Year 4. August 18. We Will Overcome
2025 has challenged us in ways that we did not anticipate. We began the year confronting the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, have witnessed increased immigration enforcement throughout our neighborhoods, and now are navigating the suspension of millions of dollars in federal research funding. These moments have weighed heavily on our community. Despite all of this, I have been heartened to see how our department has risen to these challenges by rallying around each other with wisdom, generosity and a esprit de corps that strengthens each member of our community each day. I carry that spirit of care with me as we work together to develop and refine our department’s response to these challenges.
Our department has spent the past six months planning for the present scenarios and will continue to adapt as events change. As I have communicated to investigators impacted by recent grant suspensions, the department has developed an approach to supporting faculty and trainee compensation and is working with the medical school to implement bridge funding that will enable research activities to continue. It is possible that we may need to scale down non-essential research operations as we manage available resources, identify additional financial support, and explore creative solutions to help us get us through this time. Rest assured that we are working overtime to mitigate the impact of various federal actions and will continue to update you during this rapidly evolving situation. I have been heartened by feedback that we have received thus far from many of you, which indicates gratitude for the support that you feel coming from the department. I have also heard of concerns about whether the department, school and University are doing everything possible to not only support impacted faculty, but also to bring a speedy resolution to existential challenges that many feel regarding your life’s work. These are complex questions for which I do not have all the answers. For example, the University of California’s response to the federal demands are being worked on at the highest levels of the University and the state. However, I do believe that our leaders want to hear from you, and I will continue to convey your concerns to them. I remain eager to continue to hear directly from you, as well.
While there remains much legal and financial uncertainty ahead of us, our commitment to the members of the UCLA Department of Medicine (DoM) will not waver. Our department is invested in the success of our people, and we will continue to advocate, innovate and work together. Our intent is to emerge from these setbacks a much stronger department. As such, we will not reverse commitments that we have already made, nor retreat from our overall strategy to lead in innovation, transform care and advance health for all. I am incredibly grateful to each member of our department for your dedication to our missions and for contributing to creating a supportive community, committed to advancing our strategic agenda. We are stronger together, and you exemplify just that.
I will spend the rest of this post celebrating the exceptional DoM LEADERS who are advancing our clinical mission and advocating for all of the faculty members in the DoM.
DoM Specialties Shine in New U.S. News and World Report Hospital Rankings
Our highest calling in the UCLA Department of Medicine is to provide world-class care to our patients. I am pleased to celebrate with you that the latest rankings from U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) show that we continue to do just that, as well as transcend our peers both locally and statewide.
In USNWR’s 2025-2026 report on hospital-based patient care, which was published on July 28, UCLA Health continues to be designated as a No. 1 ranked health system in California and in L.A. This designation exemplifies that we are excelling in our commitment to serve our communities — a success that would not be possible without you, our faculty and staff. We also made USNWR’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll for the 36th year in a row.
UCLA Health hospitals were among the top 10 nationally for several of our specialties here in the DoM. We were ranked No. 5 for endocrinology, No. 7 for geriatrics, and No. 8 for both gastroenterology and rheumatology. We also ranked No. 4 for pulmonary care, which is grouped with lung surgery; No. 17 for cardiology, which is grouped with heart and vascular surgery; and No. 13 for cancer care.
USNWR rankings take into consideration patient outcomes, patient experience, other care-related indicators and expert opinion, a measure of our reputation. With that in mind, “it came as no surprise to me that so many of our DoM divisions were among the best in the nation,” Tisha S. Wang, MD, senior vice chair in the DoM, said.
“In the patient care pillar of the Strategic Plan, our main objective is to provide the highest quality, patient-centered, integrated healthcare for our diverse communities,” Dr. Wang said. “While rankings alone do not define us, this distinction does reflect the dedication of our faculty to delivering exceptional, compassionate and evidence-based care to our patients as well as the trust that our patients place in all of us every single day.”
When asked what makes their division so successful in patient care, a number of our clinical chiefs from the nationally-ranked specialties shared with us that collaboration is a key component.
“The UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases’ success comes from the dedication, expertise, and compassion that is found in every member of the team,” Lynn S. Connolly, MD, clinical co-chief of the digestive diseases division, said. Division clinical co-chief Kevin A. Ghassemi, MD, added, “As we have grown tremendously, both numerically and geographically, we have remained a cohesive group because our division’s leadership prioritizes strong interdisciplinary collaboration, maintaining open communication across sites, and fostering a collegial environment.”
