2024-2025 review

Vice Chairs

Julie Bynum, MD, MPH - Faculty Affairs Kevin Chan, MD - Clinical Experience and Quality John Del Valle, MD - Graduate Medical Education Scott Flanders, MD - External Relations Cyril Grum, MD - Undergraduate Medical Education Michelle Kahlenberg, MD, PhD - Research Michael Lukela, MD - Culture and Engagement Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH - Veterans Affairs Raymond Yung, MD - Executive Vice Chair

divisions

• Allergy & Clinical Immunology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Gastroenterology & Hepatology
• General Medicine
• Genetic Medicine
• Geriatrics & Palliative Care
• Hematology & Oncology
• Hospital Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes
• Nephrology
• Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
• Rheumatology

The New D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion

On November 23, 2025, the University of Michigan Health System celebrated the opening of the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This state-of-the-art, 12-story, 690,000-square-foot hospital includes 264 inpatient rooms and delivers advanced specialty care across multiple disciplines, including neurology, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, spine, cardiac surgery, and cardiovascular medicine. With a dedicated focus on integrating cardiovascular services with the adjacent Frankel Cardiovascular Center, our Division of Cardiovascular Medicine has significantly expanded its capacity to provide high-acuity, complex care. The Pavilion’s 12th floor houses a new cardiology intensive care unit and a dedicated heart failure unit, further strengthening our regional and national cardiovascular capabilities. Extensive preparations supported a successful opening, including the design of new clinical workflows, comprehensive staff training through simulation exercises, dry-run patient transfers, and the construction of direct physical connections to existing facilities.

Advancing Health Care Using Artificial Intelligence

In 2025, Michigan Medicine launched DAX Copilot, an artificial intelligence powered ambient documentation tool that automatically generates clinical notes from patient conversations, allowing clinicians to spend more time with patients and less time on administrative tasks. A pilot involving 196 clinicians demonstrated a 15% reduction in cognitive load, along with less after-hours charting, reduced burnout, and improved work-life balance. As the technology continues to expand, DAX Copilot is supporting clinician well-being while enabling more focused, personalized patient care. Read the complete article in our Division of General Medicine's 2024-2025 Annual Review.

Liver Transplant Program Celebrates Major Milestones

The Liver Transplant Program achieved major milestones. In 2024, the program set a Michigan record with 131 liver transplants performed across adult and pediatric patients. In addition, in 2025 they performed their 3,000th liver transplant—the most by any single center in the state. Access to care also expanded with the launch of a liver transplant outreach clinic in Grand Rapids, enabling patients in western Michigan to complete evaluations closer to home. Read the complete article in our Gastroenterology & Hepatology Division's 2024-2025 Review.

The Power of Clinical Trials

A groundbreaking clinical trial led by Dinesh Khanna, MD, is adapting CAR-T therapy—long used in cancer care—to treat scleroderma, offering hope to patients like Susan Chrysogelos. The therapy involves collecting and genetically modifying a patient’s own T cells to target disease-causing B cells. Once reinfused, the CAR-T cells create a powerful immune “reset,” using the body’s own defenses to address the underlying cause of scleroderma. Read the complete article in our Rheumatology Division's 2024-2025 Review.

Improving Sepsis Care Nationally

Sepsis remains a leading cause of hospitalization, death, and health care costs worldwide. Hallie Prescott, MD, MSc, leads sepsis research in our Pulmonary and Critical Care Division and advances care improvement initiatives at the state and national levels. She directs a sepsis registry across 69 Michigan hospitals, conducts research that has shaped Centers for Disease Control guidelines, and co-authored a comprehensive review in the New England Journal of Medicine. Read the complete article in our Pulmonary & Critical Care Division's 2024-2025 Review.

Transforming Kidney Care Through Global Collaboration

Researchers led by Matthias Kretzler, MD, identified distinct molecular subtypes of kidney disease from patient biopsies, with one subtype showing particularly rapid progression. They also discovered urine proteins that could serve as noninvasive biomarkers for this aggressive subtype, paving the way for biology-driven, precision approaches to kidney disease treatment. Read the complete article in our Nephrology Division's 2024-2025 Review.

Innovating ARDS Care with AI and Portable Diagnostics

Michael Sjoding, MD, led a team developing a portable, non-invasive breathalyzer and AI-driven analytics to rapidly diagnose and monitor acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Read the complete article in our Pulmonary & Critical Care Division's 2024-2025 Review.

Uncovering a Reversible Cellular Mechanism in Diabetes

In a study published in Science, researchers led by Emily Walker, PhD, identified a mitochondrial stress response that disrupts cell maturation and function in diabetes. The same pathway was activated across multiple tissues, including pancreatic β-cells, liver, and fat, suggesting a shared mechanism. Importantly, blocking this stress response restored β-cell function in mice, highlighting mitochondrial dysfunction as a potentially reversible driver of diabetes and a promising therapeutic target. Read the complete article in our Metabolism, Endocrinology, & Diabetes Division's 2024-2025 Review.

