Jayashree Sarathy, PhD

Jayashree Sarathy is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the UIC College of Medicine since January of 2026, where she teaches physiology and pathophysiology to medical students and contributes to curriculum innovation, assessment, and cross‑campus pedagogical initiatives for the College of Medicine.She has brought more than 25 years of experience as an educator, mentor, research scientist, and academic leader spanning across undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

Before joining UIC, Dr. Sarathy served as a tenured Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Biological Sciences at Benedictine University. She is the Founding Program Director of the Master of Science in Integrative Physiology (MSIP), which she established in 2017 to support students preparing for careers in medicine and other health professions. Under her leadership, the MSIP program grew significantly and has now graduated more than 190 students, many of whom have matriculated into medical, dental, pharmacy, and other professional programs across the country. In addition to developing MSIP, she led graduate advising and mentoring initiatives, proposed and secured new graduate scholarships, and cultivated institutional partnerships that expanded opportunities for students.

Dr. Sarathy was equally dedicated to undergraduate teaching, which has been a central part of her academic identity throughout her career. During her 18 years at Benedictine University and prior appointments at community colleges and universities, she taught a broad array of undergraduate courses, including Human Physiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Cell Biology, and multiple laboratory‑based research courses. She has been widely recognized for her excellence in graduate/undergraduate instruction, receiving multiple institutional awards for teaching, service, and student mentorship.

She obtained a BSc in Physics (1988), MSc in Biophysics (1990) and M. Phil in Biophysics and Crystallography (1991) from University of Madras, India before coming to USA to further her education. A proud alumna of the University of Illinois Chicago, Dr. Sarathy earned her Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics at UIC, completing seminal work on the ontogeny of colonic chloride transport under the mentorship of Dr. Mrinalini Rao. She later continued her research as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the same department, maintaining ongoing engagement with UIC through adjunct teaching appointments, doctoral committee service, and long‑standing mentorship of medical and graduate students.

Dr. Sarathy’s research interests center on intestinal epithelial ion transport, bile acid–mediated signaling, and tight junction regulation in colonic epithelial cells. Her work has explored how bile acids influence barrier function, inflammation, and intracellular signaling pathways. More recently, she expanded her research into interdisciplinary collaborations examining periostomal skin complications, the role of bile acids and pH in protease activity, and probiotic modulation of epithelial injury. She is also engaged in physiology education research, particularly in the areas of case‑based learning, assessment, peer mentoring, and strategies that promote belonging and equitable learning outcomes for pre‑health and medical students. Many of her undergraduate research mentees have gone on to present and win competitive national awards, especially through the American Physiological Society. Dr. Sarathy remains deeply committed to strengthening foundational learning, believing that curiosity, confidence, and scientific identity are often shaped early in a student’s academic journey.

Across all her roles, Dr. Sarathy is guided by a commitment to inclusive teaching, student empowerment, and a belief in the transformative potential of physiology education for learners from all backgrounds.