Here’s what the other clinical chiefs of other nationally-ranked specialties had to say:
“The secret to our success is simple: our division succeeds because our incredible group of talented, dedicated faculty, staff and trainees is committed to working together as a team. While the people who make up our division are each excellent in their work as individuals, the missions we are committed to — patient care, education, research and community outreach — are too large in scope and complexity for anyone to accomplish alone.” David M. Sayah, MD, PhD, clinical chief of the pulmonology and critical care division.
“The UCLA Division of Geriatrics relies on, yet builds upon, the legacy created by Dr. David Reuben, who has been at UCLA for over 30 years. He established high standards in both clinical practice and research, and over the years hired individuals who aspired to those same standards. We work together well and understand the importance of interdisciplinary care and communication, which enhances our ability to do good work in geriatrics. Our inpatient hospital presence is strengthened by our excellent geriatric nursing care and strong record of patient safety. With Dr. Arun Karlamangla at the helm now, the division continues to grow and expand its service line to the UCLA community.” — Patricia F. Harris, MD, clinical chief of the geriatric medicine division.
“We are grateful to our exceptional physicians and trainees who provide top-level care to our patients with complex endocrine conditions and have established our reputation in the greater community. An example of outstanding endocrine care provided to hospitalized patient is our in-patient hyperglycemia service, staffed by physicians and our committed nurse practitioners. The service streamlines diabetes care with the goal of improving blood glucose control for hospitalized patients and coordinating post-discharge follow-up and management. We also recognize that our success as a division relies heavily on the exceptional care delivered not only by our consultants who manage patients with challenging endocrine conditions but by those performing the endocrine and non-endocrine surgeries, the multidisciplinary teams providing care to transplant, oncology, and other patients and the excellent care delivered by our nursing teams and nurse educators.” — Stephanie Smooke Praw, MD, clinical chief of the endocrinology division.
“The division of rheumatology at UCLA includes nearly fifty academic clinicians and world-renowned researchers who provide the best possible care for our community, which stretches from San Luis Obispo to the South Bay. To share some numbers — we saw 11,000 new patients and about 60,000 follow up patient appointments as a group this year! Despite our vast patient numbers, we strive to provide the same high standard and state-of-the-art care at all our locations, while educating our future generations of physicians and advancing research. We have tremendous pride as a group in our pursuits and feel privileged to collaborate regularly with like-minded colleagues across divisions and departments at UCLA, both in the care of our patients as well as cross-disciplinary research.” — Yaqoot Khan, DO, clinical chief of the rheumatology division.
Thank you to all of you for continuing to provide outstanding care to our communities!
DMPG New Faculty Onboarding Kicks Off With First Session
One of our most impactful initiatives for clinical faculty in the DoM is the Department of Medicine Professional Group’s (DMPG) yearlong physician onboarding program, a curriculum that equips incoming clinicians with the skills and tools they need to thrive professionally and personally at UCLA. The first onboarding session for our newest cohort kicked off on Aug. 6.
The DMPG physician onboarding program includes a series of 11 didactic sessions, six division-specific clinical tools sessions and two communications skills workshops. It also includes a program in which junior faculty are partnered with new faculty to offer them guidance and support for day-to-day operations. Participants also attend the annual DMPG meeting and retreat, where they learn about promoting community engagement, inclusive excellence, and professional development through educational training.
The DMPG onboarding program has undergone some updates for 2025. For example, following a successful pilot last year, new hospitalists will be onboarded alongside outpatient faculty after previously having two separate programs.
“As a result, participation has increased engagement, referrals, collaboration, and fostered a stronger sense of community especially since our faculty care for patients across multiple locations, from as far north as San Luis Obispo to as far south as Palos Verdes,” Joash Wampande, a program manager who oversees the educational activities and operational functions of the DMPG program, said. In January, Joash and three DMPG executive board members — Arielle E. Bilek, MD, FACP; Amir B. Rabbani, MD, FACP and Janet P. Pregler, MD — published a paper describing the onboarding in Proceedings of the UCLA Department of Medicine on our Cureus Channel.
