Author Archives: Morgan Duerden

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...

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) announced David J. Weber, MD, MPH, a distinguished leader in infection prevention and healthcare epidemiology, and the Charles Addison and Elizabeth Ann Sanders Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the UNC Division of Infectious Diseases, will serve as the 2025 SHEA Board of...

An article by Sherin Ismail-Atta PharmD, PhD, epidemiology graduate student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and trainee at the UNC Kidney Center, and her mentors, Michele Jonsson-Funk, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, and Jennifer Flythe, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the UNC Division...

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) announced Natalie Grover, MD, associate professor of medicine in the UNC Division of Hematology, as the recipient of the Joanne Levy, MD, Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award was announced at the 66th Annual ASH Meeting and Exposition on December 7 in San...

Many cases of Lyme disease are under-recognized because early symptoms – typically fever, fatigue and achiness, are common in many other illnesses. At the same time, testing is fraught with pitfalls, including poor sensitivity early in the course of disease and complicated algorithms that often are misinterpreted. While historically considered...