\nMargaret \u201cPeggy\u201d Battin, MFA, PhD<\/a>, distinguished professor of philosophy and adjunct professor of internal medicine, is retiring after 50 years at the University of Utah<\/a>. A philosopher and internationally recognized bioethicist, Battin has been a central member of the Center for Health Ethics, Arts, and Humanities<\/a> at U of U Health for nearly 30 years.
\nJessica Osterhout, PhD<\/a>,\u00a0assistant professor of neurobiology at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, was selected as a 2025 Pew Scholar<\/a> by the\u00a0Pew Charitable Trusts<\/a>. This program provides funding to early career investigators of outstanding promise whose science is relevant to the advancement of human health. Osterhout will use the four-year award to investigate how the immune system communicates with the brain during sickness.
\nBecker\u2019s Healthcare named Donna Roach, MS, CHCIO, FCHIME, FHIMSS<\/a>, chief information officer at U of U Health, to its list of Hospital and Health System CIOs to Know<\/a> in 2025. This list features forward-thinking leaders who are transforming their hospitals and health systems by harnessing cutting-edge technologies to enhance, streamline, and elevate the delivery of health care.
\nBecker\u2019s Healthcare named Mari Ransco, associate executive director of patient experience at U of U Health, to its list of Hospital and Health System Chief Experience Officers to Know<\/a> in 2025. This list features leaders who elevate every touchpoint along the patient and provider journey, ensuring that experiences are safe, seamless, high-quality, convenient, and compassionate.<\/p>\n
![\"Bob](\"https:\/\/uofuhealth.utah.edu\/notes\/2025\/08\/public:\/\/media\/images\/2025\/221-som-white-coat-ceremony-aug-15-2025.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
Bob S. Carter, MD, PhD, CEO for U of U Health and executive vice president for health sciences, welcomes the Class of 2029 at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine white coat ceremony. <\/p>\n
Becker\u2019s Healthcare named Jen Simmons, BSN, RN<\/a>, director of nursing quality at U of U Health, to its list of Patient Safety Experts to Know<\/a> in 2025. This list features patient safety experts who are unwavering champions for patient harm reduction, disease management, and disaster preparedness. Utah Data Coordinating Center is the official data partner for the $101 million XPRIZE Healthspan competition.<\/p>\n Leadership Announcements\u00a0<\/p>\n Achievements in Research<\/p>\n The Utah Data Coordinating Center (DCC)<\/a> at the University of Utah is the official data partner<\/a> for the $101 million XPRIZE Healthspan competition<\/a>\u2014an ambitious global effort to extend healthy human aging. DCC will oversee clinical trial coordination and data validation for teams developing therapies that aim to restore key functions\u2014muscle, cognition, and immunity\u2014by at least 10 years in adults aged 50\u201380, all within a single year.<\/p>\n The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine launched the Integrating Medicine and Policy to Achieve Healthcare Transformation (IMPACT) Program. IMPACT aims to recruit, retain, and support exceptional clinician-scientists at all academic ranks who are dedicated to\u00a0impactful late translational, health services, and outcomes research. Adam Bress, PharmD, MS<\/a> (population health sciences), was named inaugural program director and Valerie Vaughn, MD, MS, SFHM, ACP<\/a> (internal medicine), was named associate program director.<\/p>\n Katsu Funai, PhD<\/a>, associate professor of nutrition and integrative physiology, led a study in mice that suggests Ozempic causes less muscle loss than expected<\/a>, though muscles may get weaker even when muscle mass is unchanged. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism<\/a>, highlight a need for clinical studies in humans to understand Ozempic\u2019s side effects.<\/p>\n Two new studies led by Chris Gregg, PhD,<\/a>\u00a0professor in neurobiology and human genetics, suggest that hibernating animals\u2019 superpowers could lie hidden in our own DNA<\/a>. The findings, both published<\/a> in Science<\/a>, could eventually lead to therapies to help reverse neurodegeneration, diabetes, and aging-related conditions.<\/p>\n The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine<\/a>\u00a0and the School of Dentistry<\/a>\u00a0held white coat ceremonies for the incoming class of 2029.<\/p>\n Dentistry received its second-highest number of applications, enrolling 50 incoming students from 25 universities\u201430 from Utah, including rural areas, and 20 from 15 other states. Incoming classes regularly rank in the top 25% nationally for GPA, science GPA, and Dental Aptitude Test scores.<\/p>\n Medicine\u2019s incoming class includes 125 students\u201491 from Utah, 16 from surrounding states, and 18 from across the country. A total of 38 students are enrolled in research track programs focused on rural care and population health. The class includes first-generation students, as well as students from rural communities and non-linear pathways.<\/p>\n The digital publishing unit at the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library has created history-related digital collections for the College of Nursing<\/a>, College of Pharmacy<\/a>, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine<\/a>, and the library<\/a> itself. Collections for the College of Health and School of Dentistry are underway.<\/p>\n Clinical Achievements<\/p>\n
\nJia-Wen Guo, PhD<\/a>, associate professor of nursing, Jenny Alderden, PhD<\/a>, assistant professor of nursing, and nursing alum Stacie Hunsaker, PhD<\/a>, were inducted into the American Academy of Nursing<\/a> for their substantive and sustained contributions to health care.
\nMary Jo Pugh, PhD, RN<\/a>, professor of epidemiology and investigator with the Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytical Sciences (IDEAS) Center of Innovation<\/a> at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System<\/a>, was honored at the 2025 Military Health System Research Symposium<\/a> with an Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award<\/a>. Pugh, one of only two investigators nationwide to receive the award, was recognized for her research revealing the long-term health consequences of traumatic brain injury.
\nAdriele Fugal, MPH<\/a>, a PhD student at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, was selected for a one-year fellowship with the Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS)\/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ)<\/a> in Brazil. Under the mentorship of Ivette A. L\u00f3pez, PhD, MPH (public health),<\/a> Fugal will conduct a scoping review on Zika virus, an area the institute is recognized for.
\nClayton Powers, DPT<\/a>, a College of Health alum, patient advocate, and physical therapist at U of U Health, was recently featured in the\u00a0\u201cMade Better by You\u201d<\/a>\u00a0series. His work underscores the real-world impact of College of Health graduates and the importance of preparing students for meaningful careers in health care.<\/p>\n![\"School](\"https:\/\/uofuhealth.utah.edu\/notes\/2025\/08\/public:\/\/media\/images\/2025\/08.13.2025-university-of-utah-school-of-dentistry-white-coat-ceremony-0547_0.JPG\" "\\"\\"")
Members of the School of Dentistry Class of 2029 gather for a group photo following their white coat ceremony.
\n Achievements in Education<\/p>\n