Category: News
UME Faculty Spotlight: Kunal Patel, MD, PhD
Meet Dr. Kunal Patel, a pulmonologist in the UNC Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine and the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the Office of Medical Student Education. How did you get into medical education? I have always been interested in education but never really saw myself landing in my current role. My dad was an engineering professor, so growing u … Read more
UNC Heart Valve Team Completes North Carolina’s First Commercial Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement
On July 29, the University of North Carolina Heart Valve team performed North Carolina’s first commercial fully percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). The milestone makes UNC the first hospital in the state to provide the treatment and the only hospital in North Carolina that can offer transcatheter repair and replacement of both the mitral and tricuspid valv … Read more
Division of Geriatric Medicine Hosts 2026 Tideswell Scholars
UNC Division of Geriatric Medicine faculty clinicians Drs. Maureen Dale (pictured L), Meredith Gilliam (pictured 2nd from L), and Mallory McClester Brown are Tideswell alumni. In addition, Dr. Claire Larson is a current scholar. From June 10–12, 2026, the UNC Center for Aging and Health welcomed geriatricians from across the country for the Tideswell Emerging Leaders in Aging Spr … Read more
DOM Faculty and Staff Honored by UNC SOM Student Government
The UNC School of Medicine Student Government held the Fall Convocation and Awards Ceremony for 2026. At the event, several UNC Department of Medicine faculty and staff were recognized for their excellence in medical education. Brian Wood, MD, internal medicine resident, and Jason Lee, MD, internal medicine intern, both received the Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching Awards … Read more
August 2026 UNC Geriatrics Clinic Updates
Carolina Meadows expansion Due to a physician retirement at Carolina Meadows, the Division of Geriatric Medicine will take over medical directorship and additional patient sessions. Dr. Meredith Gilliam has taken on the role of temporary Medical Director at Carolina Meadows. New Geriatrics Clinic Assistant Medical Director Dominic Boccaccio, MD is now the Assistant Medical Direct … Read more
Whelan Selected as SOM CAP Course Director
Karin Whelan, MD Karina Whelan, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, has been selected as the new CAP course director. Dr. Whelan brings extensive experience in undergraduate medical education, a deep understanding of the Application Phase curriculum, and a strong commitment to continuous course improvement and student … Read more
Faculty & Staff in the News through July
The clickable links below navigate directly to outside media articles which featured Department of Medicine faculty and staff throughout the month of July 2026. Sean Callahan, MD, is co-first author on the article, “Nintedanib in Post-COVID Interstitial Lung Disease: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.” Spencer Dorn, MD, MPH, MHA, wrote an article for F … Read more
Alex Duncan Named Vice Chair of Research in the UNC Department of Medicine
Once Alex Duncan, MD, PhD, got a taste of being a Tar Heel, he never left. First joining the department as a resident in 2001, followed by fellowship training in infectious diseases, he has now attended on the Infectious Diseases Consult Service for 20-years while also building an exceptional career as a physician-scientist. Dr. Duncan will now bring his skillset to his new role … Read more
David Hemsey Named Vice Chair for Inpatient Operations in the UNC Department of Medicine
For the last 10 years, David Hemsey, MD, has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the Chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine. Under his guidance, the division experienced remarkable growth, expanding from 33 faculty and 4 APPs to 62 faculty and 12 APPs. Now, Dr. David Hemsey will bring his extraordinary leadership to his new position as Vice Chair for Inpatient Operations i … Read more
Hematology T32: Celebrating 50 Years of Continuous Funding
For 50 consecutive years, the University of North Carolina Division of Hematology has received funding through a National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32 training grant. The milestone reflects five decades of investment in training physician-scientists and researchers who have gone on to advance the field of hematology through careers in academic medicine and at the bench. Origina … Read more
UME Faculty Spotlight: Diya Jost, MD
Meet Dr. Diya Jost, a med-peds hospitalist and the site director for the Internal Medicine Clerkship at the WakeMed AHEC. As a med-peds hospitalist and the site director for the Internal Medicine Clerkship at the WakeMed AHEC, I love that I get to know each student when they rotate with me on internal medicine, and then often get to see them again on service on pediatrics. How d … Read more
Batsis Speaks to Forbes About FDA-Approved Weight Loss Drug Alternatives
John Batsis, MD In an article on Ozempic alternatives for weight loss, Forbes Magazine asks Dr. John Batsis about alternatives to GLP-1s and other popular weight loss drugs and treatments. According to Dr. Batsis, “No natural or over-the-counter product has been shown to produce weight loss comparable to FDA-approved semaglutide or tirzepatide therapy.” He then cautions people on … Read more