with families. By involving families at every step, the study ensures that participation is meaningful, supportive, and responsive to the needs of both children and their caregivers.

Recruitment for BRAINY-T1D is expected to begin in the spring/early summer of 2026, after final IRB approvals across all sites. The study is planned for 5 years and will follow participants for approximately 18 months, capturing their progression of diabetes and the cognitive, neurologic, and psychosocial changes that accompany it over that time period. With a well-established sample across the 11 clinical sites, Hooper explained that once this grant cycle ends, the team aims to apply for follow-up funding to track these children into their adolescence.

Families interested in learning more about BRAINY-T1D at UNC or finding out if their child may be eligible are encouraged to visit the study’s website.

Sheikh and team publish guide for conducting CAR T-cell trials for patients with SLE

Morgan Duerden — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:49:09 +0000

Saira Sheikh, MD

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, best known for its cancer-treating abilities, are being explored as an option for managing autoimmune rheumatic diseases. A team of investigators, including Saira Sheikh, MD, published a guide in ACR Open Rheumatology, providing a detailed exploration of the framework required for rheumatologists to initiate and successfully manage CAR T-cell clinical trials, specifically for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The team concluded that implementing CAR T-cell therapy trials for SLE involves complex logistical, clinical, and ethical considerations, noting a structured, multidisciplinary, collaborative approach is essential for successful outcomes. By adhering to the comprehensive guide, rheumatologists can effectively initiate and manage cellular therapy clinical trials, optimizing therapeutic options and benefits for patients and advancing the field of rheumatology.

Dr. Sheikh is the Linda Coley Sewell Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the UNC Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology. She also participated in a Q&A regarding the clinical triall development.

Read the full guide here.
Read the Q&A associated with the guide here.

Investigators named to Clarivate’s 2025 Highly Cited Researchers

Morgan Duerden — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:38:05 +0000

Annually, Clarivate releases a list of scientists who demonstrate significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research. The following UNC Department of Medicine faculty were recognized for their work in 2025:

- John Buse, MD, PhD, Verne S. Caviness Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology (Category: Clinical Medicine)
- Lisa Carey, MD, L. Richardson and Marilyn Jacobs Preyer Distinguished Professor for Breast Cancer Research in the Division of Oncology (Clinical Medicine)
- David van Duin, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases (Immunology)
- Nigel Mackman, PhD, John Parker Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology (Cross-field)
- Sidney Smith Jr., MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology (Clinical Medicine)

Each researcher has authored multiple papers which rank in the top 1% by citations for their field and publication year in Clarivate’s Web of Science Core Collection over the past 11 years. The list iis then refined using other quantitative metrics, as well as qualitative analysis and expert judgment. This year, 6,868 individuals across 60 countries earned the distinction. Explore the full list on Clarivate’s website.

Cardiovasulcar Kidney Metabolic Syndrome Clinic Receives Gift from Eugene and Susan Sherman

Morgan Duerden — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:12:55 +0000

Eugene and Susan Sherman made a generous donation to the UNC Cardiovasulcar Kidney Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome Clinic. CKM Syndrome is a health condition that connects problems with the heart, kidneys, and metabolism. It often includes diseases like heart problems, kidney issues, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. These problems can exacerbate one another, leading to serious health risks like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.

The CKM Clinic brings together experts in various fields including cardiology, endocrinology, and nephrology, and is designed to offer personalized care and treatment to people with these overlapping conditions. The funding will provide support for streamlining referrals, creating educational resources and assisting patients with receiving timely speciality care.

The Shermans hope that others will see the value of this multi-specialty effort and the vision of improving the care and outcomes of CKM patients nationwide. Learn more about the CKM clinic here.

January 2026 Division of Geriatric Medicine Updates

Jamie Garrett — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:32:48 +0000

Faculty Promotions

Ben Blomberg, MD and David Lynch, BMBS have both been promoted to Clinical Associate Professor.

Drs. Blomberg and Lynch

Faculty Achievements

Hillary Spangler, MD recently graduated from the UNC-CH Master of Science in Clinical Research Program.

