2026 So Far: Recognizing Excellence
AWARDS & HONORS
- Board-certified internist and Director of the Institute for Professional Worklife (IPW), Mark Linzer, MD, has received the 2026 American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) Camille Mermod Award for Exceptional Service. The AMWA held an Awards Gala on March 28 in San Francisco, CA, where they honored Dr. Linzer’s continuous work as an advocate for women’s voices and career advancement in medicine.
Please join us in congratulating Kerry Sheets, MD, who was named one of the 2026 Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Rising Stars. You can see the full list of Hennepin Healthcare's Rising Stars here.
Dr. Sheets is a geriatrician providing care for older adults in the Hennepin Healthcare clinic and in nursing homes. She's also the Co-Principal Investigator for the Healthy Aging in the Senior Years (HATS) study, which focuses on how to prevent and reduce dementia and memory loss in the African American community.
Within geriatrics, Dr. Sheets has a strong focus on complex chronic disease management, dementia, HIV, and functional impairment. Her research interests include dementia and blood-based dementia biomarkers, healthy aging, HIV, and aging.
Please join us in congratulating the following researcher who received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Project Grant (R01) to support their health-related research and development.
The irritating flying insects that give humans red, itchy bumps are the same flying insects that, when infected with the Plasmodium parasite, lead to the global health concern, malaria. It’s this very parasite that Kristina Burrack, PhD, has been awarded to study through an R01 award of $3,141,538 from the NIH.
In this study, entitled “Enhancing T and B cell responses to Plasmodium via IL-15,” Dr. Burrack will examine the effects of an immune-modulatory therapy on T and B cells and their antibody responses to Plasmodium infection and vaccination.
- Malaria researcher and immunologist Kristina Burrack, PhD, won this year's University of Minnesota Robert-Hebeel Early-Stage Investigators (ESI) Award. This award allows Dr. Burrack and other ESI awardees to showcase their work alongside the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Minnesota. As part of the award, Dr. Burrack was given a platform to speak on "IL-15 and CD40 agonist therapies improve resident memory T cell formation and function following genetically attenuated Plasmodium vaccination," at the Robert P. Hebbel Research Day on April 29.
Geriatrician Kerry Sheets, MD, is the 2026 recipient of the American Geriatrics Society's (AGS) Health in Aging Foundation's New Investigator Award. This award honors her advancements and innovative contributions to the field of geriatrics.
- Physician-scientist at Hennepin Healthcare and Infectious Diseases Division Director, Jason V. Baker, MD, MS, has been appointed as the Nongovernment Co-Chair of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents with HIV. Dr. Baker's infectious disease research has a strong focus on HIV medicine with the long-term vision of improving health outcomes for persons living with HIV, preventing new infections, and contributing to the development of a cure.
PRESENTATIONS
- Cory Schaffhausen, PhD, presented the organ transplant journey through the lens of an interactive subway map at the 2026 Pediatric Transplant Conference. This map helps families and caregivers better navigate the transplantation journey by allowing for multiple entry points, better side-by-side comparisons, and informed decision-making. For a full breakdown of this interactive tool, watch the YouTube video.
- Kristina Burrack, PhD, recently traveled to Killarney, Ireland, for the scientific conference, Keystone Symposia: Vaccinology: A new era in immune-driven vaccine design. She presented a poster on "Leveraging immunotherapies to enhance T cell responses to Plasmodium vaccination," which could lay the groundwork for future malaria vaccinations.
- Peter Bodurtha, MPP, presented on the role of safety net hospitals in data collaboratives at the America's Essential Hospitals Conference, Vital 2026, highlighting Hennepin Healthcare's role in the Minnesota Electronic Health Records Consortium. The poster presentation was aimed at encouraging safety net hospitals across the United States to lend their unique perspectives to data collaboration.
- CDRG biostatisticians and researchers Nicholas Wood, PhD; Maria Masotti, PhD; Grace Lyden, PhD; Allyson Hart, MD, MS; and Cory Schaffhausen, PhD, recently presented at the 2026 American Transplant Congress (ATC) in Boston on a variety of transplantation topics. ATC brings together healthcare professionals in all areas of transplantation to exchange scientific and clinical information related to solid organ and tissue transplantation.
PUBLICATIONS
- HHRI investigator Tyler Winkelman, MD, MSc, HHRI data scientist Peter Bodurtha, MPP, and other members of the MN EHR Consortium (MNEHRC) are co‑authors on a newly published Learning Health Systems article, "Design and Implementation of a State-Wide Network for Near Real-Time Public Health Surveillance and Research: The Minnesota Electronic Health Record Consortium Experience."
