News Highlights - September 8, 2026
Announcements
Karp to Retire as Chief of Rheumatic Diseases
David Karp, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chief of the Division of Rheumatic Diseases, has announced his intention to retire from his leadership role in March 2027 to continue his research program at the Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle.
Dr. Karp joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 1991 and was appointed Division Chief in 2002. When he concludes his service as Chief, he will have led the Division for 25 years, overseeing significant growth in its clinical, research, and educational programs. Under his leadership, the clinical program expanded from a single clinician in one clinic to 19 physicians and advanced practice providers across the region who see more than 10,000 patients annually; the Rheumatology Fellowship doubled in size and is one of the most sought-after programs for clinical training in the nation; and the Division’s research enterprise grew, and generations of trainees and faculty benefitted from his mentorship and guidance.
An internationally recognized physician-scientist, Dr. Karp has advanced understanding of autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus. By studying how the disease develops and progresses over time, his work has helped identify people at risk before symptoms appear and has informed efforts to prevent or delay the onset of illness.
His current research portfolio includes several major studies focused on the early stages of autoimmunity and lupus. He designed and led the first NIH-funded clinical trial to prevent lupus in people at risk and has participated in numerous clinical trials evaluating treatments for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other rheumatic diseases. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to translating scientific discovery into better care for patients.
Outside the Department, Dr. Karp has served as Chair of one of the Institutional Review Boards for more than 20 years and has been a mentor and now Head of one of the Academic Colleges since the program’s inception.
Dr. Karp’s contributions have extended beyond UT Southwestern through national leadership roles, including serving as President of the American College of Rheumatology and the Rheumatology Research Foundation.
Salahuddin “Dino” Kazi, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Vice Chair of Education, will serve as interim Chief of the Division of Rheumatic Diseases while a national search is conducted for Dr. Karp’s successor. ■
Dr. Karp holds the Fredye Factor Chair in Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and the Harold C. Simmons Chair in Arthritis Research.
Kudos
Courtney, Cole to Receive Leaders in Clinical Excellence Awards
Kevin Courtney, M.D., Ph.D., and Suzanne Cole, M.D., have been recognized as Leaders in Clinical Excellence for 2026, a year in which there were more than 200 nominations. The awards will be presented during a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 4:30 p.m. in the Tom and Lula Gooch Auditorium, followed by a reception on the plaza.
Dr. Courtney, a Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, will receive the Patricia and William L. Watson Jr., M.D. Award for Excellence in Clinical Care, UT Southwestern’s highest honor in clinical care. The award recognizes excellence in patient care, leadership in advancing clinical innovation, and a quality of work that has had a profound impact on patients, students, trainees, and colleagues.
Dr. Cole, an Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Regional Medical Director and Research Leader of Community Oncology in the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC), will receive the Program Development Award for the SCCC Community Oncology Program. The award celebrates the innovation and collaboration that are foundational to the success of UT Southwestern. It recognizes a group of clinical faculty and staff who have worked together as a team to create, develop, and sustain an innovative program that significantly advances our ability to improve the care received by our patients. ■
Courtney, Cole to Receive Leaders in Clinical Excellence Awards
Maciel Elected to Employee Advisory Council
Jennifer Maciel, a Senior Administrative Assistant II in the Division of Cardiology with more than five years of service at UT Southwestern, has been elected as the Fiscal Year 2027 District 4 representative to UT Southwestern’s Employee Advisory Council (EAC).
Created in 2010, the EAC is a peer-nominated group that represents employees across UT Southwestern, helping to strengthen communication, foster engagement, and build community. Council members meet regularly with institutional leaders to share employee perspectives, address workplace concerns, and support initiatives that promote a positive and productive work environment.
As a council member, she will represent employees in clinical departments and centers, helping to share feedback, strengthen communication between staff and leadership, and advocate for initiatives that support the workforce across the institution.
“I am truly grateful and honored to be selected as one of the District 4 representatives on the Employee Advisory Council for FY27,” she said. “I look forward to listening, learning, and advocating for our employees while helping strengthen the connections that make our organization successful.” ■
Research Report
Briggs Receives $1.1M Award to Advance Research on Parasitic Infections
Neima Briggs, M.D., Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, has received a $1.1 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award to support research on how the body’s immune system responds to parasitic worm infections.
“Parasitic worm infections affect more than a billion people worldwide, yet we still do not fully understand why some people develop natural protection against these parasites while others remain vulnerable to repeated infections,” Dr. Briggs said. “Through our research, we aim to answer that question.”
His laboratory will study immune cells known as CD4+ T cells, which play an important role in helping the body fight infection. By examining samples collected from people before and after treatment for parasitic infections, alongside laboratory models, the team hopes to identify the immune responses linked to protection. The findings could help guide the development of new vaccines and treatments for parasitic diseases.
