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Dear Colleague: 

Last week, we launched the Gap Funding initiative to help qualified investigators facing financial hardships due to disruptions and funding delays at the NIH and other federal agencies. We have updated the with FAQs. To apply, fill out the .

The fund is intended to provide short-term relief for investigators who face a critical and immediate need to protect their research programs. We want to sustain this vital work while giving us time to plan for a sustainable future due to changes in Washington, D.C.

I again want to thank our department chairs for their leadership in supporting this fund. Their remarkable commitment shows we are better when we work together.

For additional updates about how government activities are affecting our work, please refer to the of the CU Office of Government Relations. The Anschutz Medical Campus also has an .

First Bloom 2025
First Bloom 2025 – a celebration of spring on the Anschutz Medical Campus – is set for Wednesday, April 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Bonfils Circle, south of the Fitzsimons Building. Get outside with colleagues and enjoy seasonal treats, giveaways while supplies last, photo opps, and music from Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå band WireWood Station.

Recent Publications
Sean T. O’Leary, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics, is a co-author of a , “The Future of Research on Vaccine Uptake at the National Institutes of Health,” published March 31 by JAMA. “The termination of research on vaccine hesitancy and uptake at the NIH does not just halt this progress and interdisciplinary innovation into how to help improve and sustain vaccine coverage and confidence—it does much more,” Dr. O’Leary and his co-authors write. “It is an endorsement of an approach to deprioritize science, no matter how fundamental that science is to the health of individuals in the US. Vaccines are the safest and most effective means to prevent communicable disease.”

Adit A. Ginde, MD, MPH, Professor and Vice Chair for Research of Emergency Medicine, is corresponding author, and David Douin, MD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology is first author of an , “Targeted Normoxemia and Supplemental Oxygen-Free Days in Critically Injured Adults,” published March 31 by JAMA Network Open. Four co-authors are from our campus.

Ihuoma Eneli, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Section Head of Nutrition, is corresponding author of a , “A Callout for Obesity Prevention Trials in Early Childhood,” published April 1 by Pediatrics. Richard E. Boles, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics is co-author.

James S. Barry, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, is corresponding author of a , “Artificial intelligence in pediatric medicine: a call for rigorous reporting standards,”  published April 2 by the Journal of Perinatology.

Faculty Updates
Read Pierce, MD, Professor of Medicine, has been named Chief Medical Officer for Denver Health. He had been Denver Health’s Chief Quality, Safety and Transformation Officer, leading its 2024-2026 strategic plan. Dr. Pierce previously worked at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin and at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå School of Medicine. While on the Anschutz Medical Campus, he spent nearly a decade leading clinical transformation efforts as Director of Quality Improvement and Clinical Innovation within the Division of Hospital Medicine and as Associate Director of the Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety and Efficiency.

Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, was recognized by the American Heart Association in February for his outstanding performance, leadership, and professionalism in advancing the mission of the association and its research program, Strategically Focused Research Network Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome: Heterogeneity in Women.

Dean's Distinguished Speaker
E. Antonio “Nino” Chiocca, MD, PhD, Neurosurgeon-in-Chief and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham & Women's Hospital and the Harvey W. Cushing Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School, will deliver the Dean’s Distinguished Seminar , “Oncolytic Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors/Glioblastoma,” at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in Hensel Phelps West Auditorium. The Dean’s Distinguished Seminar Series brings notable scholars to campus to discuss their work and all are invited. You can find more information about this and other events on the , where you can also .

Thank you, Dr. Lowenstein!
After years of dedicated service, unwavering commitment, and invaluable contributions to our faculty community, Steve Lowenstein, MD, MPH, will transition from Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs to Senior Advisor for Faculty Affairs, effective July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. 

Dr. Lowenstein has been a pillar of faculty affairs leadership, providing guidance, mentorship, and advocacy to faculty at all levels. His work has been instrumental in shaping faculty policies, supporting professional development, and advancing institutional governance. His expertise and thoughtful approach have helped countless faculty members navigate the promotion and tenure process, career transitions, and professional growth opportunities.

In this Senior Advisor role, Dr. Lowenstein will continue to provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and institutional knowledge transfer, ensuring a smooth leadership transition while remaining a vital resource to faculty and administrators. He will focus on mentoring faculty affairs leadership, advising on policy updates, documenting processes, crafting materials in support of retiring faculty, and contributing to faculty governance and modernization efforts.

We are incredibly grateful for Lowenstein’s many years of service, his steadfast dedication to faculty success, and his profound impact on the School of Medicine and the broader academic community. Please join me in thanking him for his leadership and continued contributions in this new role.

Hear! Hear!
Christopher Smith, Vice Chancellor for information Strategy and Services and CIO for the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, sent some good news this week for users of AT&T mobile phones and devices.

AT&T’s main tower near our campus is up and running, which means that users of that company’s services should finally have better coverage and capacity on campus. Another piece of the “network puzzle” filled! Many thanks to Mr. Smith and the OIT team for working to make services better for all of us.

Have a good week,

John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA
Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and
Dean, University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå School of Medicine