- The MNEHRC, a successful collaboration of researchers from several large health systems in Minnesota, is an important resource for public health surveillance in the state. This descriptive study of the MNEHRC analyzed the Consortium's governance structure, infrastructure, members, and characteristics of the patient population. The Consortium initially focused on COVID-19 infections and vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since expanded into other public health and chronic disease research.
- Gretchen Buchanan, PhD, LMFT, LADC, co-authored a study in Implementation Science Communications on "A practical-based implementation strategy bundle for integrating behavioral health in primary care: a matrixed multiple case study." The study explores the effects of utilizing integrated behavioral health (IBH) in primary health care settings.
- HHRI Researchers Gretchen Buchanan, PhD, LMFT, LADC; Helen G. Kim, MD; Biftu Abdullahi, MPH; Lauren K. Graber, MD, MPH; Sandra J. Japuntich, PhD; and University of Minnesota researcher Tori Simenec, MA, jointly authored a study in the Journal of Health Services Research & Policy on "Moving toward integrated care for perinatal opioid use disorder and mental health in an urban safety-net hospital: A formative implementation evaluation." The investigation explored how adding a multi-disciplinary approach (integrating behavioral health) to pregnant and parenting individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is needed to curb substance abuse in these populations.
- David Darrow, MD, MPH, co-authored a new publication in the Journal of Neural Engineering on "Metric validation for detection of delayed and directed coupling." The study evaluates which tools best capture how brain regions communicate. Understanding these connections is the key to studying brain disorders such as epilepsy, depression, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The team found that multivariate transfer entropy produced the most reliable results, but it is too resource-intensive for everyday practical use.
- In a recent study in Injury Prevention, co-authored by researchers Derek Lumbard, MD, FACS; Rachel Nygaard, PhD; and data scientist Charly Vang, MPH on “Prior violent injury and subsequent homicide involvement: evidence from a linked trauma registry study,” it’s been discovered that hospitals and Level 1 Trauma Centers like Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) are key players in violence prevention. Findings show that 1/50 patients suffering from violent trauma go on to be victims of homicide or commit homicide themselves.
- Hennepin Healthcare researchers and residents (Lexy Kindt, DO; Charly Vang, MPH; Derek Lumbard, MD, FACS; Kyle Schmitz, MD; and Rachel Nygaard, PhD) were co-authors on the article "Frostbite in January—Amputate in July: Is Watchful Waiting for Surgical Management Following Frostbite Injury Still Standard? An Examination of the National Readmission Database" published February 2, 2026, in the Journal of Burn Care & Research. The study examines the timing of amputation among US-based frostbite patients and identifies the factors that influence early versus delayed amputation. You can learn more here.
- Geriatrician, internist, neuroepidemiologist, and Medical Director of the Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research, Anne Murray, MD, MSc, co-authored "Cancer Incidence and Mortality with Aspirin in Older Adults, Follow-Up of the ASPREE Study," published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Oncology on January 29, 2026.
- The study explored whether adhering to a low-dose aspirin regimen is associated with cancer risks and cancer-related mortality in older adults. The findings of this study suggest that starting a long-term aspirin strategy to prevent cancer is not recommended for older adults. You can read the abstract here.
- Anne Murray, MD, MSc, co-authored a JAMA Open Network study on "Cognitive Decline Preceding Incident Cardiovascular Events in Older Adults." The study examines whether cognitive decline begins before a cardiovascular (CVD) event in older adults. Findings show that individuals who later experienced a CVD event showed faster decline starting three to eight years earlier, suggesting these changes may be a precursor to an increased cardiovascular risk.
- Vascular and preventative neurologist Behnam Sabayan, MD, MSc, PhD, FAHA, and cardiologist Gautam Shroff, MBBS, FACC, co-authored "Heart-Brain Axis: Subclinical Cardiovascular Changes and Brain Health," published January 30, 2026, in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA). The study investigated how your brain and heart are deeply connected. Even subtle heart and blood vessel changes can cause reduced blood flow to the brain, increasing the risks of cognitive decline over time. Read more here.
- Vascular neurologist Behnam Sabayan, MD, MSc, PhD, FAHA, recently co-authored a publication in The Lancet, Healthy Longevity, on "Risk factors for early-onset and late-onset dementia: a prospective cohort study." The study explores the under-researched comparison between the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with early-onset and late-onset dementia.
- Jenell Stewart, DO, MPH, co-authored a research letter for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. The letter "Neisseria gonorrhoeae Sequence Type 16676 in Disseminated Infections, Minnesota, USA, 2025," summarized an outbreak investigation of the novel genetic strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae sequence type 16676, which rapidly emerged in Minnesota, and carried a tetracycline-resistant gene. The findings highlight the importance of genomic surveillance in identifying and tracking emerging infectious disease threats.