Dr. Hillary Spangler

Open Positions in the Division of Geriatric Medicine

Division Chief Position

After leading the Division of Geriatric Medicine for 22 years, Dr. Jan Busby-Whitehead stepped down in July 2025. Since then, Dr. Cristin Colford has served as the Interim Division of Geriatric Medicine Chief. Currently, a nationwide search is on for the next full time Division Chief. See the full Division Chief position posting.

Interested internal candidates should contact Cristin Colford to discuss the position. External candidate should contact Melba Riberio.

Open Rank Faculty Position Posting

The Division of Geriatric Medicine seeks an Open Rank Faculty member to join the both Division and the Center for Aging and Health. This position is approximately 75% research based and 25% clinical.

View the full position description. For questions about this Open Rank Faculty position, contact Hanna Cavallaro.

Memory Connect Positions Posting

Memory Connect has been approved as part of the FT2030 Initiative. There are open positions for one Advanced Practice Professional and two Social Workers. Learn more about each position:

APP Position | BSW Social Workers

For questions regarding these Memory Connect positions, please contact Dr. David Lynch (Inpatient Geriatrics Service Medical Director) or Taylor Herndon (Associate Chief of Administration).

Faculty & Staff in the News through December

Lillian Harbison — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:39:53 +0000

The clickable links below navigate directly to outside media articles which featured Department of Medicine faculty and staff throughout the month of December 2025.

Research led by Heather Henderson, DVM, MPH, PhD, and David van Duin, MD, PhD, showed neighborhood deprivation drives higher antimicrobial resistance and mortality in Enterobacterales infections.
UNC IGHID has been highlighting faculty interviews with Contagion Live, check one out here.
Janice Hwang, MD, MHS, warned that skipping meals before Thanksgiving can harm gut health.
David Weber, MD, MPH, urged North Carolinians to get flu shots ahead of new fast-spreading strain.
David Wohl, MD, said measles vaccination rates in NC likely aren’t high enough to prevent an outbreak.
Scott Commins, MD, PhD, explained how tick bites can trigger Alpha-gal Syndrome.
Saira Sheikh, MD, spoke about lupus clinical trials as an accessible component of comprehensive disease management.

2026 Fellows Match to the Department of Medicine

Morgan Duerden — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:20:34 +0000

The Department of Medicine is honored to welcome new Tar Heel trainees! The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) released results for the 2025 Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match on December 3. Over 8,500 trainees matched to advanced training positions. After a successful Match, the following fellows will join Department subspecialties in July 2026.

Division of Cardiology

Adult Cardiovascular Disease

Natalia Aerton, MD
Residency: University of Rochester Medical Center

Saba Suhail Arain, MD
Residency: UNC Health Blue Ridge

Daniel Cook, MD
Residency: University of Virginia Health

Lorna Devkota, MD
Residency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Leonie Dupuis, MD
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Omar Khalil, MD
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth

Simran Koura, MD
Residency: Loyola University Medical Center

Trevor Thompson, MD
Residency: Vanderbilt University

Willis Wong, MD
Residency: University of Texas Southern

Interventional Cardiology

Akshay Roy-Chaudhury, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina
Fellowship: University of North Carolina

Sankalp Malhotra, MD
Residency: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Fellowship: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

James “Jamie” Haran, DO
Residency: William Beaumont Army Medical Center
Fellowship: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Structural Heart Disease

Spencer Ng, MD
Residency: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Fellowship: University of North Carolina

Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism

Sisira Kavuri, MD
Residency: Henry Ford Hospital

John Langhenry, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Zain Mehdi, MD
Residency: University of Arizona

Division of Infectious Diseases

Lindsey Bernard, DO
Residency: Ascension St. Vincent

David Henson, MD, PhD
Residency: University of Kentucky

Bailee Cummings, MD, MPH
Residency: University of North Carolina

Emmy Wanjiku, MD
Residency: Northwestern University

Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Jacqueline Chu, MD
Residency: Brown University

Sirisha Gaddipati, MD
Residency: University of Miami

Govind Kallumkal, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Lorena Millo, MD
Residency: Duke University

Savannah Taylor, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Division of Geriatric Medicine