Treating High-Risk Colorectal Cancer

A research team led by Eric Fearon, MD, PhD, found that loss of the gene SOX9 drives more aggressive colorectal cancer, especially when combined with mutations in APC, a tumor suppressor gene. Tumors lacking SOX9 spread more easily, and patients with low SOX9 had poorer survival. Dr. Fearon's work highlights SOX9 as a potential target for treating high-risk colorectal cancer. Read the complete article in our Hematology & Oncology Division's 2024-2025 Review.

medical student education highlights

Internal Medicine provides approximately 25 percent of all educational experiences to over 2,000 U-M Medical School students each year.

• 14 faculty are content leads
• 69 faculty provide lectures
• 142 faculty participate in small group sessions
• 27 faculty assist with the Foundation Doctoring course that helps students develop an emerging mastery of clinical skills
• 5 faculty serve as leaders of the Chief Concern course

Celebrating the Medical School Classes of 2024 and 2025

The 2024 University of Michigan Medical School commencement featured a keynote address by William Flanary, MD, an ophthalmologist and well-known social media figure recognized for his medical comedy on TikTok. “Yes, I am a TikTok comedian and, no, I am not here by mistake. They meant to invite me,” stated Dr. Flanary. His selection as speaker was an unexpected and refreshing choice that resonated deeply with the graduating class. Dr. Flanary's remarks offered a modern perspective on medicine, emphasizing authenticity, humility, and the importance of finding joy and balance in a demanding profession.

The 2025 University of Michigan Medical School commencement featured a keynote address by Shirlene Obuobi, MD, a Ghanian-American cardiologist, cartoonist, and author. Dr. Obuobi is the originator of the popular @shirlywhirlmd comics on Instagram. Her comics were influential in depicting what it was like to serve on the frontlines during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.  "You transitioned from civilian to clinician during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic....You saw cleared-eyed and with no delusions exactly what a career in medicine would mean for you...and you answered that calling regardless," stated Dr. Obuobi.

internal medicine residency highlights

Expanding Community and Rural Training Opportunities

Our residency programs expanded their community-based training collaborations to strengthen the department’s mission to serve communities facing health inequities across Michigan. New partnerships with the Hamilton Federally Qualified Health Center, Ypsilanti Health Center, and a school-based clinic in Flint provide residents with valuable experience in diverse patient care settings. Residents gain exposure to a broad spectrum of clinical challenges, from chronic disease management in urban populations to preventive care and wellness education among school-aged children.

Advancing Clinical Education and Innovation

The Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program expanded training in three key areas: Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Mental Health: Residents collaborate with multidisciplinary teams addressing developmental, behavioral, and emotional health needs. Sports Medicine: Trainees gain hands-on experience supporting athletes through injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance optimization, building confidence in promoting lifelong wellness. Continuity of Care Across Specialties: New didactic sessions focus on transitions for patients with complex conditions, such as congenital heart disease, bringing together experts from pediatrics, internal medicine, social work, and care coordination to strengthen residents’ skills in maintaining continuity and fostering interdisciplinary communication.

Helping Residents Transition From Parental Leave

The Peripartum Health Elective was introduced to support residents returning from parental leave to ease their transition back into clinical training. This year, 12 residents participated, sharing overwhelmingly positive feedback on the program’s flexibility and support: "Allowed me the flexibility for an easier transition back to work." "Has been a phenomenal help to me and my family." As part of the elective, participants developed a peer resource repository on key maternal health topics, including gestational diabetes, mastitis, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and common gastrointestinal concerns during pregnancy.

Fellowship highlights

The Department of Internal Medicine is home to 19 ACGME accredited and six non-ACGME accredited fellowship programs, spread across 13 divisions.

New Fellowship Programs

We launched two new fellowship programs:

• Non-Transplant Hepatology Fellowship - two fellows entered the inaugural class, marking the beginning of what is expected to become a robust, long-term educational pathway.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship - provides comprehensive training in multimodal imaging, including CT, MRI, and nuclear cardiology.

Fellow Awards and Recognition

Ibtissam Gad, MD, a fellow in the Division of Rheumatology, was selected as a 2025 Michigan Medicine RISE (Research, Innovation, Scholarship, Education) Cohort 5 Scholar. Her work, Helping Hand 2.0, is the first simulation curriculum of its kind to teach and assess learners' ability to detect small joint swelling in the hand. Dr. Gad's article was published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.  In the Division of Hematology & Oncology, Reese Aitken, MD, PhD, and Prathana Dalal, MD, PhD, were selected for Michigan Pioneer Fellowships - a collaborative initiative among several University of Michigan units, offering competitive financial mentoring support to outstanding postdoctoral fellows aiming to advance research in biomedical sciences. In addition, Dylan Fortman, MD, was selected for the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology Board of Directors fellowship position.