September 29, 2016 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS) - UConn Health

Oncken Appointed Chair of Medicine

Dr. Cheryl Oncken, the interim chair of the Department of Medicine in the UConn School of Medicine since July 2015, now holds that position as chair, no longer interim. “Dr. Oncken is a tenured professor with responsibilities in patient care, education, and clinical research,” says Dr. Bruce Liang, dean of the UConn School of Medicine. […]

Dr. Cheryl Oncken, chair, Department of Medicine (Photo by Janine Gelineau)

Dr. Cheryl Oncken, the interim chair of the Department of Medicine in the UConn School of Medicine since July 2015, now holds that position as chair, no longer interim.

“Dr. Oncken is a tenured professor with responsibilities in patient care, education, and clinical research,” says Dr. Bruce Liang, dean of the UConn School of Medicine. “She brings to the position considerable experience as an effective interim chair of the department and I very much look forward to continue working with her.”

Oncken is a professor of medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology, and is an internationally recognized tobacco researcher. She’s been at UConn Health for 22 years, the last 17 of which she has had continuous NIH funding for her research.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Oncken has accepted the position of chair of Medicine,” says Dr. Andy Agwunobi, UConn Health CEO and executive vice president for health affairs. “During her tenure as interim chair she demonstrated that she is a skilled and thoughtful leader committed to the success of her department and UConn Health as a whole. It will be a pleasure working with her in this role.”

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Oncken completed an internal medicine residency at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and is board certified in internal medicine. She also completed a general medicine research fellowship and earned a Master of Public Health with an emphasis on epidemiology, both at the University of Minnesota.

“Since coming to UConn Health in 1994, I’ve worked with many excellent health care professionals and researchers who are devoted to improving patient services, enhancing education and advancing science,” Oncken says. “I am excited about the opportunity to be the chair of medicine and facilitating the department’s growth in these three areas.”

Oncken serves on several National Institutes of Health panels and the World Health Organization’s committee on the treatment of tobacco use, and is an associate editor of the international journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.