[domweek] DOM Week, January 26-30, 2026

[Department of Medicine weekly newsletter via domweek]

DOM Week
January 23, 2026
News, information, and events of interest from the Department of Medicine

(if you have items for DOM Week, please email amyf at uw.edu<mailto:amyf at uw.edu>)


Awards
Nancy Davidson receives Science of Oncology award
[Nancy Davidson]Dr. Nancy Davidson, professor (Hematology and Oncology) is the 2026 recipient of the David Karnofsky Science of Oncology Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. First awarded in 1970, this award is presented annually in the memory of David A. Karnofsky, MD, in honor of his outstanding contributions to clinical cancer research.

A world‑renowned breast cancer expert and chief academic officer at Fred Hutch, Dr. Davidson is being recognized for decades of groundbreaking work spanning preclinical studies on epigenetic changes in breast cancer to leading phase III clinical trials that have helped advance patient care.

Davidson will be presented with the award during the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting in May.


Education news
[Ashley Widmer]Ashley Widmer receives Loan Mitigation Award
Dr. Ashley Widmer, R3, has received a 2026 Loan Mitigation Award from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). The ASN Loan Mitigation Program <https://www.asn-online.org/education/training/lmp/recipients.aspx> aims to decrease the loan burden of those entering the field of nephrology, while also increasing interest in the specialty. Dr. Widmer is joining the UW Division of Nephrology as a fellow.


Research news
Fairness in for late-career physician screening programs
[Thomas Gallagher and Andrew White]At a time of overall physician shortages, late‑career physicians (LCPs) represent a vital share of the U.S. medical workforce. Their continued service reflects their dedication to their patients and communities and the value of their institutional knowledge and expertise.

With nearly one in four practicing physicians over the age of 65, many institutions are offering more support for LCPs, including screening programs for potential age-related concerns that may affect patient care. These policies, however, naturally raise questions of fairness, respect and acceptance among physicians.

“Health systems have taken a risk because these policies create controversy and require buy-in from medical staff. Older physicians have to accept more oversight, which some might naturally resist,” said Dr. Andrew White, professor (General Internal Medicine) and lead author on 2024 paper assessing institutional policies related to late-career physicians<https://mednews.uw.edu/news/screen-older-physicians>.
Further research, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine<https://bit.ly/3NzkelF>, expands on these concerns and reinforces the importance of fair, thoughtful approaches to LCP screening for supporting both patient safety and physician dignity.

Co-authored by White and Dr. Thomas Gallagher, professor (General Internal Medicine), the article outlines principles that support equitable LCP policies.

Learn more on our news site<https://bit.ly/45Sy3lu>.

________________________________

Andrew Portuguese selected for Next Generation Scholars program
[Andrew Portuguese]Dr. Andrew Portuguese, assistant professor (Hematology and Oncology) has been selected as a Blood & Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) Next Generation Scholar. This highly competitive national program is designed to develop future leaders in hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy clinical trials.

The program supports early-career investigators through mentorship, didactic training, and hands-on participation in multi-center cooperative group research, with an emphasis on protocol development, trial leadership, and equitable trial access. Dr. Portuguese was selected as one of 12 scholars nationwide based on his track record and potential to contribute to BMT CTN-led clinical research.

________________________________

Kathleen Ramos appointed clinical trials medical director
[Kathleen Ramos]Dr. Katheen Ramos, associate professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine) has been named clinical trials medical director of the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Therapeutics Development Network (TDN) Coordinating Center at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

Dr. Ramos has been serving as interim medical director, providing steady leadership, and supporting the growth of the TDN clinical research portfolio. Following a national search, she was selected for the permanent role based on her deep clinical expertise, strategic vision, and proven commitment to advancing CF research and care.

In her new capacity, Dr. Ramos will partner with the leadership of the TDN Coordinating Center, guide clinical research strategy, and continue building strong partnerships across a national network of investigators, clinical sites, and collaborators. She will also continue to serve as the adult Therapeutics Development Center Director at the University of Washington Adult CF Program.


Clinical news
An integrated model of care
[Aynsley Duncan]Founded in 2005, 1811 Eastlake houses 75 formerly homeless adults, all of whom have been diagnosed with chronic alcohol use disorders. It's built around an integrated care model where stable housing is combined with onsite medical and case management services, which contribute to a patient’s overall well-being.

