University of Kansas School of Medicine

12/05/2025

Recent KU School of Medicine graduate and current dermatology resident on the KU School of Medicine-Wichita campus, Edith Sigler, M.D., is a three-time Kansas state fiddling champion whose lifelong pursuit of music has ingrained skills she’s used in her medical career.

Having played violin since age 3, Dr. Sigler says she’s cultivated focus, time management and determination. “All of it is very interconnected,” she said.

Learn about her unique journey through music and medicine, and the role that KU School of Medicine-Wichita and the Wichita community have played in her medical career:

Wichita’s Edith Sigler says her lifelong pursuit of music has ingrained skills she’s used in medical school and as a resident doctor.

12/04/2025

Thanks to a collaborative effort between our students and faculty, KU School of Medicine is now integrating more training for trauma-informed care into the medical school curriculum.

After interest in the training approach sparked at the JayDoc Free Clinic, first-year medical students came together to start a student interest group, leading them to create and propose new learning objectives to the Office of Medical Education.

The trauma-informed care training aims to equip these future physicians with the skills to recognize trauma’s impact, respond with compassion and create safer, more equitable patient care.

Mentored by faculty, KU medical students integrated training for trauma-informed care into the medical school curriculum.

12/01/2025

Last month, 67 Kansas high school students attended Doc for a Day at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, where they learned a variety of skills and medical techniques from 26 medical students. Since 2001, hundreds of Kansas high school students have participated in the annual Doc for a Day.

Derek Remitar, a second-year medical student, said the experience had a lasting impact on him. “The ability to become immersed in activities and interact directly with medical students meant the world to me, and I would not be where I am today if I hadn't had such experiences," he said.

This year, 67 Kansas high school students attended Doc for a Day, learning a variety of skills and medical techniques from the 26 medical students who volunteered to help with the event.

11/25/2025

Last week, KU Medical Center hosted U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on our Kansas City campus for a day of exploration, showcase and discussion.

Guided by Douglas A. Girod, M.D., chancellor of the University of Kansas, the group visited several laboratories dedicated to cancer research and brain health and enjoyed conversations with researchers, graduate students and fellows about the innovative work at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and KU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

KU Chancellor Doug Girod led tours of labs researching cures and treatments for cancer, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

11/21/2025

👋 Meet Kelsie Kelly, M.D., MPH, associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine & Community Health. As a practicing clinician and the residency program director for the department, Dr. Kelly practices full-scope family medicine and leads the training and development of future family physicians.

She recently received The University of Kansas 2025 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award for her leadership in curriculum development, mentorship and scholarly collaboration, which has strengthened both the residency program and the broader medical education community at regional and national levels.

"When I have the opportunity to make a larger impact on someone's future career trajectory, it just feels like I'm doing some good in the world. Being part of that journey is really powerful to me and brings me a lot of joy," said Dr. Kelly.

Watch a video with Dr. Kelly and learn more about her passion for teaching:

Learn more about Kelsie Kelly, M.D., associate professor in the KU Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, 2025 recipient of the Chancellor’s Disti...

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.