Rib Lake to induct Dr. Zimmerman into Hall of Fame

The induction ceremony for Dr. Kurt A. Zimmerman, the newest member of the Rib Lake School District Hall of Fame, will be held on Friday, January 12 at 1:30 p.m. in the Rib Lake High School Gymnasium.

School officials invite the public to join in honoring Dr. Zimmerman, a 2004 graduate from Rib Lake High School.

Dr. Zimmerman is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. His current research lab is studying how immune cells influence the development and progression of cystic kidney disease. His team’s research goal is to not only understand the complex mechanisms leading to cystic kidney disease, but to ultimately improve treatment options for cystic kidney disease patients.

After graduating from Rib Lake High School, Dr. Zimmerman earned his bachelors of science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UW-Eau Claire. He then attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham earning his Ph D. in Molecular and Cellular Pathology in 2014. During his time in graduate school in Alabama, Dr. Zimmerman completed four peer-reviewed manuscripts, 11 presentations both nationally and locally, and received 10 competitive awards, including the UAB Joint Health Science Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

Following the completion of his Ph.D., Dr. Zimmerman completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UAB. During this time, Dr. Zimmerman made several novel discoveries regarding immune cells in kidney disease. He also published a paradigm shifting study showing that immune cells were evolutionarily conserved across multiple mammalian species. Dr. Zimmerman completed his postdoctoral studies having 14 manuscripts published, making 30 national and local presentations and earning a handful awards including the UAB Outstanding Peer Mentor Award and being recognized as the Karen L. Campbell fellow by the American Society of Nephrology. This culminated in Dr. Zimmerman receiving the prestigious Career Development Award by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which awarded him $600,000 to start his independent research.

Today Dr. Zimmerman maintains his laboratory at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. Since he began this lab he has received 14 grants from various agencies totaling more than $3.7 million dollars in research support for his lab. This money has been used to support Ph.D. students, research technicians, and staff, as well as to pay for research supplies. We want to thank Dr. Zimmerman for the impact he continues to have in this field and in the lives of many with kidney disease.

“Please join us on January 12th as we honor him and his accomplishments.” said district administrator Travis Grubbs.

For more information about the Rib Lake Hall of Fame or to nominate a potential inductee, please visit www. riblake.k12.wi.us/community/Hall_of_ Fame.cfm