Geriatric Medicine

Anna “Lexus” Andrews, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Kelley Mark, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Ilija Zecevic, MD
Residency:

Louisiana State University Health Science Center

Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Donna Coetzee, MD
Residency: University of Minnesota

Mackenzie Owen, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Ajan Sivaramamoorthy, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Ciara Smith, MD
Residency: University of Kentucky

Division of Hematology/Oncology

Jerome Dease, MD
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina

Emily Hamburger, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Omar Gandarilla-Cuellar, MD
Residency: New York Presbyterian

Alexander Gartland, MD
Residency:University of North Carolina

Madhuri Gottam, MD
Residency: Duke University

Michael Rudloff, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Melina Smith, MD,
Residency: University of Colorado

Mohamed Warsame, MBChB
Residency: Mayo Clinic

Division of Nephrology & Hypertension

David Aquino, MD
Residency: Monmouth Medical Center

Hugh “Jack” Maguire, MD
Residency: East Carolina University

Brie Mucci-Jackson, MD
Residency: University of Miami Jackson Health System

Rafi Iftekhar, MD
Residency: Norton Community Hospital

Division of Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care Medicine

Jonathan Blohm, MD
Residency: University of North Carolina

Phoebe Chun, MD
Residency: Thomas Jefferson University

Nguyen Pham, DO
Residency: University of Arizona

Scott Yount, MD
Residency: LSU Health

Katherine Zimmerman, MD
Residency: University of Colorado

Interventional Pulmonary Medicine

Jason Holbrook, MD
Fellowship: The University of North Carolina

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology

Rheumatology

Viswaja Kaja, MD
Residency: Virginia Tech Carilion

Hoyoung Lee, MD
Residency: Carolinas Medical Center

Lydwan Perez Westerband, MD
Residency: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

Allergy & Immunology

Alexis Schuck, MD
Residency: Duke University Hospitals

Shae Margulies, MD
Residency: St. Louis University

Presents from Pazlie Brings Community Together, Provides Gifts to Families and Children in the Hospital

Morgan Duerden — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:03:01 +0000

Turkey Trot participants, including department of medicine teammates

The 5th annual Turkey Trot, organized by Dr. Jennifer McEntee and John Gotelli, welcomed over 100 participants to complete a 5K or 1 mile run/walk. The Thanksgiving Day event brings the community together to promote wellness and raise funds for Presents from Pazlie, a non-profit organization honoring Pazlie Loftus, a former patient of Dr. McEntee.

Trot participants, UNC team members and additional donations generated $3,500 to support the non-profit. These funds provided baskets filled with essential items, toiletries, gas cards, gift cards, and blankets to families, parents, and caregivers staying in the hospital over the holidays. Gifts were also purchased to fulfill wish lists for patients of the UNC Children’s Hospital.

Mark the calendar for next year’s Turkey Trot: November 26^th, 2026.

For more information about the Turkey Trot and Presents from Pazlie – please visit the organization’s website.

‘Start Low, and Go Slow’: GLP-1 Weight-loss Drugs for Older Adults

Jamie Garrett — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:11:13 +0000

John Batsis, MD

“The people I see in clinic, they care about getting out of a chair, playing with their grandchildren, not being admitted into a nursing home,” says Dr. John Batsis. So when working with older adults with obesity, he considers various factors. And his motto on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is, “Start low, and go slow.”

In a recent AAMC article, Dr. Batsis says, “We don’t have data to be able to back up what we’re doing clinically. As clinicians, we like solid evidence-based [interventions].” But even as wants more data on long-term outcomes and safety of GLP-1 medications on older adults, Dr. Batsis says he is less skeptical than before.

“Four or five years ago I was saying, ‘What are we doing?’ [But now I realize] there are patients who would benefit from these medications.” So even though Dr. Batsis advises clinicians to prescribe GLP-1s with caution, he also emphasizes that they can be promising. Especially when prescribed alongside lifestyle interventions like physical therapy, strength training, and good nutrition.

Dr. John Batsis’ academic work focuses on the relationships between obesity and sarcopenia in older adults, developing multicomponent interventions (diet and exercise), and using novel technologies to improve the health and well-being of older adults.

Learn more about Dr. Batsis’ research