homas M. Hooton, M.D., professor of clinical medicine, associate dean for women’s health, and director of the Institute for Women’s Health, has ambitious plans for the institute he took over less than a year ago. He wants to support junior faculty interested in women’s health research, partner with faculty from other departments and community groups, and develop a Web site to inventory UM projects focused on women’s health that would also link to local and national organizations.

“Collaboration is key. There is so much we can learn from each other to get the best outcomes,” he says. “To build on this idea, we’ve created a Leadership Forum made up of junior and senior faculty members that meets once monthly to advise the institute on priorities in women’s health at UM.”

The institute brought in Erin Marcus, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine, who will oversee medical education activities and help stage an informative grand rounds series and assess medical school curriculum. She will also work with Mark O’Connell, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education, to develop a women’s health pathway for medical students who want to gain more experience in women’s health issues

“We are also partnering with Yvonne M. Diaz, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine, and Nahida Chakhtoura, M.D., director of the Division of Gynecology and assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology, to develop a women’s health clinic at Jackson to provide evidence-based clinical care to women of all ages and provide better training in women’s health to our students and residents.”

Hooton and his wife, Diana Cardenas, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, relocated from Seattle where they were on the faculty at the University of Washington School of Medicine for 25 years. For the past 15 years, he was the medical director of a large academic HIV/AIDS clinic. Hooton’s research interest is in understanding the pathogenesis and optimal management of urinary tract infection in women.

“We really love UM,” says Hooton. “We are amazed at the pace of things with the new leadership. It is very exciting to be in a place where the vision is to move into the upper echelons of medical schools within a relatively short period of time.”