Chapel Hill Internal Medicine- CHIM

12/08/2025

Our office will be opening at 10am tomorrow due to inclement weather.

❄️ WEATHER UPDATE for Monday, Dec. 8: Due to current weather conditions, some UNC Health facilities may be closing early today. If you are unsure whether or not your appointment is cancelled, please call your specific clinic directly. Emergency Rooms & hospitals remain open 24/7.

View our clinic delays & closures here: https://www.unchealth.org/announcements/inclement-weather-updates

Virtual Care Now appointments are available where appropriate: https://www.unchealth.org/care-services/virtual-care/virtual-care-now

12/05/2025

Let’s face it: Santa Claus does not make the healthiest choices on December 24, when he stays up all night delivering toys and eating a lot of cookies.

And because the holiday season can be busy, anyone can struggle to maintain the habits that keep us well.

“This is a time when routines get disrupted, and that’s OK,” says UNC Health family medicine doctor Victoria Boggiano, MD. “Be kind to yourself and enjoy the holiday. It’s about your habits over time, not every individual moment.”

We talked to Dr. Boggiano about ways that everyone, including Santa, can stay jolly and healthy in the winter months.

Don’t neglect wellness during this busy season.

12/02/2025

Sometimes it seems like the winter holidays are all about food—Grandma’s famous pie at Thanksgiving, cocoa and cookies with the neighbors, a full spread at the office potluck.

But if you’re taking a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist drug (such as Ozempic or Wegovy) for diabetes or weight loss, your relationship with food has likely changed. GLP-1 medications slow down your digestion so that you feel full longer, meaning that you usually eat less. They often reduce “food noise,” or excessive thoughts and cravings about food.

That’s helpful for weight loss and your overall health, but at the holidays you might want to enjoy some favorite treats. With some planning, you can.

“Your appetite and portions may look different than they used to and that’s completely OK. You can still enjoy the foods you love, just in smaller amounts that feel comfortable now,” says UNC Health family medicine doctor Ana Morais, MD.

With planning, you can still enjoy your favorite foods.

11/27/2025

11/24/2025

Wishing all a happy Thanksgiving from CHIM! Please note that our office will be closed 11/27 - 11/28.

11/20/2025

When you were a child, you might have noticed that your parent or grandparent took a medication, but do you know what it was for? You may be aware that your parents see several specialists for their health now, but could you name all the reasons why?

If not, you may want to pick up the phone or pay a visit to start collecting your family health history.

“A lot of health conditions are genetic and can run in families, like diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and some cancers,” says UNC Health family medicine doctor Rana Alkhaldi, MD. “Knowing the health issues your family members have can help with understanding your own risk factors for certain diseases.”

Dr. Alkhaldi shares tips for starting the conversation and shares what you need to know.

Understanding your health risks can empower you to take steps to stay well.

11/17/2025

11/13/2025

Your knees may not have crossed your mind in your 20s, but as the years go by, those same joints can start making their presence known with every step, bend, or climb.

That’s likely the result of osteoarthritis, the breakdown of cartilage that cushions joints.

“Knee X-rays showing osteoarthritis are more common as people age, but that doesn’t mean that it has to hurt,” says UNC Health sports medicine physician Michael Seifert, MD. “Some people have X-rays showing a lot of arthritis and are living a high quality of life, while some have very little arthritis on their X-rays but experience pain that’s debilitating.”

Here’s the good news: You can take steps now to improve the health of your knees and reduce your risk for chronic pain.

Regular movement keeps this joint working well.

11/11/2025

Today we remember and thank all who have served our country. Happy Veterans Day!

11/06/2025

Five years after the first cases of COVID-19 in the United States, the disease is still with us. In fact, many parts of the country, including North Carolina, have experienced high levels of COVID-19, according to wastewater data.

“COVID-19 is still a problem for a lot of people,” says UNC Health infectious diseases specialist David Wohl, MD. “Most people will have mild to moderate illness, but a significant percentage of people are at risk for worse outcomes including long COVID, and some people do still get very sick and even die.”

This year, there has been confusion about eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. We talked to Dr. Wohl about what you need to know.

The process is different this year.