Dr. Aynsley Duncan, clinical assistant professor (General Internal Medicine) is associate medical director of Harborview Medical Center’s Downtown Programs, which includes 1811 Eastlake and 17 other field-based sites or programs. Of the 75 residents under her watch, some patients, especially new arrivals, require daily treatments for urgent problems like severe wound care. Other long-term residents require only periodic checkups for chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

The onsite medical team consists of just Duncan and two Harborview nurses, so all three team members take on a variety of duties. Despite the workload, Duncan says there are unexpected benefits. Like “seeing people living their lives, which is a true privilege,” she said. “The most rewarding part is really our patients, who are some of the most creative, resilient and hardworking people I've ever met.”

Read the full story from UW Medicine Newsroom<https://bit.ly/49KVs9E>.


Recent publications
Dr. Lindsey Anderson, research assistant professor, is lead author and Dr. Jose Garcia, professor (Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine) is senior author of “Distinct metabolomic alterations are associated with physical function, weight loss, and muscle mass in in men with cancer<https://bit.ly/4t4FL6a>” in the Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle. DOM co-authors are Haiming Kerr and Sina Gharib.

Dr. Petter Bjornstad, professor (Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition) is co-author of “Endothelial cell–released CD93 contributes to podocyte injury in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome<https://bit.ly/4k4BdbJ>” in Science Translational Medicine.

Dr. Michael Boeckh, professor (Allergy and Infectious Diseases) is lead author of “Cytomegalovirus DNAemia in Hospitalized Adults With SARS-CoV-2 Infection Requiring Supplemental Oxygen: Virologic and Clinical Characteristics and Association With Outcomes<https://bit.ly/4pRKhSo>” in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. DOM co-author is Jason Goldman.

Dr. Jim Boonyaratanakornkit, assistant professor (Allergy and Infectious Diseases) is senior of “Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: Clinical and Humoral Risk Factors for Infection<https://bit.ly/4a2ZaN4>” in Open Forum Clinical Infectious Diseases. DOM co-authors are Masumi Ueda Oshima, Guang-Shing Cheng, and Michael Boeckh.

Jennifer Brody, research scientist (General Internal Medicine), Dr. Nona Sotoodehnia, professor (Cardiology) and Dr. Rozenn Lemaitre, research professor (General Internal Medicine) are co-authors of “Circulating metabolites, genetics and lifestyle factors in relation to future risk of type 2 diabetes<https://go.nature.com/3Lx1Zgd>” in Nature Medicine.

Dr. David Cummings, professor (Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition) is co-author of “Effect of Social Vulnerability on Efficacy of Bariatric Surgery Versus Medical and Lifestyle Intervention for Type 2 Diabetes: Analysis of the ARMMS-T2D Consortium of Randomized Trials<https://bit.ly/3NyFjN8>” in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Jason Dominitz, professor (Gastroenterology) is lead author of “Is a Goldilocks Solution for Colorectal Cancer Screening Just a Fairy Tale? Overdiagnosis Versus Later Diagnosis of Premalignant Lesions<https://bit.ly/4jVQvzp>” in Gastroenterology.

Drs. Emily Ford, assistant professor, and David Koelle, professor (Allergy and Infectious Diseases) are co-authors of “TCR2HLA: Calibrated inference of HLA genotypes from TCR repertoires enables identification of immunologically relevant metaclonotypes<https://bit.ly/3NvwwLV>” in PLoS Computational Biology.

Dr. Jose Garcia, professor (Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine) is co-author of “Exercise Recommendations for Older Adults Living with and Beyond Cancer: a consensus statement by the Advancing Capacity to Integrate Exercise into the Care of Older Cancer Survivors (ACES) Expert Panel<https://bit.ly/4jS4M04>” in Cancer.

Dr. Philip Greenberg, professor (Hematology and Oncology) is co-author of “The ubiquitin ligase KLHL6 drives resistance to CD8+ T cell dysfunction<https://go.nature.com/4jV2AVG>” in Nature.

Dr. Geoffrey Hill, professor (Hematology and Oncology) is co-author of “Fibroblastic reticular cells direct the initiation of T cell responses via CD44<https://go.nature.com/4r2hdIX>” in Nature.

