DOM gets three of five new Professors Emeriti at College of Medicine – Tucson

[A composite image of Drs. Bhaskar Banerjee, H.H. "Sherry" Chow, and C. Kent Kwoh, who are among 5 recently named Professor Emeriti at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.]Cheers to three recently retired professors – Bhaskar Banerjee, MD, Hsiao-Hui “Sherry” Chow, PhD, and C. Kent Kwoh, MD – who were approved for emeritus status as faculty in the Department of Medicine and the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.

They were among five faculty members whose titles as Professor Emeritus were announced in the college’s MedCat Connect newsletter on Sunday. The others were (with their department): David Harris, PhD (Immunobiology), and Richard Wahl, MD (Pediatrics).

Dr. Banerjee served as the chief of the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology from November 2008 to November 2015. He earned his medical degree from the University of London, UK, followed by internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training at the University of Connecticut. [Bhaskar Banerjee, MD]Prior to joining the U of A, Dr. Banerjee was in the Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University in Saint Louis for nine years. His clinical interests include gastro esophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus, peptic ulcer disease, screening and surveillance of colon cancer, functional bowel disorders and diseases of the small intestine. His research interest in development of new optical techniques for the detection and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders led to his founding Omniscient, LLC, to commercialize via Tech Launch Arizona advances he’d made in endoscopic technology that allow a 360-degree viewing range. Dr. Banerjee is the editor of a textbook on the nutritional management of digestive disorders. He retired in December 2024 as a professor of medicine, optical sciences and biomedical engineering; a member of the U of A Cancer Center and the Cancer Biology Graduate Inter-Disciplinary Program. He’s board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Chow retired at the end of October 2024 after 35 years at the U of A. She was a research professor in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Hematology & Oncology and, at the U of A Cancer Center, led the Analytical Chemistry Shared Resource since 2001 and co-led the Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) Program since 2014. [H.H. "Sherry" Chow, PhD]Also a faculty member of the College of Medicine – Tucson’s Clinical Translational Sciences Graduate Program and the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, She has had a long track record of leading early phase cancer prevention clinical trials (since 2003), development and implementation of biochemical and molecular biomarkers for evaluation of cancer risk and drug efficacy, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics study design and data analysis. She led a number of clinical trials to evaluate potential of different dietary compounds, repurposed drugs, and modified dosing schedules of established drugs for breast cancer prevention. And she led a National Cancer Institute-funded Chemoprevention Consortium to conduct clinical investigations of various pharmaceutical and nutraceutical agents and vaccines for prevention of lung, breast, cervix, prostate, skin, esophageal, and head and neck cancer. Her work was recognized in an August 2024 U of A Cancer Center article.

[Chian Kent Kwoh, MD]Dr. Kwoh also retired as chief of the Division of Rheumatology at the end of December 2024, although he retained his position as director of the University of Arizona Arthritis Center. He joined the U of A faculty in both positions in 2013, coming from the University of Pittsburgh. With a dual appointment in the Department of Medical Imaging, he’s a world-renowned researcher on knee aging and osteoarthritis seeking biomarkers to develop innovative therapies to address pain and related issues. In November 2024, Dr. Kwoh was recognized by the Lupus Research Alliance as a “Champion for Health Equity” and, in November 2023, he received one of the highest honors in his field by being recognized as a “Master of the American College of Rheumatology.” A retirement party was held for him, during which retiring Division of Infectious Diseases chief Elizabeth Connick, MD, also was recognized on Dec. 6. See the photo gallery from that event here.

[Image of University of Arizona Arthritis Center director and retired chief of the Division of Rheumatology C. Kent Kwoh, MD, MASC, next to life-size cutout poster of himself with sign that says, “Emeritus Professor C. Kent Kwoh, MD, MACR – Congratulations!” with the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson logo.]University of Arizona Arthritis Center director and retired chief of the Division of Rheumatology Dr. C. Kent Kwoh next to life-size cutout poster of himself with sign that says, “Emeritus Professor C. Kent Kwoh, MD, MACR – Congratulations!” with the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson logo (Courtesy Arizona Arthritis Center community outreach director Tracy Shake – click to enlarge).

Dr. Chow said of the distinction, “Achieving the title of Professor Emeritus within the College of Medicine and Department of Medicine is an incredible honor – one that fills me with both gratitude and reflection. This recognition is not just a milestone in my career but a testament to the many years of dedication, mentorship, and collaboration that have shaped my journey. I am profoundly grateful to my peers, mentors, and students who have been part of this journey, and I look forward to remaining engaged in the work that has defined my career.”

Other current Professors Emeriti in the Department include:

In the past five years, we lost others who passed away, including: John T. Boyer, MD (2023), founder of divisions of Geriatrics, Hematology and Rheumatology; Eric P. Gall, MD (2020), Division of Rheumatology (and Arthriits Center co-founder); Frank I. Marcus, MD (2022), Division of Cardiology; and Jay W. Smith, MD, (2024) division of General Internal Medicine (before it became General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine) and college’s former vice dean.

Please remember to congratulate Drs. Banerjee, Chow and Kwoh as our newest Professors Emeriti in the Department of Medicine.

ALSO SEE:
“Lupus Research Alliance Celebrates U of A’s Dr. Kent Kwoh for Native American Heritage Month” | Posted Nov. 20, 2024
“Dr. Sherry Chow: Chemoprevention innovator advances Cancer Center’s impact on early-stage trials” | Posted Oct, 25, 2024
“Arthritis Center Director C. Kent Kwoh, MD, Named Master of the American College of Rheumatology” | Posted Nov. 7, 2023
“New UArizona Health Sciences Study to Focus on Link Between Knee Aging and Osteoarthritis” | Posted Jan. 27, 2022
“Dr. C. Kent Kwoh Recognized with College of Medicine – Tucson Mentoring Award” | Posted June 23, 2020

Release Date: 
02/17/2025 - 2:00pm
Media Contact: 
David Mogollon | Communications Manager, University of Arizona Department of Medicine