The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents approved an ambitious plan in Tulsa today to incrementally increase enrollment in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program in the OU College of Medicine at OU Health Sciences by more than 40% over the next five years – a strategic initiative designed to address the critical demand for additional health care professionals in Oklahoma.

Doris Benbrook, Ph.D., a Presbyterian Health Foundation Presidential Professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, has been named Associate Director for Translational Research at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center in Oklahoma.

The Harold Hamm Diabetes Center (HHDC) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences will gain a new deputy director, Matthew Potthoff, Ph.D., effective January 1. Potthoff will also hold the title of Harold Hamm Endowed Chair in Clinical Diabetes Research and professor of biochemistry and physiology, with a secondary appointment in the division of neurology in the OU College of Medicine.

Two University of Oklahoma Health Sciences faculty members were recognized by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) during its annual meeting Dec. 7-10.

Increasing degree completion to strengthen Oklahoma’s workforce pipeline in education, health care and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields continues to be the state system of higher education’s top priority. That was the message delivered by Chancellor Sean Burrage as he presented the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s 2025 legislative agenda and FY26 budget request to an audience of lawmakers, community leaders and educators at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences campus on Dec. 17.