University of Kansas School of Medicine

11/05/2025

The Family Medicine Interest Group at KU School of Medicine-Wichita was selected by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) for a Program of Excellence award for the sixth year in a row.

Supported by the school and its faculty, the student organization offers hands-on experiences, volunteer opportunities, clinic hours and leadership development to prepare future leaders in family medicine.

KU School of Medicine-Wichita is one of just 23 medical schools in the country to have its Family Medicine Interest Group receive the award this year. Learn more:

Outreach efforts by the Family Medicine Interest Group include an innovative Dark V***r program that educated more than 2,000 fourth and fifth graders last year in Sedgwick County about the dangers of ci******es and e-ci******es.

11/03/2025

Researchers at KU School of Medicine have tested a noninvasive, drug-free alternative to treat essential tremor, the most common movement disorder in the world.

A study published last week in JAMA Neurology showed significant improvements for people living with essential tremor who used a wristband that stimulates nerves in the wrist.

"We saw clinically meaningful improvements in patients’ ability to perform everyday activities. Patients also reported improvement in their quality of life,” said Rajesh Pahwa, M.D., principal investigator for the multicenter trial, professor in the Department of Neurology and director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Center at KU Medical Center.

Results published in JAMA Neurology from KU-led clinical trial show improvements in daily living and quality of life

10/31/2025

Big things are taking shape in downtown Wichita! Opening in fall 2027, the new Wichita Biomedical Campus will bring students from KU School of Medicine-Wichita University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Wichita State University and WSU Tech together under one roof in this state-of-the-art health education facility. When it is complete, the eight-story, 350,000-square-foot building is expected to house 3,000 students and 200 faculty. Learn more about the features of the Wichita Biomedical Campus and explore construction updates at the link in our bio.

10/20/2025

Interested in a career in medicine? The University of Kansas School of Medicine Office of Admissions is hosting free events in November for college graduates, undergraduate students and high school students to learn about medical school at KU. Learn more and register online today:

🔹College graduates and undergraduate students are invited to attend M.D. Program Open House events, with in-person and virtual options available in November: https://bit.ly/482RF8n
🔹High school students interested in learning about our M.D. program and how to prepare for medical school are invited to join us for our M.D. Program Discovery Day on Oct. 27: https://bit.ly/3JiK23E

10/16/2025

At halftime during the Oct. 8 KU Volleyball game, fans honored Doug Wright, Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology, pain, and perioperative medicine, as part of KU’s Spotlight on Faculty Excellence program.

Dr. Wright, who serves as vice chair of research in the Department of Anesthesiology, is leading groundbreaking studies on diseases and conditions that affect peripheral sensation and pain. At the game, he was escorted by John Thyfault, Ph.D., director of the KU Diabetes Institute and professor of endocrinology, diabetes and clinical pharmacology.

Learn more about the KU Office of Faculty Affairs Spotlight on Faculty Excellence program: https://bit.ly/46TOnn6

10/10/2025

Anne Walling, M.B., Ch.B., professor emerita of family and community medicine at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, is shining a spotlight on the lives of female medical students at KU between 1948 to 1975 in her new book, “Women in Medicine: Stories from the Girls in White.”

Based on interviews with 37 KU alumna from that time period, the book reveals how it was in those early days — sometimes frustrating, always difficult and ultimately rewarding.

Learn more about the book and the inspiring stories of persistence and dedication:

KU School of Medicine-Wichita professor shines the spotlight on the few women in medical school at the time, telling the stories of the women who persisted.

10/09/2025

Please join us in congratulating three KU School of Medicine faculty members being honored by The University of Kansas with University Teaching Awards:

🔹 Kelsie Kelly, M.D., associate professor, family medicine and community health
🔹 Jessica Newman, D.O., associate professor, infectious diseases
🔹 Denise Zwahlen, M.D., associate professor, family medicine and community health

“This year’s teaching award winners include some of our most outstanding educators and mentors, each of whom deserves recognition and thanks," Chancellor Douglas A. Girod said. Learn more about the teaching awards and register to attend the Oct. 21 ceremony:

These outstanding KU faculty will be honored at the University Teaching Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center.

10/07/2025

This weekend, medical students on our Kansas City campus laced up for our annual Society Field Day. The event is a friendly competition between six academic societies that face off in potato sack races, tug of war, obstacle course races, a Chopped-style cooking competition, dodgeball and more!

Throughout the year, the societies will continue earning points through volunteer hours at our student-run clinics, donation drives, trivia night and other programs. The society with the most points at the end of the year is awarded the Society Cup. The Cates Society won the 2024-25 Society Cup.

For over 25 years, our academic societies program has emphasized learning, leadership development and community service among KU Medicine students. In addition to the six societies in Kansas City, our Salina and Wichita campuses each have an academic society. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4pV0sQp

10/03/2025

Christy Hagan, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and a member of The University of Kansas Cancer Center's cancer biology program, is a project leader on a recently awarded multi-institutional project program grant from the National Cancer Institute to study hormone therapy for endometrial cancer.

“Our hope is that funding from this grant will significantly impact a number of endometrial cancer patients by identifying which is the most effective and safest treatment for them. By having a team of scientists working together on this question, we hope to get those answers faster for our patients," said Dr. Hagan.

The multi-institutional project will evaluate which of these synthetic hormones are the most effective and which are the safest.

09/23/2025

Two KU School of Medicine faculty are recipients of the 2025 Faculty of the Year award by the Kansas Board of Regents, the governing board of the state’s six state universities:

🔹 Dinesh Pal Mudaranthakam, Ph.D., assistant professor of biostatistics and data science and director of research information technology
🔹Sufi Mary Thomas, Ph.D., professor of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery, president of Women in Medicine & Science and associate director of basic sciences at The University of Kansas Cancer Center

The award program recognizes outstanding contributions of faculty to teaching, student success, research and communities. Congratulations, Drs. Mudaranthakam and Thomas! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3K4p1Kj

09/19/2025

In honor of National Physician Su***de Awareness Day, members of our community gathered on Sept. 17 for a memorial ceremony that offered time to reflect and honor all those who have been affected by su***de. This annual awareness day aims to foster conversations around the issue of physician su***de and encourage a culture of support and well-being.

For resources at KU Medical Center, visit: https://www.kumc.edu/about/wellness/su***de-awareness-and-prevention-resources.html

09/17/2025

Today, on National Physician Su***de Awareness Day, we honor the memory of colleagues who have died and continue to raise awareness. It's a reminder that we can all help prevent su***de. Anyone could be struggling.

The 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support and resources, and the local 24/7 su***de prevention hotline is 316-660-7500. Find more resources on our website: bit.ly/4g719BC