- Tyler Winkelman, MD, MSc, and Peter Bodurtha, MPP, co-authored a publication in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Public Health and Surveillance on "Population Estimates and Hypertension and Diabetes Prevalence: Cross-Sectional Quantitative Study Comparing Electronic Health Record–Derived Counts, Census, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates." The study used different data sources (Minnesota census information and Electronic Health Records (EHR) against the CDC's EHR) to estimate rates of diabetes and hypertension, which yielded similar results across larger geographic regions, but further testing methods are needed for smaller geographic areas where data varied more.
- Internist, pediatrician, and Co-Director of the Health, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Lab (HHCJ) Tyler Winkelman, MD, MSc, co-authored a publication in the Community Mental Health Journal on "Arrest Status, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Moderating Social Factors: A Cross-sectional study of a U.S. Sample (2015-2019)." The study examined the link between suicidal ideations/attempts and arrest status. In particular, it explored the link between social determinants of health (SDOH) and financial insecurities, such as not receiving government welfare, among individuals who were arrested within the last 12 months.
- HHRI's Chronic Disease Research Group (CDRG) staff, Jon Snyder, PhD; Kirsten Johansen, MD; James B. Wetmore, MD, MS; David T. Gilbertson, PhD; Suyling Li, PhD; Jiannong Liu, PhD; and Nicholas S. Roetker, PhD, co-authored the article "US Renal Data System 2025 Annual Data Report: Epidemiology of Kidney Disease in the United States" in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. The report explores quantitative data from 2025 on topics such as occurrence, mortality rates, Medicare/Medicaid coverage, how many individuals receive treatment, and more regarding chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
- Anne Murray, MD, MSc; Behnam Sabayan, MD, MSc, PhD, FAHA; Tyler Winkelman, MD, MSc; Katherine Diaz Vickery, MD, MSc; and HHRI staff, Jennifer Michelle McKay, and Mihad Semir, MS, co-authored a recent publication in Neurology Open Access on "Stroke Care and Outcomes Among Patients Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." The study explores the link between homelessness and an increased risk of stroke due to a lack of access to preventative care. It uses past study results to summarize the currently available evidence.
- Gretchen Buchanan, PhD, LMFT, LADC; Mia Grenfell, BS; Kadija Mussa, PhD student; Sandra Japuntich, PhD, LP; and Helen Kim, MD, presented on their award-winning poster, "Empowered Hearts: Co-Creating Care for Black Moms with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy," at the 2026 C2DREAM P50 Conference. Their poster won the People's Choice Top Poster Award. The poster discussed their study on how "Black women in America are 2.5 times more likely to die from and 1.7 times more likely to suffer from pregnancy-related complications such as hypertension and preeclampsia than white women." The study's goal is to understand the needs and goals of Black pregnant and postpartum women with hypertension and their healthcare teams.
- Past and present HHCJ researchers and staff, as well as Quorum members, co-authored a publication in the Journal of General Internal Medicine on the "Experiences of Adults Managing Cardiovascular Health While in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): A Qualitative Study." In the study, HHCJ and Quorum staff interviewed former homeless individuals with cardiovascular diseases, now equipped with access to PSH, and examined how stable housing or a lack thereof impacts their ability to adhere to cardiovascular health-promoting behaviors such as healthy sleep, nutritious diets, etc.
IN THE NEWS
- David Darrow, MD, MPH, was interviewed on the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)'s YouTube webinar on "Trigeminal Neuralgia, Orofacial Pain & Surgical Guidelines," with fellow scientists Gary Klasser, DMD, and Michael D. Staudt, MD, MSc. They discussed the overlap of neurological pain, dental pain, medication, and patient-centered care.
- Addiction medicine researcher and North Star Node Principal Investigator (PI) Gavin Bart, MD, PhD, was interviewed by the Minneapolis Star Tribune's op-ed, "Roper: Is now the right time for Minneapolis to loosen its drug laws?" The article analyzed Minnesota's 2023 decision to legalize drug paraphernalia to curb the spread of HIV from drug users reusing needles and to prevent future opioid overdoses in Hennepin County. Dr. Bart advised that the rinse-and-repeat drug treatment systems in place aren't working and need a major overhaul, including better accessibility options for underserved communities.
Nephrologist and Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI) President Kirsten Johansen, MD, was interviewed by Minnesota Physician, where she discussed how HHRI is transforming patient care on both a national and international level through its groundbreaking research and innovation. The article highlights some of HHRI’s key contributions since it was founded in 1952, as well as HHRI’s recent adoption of its new mission statement, “Transforming health and health care for all through ethical research and meaningful community partnerships.” Read the article.
