Senior Faculty Scholars

Dr. Carina Yang is an Associate Professor of Radiology, Vice Chair of Diversity & Inclusion, and the Director of Pediatric Neuroradiology. She also served as the Director of the Neuroradiology Fellowship for 8 years. Dr. Yang is an expert in interpretation of neuroradiological CT and MR examinations, and promotes techniques to minimize radiation exposure and performing imaging without the need for extended sedation for pediatric patients.

A triple major at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Yang completed her medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and stayed local to complete her Radiology Residency as well as Neuroradiology Fellowship at Northwestern. She previously worked in Pediatric Neuroradiology at Children’s Memorial Hospital here in Chicago.

Dr. Yang is highly devoted to educating students, trainees, and radiologists from around the world. She was the recipient of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Medical Education Research, Innovation, Teaching and Scholarship (MERITS) in 2016-2017. She was also selected as a Semi-Finalist for Most Effective Radiology Educator “Minnies” in 2022 on AuntMinnie.com,

She is a leader in the field of medical simulation in radiology. She developed a simulation program to train radiology residents and fellows in the diagnosis and management of contrast reactions. She also co-directed a similar, larger scale hands-on workshop at the Radiological Society of North America. She also explored image-guided spine procedures using a lumbar task trainer and ImmersiveTouch virtual reality and haptic simulator. Dr. Yang has authored several peer-reviewed articles on the use of simulation in radiology.

Dr. Yang co-founded the Chicagoland Radiology Expo, now in its 7^th year, which provides medical students an opportunity to learn about the field of radiology through a series of interactive panels and hands-on activities. In particular, sessions on underrepresented minorities and women in radiology help to promote diversity in this specialty. She continues to shape the departmental diversity program, with emphasis on recruitment processes and community outreach.

She has completed multiple international visiting professorships imparting pediatric neuroradiology knowledge across the world, including Newfoundland, India, Hong Kong, and most recently Ethiopia, as the 2019 Anne G. Osborn American Society of North America International Outreach Professor. She hopes to continue to further her worldwide educational endeavors.

Ervin Kocjancic is a skilled reconstructive urologist who specializes in pelvic health, urinary incontinence, and reconstructive surgery for female, male, and transgender patients. He has expertise in gender affirmation surgery and complex reconstructive genitourinary conditions. He is devoted to investigating new and/or better treatments for urologic conditions, as well as mentoring students and improving care for patients. He has received numerous awards and citations for presentations, research, teaching, and clinical service.

He is active in several medical and service organizations, promoting the practice and importance of urology around the world. He serves on the editorial board of the International Urogynecology Journal, and as a member of the International Neuro-Urology Society’s board of directors.  He also served as chair of the International Continence Society’s Education Committee.

Kocjancic holds an MD from the School of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Trieste, Italy. He completed a urology residency at the University of Milan, as well as a fellowship in female and reconstructive urology at the Sava Perovic Foundation—Center for Genito-Urinary Reconstructive Surgery in Belgrade, Serbia. Most recently, he was the Lawrence S. Ross Endowed Professor of Urology at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Dr. Hightower is the Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Technology Officer (CDTO) of the University of Chicago Medicine, and the CEO and co-Founder of Equality AI. She is the former Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) and Sr. Director of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Utah Health and former CMIO and Chief Population Health Officer (CPHO) at University of Iowa Healthcare. Her executive leadership experience spans healthcare digital transformation strategy and operations, population health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, with academic medical centers, clinically integrated networks, and accountable care organizations, and early-stage investor financed healthcare tech.

Dr. Hightower is an expert and a nationally sought speaker in Responsible AI and the intersection of digital technology with health equity, diversity, and inclusion. She strives to ensure that the value from digital transformation of healthcare is equitable across all stakeholders, including our most vulnerable.