“This program is very unique, as very few academic medical centers in the nation offer anything comparable to this,” Joash said.
As this year’s DMPG onboarding program gets off to a strong start, the team behind the initiative would like to thank everyone in the department who has collaborated with them to make it a success, including the clinical chiefs, regional medical directors, clinical directors and division MSOs.
“This program wouldn’t have been possible without their dedication,” Joash said.
Thank you so much to Joash along with Paloma Rangel, Cynthia Montes, Nelly Leon and our DMPG executive board members for making this important initiative so successful. Enjoy the photos below and please join me in extending a warm welcome to our onboarding faculty!
Visit our photo album here for the full photo summary.
In Conversation With...Daniel H. Puneky, MD, FACP, President of the DMPG
I am pleased to now introduce you to the 2025-2026 DMPG president, Daniel H. Puneky, MD, FACP. Dr. Puneky is an internal medicine physician based at Beverly Hills Wilshire Primary Care & Specialty Care, where he specializes in long COVID, LGBTQ+ health and caring for patients with HIV. He has been a member of the DMPG since he started at UCLA in July 2019 and has been on the DMPG executive board for two years. In this special Q&A, he shares his vision for the future — and a fun fact about his life before medicine. Read on to learn more!
How has the DMPG impacted you professionally?
The DMPG has strengthened my connections to my colleagues, giving me opportunities to collaborate with them across divisions, and it has provided a platform to advocate for policies that directly impact our faculty and patients.
What motivated you to take on a leadership role?
I was motivated by many of the same frustrations that our members feel with regards to the resources and support needed to provide excellent patient care while sustaining their own well-being. I want to ensure that the voices of our members are heard when they identify issues or disparities in our system. I wish to help address systemic challenges and advocate for policies that benefit both our members and the communities we serve.
What is your vision for the future of the DMPG?
My vision is for the DMPG to be an advocate for our members, ensuring they have the support needed to continue expanding our clinical, research, and educational missions. I want to see us grow our wellness programs, enhance opportunities for professional development, and serve as a unifying voice in navigating the challenging landscape in which we find ourselves.
What are your main priorities for the DMPG this year?
We are currently experiencing significant challenges that impact our ability to fulfill our department’s strategic plan, our capacity to provide patient care, conduct essential research, and train the next generation of physician leaders. This year, my priorities include advocating for policies that protect and sustain our clinical, educational, and research activities; continuing to broaden our wellness initiatives to address both personal and professional well-being; and strengthening the support networks that foster collaboration and resilience among our members.
What excites you most about your new leadership role?
I am excited about the opportunity to affect positive changes that will improve the professional lives of our members and support the department’s mission.
What do you love most about working in the UCLA Department of Medicine?
I am continually impressed by the generosity of my colleagues. When many of our faculty and staff were affected by the fires earlier this year, our membership responded swiftly to support those in need. When a patient is in urgent need, our clinicians give their time to ensure they are seen promptly. Our faculty are eager to share their considerable expertise to support each other's continued growth thereby strengthening our entire department. Our members consistently go above and beyond to support each other and our patients. The commitment and generosity of our members inspires me every day.
Please share one fun fact about yourself.
Prior to medicine, I obtained my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and worked as a concert modern dancer in NYC. Bizarrely, it was instrumental in getting me into medical school. Feel free to ask me about it anytime.
Thank you, Daniel. I look forward to working with you in your new leadership role.
Welcome New DoM Faculty
Please join me in welcoming our new faculty to the DoM! These LEADERS started with us between July 8 and August 18, 2025. We are excited to have them as our new colleagues in the department!
Dale
P.S.
I continue to enjoy the feedback from my travel pictures. I posted last week a picture of a notice, some tiles, and a comment about potential interpretations of the signage.
Catherine Rujanuruks, director of research administration in the DoM, astutely noted that:
“I think the sign is asking folks to only put used shoe covers (from required while visiting a mosque or some other holy place?) in the trash can. No other trash in those trash cans.”
More impressively, Dr. Ravi Dave in the division of cardiology shared the following reflection:
“The amazing combination of white marble and red sandstone is best seen at Taj Mahal in Agra, India which requires wearing of the shoe covers to protect the floors. Behind the beauty of the Taj lies a lot of sorrow and pain and the locals feel that wearing these covers will prevent them from being recipients of the misery.”
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