“This research may also have implications beyond infectious diseases,” Dr. Briggs said. “Because parasitic worms are known to alter the immune system, studying how they interact with the body could provide new insights into ways to reduce harmful inflammation associated with conditions such as asthma, allergies, and other inflammatory disorders.”
The NIH Pathway to Independence Award helps promising early-career scientists transition from postdoctoral training to independent research careers. The award provides funding for advanced mentored research and career development, followed by support for establishing an independent research program as a faculty member.
Dr. Briggs joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2026. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from The University of Texas at Austin and completed both his medical degree and Ph.D. in immunology through the Medical Scientist Training Program at UTHealth Houston. He went on to complete residency training in internal medicine and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Yale University, where he also conducted postdoctoral research in immunobiology.
Dr. Briggs has received several honors for his research and global health work, including recognition as a Fulbright Scholar and recipient of multiple competitive research fellowships and career development awards. ■
Kong Receives NIH Grant to Study Severe Autoimmune Hepatitis
Xiao-Fei Kong, M.D., an Assistant Professor in the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, has received an NIH R21 grant to investigate the genetic factors that contribute to severe autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a chronic disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the liver. While some patients experience mild symptoms or only abnormal liver tests, others develop cirrhosis, acute liver failure, or require liver transplantation. The reasons for these differences in disease severity remain poorly understood.
The project, a collaboration with William M. Lee, M.D., Professor Emeritus and a longtime investigator in acute liver failure research, will use patient data and biological samples to examine genetic and immune system factors that may influence disease severity. Dr. Kong’s team will combine advanced DNA sequencing technologies with analyses of proteins and disease-related antibodies found in patients’ blood samples.
Researchers will analyze genomic data from participants in the Acute Liver Failure Study Group and the NIH All of Us Research Program, one of the nation’s largest biomedical research initiatives. The goal is to identify genetic changes and immune system markers associated with severe disease. Newly identified risk factors and autoantibodies will then be studied in greater detail to better understand how they contribute to liver injury and disease progression.
“Dr. Lee’s work on acute liver failure helped shape many of the questions we are exploring in this study,” Dr. Kong said. “This award will allow us to better understand the factors that drive severe autoimmune hepatitis and support the development of more personalized approaches to patient care.”
The $465,600 exploratory grant will support efforts to uncover the biological factors associated with severe autoimmune hepatitis and establish a foundation for future translational research. ■
Hong Receives Community-Engaged Research Grant
Arthur Hong, M.D., an Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, has received a $100,000 grant from the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center to support his project, “Life and Taxes: Streamlining Charity Care Applications and Renewals for Uninsured Patients with Cancer by Combining with Free Income Tax Assistance in Dallas County.” He has partnered with Nora Gimpel, M.D., a Professor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine, on this project.
The project seeks to reduce barriers to cancer care for uninsured Dallas County residents by combining free income tax preparation services with applications and renewals for Parkland Financial Assistance, Parkland Health’s charity care program. Because tax returns can verify both income and residency, the initiative will help eligible patients complete financial assistance paperwork while filing taxes, helping prevent lapses in coverage that can interrupt cancer treatment.
The program will collaborate with Dallas Community Tax Centers, a longstanding provider of free tax preparation services across Dallas County, with services offered both at Parkland’s cancer clinics and at community tax preparation sites, helping patients maintain access to treatment while also connecting uninsured residents to cancer screening and other preventive services.
The pilot project builds on preliminary research showing that delays and lapses in safety-net coverage are common among patients with cancer and can be associated with poorer outcomes. Investigators will evaluate whether combining tax preparation and financial assistance enrollment can improve access to care, reduce coverage gaps, and support earlier cancer detection and treatment. ■
Education & Training
Faculty Members Present at Inaugural Coaching Summit
Three faculty members recently presented at the inaugural American Medical Association (AMA) Coaching Summit, held Aug. 13-14 in Chicago. The national conference brought together educators, physicians, learners, and academic leaders to share innovative approaches to coaching across the medical education continuum, with a focus on faculty development, learner success, well-being, and coaching program implementation.
Susan Matulevicius, M.D., a Professor of Cardiology and Associate Dean of Faculty Wellness, presented on the impact of UT Southwestern’s Coach Certificate Program in strengthening internal coaching capabilities and discussed the institution’s coaching network.
Indira Bhavsar-Burke, M.D., M.H.P.E., an Assistant Professor of Digestive and Liver Diseases and Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and Gastroenterology Fellowship, and James "Brad" Cutrell, M.D., a Professor of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine and Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency, presented on IMPACT (Innovative Mentorship Program for Academic Clinician-Teachers), UT Southwestern’s longitudinal faculty development program for clinician-educators.
The presentations highlighted UT Southwestern’s ongoing efforts to support faculty development and foster a culture of coaching and mentorship in medical education. ■