- Trauma surgeon Derek Lumbard, MD, was interviewed on MPR News about the violent prevention program, Next Step, and a new study by HCMC and the Violence Prevention Project recently published in the Injury Prevention journal that showed a link between prior violent injury and homicide involvement.
Hennepin Healthcare hosted its first Brain Health Awareness Day on January 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST, at the Hennepin Healthcare Clinic and Specialty Center and on Microsoft Teams. The event brought together community partners, clinicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, and staff to share the latest evidence on how to preserve and promote lifelong brain health through interactive activities. The event highlighted practical strategies for prevention and the early detection of stroke and dementia, with a strong focus on managing cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, physical activity, and sleep. The event featured 10-minute talks with five-minute Q&As, including presentations from HHRI researchers:
- Samuel Maiser, MD — Brain Healthcare at Hennepin Healthcare
- Behnam Sabayan, MD, MSc, PhD, FAHA — Dementia and Stroke Prevention
- Sandra Japuntich, PhD, LP — Patients and Caregivers’ Perspectives
- McKnight's Long-Term Care News covered the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study data recently published in JAMA Network Open. The Long-Term Care News story, "Deterioration in cognitive function may be a precursor to heart disease in older adults, study finds," reported that “Older adults who experienced cardiovascular disease (CVD) events experienced lower cognitive function between three and eight years before the event, compared with those without CVD.” Anne Murray, MD, MSc, is the ASPREE Principal Investigator.
- “An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away” is one of those medical adages that no longer rings true, according to HHRI Investigator, Geriatrician, and Epidemiologist Anne Murray, MD, MSc. Dr. Murray debunked this outdated belief in a recent WebMD news article, “It’s 2026, and These 7 Aspirin Myths Still Won’t Die.”
- Dr. Murray co-authored a landmark 2018 aspirin study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that disproved the myth that taking a daily low dose of aspirin will keep older adults living longer and healthier lives. The ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study found that daily low-dose aspirin did not prolong healthy, independent living (life free of dementia or persistent physical disability). A follow-up study, ASPREE-XT, published in September 2025, reached the same conclusion.
- Read the article about common aspirin myths and the latest recommendations for routine daily use of aspirin on WebMD.
Infectious Disease Specialist and HIV expert Amanda Noska, MD, MPH, spoke with David Hilden, MD, MPH, FACP, on Season 5, Episode 8 of Hennepin Healthcare's Healthy Matters podcast. During their conversation, Dr. Noska shared how HIV is most commonly transmitted today, how many people it affects, and how prevention has evolved over the years. Tune in here.
Hennepin Healthcare Neurologist and HHRI Investigator Behnam Sabayan, MD, MSc, PhD, FAHA, and Patty Takawira from the Minnesota Department of Health recently joined David Hilden, MD, MPH, FACP, on Hennepin Healthcare’s Healthy Matters Podcast to talk about brain health. From preventative brain care to recognizing warning signs, they discussed things we can do to keep our brains healthier throughout our lives.
Listen to The Healthy Matters Podcast S05_E07- "Getting Ahead on Brain Health."
- Behnam Sabayan, MD, MSc, PhD, FAHA, was recently interviewed in Physicians Weekly on how "Homelessness Affects Hospital Care for Stroke." Dr. Sabayan discussed the link between persons experiencing homelessness (PEH), the increased risk of stroke, and the decreased likelihood of receiving clot-dissolving medication therapy, intravenous thrombolysis (IVT).
- Internist, pediatrician, and Co-Director of HHRI's Health, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice lab (HHCJ), Tyler Winkelman, MD, MSc, was interviewed on WCCO’s CBS News Minnesota, where he advocated for why Hennepin Healthcare should stay open and how closing it would endanger the MN EHR Consortium. Read the article and watch the video interview.
- Tyler Winkelman, MD, MSc, interviewed by America's Essential Hospitals on "Why Public Health Matters: MN EHR Consortium." The MN EHR Consortium is an online database that confidentially aggregates the healthcare data of nearly all Minnesotans across the 11 statewide healthcare systems. The consortium was founded in 2020 to track COVID diagnoses/testing and was later repurposed to track substance abuse trends, chronic health conditions, and more.
- Diana Zychowski, MD, MPH, was interviewed on MPR News about the recent upward trend of tick-borne diseases. Warmer temperatures, more outdoor activity, and shifting tick behavior are contributing to a rise in tick bites and related illnesses across the state. Read and listen to the interview.