Category: Geriatric Medicine
January 2026 Division of Geriatric Medicine Updates
Faculty Promotions Ben Blomberg, MD and David Lynch, BMBS have both been promoted to Clinical Associate Professor. Drs. Blomberg and Lynch Faculty Achievements Hillary Spangler, MD recently graduated from the UNC-CH Master of Science in Clinical Research Program. Dr. Hillary Spangler Open Positions in the Division of Geriatric Medicine Division Chief Position After leading the Di … Read more
‘Start Low, and Go Slow’: GLP-1 Weight-loss Drugs for Older Adults
John Batsis, MD “The people I see in clinic, they care about getting out of a chair, playing with their grandchildren, not being admitted into a nursing home,” says Dr. John Batsis. So when working with older adults with obesity, he considers various factors. And his motto on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is, “Start low, and go slow.” In a recent AAMC article, Dr. Batsis says, “We don’ … Read more
-
Batsis Participates in Treat and Reduce Obesity Act Briefing
John Batsis, MD Dr. John Batsis recently participated in a virtual Capitol Hill briefing focused on comprehensive obesity treatment. As part of this effort, Dr. Batsis advocated for advancing the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act and encouraged Congress to support coverage of obesity medications for weight loss in older Medicare beneficiaries. This initiative was coordinated through t … Read more
UNC Welcomes Nagoya University Scholars for ‘Aging and the Family’
The ‘Grey Wave’ or ‘Silver Tsumani’ is here. These terms refer to the increasing number of elderly people around the world. Basically, the world’s population is aging much faster than in the past. In 2011, baby boomers began reaching the age of 65. In the United States, 18% of Americans are aged 65 or older. The percentage is even higher in Japan. 30% of all Japanese people are o … Read more
Dr. Christina Shenvi Becomes Full Professor with Tenure
Dr. Shenvi is widely recognized for her contributions in advancing medical education and Geriatric Emergency Medicine, and serving in key leadership roles in the field of Emergency Medicine, both at UNC and with numerous national and international professional associations.
UNC Global Affairs Presents: Aging and the Family Faculty Symposium
Faculty and students are invited to join UNC Global Affairs, the UNC Center for Aging and Health, and the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine for a three-day multi-disciplinary symposium on “Aging and the Family,” October 14-16, in the Carolina Union, bringing together scholars and professionals from medicine, nursing, public health, social work and other fields to expl … Read more
Faculty & Staff in the News through September
The clickable links below navigate directly to outside media articles which featured Department of Medicine faculty and staff throughout the month of September 2025. Millie Long, MD, MPH, and Edward Barnes, MD, MPH, played key roles in developing the first international guidelines for managing inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy. Christine Vigeland, MD, received at R03 fr … Read more
Featured UME Educator: Ana Felix, MBBCh
Dr. Ana Felix is an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine. “I always wanted to be an Elementary School Teacher. Not until my Middle School Teacher suggested I go into Medicine, did it enter my reality- no-one that I knew had so much as gone to college. So, I have always looked for teaching opportunities and found that an Academic career allowed me … Read more
-
Dr. John Batsis Presents Keynote at AI Technology Center Consensus Guidelines Workshop
John Batsis, MD Recently, Dr. John Batsis was a keynote speaker at the Artificial Intelligence Technology Center Consensus Guidelines Workshop for Older Adults in Washington, DC. At the workshop, he presented a talk entitled, “Implementation, Education, and Sustainability of Artificial Intelligence for Older Adults.” In his clinician-researcher role, Dr. Batsis applies scientific … Read more
Hanson Receives Ronald J. Falk Vanguard Award
Dr. Ron Falk (Left) and Dr. Laura Hanson (right) at the award ceremony. Laura Hanson, MD, MPH, was awarded the Ronald J. Falk Vanguard Award, an honor recognizing a faculty member who leads with excellence across patient care, discovery and teaching. The annual award reflects the values of its namesake, Dr. Ronald Falk, an international renowned nephrologist who served as departm … Read more
-
Faculty & Staff in the News through August
The clickable links below navigate directly to outside media articles which featured Department of Medicine faculty and staff throughout the month of August 2025. Klara Klein, MD, PhD, will serve as PI for the UNC site investigating cadisegliatin as an adjunctive treatment to insulin in adults with type 1 diabetes. The Division of Hospital Medicine met many milestones during Fisc … Read more
Dr. Niznik Presents at International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology Annual Meeting
Dr Josh Niznik (far right) presenting at the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology Annual Meeting Josh Niznik, PharmD, PhD, recently presented his research during a Lightning Forum presentation at the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (IPSE) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. His research presentation was entitled “Outcomes Associated with Deprescribing Versu … Read more