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43rd edition | May 2026 Dear Colleagues, It’s an exciting time as the commencement season begins around the UC Irvine campus. Our medical students will now take the next step toward establishing careers in healthcare, not only here in Southern California but across the nation. Read the Dean's Full Message Alumni Spotlight: Cleveland Lewis’ Lifelong Commitment to Caring for Others Cleveland Lewis, MD, now 93, whose medical journey ran parallel with the Civil Rights Movement, shares how he earned his MD from the UC Irvine School of Medicine. Read More

UC Irvine-Led Study Achieves Brain-Controlled Walking with Artificial Sensory Feedback This represents a critical step toward restoring full ambulatory function in individuals living with spinal cord injury and paraplegia. Read More   Dopamine Deficiency Found to Drive Memory Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease Researchers led by Kei Igarashi, PhD, focused on the entorhinal cortex, a key gateway to the hippocampus that plays a central role in memory. Read More

UC Irvine Researchers Explore Acupuncture’s Potential in Treating Alzheimer’s Disease Findings from a new study suggest that acupuncture may improve memory and reduce key changes in the brain stemming from Alzheimer’s disease. Read More   Why Do Our Bodies Sometimes Fail Us, and What Can We Do About It? These questions drive PhD candidate Marielle Valdez and her genomics research in search of targeted therapies that promote health and well-being. Read More

Obesity Might Promote Prostate Cancer for Asian and Hispanic Immigrants in North America A new study, by Dan Mercola, MD, PhD, suggests that weight gain in Asian and Hispanic immigrants from the adoption of a North American diet can increase their chances of getting prostate cancer. Read More   Marco Bassetto, PharmD, PhD, Awarded Macular Degeneration Research Grant From BrightFocus BrightFocus Foundation’s Macular Degeneration Research program recently awarded a two-year, $200,000 postdoctoral fellowship grant to Marco Bassetto, PharmD, PhD, for his innovative research in vision health. Read More

John Billimek, PhD, Recognized for Humanitarian Medical Service Since 2003, John Bilimek, PhD, has worked with a nonprofit organization that annually sends volunteers to Peru for a two-week campaign delivering free medical care to indigenous communities in need. Read More   Anjali Y. Hari, MD, Leads a Global Health Program in OB/GYN Care For more than a decade, Anjali Y. Hari, MD, has worked with clinicians in Tanzania to build a sustainable partnership between UC Irvine and the Bugando Medical Center focused on OB/GYN training and research.  Read More

An Award-Winning Educational Tool for Diagnosing Hypertension Ekamol Tantisattamo, MD, MPH, collaborated with Master of Software Engineering students to develop an award-winning tool offering guidance on diagnosing hypertension. Read More   Bruce Tromberg, PhD, to Deliver Commencement Address Bruce Tromberg, PhD, serves as director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) at the National Institutes of Health. Read More

In Memoriam: Harry T. Haigler, PhD Harry T. Haigler, PhD, a former professor of physiology and biophysics, pioneering cell biologist, gifted teacher and former associate dean who helped shape medical education at UC Irvine, died on May 4, 2026. Read More   In Memoriam: James E. Hall, PhD James E. Hall, PhD, a former professor of physiology and biophysics, who was a pioneer and recognized leader in the fields of ion and water transport across cell membranes, died on Dec. 26, 2025. Read More

UCI Health Recognizes Organ Donors and Transplant Patients During National Donate Life Month A flag-raising at UCI Health — Orange honored the generosity of living donors, the resilience of transplant recipients and the families who have supported them. Read More   UCI Health Surgical Team Pioneers Use of Carbon Fiber Implants in Spine UCI Health surgeons, including Hao-Hua Wu, MD, are among the earliest adopters of posterior cervical carbon fiber implants for the treatment of spine conditions. Read More

UCI Health –– Irvine is Landmark in Healthcare Sustainability UCI Health –– Irvine is the nation’s first all-electric acute-care hospital. If it loses power, diesel-powered generators step in as a backup. Read More   UCI Health Ventricular Assist Device Program Receives Credential UCI Health — Orange receives credentialing from DNV Healthcare USA as a VAD Facility, affirming the academic medical center's ability to comprehensively treat advanced heart failure. Read More

Continued Support for New Scientific Endeavors Will Bring Life-Changing Advancements | Daily Pilot 6 Foods to Help Lower Blood Pressure Besides Pomegranate Juice | Health Danielle Perret Karimi, MD – 2026 Recipient of the UC Irvine Applause Program | UC Irvine Women in Technology Scientists Find Hidden Cause of Stroke in Older People | Knowridge Olympic Committee Bans Transgender Athletes from Women’s Events | The NY Times LA-Based Project Sleep Works to Make Sleep Cool | Spectrum1 News SEE ALL NEWS May 8-9: Women’s Wellness Days 2026 May 16: Southern California Hypertension Symposium May 16: School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony May 20: 4th Annual Medical Humanities and Arts Symposium May 29: 14th Annual Neuromuscular Colloquium June 2-3: Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series: Robert C. Green, MD SEE ALL EVENTS UC Irvine School of Medicine Strategic Plan UCI Health SOMNews@uci.edu

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