MONTHLY FRIENDS REPORT: Dean Sampson crouches down in front of a seated crowd of new students eagerly awaiting the start of the 2024 matriculation ceremony where they receive their white coats and stethoscopes.

Image: John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MHSc, MBA, the new School of Medicine Dean and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, poses in front of University of Colorado School of Medicine class of 2028 students during the 2024 matriculation ceremony on July 26, 2024.

Exciting Breakthroughs from University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus!

My pick of the latest discoveries and updates this month include:

5280’s Top Docs of 2024: Celebrating excellence in healthcare.
Protecting Against Colorado’s Air Pollution: What you need to know.
Stomach Bug Alerts: How extreme weather impacts your health.
Cognitive Decline & Dementia: Understanding the link.

Curious to learn more? Visit the CU Anschutz Newsroom or just hit reply — I’m your 'boots on the ground' correspondent, ready to keep you informed.

Yours in health and discovery,

Julia Patrick
Newsletter Connoisseur

CU Anschutz Advancement Team

P.S. If this is the first time you're receiving this newsletter, welcome! Our objective is to update you on the latest discoveries happening at CU Anschutz, all of which are fueled by the power of philanthropy. If you want to make sure we continue to land in your inbox once a month, please subscribe.

ASK A SCIENTIST:

Explore the new Basic Science Departments Website

Aimee Bernard, PhD, will be back next month with another Ask a Scientist video. Until then, she invites you to discover the science that drives tomorrow's healthcare breakthroughs through her newly launched website, created to offer you an inside look at the pioneering research happening at CU Anschutz. Delve into detailed profiles of our leading scientists, explore their innovative projects and stay up-to-date with the discoveries that are shaping the future of medicine.

DIVE INTO THE SCIENCE

If you'd like a better understanding of something you've read or heard about related to medicine and health in general, please email your question(s) to advancement@cuanschutz.edu (or just reply to this email). Yours could be the question that Dr. Bernard answers via video reply next month!

The University of Colorado School of Medicine and the University of Colorado Medicine (CU Medicine) continue to lead Denver's medical landscape, with 295 providers recognized in 5280 Magazine's prestigious Top Doctors list for 2024. The selection process, rooted in peer recognition, asks Denver-area physicians to nominate colleagues they would trust with their own – or their family's – care.

What are the causes of air pollution in Colorado? What role does geography play in impacting Colorado’s air pollution? Can indoor air filters or air purifiers help? Two experts in environmental and occupational health and epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health explain the science behind Colorado’s air pollution.

Could we be at increased risk of stomach bugs due to extreme weather? A recent Colorado School of Public Health study examined 20 years of data and found a link between extreme weather and two common parasites. As environmental conditions continue to change, these findings underscore the potential need for public health interventions.

About 10% to 15% of cases of diagnosed mild cognitive impairment will resolve over time. Roughly 50%, however, will progress, leading to a future dementia diagnosis because of an underlying brain disease. What leads to cognitive decline, and should most people expect to experience it at some point in their life? What is the association between cognitive decline and dementia?

Scientists at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered a new evasion strategy used by the varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles. This strategy may allow the virus to affect tissues far from the original site of infection.

The Injury and Violence Prevention Center (IVPC) at the Colorado School of Public Health has received a $4.2 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish an Injury Control Research Center at CU Anschutz over the next five years. "The CDC grant will significantly bolster our mission to reduce injuries and violence in the Mountain West region. Our growing team is dedicated to conducting innovative research, engaging with communities and translating our findings into effective prevention strategies,” said Ashley Brooks-Russell, PhD, MPH, director of the IVPC.

Sarguni Singh, MD, and her University of Colorado Cancer Center colleagues began looking for an intervention to better support cancer patients post hospitalization, after study results showed that some 80% of Medicare patients who were hospitalized for cancer treatment never went on to receive further treatment.

In 2015, after four days of flu-like symptoms, a 16-year-old star high school athlete died of plague, likely from contact with a dead, flea-infested rodent on his family’s property near Fort Collins. His parents were so stunned, they took the exceptional student’s story public to raise awareness.

Mapping cancer’s impact across Colorado is now easier than ever for medical professionals, researchers and others, thanks to a new interactive platform from the CU Cancer Center.

The University of Colorado School of Medicine is a top-tier research institution in the United States, according to rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. Only 16 medical schools are included in the top tier.

Philanthropic Spotlight:
Medical Alumni Association Stethoscope Fund Match

Photo collage of new medical students receiving their white coats and a stethoscope at the 2024 School of Medicine matriculation ceremony.

On Friday, July 26, 184 new CU Anschutz medical students joined alumni at the yearly white coat ceremony to receive their stethoscopes and celebrate their commitment to serving others.

This year, over 200 benefactors generously supported medical students by making a donation to help provide stethoscopes to the class of 2028, at a cost of $200 per stethoscope. Thank you to Robert Rigg, Jr., MD ‘82 for offering a matching gift to double the impact!

“The gravity of medical school and training to be a physician hadn’t quite sunk in until donning my stethoscope for my first preceptorship last week. Knowing the stethoscope around my neck was donated by an alumnus who had been in my shoes and made it through gave me the confidence to walk into the exam room and reminded me of the incredible support we have from the CUSOM family.”

– Kyle Jamar, Class of 2027

The Medical Alumni Association Stethoscope Fund aims to provide a stethoscope for each incoming medical student at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

STETHOSCOPE FUND

RESEARCH STUDY
Inflammatory Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease
Objective: To understand why some people with rheumatoid arthritis develop a related condition called RA-associated interstitial lung disease.

LEARN MORE

33:20 MINS
Better. Stronger. Faster. Scientists Rebuild Cancer-Killing Cells
Eduardo Davila, PhD, and his team has devised a novel way to rejuvenate T-cells and improve their ability to home in on and kill cancer cells.

LISTEN

AUGUST 27
Complimentary Lunch Lesson:
Succulent Workshop
Learn about succulent care essentials, propagation, maintenance and creative design at the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center.

SAVE MY SEAT

Let food be thy medicine: Chunks of tofu glisten in a delicious brown sauce topped with vegetables and fresh cilantro.

Recipe: Roasted Tofu and Easy Peanut Sauce

Enhance your diet with plant-based proteins using this Roasted Tofu and Easy Peanut Sauce recipe. Serve with rice and veggies for a satisfying meal!

TOFU-TALLY IRRESISTIBLE

...because laughter is the best medicine.

Wait, Einstein is real? I thought he was just a theoretical physicist.

This "mom joke" was submitted by Casey Kaetterhenry, Philanthropic Assistant, CU Anschutz Office of Advancement.

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