In the News
"Finding a Link: Genetics and Concussion"
(source:
Advance: Advancing Research from Labs to Life, Summer, 2011)
3/6/2012
"The Impact of Concussions"
(source: Frontiers Magazine November, 2011)
3/6/2012
Irfan Asif, MD discusses the severity of concussions among student athletes
(source: WBIR)
Family Medicine Faculty, Fellows and Residents participate in Marine Corps Marathon
UTGSM Sports Medicine faculty and fellows, Family Medicine Residents and Medicine Residents recently provided medical care at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. The marathon, known as the "The People's Marathon," features walkers, runners, and wheelchair participants who come from all over the world.
The group played an essential component to the multidisciplinary medical team near the finish line, which included physicians, nurses, physical therapists, podiatrists, and staff from the Navy and Marines.
The Marine Corps officials, participants, and other observers complimented the medical team on their compassionate care and professionalism. Out of the 30,000 runners who participated in the marathon, approximately 200 participants were treated. Drs. Lara Quinlan, Julie Kafka, Scarlett Schneider, Michael Martin, Irfan Asif, and Ken Bielak played an integral part in treating many collapsed runners. The team saw a variety of cases including musculoskeletal injuries, exercise associated collapse, and deydration, but also some fascinating cases of hyponatremia and hypothermia.
The marathon is a prime example of how primary care sports medicine can be an essential component to medical care in the community.
12/05/2011
Family Medicine Department Supports Local Heart Walk
The Department of Family Medicine recently participated in the Knoxville area "Heart Walk." The department raised $667 for the American Heart Association. Faculty, staff and residents who walked are pictured above. Other funds were raised through department raffles and purchasing hearts to be placed on the break room door. The department also had four players on the UT Medical Center softball team that won the AHA Softball Tournament!
12/2/2011
Department of Family Medicine Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Expansion
The Department of Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine held a groundbreaking ceremony September 19 to commemorate the commencement of Phase I of a three-phase expansion designed to improve the residency training experience and allow Family Medicine's ambulatory clinic, University Family Physicians (UFP), to restructure into a team-structured, patient-centered medical home concept.
Led by James Neutens, PhD, Dean, and Gregory H. Blake, MD, Chair, Family Medicine, several honored guests participated in the ceremony, including testimonies from Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., UT softball co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly, and Randal Dabbs, MD, member of the Graduate School of Medicine Board of Visitors and Family Medicine Alumnus. Also breaking ground were Family Medicine Emerti Professors John Eaddy, MD, Joseph B. Moon, MD, and George Shacklett, MD, who is also former department chair; and Joseph Landsman, President and CEO, UT Medical Center. Reverend Steve Sexton provided the blessing of the sight.
The Phase I expansion makes room for an academic area on the ground floor that will include a 60-seat auditorium with state-of-the art audio-visual equipment. This area will also provide private resident and fellow work areas for research and scholarly activity, chief resident offices, and a modern kitchen with a resident lounge.
The first-floor expansion will accommodate two clinical suites. Each suite will contain nine exam rooms, a nurse’s station, a procedure room, and an imaging suite for x-ray and ultrasound. The rooms will include up-to-date computers and diagnostic technology. The new facility will add 3,700 square feet of functional clinical space, and, using existing space, UFP will then operate with two themed suites designed to give patients a comforting treatment setting. Two additional themed suites will be added in Phase II.
Phase I of the expansion has a $2 million budget, raised through the generosity of a local family and through an award from the Health Resources and Services Agency Administration. The additions are expected to be completed in March 2012. Funds for the following two phases, which will renovate existing space to create new exam and procedure rooms, provide a centralized laboratory space and more, are currently being raised through a capital campaign. For more information on the capital campaign, contact the Office of Development at 865-305-6611.
09/2011
Family Medicine and Its Clinic to Expand;
Breaking Ground September 19
The Department of Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase I of a three-phase expansion Monday, September 19, at 9:30 a.m. in the Graduate School of Medicine visitor parking lot. In addition to providing more space to improve the residency training experience, Phase I of the expansion project will allow Family Medicine’s ambulatory clinic, University Family Physicians (UFP), to restructure into a team-structured, patient-centered medical home concept, providing residents a more integrative curriculum in ambulatory care and patients a more personalized experience with UFP physicians.
Currently, residency and fellowship training, research and patient care take place in the Henry H. Lyon Sr. Family Medicine Center, located on the campus of the University of Tennessee Medical Center and UT Graduate School of Medicine. The 60-year-old structure was built as a nursing dormitory and was renovated in the 1970s for today’s family medicine clinic. The facility measures about 20,000 square feet and serves approximately 20,000 patients. Over the last four decades, the number of patients, physicians and services has doubled within the existing space.
