Dr. John Fang and Dr. Kathryn Peterson Given New Endowed Chair Positions
The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the Department of Internal Medicine are pleased to announce Dr. John C. Fang, MD and Dr. Kathryn A. Peterson, MD, MSCI have been appointed to new Endowed Chair positions within the School of Medicine. Dr. John Fang, MD has been nominated to The Clarence M. and Ruth N. Birrer Presidential Endowed Chair within the School of Medicine, in memory of Dr. and Mrs. A.J. Nielson, Dr. Karol O. Nielson, Dr. Kenneth A. Nielson, Dr. Paul E. Nielson, and Mr. Douglas W. Nielson. This Endowed Chair was previously held by Dr. David Bjorkman, MD, MSPH, SM, who retired at the end of July.
Dr. Fang received his Medical Degree from Washington University School of Medicine in 1989. He received training in Internal Medicine from Temple University Hospital and Gastroenterology at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center. Dr. Fang is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He joined the University of Utah faculty in 1998. In addition to many other administrative responsibilities Dr. Fang has served as the Clinical Director for the Division of Gastroenterology and the Medical Director of Endoscopy at the University of Utah Hospital. He has been the Division Chief for Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition since 2014.
Dr. Fang is an active investigator, has developed and taught many courses, mentored many students and is a consummate physician. In addition, Dr. Fang enjoys continuous funding with more than 60 grants, multiple clinical trials, and 64 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact publications. His clinical and research interests include treatment, diagnosis, and continuing care for gastrointestinal diseases and endoscopy. He specializes in Barrett's Esophagus, Enteral Nutrition, Esophageal Diseases, GI Motility, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), and Therapeutic Endoscopy.
Dr. Kathryn Peterson, MD, MSCI has been nominated to The James W. Freston Presidential Endowed Chair in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. Prior to his appointment as the The Clarence M. and Ruth N. Birrer Presidential Endowed Chair, Dr. Fang held this position. Now Dr. Peterson, who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the digestive system including Eosiniphilic Esophagitis, Barrett’s Esophagus, and inflammatory bowel disease will take the role. Dr. Peterson completed her medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern, followed by residency and a fellowship at the University of Utah. She received a masters in Epidemiology from Harvard University.
Currently, she is an Associate Professor of Gastroenterology and serves as the Associate Chief for the Division of Gastroenterology at University of Utah Health. Dr. Peterson is one of the U of U Health's most productive investigators within the Division of Gastroenterology. Currently, her research is supported by ten grants. She has been the Principal Investigator or co-Investigator on 38 previous grants. Her research has generated 46 peer-reviewed journal articles and many other publications. She has presented her research nationally and internationally. Dr. Peterson has also mentored 26 faculty and trainees. Clinically, she has been listed in the top one percent of Academic Medical Center Providers by Press-Ganey.
The Department of Internal Medicine is privileged to have both Dr. Peterson and Dr. Fang as members of their faculty and thanks them for their exemplary service to the School of Medicine.