In addition to leading digital strategy and operations at UChicago Medicine, she leads Equality AI, an early-stage investor backed healthcare tech startup. Equality AI is on a mission to end algorithmic bias in healthcare. Data scientists are the newest members of the care team. Equality AI empowers digitally enabled care teams to achieve health equity goals through responsible AI and tools to develop algorithms that address bias, fairness, and performance.
Dr. Hightower is a champion for health equity, diversity, and inclusion awareness and initiatives. She developed the Healthcare IT Equity Maturity Model (HITEM) to dismantle structural bias hardwired in healthcare IT and develop an inclusive and equity minded healthcare IT culture. Dr. Hightower was recently recognized by Health Data Management as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Healthcare IT” and “25 leading CMIOs at healthcare organizations.” She was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of “50 hospital and health system CMIOs to know”.

Dr. Hightower received her Medical Degree, as well as a Master of Public Health, from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, followed by residencies in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. She also holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Dr. Hightower has moved full-time in the CEO role for Equality AI.

Dr. Mitchell C. Posner’s principle clinical and research interests are focused on the management of upper gastrointestinal cancer, the molecular and genetic basis of gastrointestinal malignancy and oligometastases.  The author of more than 250 original articles, published abstracts and book chapters, he has received numerous awards for his investigative efforts and teaching.  These include the Robert J. Baker Award for Excellence in Teaching at the University of Chicago, and both the Basic Science and Clinical Research Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology.  He served as Chair of the Gastrointestinal Committee of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG), the only national surgically focused cooperative group dedicated to clinical trials research.

Dr. Posner serves on the Editorial Board of the Annals of Surgery, Surgery, The Journal of the American College of Surgeons and the American Journal of Surgery. He is Deputy Editor of the Annals of Surgical Oncology. He is Section Editor of Gastrointestinal Diseases for the American Cancer Society journal Cancer. He is a member of many national surgical and oncology organizations including the Society of University Surgeons and the American Surgical Association.  He is a Past President of the Society of Surgical Oncology and past President of the Society of Surgical Oncology Foundation.  He has served as a member of the newly created Surgical Oncology Board of The American Board of Surgery.  In 2002, Dr. Posner was appointed as Professor of Surgery and Cancer Research at the University of Chicago.  In 2004, Dr. Posner was named Chief of the Section of General Surgery, Director of the Surgical Residency Program and Vice-Chairman in the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago.  In 2007 he was awarded the Thomas D. Jones Professorship, becoming one of only five individuals since 1940 (the first being Lester Dragstedt) to be honored with receiving this endowed chair in surgery at the medical school.  In 2012 he was appointed Professor of Radiation and Cellular Oncology.  In 2015 he was named Physician-in-Chief of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and in 2020 was appointed as Co-Director of the UCMC Cancer Service line.

Karen Kim is the Sara and Harold Lincoln Thompson Professor of Medicine, Associate Director of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Director of the Center for Asian Health Equity.

As Vice Provost for Research, Kim works with faculty and deans to support and enhance research funding and manage large-scale research infrastructure such as University Research Administration (URA) and the University of Chicago Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering (CASE), the Office of Research Safety, Research Computing Center, and Research Development Support.

Dr. Kim previously served as Dean for Faculty Affairs for the Division of the Biological Sciences and is the Associate Director of the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is the founder and director of the University of Chicago Center for Asian Health Equity, the only research center dedicated to the study of Asian health disparities in the Midwest, and a national leader on policies for inclusion of Asian-Americans in research.

With extensive expertise in community-based participatory research (CBPR), dissemination and implementation science, intervention and minority health research, Kim has focused on the rigorous development and evaluation of multi-level strategies to advance health equity supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative, and the Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Minority Health and the National Institutes of Health. Kim’s research has a specific focus on the content domain of colorectal cancer prevention and on the methodological domain of implementation science. Recently, Kim’s research has focused on developing innovative technology-based solutions to address gaps in health care services among federally qualified community health centers.

In addition to her research, Kim is deeply committed to civic engagement and has dedicated significant time to advancing health through service to numerous nonprofit organizations and national boards. Kim has been nationally recognized for her advocacy and policy work and received the International Women’s Leadership Award, the Chicago Foundation for Women Impact Award and the Cancer Prevention Laurel for Increasing Health Equity.