Dr. Sioban Keel, professor (Hematology and Oncology) is co-author of “Lymphoid malignancy and clonality in the POT1-mediated long telomere syndrome<https://bit.ly/45X6dEF>” in Blood.

Dr. Benjamin Lidgard, assistant professor, is lead author and Dr. Rozenn Lemaitre, is senior author of “Association of Sphingolipids with All-Cause and Cardiovascular Death in Patients with Kidney Failure Treated with Maintenance Hemodialysis<https://bit.ly/4pQDsAE>” in the Journal of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. DOM co-authors are Leila Zelnick, Ian de Boer, Paul Jensen, Amanda Fretts, David Siscovick, and Nisha Bansal.

Dr. Alex Loiben, acting instructor, is lead author and Dr. Daniel Yang, assistant professor (Cardiology) is senior author of “Functional interrogation of contextually correct MYH7 variants using CRaTER-flox gene editing and contractility profiling<https://bit.ly/4r7RCi6>” in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. DOM co-author is Wei-Ming Chien.

Dr. Jeanne Poole, professor (Cardiology) is co-author of “Physiologic Pacing in Heart Failure<https://bit.ly/45pmK4d>” in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr. Ganesh Raghu, professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) is lead author of “Substituting bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia for hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a word of caution<https://bit.ly/3YRDf5k>” in the European Respiratory Journal and senior author of “Composite Radiological Score (CRS)-A novel imaging biomarker: Correlation with clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia<https://bit.ly/3Ntvgci>” in the Indian Journal of Tuberculosis.

Dr. Scott Ramsey, professor (General Internal Medicine) is co-author of “Potential Impact of the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan for Medicare Part D Beneficiaries With a Cancer Diagnosis<https://bit.ly/4jQN6lk>” in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Dr. Emily Rosen, assistant professor, is lead author and Dr. Catherine Liu, professor (Allergy and Infectious Diseases) is senior author of “Diagnostic Yield of Repeat Blood Cultures and Risk Factors for Bloodstream Infection in Persistent Febrile Neutropenia<https://bit.ly/45Uyj3o>” in Clinical Infectious Diseases. DOM co-authors are Leah Yoke, Masumi Ueda Oshima, Paul Henrie, and Marco Mielcarek.

Dr. Eugene Yang, professor of clinical practice (Cardiology) is co-author of “Apple Watch for Hypertension Screening<https://bit.ly/49zKkxC>” in Hypertension.


*Correction from last week: Dr. Natalie Vo, acting assistant professor (Nephrology) is co-author of “Monitoring biological effects of somatic cell genome editing<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41576-025-00916-0>” in Nature Review Genetics.


In the news
Dr. Anthony Back, professor (Hematology and Oncology) is quoted in “Sound of Silence: Training Physicians to Avoid Interrupting the Diagnosis<https://wb.md/4qCgsXg>” in Medscape.

Dr. Helen Chu, professor (Allergy and Infectious Diseases) is quoted in “Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Knew<https://nyti.ms/4bOnp2R>” in the New York Times.

Dr. W. Conrad Liles, professor and vice chair for research, is quoted in “The Gut’s Unexpected Role in Sepsis-Induced Liver Damage<https://wb.md/3LKGA2Y>” in Medscape.

Dr. Ellen Schur, professor (General Internal Medicine) is quoted in “The Scary Health Risk That Can Sneak Up on GLP-1 Users<https://wb.md/3Nxwmnk>” in Medscape.


 Weekly Calendar, January 26-30, 2026
Our events calendar is posted on our website<https://medicine.uw.edu/news/trumba-calendar>.


Coming up
Women Faculty Leadership Workshop: Leading in Uncertain Times
The Women in Medicine & Science (WIMS) Committee invites you to join the next session of the 2025/26 Women Faculty Leadership Series. Harborview CEO Sommer Kleweno Walley will discuss her 25+ years of service at Harborview and share her experience leading organizations during uncertain times. Feb. 3, 4-5pm. Register for this event. <https://uw.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=0&EID=13494&IsExhibitor=false>


________________________________

Amy Fields, Editor
amyf at uw.edu<mailto:amyf at uw.edu>


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