Scope - July 2025 | The Scope

Dean's Welcome Message

It’s July, and the new fiscal year brings both change and momentum. This month, we welcomed Dr. Greg Beilman as Interim CEO of University of Minnesota Physicians and Interim Vice President for Clinical Operations. Many of you know Dr. Beilman as a skilled leader and compassionate surgeon—his deep commitment to service and collaboration will be essential as we move through this period of transformation.

Even as we navigate the headwinds facing healthcare and higher education, I want to offer a different message: You are doing excellent work, and our future is strong. This year’s Top Doctors list from Mpls.St.Paul Magazine is just one reflection of that strength. Once again, University of Minnesota Medical School faculty are well represented—recognized by their peers for providing outstanding care across a wide range of specialties and communities. Their presence on this list speaks to the depth of talent at our Medical School and the real, daily impact of academic medicine.a

Together, we are building something remarkable—a unified academic health system anchored in clinical excellence, research, and education. Your continued focus, partnership, and humanity are what make this possible. Thank you for everything you do.

Featured Stories

Fighting a Rare Disease with Relentless Care

By the time Chris Sheheane arrived at the M Health Fairview Clinics & Surgery Center, he had spent years battling debilitating pain, confusion, and despair. With the odds stacked against him, Chris found hope in Dr. Gregory Beilman and a care team at the University of Minnesota uniquely equipped to take on his rare and complex condition.
Bringing Top-Ranked Care to Minnesotans

Each year, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine honors physicians across the Twin Cities who stand out in their fields, and once again, University of Minnesota Medical School faculty are well represented among those recognized. U of M doctors span a wide range of specialties and serve patients in communities across the state, from major health systems in the Twin Cities to regional hospitals in Greater Minnesota. Their consistent presence on this list reflects the Medical School’s deep commitment to advancing care through clinical excellence, innovation, and education.
Strengthening Care for Older Adults

Minnesota’s population is aging, and with it comes a growing need for healthcare professionals who are trained to care for older adults, including those living with dementia. The Minnesota Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program is working to close that gap through interprofessional education, community outreach, and accessible training tools designed to support age-friendly care across settings.

Congratulations

Natasha Adams
2025 Award for Excellence in Academic Unit Service
Natasha Adams in the Department of Biomedical Sciences received the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost's 2025 Award for Excellence in Academic Unit Service. The award recognizes faculty who go above and beyond strenthening the functioning and climate of their unit.
Dr. Alessandro Bartolomucci
Editor and chief for neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews journal
Beginning July 1, Dr. Bartolomucci will take on the role of Editor in Chief of the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, a Q1 peer-reviewed journal that publishes broadly in biobehavioral health, physiology, and metabolism.
Dr. Susan Berry
Gold Headed Cane Award
Dr. Berry was presented the Gold Headed Cane Award by the U of M Department of Pediatrics, a recognition to pediatricians for their exceptional contributions to care and education. Dr. Berry was honored for over four decades of dedicated service to the Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, and University of Minnesota.
Dr. Lisa Chow
Carol J. Bland Award for Outstanding Faculty Mentorship
Dr. Chow has received the 2025 Carol J. Bland Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award, an annual award presented by the Medical School's Office of Faculty Affairs. The recognition honors faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to supporting and developing others in their careers.
Dr. H Brent Clark
American Association of Neuropathologists Meritorious Contribution Award
Dr. Clark received AANP's Meritorious Contribution Award at the annual meeting in Minneapolis in June. The award recognizes AANP members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in neuropathology.
Doctoral Dissertation Fellows
University of Minnesota 2025-2026 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
Congratulations to Medical School PhD candidates Shamim Ahmed, Fan Bu, Young Geun Choi, Asumi Hoshino, Eric Queathem, Elizabeth Sachse, Karianne Sretavan Wong, and William Stokes for receiving the U of M's Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. This fellowship gives the University's most accomplished PhD candidates an opportunity to devote full-time effort to an outstanding research project.
Drs. Erik Finger, Alexander Khoruts, and Gulin Oz
2025 Distinguished McKnight University Professorship
Drs. Finger, Khoruts, and Oz have received the University of Minnesota's Distinguished McKnight University Professorship, which honors outstanding faculty members who have recently achieved full professor status.
Dr. Kathleen Lane
Featured on cover of the Hospitalist magazine
Dr. Lane was featured in the cover story of the April edition of The Hospitalist, a monthly publication by Society of Hospital Medicine. In the article, Dr. Lane discussed strategies for balancing education and clinical care.

News Around the Med School

Gregory Beilman, MD Elected Interim UMP CEO and Named Interim Universtiy VP for Clinical Operations
University of Minnesota Physicians
Mini Medical School in Duluth Opens Doors to Health Careers
Duluth Campus
Celebrating Excellence in Medical Education: 2025 OME Award Recipients Honored
Office of Medical Education
Sharon Kimble, PT, DPT Highlights Her Career in Physical Therapy, Geriatrics, and Family Medicine
Department of Family Medicine & Community Health
Meeting the Moment in Rural Minnesota's Healthcare Workforce Crisis
Department of Medicine
Dr. Katie Lingras Sparks Conversation on Mental Health Between Kids and Adults in New Children's Book
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Connecting Minnesotans to Medical Discovery through StudyFinder
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
University of Minnesota Study Finds COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Accurately Predicts Community Infections
division of infectious diseases and international medicine
University of Minnesota and Fairview Expand Rural Physician Pipeline with New Residency Program at Grand Itasca
Department of Family Medicine & Community Health