The expanded two-floor facility makes room for an academic area on the ground floor that will include a 60-seat auditorium with state-of-the art audio-visual equipment, including smart boards. This area will also provide private resident and fellow work areas for research and scholarly activity, chief resident offices, and a modern kitchen with a resident lounge. A key aspect to this expanded space will be the opportunity for residents to train in skills labs on equipment currently underutilized due to space limitations, including pelvic models and Noelle, a simulated robot used to practice obstetrics procedures.
The first-floor expansion will accommodate two clinical suites. Each suite will contain nine exam rooms, a nurse’s station, a procedure room, and an imaging suite for x-ray and ultrasound. The rooms will include up-to-date computers and diagnostic technology. The new facility will add 3,700 square feet of functional clinical space, and, using existing space, UFP will then operate with two themed suites designed to give patients a comforting treatment setting. Two additional themed suites will be added in Phase II.
Gregory H. Blake, MD, Chair of Family Medicine said the greatest outcome of the Phase I project will be what the program is able to fundamentally accomplish. In the suite setting, a faculty member will serve as a “Senior Practice Partner” and faculty and residents will be divided between the suites, in effect creating mini-practices within UFP. This will allow suite physicians to operate more like a team, discussing cases regularly. The setting also will provide residents increased exposure to a breadth of ambulatory issues and give them a better working knowledge of the continuity of care consistent with the practice of family medicine.
Dr. Blake said, “Approximately 70 percent of our graduates stay in Tennessee, and many of them practice in rural locations. We are training doctors who stay in the community. These changes to our program will provide a consistency to our training so that all of our physicians are equipped with skill sets that will prepare them for any practice setting.”
Patients will also benefit from the suite concept. When physicians meet to discuss cases, suite physicians may have insights on cases to share with the primary physician. Also, when patients schedule non-routine visits and their primary physician is unavailable, patients will be able to see another physician within the suite knowing the secondary physician has some familiarity with their medical histories.
“With new services and improved educational offerings, we will have the complete package,” said Dr. Blake. “It will put us equal to some of our peer institutions and put us on the cutting edge of family medicine and residency training.”
Phase I of the expansion has a $2 million budget, raised through the generosity of a local family and through an award from the Health Resources and Services Agency Administration. The additions are expected to be completed in March 2012. Funds for the following two phases, which will renovate existing space to create new exam and procedure rooms, provide a centralized laboratory space and more, are currently being raised through a capital campaign. For more information on the capital campaign, contact the Office of Development at 865-305-6611.
09/2011
Sports Medicine Fellow, Eric Kujawski, DO., Finishes Boston Marathon
Department of Family Medicine Sports Medicine Fellow, Eric Kujawksi, DO, ran the Boston Marathon in April 2011. He finished with an official time of 2:59:07 . He placed 1388 overall! Congratulations on this accomplishment!
06/2011
UTGSM Family Medicine Faculty listed in "Top Docs" by Their Peers
Ann Bevelhimer, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor
Gregory Blake, MD, Chair and Professor
Daniel Cox, MD, Clinical Instructor
Larry Davis, MD, Associate Professor
Maricarmen Malagon-Rogers, MD, Associate Professor
Guy Smoak, MD, Assistant Professor
05/2011
Julie Jeter, MD, Recognized during Faculty Appreciation Week
Julie Jeter, MD
Assistant Professor
Family Medicine
"Dr. Jeter is, by far, one of the best physicians and faculty that I have ever met. She is an incredible person with one of the biggest hearts. She has been a mentor to so many and positively impacted our work place in a tremendous way. She has forever touched my heart and my family. She has helped me through so much, as a colleague and a shoulder to cry on. I love you, Dr. Jeter. Thank you so much for the blood, sweat, tears and time you put into each and every one of us!"
05/2011
Janice Ketner Retires After 31 Years
Janice Ketner, Staff Nurse, Family Medicine, retired following 31 years of service to the University of Tennessee. She began as a nurses assistant in November 1980 and 10 years later became assistant head nurse when she earned her Registered Nurse designation. She began practicing with University Family Physicians in 2002. She was honored with a reception in March. For retirement, Ketner said she plans to "have fun," including working with her church and spending time with her family.
05/2011
Randal Dabbs, MD, to Chair Family Medicine Building Campaign
01/2011
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
University Family Physicians
UT Graduate School of Medicine
UT Medical Center
1924 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville, Tennessee 37920-6999
(865) 305-9350
Academic Inquiries:
(865) 305-9352