Scope - April 2024

Dean's Welcome Message

It's April, and the 2023-2024 academic year is (unbelievably) already drawing to a close. Next month will see many commencements taking place. Before we get into that time of celebration, I hope you will all take a moment to recognize your part in helping to teach and train our departing students, residents, and fellows. It is your efforts as faculty and staff that see them through and help them launch the next stage of their professional lives. On behalf of the Medical School, thank you!

Featured Stories

Match Day 2024!

Match Day! One of the most exciting days of our fourth year medical students’ careers. Hear from three students as they reflect on their time at the University of Minnesota Medical School and what it means to them in shaping the rest of their lives.
Local Research with Global Impact

In her molecular parasitology lab, Dr. Sara Zimmer and team research gene expression in trypanosomes, a particular type of single-celled parasite that is a WHO-designated Neglected Tropical Disease. In her NIH funded research publication, she describes effects of manipulating two proteins in the parasite.
Developments in Treatment-Resistant Depression

Once, Becky Steffens felt so ashamed of her depression that she didn't tell anybody. Not even her parents. Now, with the help of psychiatrist Dr. C. Sophia Albott, the special education teacher took time off from her beloved job to share her painful journey in the hopes that it could help somebody else.

Anniversaries

Expand all

April Anniversaries

More than 30 Years
Conrad Lindquist	39	Physical Therapy
Diane Brown	39	Laboratory Medicine
Sally Brinkman	38	Surgery
Christopher Lees	37	Pediatrics
Shawn Evenson	37	Duluth Student Affairs
Diane Tobolt	37	Surgery
Rick Smith	36	Medical Discovery Team: Memory Keepers
Mark McClellan	36	Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
Nacide Ercan-Fang	33	Office of Medical Education
Laura Diedrich	33	Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
Anita Stiles	33	Anesthesiology
Tung Nguyen	32	Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics
25 Years
Jonathan Solberg	25	Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics
Laura Seifert	25	University of Minnesota Institute on Infectious Diseases
Mignon Finn	25	Surgery
20 Years
15 Years
Asim Saha	20	Pediatrics
Cole Fisher	20	Duluth Education and Curriculum
10 Years
Jamie Panthera	10	Pediatrics
Sarah Sponsler	10	Medicine
Jennifer Myhre	10	Neurology
5 Years
Patricia Schrank	5	Integrative Biology and Physiology
Nguyen M Nguyen	5	Rehabilitation Medicine
Tina Mai	5	Surgery
Natalie Dinki	5	Medicine
Mia Kellman	5	Psychiatry
Ankit Sood	5	Neuroscience

Congratulations

Drs. Emilyn Alejandro, Tim O'Connell, and Hai-Bin Ruan
U of M Land Grant Professorships
Three faculty members in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology were awarded land grant professorships from the University: Dr. Alejandro in Diabetes, Dr. O'Connell in Cardiovascular Physiology, and Dr. Ruan in Metabolism.
Drs. Pedro Fernandez-Funez and David Satin
U of M 2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional education
Medical School faculty members Drs. Fernandez-Funez and David Satin have both received awards for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education from the University.
Dr. Alon Herschhorn
published research on HIResist Database
Dr. Herschhorn has published research on his lab's HIResist, a database of HIV-1 resistance to broadly neutralizing antibodies.
Dr. Carol Lange
2025-2026 President of Endocrine Society
Congratulations to Dr. Lange for being elected President of the Endocrine Society for the 2025-2026. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to research and care for people with hormone-related conditions.
Dr. Aubie Shaw
Published article in reproductive health journal
Dr. Shaw co-authored an article published in the journal Reproductive Health on the Independent Learning Time project, designed for second-year medical students in the Hormonal and Reproductive Medicine Block to develop, implement, and evaluate the ethics of abortion module.
Dr. Ann Van de Winckel
National center for complementary and integrative health grant
Dr. Van de Winckel has received a grant from NCCIH for her work studying the impact of Qigong, a Chinese system of physical exercises and breathing control, on neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injuries.

News Around the Med School

MMA and University of Minnesota Medical School Launch Pilot Medical Careers Program
Pilot Medical Careers Program
Rwanda Travel Scholar Program Visits the University of Minnesota
department of surgery
U of M-led Study Reveals Shared Blueprint in Brain Development Across Different Functional Areas
Medical Discovery Team on Addiction
The Medical Humanities Blog
Department of Surgery
Department of Dermatology's 19th Annual Research Day
Department of dermatology
University of Minnesota Researchers Introduce Enhanced Brain Signal Analysis Technique
Department of Neurosurgery
Laboratory Medicine Pathology was Well Represented at the Association for Molecular Pathology Annual Meeting
Department of Laboratory Medicine Pathology

Events

There are many ways to learn, connect, and have fun at the Medical School. Save the dates for these upcoming events!

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Upcoming Events in April
Lions gift of Sight: Help Save and Heal Lives
Apr. 1 - 30
Center for Bioethics Grand Rounds
Mar. 19, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
An Afternoon with Bill Brummel
Apr. 12, 3:00 p.m.
Computational Psychiatry Conference Early Bird Registration
Apr. 15
Surgery Grand Rounds: 12th Annual Arnold S. Leonard Endowed Lecture in Pediatric Surgery
Apr. 16, 7:45 a.m.
Global Health Day
Apr. 18, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Grand Opening of the Center for American Indian and Minority Health on the U of M Twin Cities Campus
Apr. 23, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Understanding Alzheimer's in Native Populations
Apr. 26, 12:00 p.m.
2024 Brain Aging and Neurodegeneration Symposium
May 2, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Art of Medicine, Intersections: An Evening of Medical Storytelling
May 4, 7:00 p.m.
Boots on the Ground Conference
May 10, 8:30 a.m.

View April Events

Scope - April 2024

Featured Stories

+ April Anniversaries

More than 30 Years

25 Years

20 Years

15 Years

10 Years

5 Years

Congratulations

News Around the Med School

Events

There are many ways to learn, connect, and have fun at the Medical School. Save the dates for these upcoming events!

April Anniversaries