Author Archives: Morgan Duerden

Each year, UNC Hospitals administers the Press Ganey Medical Practice survey to solicit feedback from patients. The survey asks our patients about their likelihood of recommending their provider’s practice to their friends and family. This year, 228 UNC physicians and advanced practice providers received the highest recommendations, which places them...

Years of hard work and dreams were folded into envelopes, decorative boxes and other means of message delivery. On March 21st, medical students discovered where their career journey would take them for residency. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Internal Medicine Residency Program paired 31 categorical residents, ten...

Dr. Ron Falk invites Andrea Coviello, MD, FACE, MMCi, MSc an expert in endocrinology and metabolism, to discuss the latest developments in weight loss drugs. Their conversation explores how these medications work, their impact on metabolism and appetite regulation, and their role in the broader landscape of obesity treatment and...

Debra Bynum, MD, MMEL, FACP, has been elected to the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine’s Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine Council. Dr. Bynum is a professor of medicine in the UNC Division of Geriatric Medicine, Vice Chair for Education in the UNC Department of Medicine and the Program...

Collecting Oral Histories The Black Alumni Experience Project at the University of North Carolina (UNC) highlights the invaluable contributions of Black medical alumni through oral histories and interviews. The initiative was founded by Raul Necochea, PhD, associate professor of social medicine at UNC, and recent UNC School of Medicine graduates,...

The University of North Carolina Internal Medicine Program has announced the following chief residents who will serve during the 2026-2027 academic year. The administrative chief resident is a position of distinction, professionalism and leadership. These appointed physicians will lead and mentor residents, as they learn to recognize the needs of...

Stephen Schworer, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine in the UNC Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, was recently awarded the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Foundation Faculty Development Award for his project, “T2-skewed basal cells promote small airway mucus plugging in asthma.” The AAAAI Foundation is...

Debra Bynum, MD, MMEL, FACP, Vice Chair for Education in the UNC Department of Medicine, Program Director for the UNC Internal Medicine Residency Program and professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine, has been honored with the North Carolina Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians. The...

People with metastatic cancer who regularly report their symptoms via a home-based electronic monitoring system experienced improved quality of life, clinical outcomes and well-being, as well as fewer emergency department visits than those who didn’t file reports. Both groups had similar overall survival rates, according to University of North Carolina...

Three Department of Medicine faculty have been awarded with the second annual Medical Staff Physician Clinical Excellence Award. This award recognizes UNC Hospitals clinical physicians who embody the qualities of a truly great patient service provider. These physicians are technically skilled, compassionate to patients and families and work collaboratively with...

Gerald Hladik, MD, the Doc J. Thurston Distinguished Professor of Medicine, has been appointed Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs in the University of North Carolina Department of Medicine. In this role, Dr. Hladik is committed to advancing faculty careers and fostering a supportive, nurturing culture. “Nothing brings me more joy...

Millie D. Long, MD, MPH, has been appointed Chief of the University of North Carolina Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ron Falk, MD, Chair of the UNC Department of Medicine announced on January 9, 2025. Long is internationally recognized for her expertise in research, patient care, and education, particularly in...