She is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, and the American Medical Association, American Association for Cancer Research and the American Public Health Association.

Dr. Royce Lee is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago Medicine. His clinical interests include major depression, personality disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Lee’s research and scholarly interest include borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has also been engaged with working to understand the complex causes of physician burnout.

Michael Earing, MD, specializes in adult congenital heart disease, Marfan Syndrome, familial aortic aneurysms, pulmonary hypertension and pediatric cardiology. Dr. Earing has a keen understanding of the complex care needed for long-term success, and he is an expert in navigating the challenges pediatric patients face when transitioning to adulthood with congenital heart disease.

As a deeply respected physician-scientist, Dr. Earing is passionate about research and continuously evaluates new and improved diagnoses and treatments for adult and pediatric cardiac patients. His work has been published in several highly regarded, peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Earing has also served as an author on multiple national guideline writing committees focused on the care for both adults with congenital heart disease and the pediatric patient with pulmonary hypertension.

In addition to his clinical and research pursuits, Dr. Earing is an experienced and successful educator. He lectures about current congenital heart disease topics to students and professionals, as well as mentors fellows, residents and medical students to help guide them through their medical careers.

Julie Chor, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Section of Family Planning and Contraceptive Research and an Assistant Director of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago. Her academic and clinical work focuses on understanding and addressing barriers that adolescents and young adults face in seeking and obtaining reproductive health care. Her research is informed by her clinical work in Family Planning and Adolescent Gynecology and by her fellowship training in Clinical Medical Ethics. Dr. Chor has received both private foundation and NIH funding for her work, including for the development of lay health worker interventions to help individuals engage in sustained use of contraception and preventive reproductive health care. More recently, Dr. Chor has conducted research into individual’s experiences with pelvic examinations. This work has underscored the importance of improving patient-provider communication around pelvic examinations. A dedicated educator, Dr. Chor also serves as the co-Director for the Pritzker School of Medicine’s first year Doctor-Patient Relationship course and as the Assistant Director for the MS3 Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship.

Marina Chiara Garassino, MD, is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of thoracic malignancies.

Dr. Garassino graduated from the Medical School of Università degli Studi of Milan, Italy, where she also completed her training in Medical Oncology. After a fellowship at the Christie’s Hospital in Manchester (UK), she served as a physician oncologist in prestigious Italian cancer centers. She has risen to lead the Thoracic Medical Oncology Unit at one the most renowned comprehensive cancer center in Italy, the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan.

She leads the strategy for clinical and translational research in advanced and locally advanced NSCLC, mesothelioma, thymoma and thymic carcinoma due to her effort in the research of drugs development, precision medicine and in immuno-oncology. She gave her contribute as author or coauthor to over 200 peer-reviewed publications, including many publications as first or last author in the Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, and the New England Journal of Medicine. Some of her publications radically changed the treatment paradigm of and treatment guidelines for lung cancer around the world.

In response the COVID-19 emergency, Dr. Garassino established and brought together an international group of physicians and investigators to study the impact of COVID-19 on patients with lung cancer. This led to the initiation of the Thoracic Cancers International COVID‐19 Collaboration, or TERAVOLT, a global registry for patients with thoracic cancers and COVID‐ 19. Currently, 180 centers from 25 countries have joined the consortium. Data from this consortium have already been ascertained and published in Lancet Oncology and Cancer Cell.

Dr. Garassino has been the recipient of many international awards from prestigious organizations like the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and she is the founder and president of Women for Oncology Italy. She provides strong support in gender equalities believing in the importance and value of creating an environment with diversity.

Jon E. Grant, MD, JD, MPH is a Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago where he directs a clinic and research lab on addictive, compulsive and impulsive disorders. Dr. Grant’s research has been funded by the NIMH, NIDA, and private foundations. Dr. Grant received his BSA from the University of Michigan, an MA from the University of Chicago, his JD from Cornell University, an MD from Brown University, and his MPH from Harvard University. Dr. Grant is the author of over 400 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 15 books, is on the editorial board of 8 journals, and is the editor in chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies.