Human Physiology
Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical function of humans, and serves as the foundation of modern medicine. As a discipline, it connects science, medicine, and health, and creates a framework for understanding how the human body adapts to stresses, physical activity, and disease.
Human physiology and anatomy are closely related—anatomy is the study of form, physiology is the study of function, and form and function are intrinsically linked. The study of human physiology integrates knowledge across many levels, including biochemistry, cell physiology, and organ systems. Contemporary research in human physiology explores new ways to maintain or improve the quality of life, the development of new medical therapies and interventions, and the unanswered questions about how the human body works. The Department of Human Physiology serves its students by providing strong training in human physiology and anatomy to prepare them for careers in medicine, allied health professions, and biomedical research.
Faculty
Damien Callahan, assistant professor. BA, 2001, Boston; PhD, 2011, Massachusetts, Amherst. (2017)
Wagner Dantas, assistant professor. BS, 2004, Metropolitan United College; BSc, 2014, University of Sao Paulo; PhD, 2019, University of Sao Paulo. (2024)
Hans Dreyer, associate professor. BS, 1998, California State, Long Beach; MS, 2002, PhD, 2004, Southern California. (2009)
Ian Greenhouse, assistant professor. BA, 2004, Tufts; PhD, 2012, California, San Diego. (2017)
Michael Hahn, associate professor. BS, 1996, Colorado Mesa; MS, 2000, Iowa State; PhD, 2003, Oregon. (2012)
John Halliwill, professor. BS, 1991, Ohio State; PhD, 1995, Medical College of Virginia. (2002)
Adrianne Huxtable, associate professor. BS, 2003, British Columbia; PhD, 2009, Alberta. (2015)
Andrew Karduna, professor. BS, 1989, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MS, 1991, Johns Hopkins; PhD, 1995, Pennsylvania. (2002)
Andrew Lovering, professor. BS, 1995, PhD, 2003, Texas Tech. (2007)
Michelle Marneweck, assistant professor. BA, 2020, MS/PhD, 2014, Western Australia. (2020)
Philip Matern, associate teaching professor. BS, 2003, Gonzaga; MS, 2005, Central Washington. (2014)
Carrie McCurdy, associate professor. BS, 1998, Notre Dame; PhD, 2004, Wisconsin, Madison.(2013)
Christopher Minson, Kenneth and Kenda Singer Endowed Professor in Human Physiology. BS, 1989, Arizona; MA, 1993, San Diego State; PhD, 1997, Pennsylvania State. (2000)
Jon Runyeon, associate teaching professor. BS, 1996, MS, 2010, Oregon. (2012)
Valerie Sawiccy, assistant teaching professor. BSc, 2012, University of Wisconsin-Madison; MS, 2017, University of Guam; PhD, 2023, Oregon State. (2023)
Nicole Swann, assistant professor. BA, 2006, California, Berkeley; PhD, 2012, California, San Diego. (2017)
Ashley Walker, assistant professor. BS, 2003, Oregon State; PhD, 2010, Colorado, Boulder. (2017)
Brad Wilkins, assistant professor. BS, 1993, Oregon State; MS, 1996, Northern Michigan; PhD, 2003, Oregon. (2014)
Alia Yasen, assistant teaching professor. BA, 2011, Willamette University; MS, 2014, University of Oregon; PhD, 2018, University of Oregon. (2023)
Janet Zhang-Lea, assistant professor. BM, 2014, Southern Medical University; MPhil, 2016, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; PhD, 2019, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. (2024)
Affiliated
Balamurali Ambati, MD, PhD. Courtesy research professor, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.
Sierra Dawson, PhD. Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
Aaron Vaughan Frost, MD, Sports Medicine Specialist, Primary Care Sports Medicine, University Health Services.
Robert Guldberg, PhD. Professor; Vice President and Executive Director, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.
Marian Hettiaratchi, PhD. Assistant professor, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.
Brett Kirby, PhD. Instructor pro tem.
Benjamin McKay, MS. Sports Science Coordinator, Intercollegiate Athletics.
Keat Ghee Ong, PhD. Professor, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.
Kimberly Terrell, MS. Courtesy instructor.
Jordan Troester, PhD, Director of Performance and Sports Science.
Ann Zeidman-Karpinski, MS. Associate professor. See Libraries.
Brad Winn, MS. Instructor pro tem.
Courtesy
John Bagdade, courtesy research professor. AB, 1958, Harvard; MD, 1962, Cornell. (2017)
Robin Baudier, courtesy research assistant. (2023)
Brion Benninger, courtesy research assistant. (2022)
Patrick Bergin, courtesy professor. BA, 1976, Columbia College; MD, 1980, Dartmouth College. (2000)
William Cornwell, courtesy research assistant professor. BS, 2004, Ohio State; MD, 2008, Wright State. (2021)
JJ Duke, courtesy research assistant professor. BS, 2005, Arizona State; MA 2008, North Carolina; MS, 2012, PhD, 2012, Indiana. (2021)
Douglas C. Elton, courtesy research assistant professor. (2024)
Erika Everson, courtesy research assistant. (2021)
Brittany Faro, courtesy research assistant. (2-21)
Daniel Fitzpatrick, courtesy associate professor. BS, 1991, MS, 1993, MD, 1997, Iowa. (2007)
Eben Futral, courtesy research associate. BS, 1988, Stanford; MBA, 1999, Arizona State. (2015)
Freddy V. Garcia, courtesy research assistant. (2021)
Betsy A. Gideon, courtesy research assistant. (2021)
Andrew Gilchrist, courtesy professor. BS, 1990, Washington; MD, 1994, Nevada. (2021)
Igor Gladstone, courtesy professor. BS, 1973, MD, 1981, Washington (Seattle). (2009)
Tim Grosshennig, courtesy research assistant (Type B). (2024)
Jerold Hawn, courtesy professor. BS, 1963, Santa Clara; MD, 1967, Georgetown. (2009)
Byron Hetrick, courtesy research associate. BS, PhD, UCSD.
Rudolf Hoellrich, courtesy research professor. BS, 1993, Willamette; MD, 1997, OHSU. (2021)
Stanley L. James, courtesy professor. (1998)
Brian Jewett, courtesy associate professor. BS, 1990, MS, 1991, Stanford; MD, 1995, Vanderbilt. (2007)
Donald Jones, courtesy professor. BS, 1969, Centenary (Hackettstown); MD, 1973, Louisiana State. (1983)
Paul Kaplan, courtesy research associate; university physician. AB, 1970, Stanford; MD, 1974, California, Los Angeles. (2005)
Mackenzie N. Kehmeier, courtesy research assistant. (2022)
Ashley Kowalski, courtesy research assistant (Type C). (2025)
Brett "Brick" Lantz, courtesy professor. BA, 1981, Stanford; MD, 1985, Oklahoma. (2007)
Elizabeth McCorkle, courtesy research associate. BA, 1987, Rollins College; MD, 1992, Augusta. (2016)
Fabian N. Moeller, courtesy research assistant (Type C). (2025)
Erin C. Owen, courtesy research assistant. (2021)
Richard Padgett, courtesy professor. BS, 1984, East Carolina; MD, 1988, North Carolina, Chapel Hill. (2005)
Shannon M. Pomeroy, courtesy instructor. (2018)
Jeanette M. Ricci, courtesy research associate. (2023)
Grant Simmons, courtesy research associate. BS, 2003, MS, 2005, PhD, 2008 Oregon. (2018)
Kenneth Singer, courtesy professor; team physician. BS, 1961, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MD, 1965, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. (1994)
Kate A. Spitzley, courtesy research assistant. (2023)
Elinor L. Sullivan, courtesy assistant professor. (2023)
Orsolya Szekely, courtesy research assistant (Type C). (2025)
Ximeng Yang, courtesy research assistant professor. (2024)
Emeriti
Barry Bates, professor emeritus. BSE, 1960, Princeton; MEd, 1971, East Stroudsburg; PhD, 1973, Indiana. (1974)
Grace Golden, senior lecturer emeritus. BS, 1989, MS, 1991, Oregon; PhD, 2007, Oregon State. (2009)
Gary Klug, professor emeritus. BS, 1970, MS, 1973, Wisconsin, La Crosse; PhD, 1980, Washington State. (1985)
Richard Troxel, senior instructor emeritus. BS, 1975, MS, 1977, Oregon. (1976)
Marjorie Woollacott, professor emerita. BA, 1968, PhD, 1973, Southern California. (1980)
The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.