Kathleen A. Cooney, MD

Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, 2016-2018

Kathleen A. Cooney, MD, was recruited to the University of Utah in 2016 to serve as Chair of Internal Medicine, with goals of continuing the department’s leadership in the University’s healthcare transformation initiatives, advancing innovative and interdisciplinary research, and fostering a robust learning environment to enable the next generation of researchers and medical providers.

Dr. Cooney received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia. She completed her training in Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology at the University of Michigan where she also served as a Chief Medical Resident.

While at the University of Michigan, Dr. Cooney was the Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology and focused her clinical and research efforts on prostate cancer. She has made major contributions to the field of prostate cancer genetics, including the discovery of a recurrent mutation in the HOXB13 gene that significantly increases the chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and is estimated to account for five percent of hereditary prostate cancer cases worldwide. At the University of Utah, Dr. Cooney continued her research with projects aimed to identify genetic mutations associated with lethal and aggressive prostate cancer as well as prostate cancer.