John Inadomi, M.D., a physician-scientist internationally recognized for his efforts to prevent colon cancer and promote early detection of gastrointestinal malignancies has been named chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Inadomi will oversee the clinical, education and research programs of the department, which consists of twelve divisions and is the largest at University of Utah Health.
“After conducting an exhaustive nationwide search, Dr. Inadomi was the clear choice for this key leadership role in our medical school and health system,” said Michael L. Good, M.D., Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, Dean of the School of Medicine and CEO of U of U Health. “He brings a proven track record of top-level excellence in academics, innovative research, clinical practice management and administrative leadership to this position. I’m confident he is the right leader to guide our teams forward at a time when we are growing our reputation locally, regionally, and nationally.”
Inadomi most recently served as professor of medicine and division head of gastroenterology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, where he was appointed as the Cyrus E. Rubin Endowed Chair in Medicine. During his tenure, he oversaw extensive recruitment efforts of faculty and staff for the system’s four hospitals and its cancer center. Highlights include the development of new research programs including the Center for Microbiome Science and Therapeutics, the Center for Liver Disease Investigation, and the GI Biorepository. He also doubled endoscopic procedures in the health system and significantly expanded educational training programs and grants.
“I’m honored to be chosen for this important role,” said Inadomi. “University of Utah Health is already a well-respected academic medical center. A key aspect of this role will be partnering with the many distinguished faculty and staff to further enhance this institution’s impressive accomplishments and reputation. I also plan to support efforts to increase NIH and VA funding so we can continue expanding basic and translational research as well as clinical and health services efforts in discovery.”
Before joining U of Washington in 2010, Dr. Inadomi served in several other roles, including clinical chief of gastroenterology at San Francisco General Hospital where he and his colleagues developed a novel web-based consultation portal for patients (eConsult). Also in San Francisco, he served as director of the GI Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (HOPE) Research Center. Previously, he served as Fellowship Program Director at University of Michigan and held other key leadership roles at the VA Health Centers in Ann Arbor and Albuquerque.
Inadomi’s research has been supported by multiple NIH and VA grants, and his work has informed colon cancer screening guidelines for both the American Cancer Society and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. He’s currently the vice president of the American Gastroenterological Association and will serve as president in 2021.
He received a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in mechanical engineering and earned a medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco.
Inadomi will relocate to Utah with his wife Kristine and son Eric, who is devoted cellist. His daughter Mika graduated from Johns Hopkins University last year and currently works in Washington D.C. for an aerospace and defense consulting firm. “In addition to tennis, in which the whole family is involved, I look forward to the amazing outdoor recreation Utah has to offer and in particular, I look forward to getting back to skiing,” Inadomi said, “It’s been a while, so I may also end up becoming a regular at the Orthopedic Injury Clinic.“
Inadomi succeeds David Bjorkman, M.D., who has served as interim chair since 2018. “We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Bjorkman for his leadership of the department during this time of transition,” said Good. “He has built a strong foundation that ensures the department will continue moving forward and thrive under Dr. Inadomi’s leadership.”