In the News
Department of Medicine Faculty Recognized at Reception
At the Department of Medicine's annual faculty awards reception in December, 2012, Rajiv Dhand, MD, Chair, presented several awards, including two new awards in honor of the department's original chair, Alfred Beasley, MD, and long-time leader, Richard Obenour, MD.
The Beasley Pylon Award is aptly named, indicating the recipient has been a pillar of support to the department through extraordinary leadership and service. This inaugural award was presented to Richard Obenour, MD, Professor and Vice Chairman. In addition to serving for 50 years, Dr. Obenour has acted as interim chair for the department on two occasions.
The inaugural R.A. Obenour, M.D., Distinguished Alumnus Award, established to recognize an alumnus who has an outstanding career achievement in the field of Medicine, was presented to John W. Lacey, III, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, and Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, The University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Since the early 1980s, the Department of Medicine has had a yearly tradition of recognizing one teacher who deserves the accolade "excellent." The Medicine residents vote for this deserving faculty member. The 2012 London Award was presented to Ronald Lands, MD, Associate Professor.
The R. A. Obenour, Jr., Award for steadfast dedication to excellence in teaching was presented to Dale Wortham, MD, Professor and Program Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship program.
The Richard A. Obenour, Jr. Award was established after the untimely death of the son of Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Obenour. The Obenour family, friends, and coworkers generously donated to an endowment fund in their son's memory. Since young Dick spent most of his life pursuing an education, Dr. Obenour thought it fitting to create an award dedicated to a faculty member who displayed a commitment to education through teaching residents and medical students.
Those recognized at the reception for long-time service to the department:
25 Years
Daniel Ely, MD
40 Years
Alan Solomon, MD
Robert Overholt, MD
Clark Julius, MD
50 Years
Richard A. Obenour, MD
UTGSM Scope, February 2013
Dr. Brian Reed Investigates Water Safety in the Smokies
First-year Internal Medicine Resident Brian Reed, MD, is extending his passion for helping others outside of the UT Graduate School of Medicine. Dr. Reed, a native Knoxvillian, is conducting a study on the quality of water along the Appalachian Trail. Stemming from a childhood passion for the outdoors and curiosity regarding the need for water treatment for hikers, Dr. Reed has set up 10 sampling sites at various locations in the Smoky Mountains. MORE>>
UTGSM Scope, February 2013
Dr. Andrew Dake Places Second in Narrative Writing Contest
Second-year Internal Medicine Resident Andrew Dake, MD, placed second in the American College of Physicians, Tennessee Chapter 2012 Narrative Medicine Writing Competition. His piece, "Still Kickin'," was inspired by a patient he attended during his entire three-month inpatient medicine rotations. MORE>>
UTGSM Scope, February 2013
Dr. Wortham Works with Heart Team to Implement New Procedure
A multidisciplinary team led by Dale Wortham, MD, Professor of Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Director, is implementing a new procedure called Transcutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement. This is a minimally invasive procedure designed to treat severe aortic stenosis in patients too ill to withstand open heart surgery and requires collaboration among multiple groups of specialists. The Heart Team is composed of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician assistants and multidisciplinary clinical staff. MORE>>
Dr. Ellis and Dr. Wall Appointed Research Directors for Department of Medicine
Rajiv Dhand, MD, Chair of Medicine, recently appointed Carol Ellis, MD, as Director of Clinical Research and Jonathan Wall, PhD, as Director of Experimental Research for the Department of Medicine. MORE>>
November 2012
Medicine Faculty Featured in Medical Moments Series
As part of its health education programs, The University of Tennessee Medical Center produces a Medical Moments video series, hosted on YouTube, UTMedicalCenter.org and Facebook to take common questions a consumer might have and allow physicians or other clinicians to answer those questions. See which faculty have been featured:
Paul Branca, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine: Bronchial Thermoplasty
J. Clay Callison, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine: Lung Cancer and Causes, Symptoms and Diagnoses of Lung Cancer
John Dougherty, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine: Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment Part I and Part II
Bruce Ludwig, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine: Cystic Fibrosis
Dale Wortham, MD, Professor, Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program Director: Aortic Stenosis
Emily Martin Wins Clinical Science Presentation Award
Emily Martin, Graduate Research Assistant in the Preclinical and Diagnostic Molecular Imaging Laboratory, won Best Clinical Science Presentation at the XIIIth International Symposium on Amyloidosis in The Netherlands. MORE>>
Department Honored in Best Hospital Edition
The Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, recently was honored in the US News and World Report "America's Best Hospitals." The magazine ranked the department number 34 in the nation with a superior ranking in patient safety.
US News and World Report also named UT Medical Center as the number one hospital in the region and the number two hospital in the state, with Vanderbilt University Medical Center ranked as number one. The 2012-2013 report of "America's Best Hospitals" also nationally ranked the speciality of Gynecology (#31) and listed 10 more specialties as high performers.
The October 2012 Issue of In Touch Newsletter is Published
Download the latest edition of the Department of Medicine's Newsletter, In Touch (.pdf)
Cardiovascular Fellow Recognized for Outstanding Research
W. Jeremy Mahlow, MD, Cardiovascular Disease fellow was awarded third place for his presentation of:
"A Peri-Operative Device Management Algorithm for Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: the PACED-OP Protocol"
This research examined the safety and effectiveness of using a unique protocol developed and implemented by physicians at UT Medical Center for the management of patients with pacemakers and other implanted devices who are undergoing needed surgery. His findings support that this protocol allows patients to undergo surgery in a safer and more convenient manner.
July 2012
Medicine Presents the Freeman Rawson Award
Medicine held an awards and graduation reception in June to honor residents and fellows in Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Pulmonary Disease programs.
Freeman Rawson Award
The Freeman Rawson award, given in memory of long-time Medicine faculty member Freeman Rawson, MD, was presented to Benjamin Helms, DO, third-year Medicine Resident, and to Shane Kelley, MD, second-year Medicine Resident. This award is given annually to upper-level residents who embody the spirit of teaching and possess excellent clinical skills.
Dr. Rawson, who passed away in 2003, was a founding member of the Knoxville Cardiovascular Group and practiced medicine in Knoxville for 47 years. Dr. Rawson was known for his compassion and clinical skills.
July 2012
UTGSM Department of Medicine Welcomes New Residents and Fellows
Andrew Christie, DO, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Christen Fleming, MD, UT Health Science Center College of Medicine
Laura Green, MD, UT Health Science Center College of Medicine
Kayleigh McDaniel, DO, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Mehul Patel, MD, UT Health Science Center College of Medicine
Asha Pathak, MD, University of Florida College of Medicine
Nemin Rajan, MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine
Harsha Ranganath, MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Molly Van Petten, MD, University of Kansas School of Medicine
July 2012
Dr. Rasnake Receives GSM Spirit Award
Mark Rasnake, MD
Assistant Professor and Residency Program Director
Medicine
Dr. Rasnake came to the UTGSM in 2007 and has excelled in several areas including education and patient care. He trains residents in multiple departments on infectious diseases, third- and fourth-year medical students, as well as high school students participating in the Medical Explorations program. As program director, Dr. Rasnake has seen increased in-service scores each year over the past three years. With Dr. Kimberly Morris, Chief of Internal Medicine, he revamped the program's curriculum and revised the resident handbook with robust teaching procedures. Benefitting patient care, Dr. Rasnake arranged a central line process improvement project that has significantly decreased the rate of central line associated blood stream infections to zero. He also worked with Dr. Daphne Norwood to initiate "Monday Morning Quarterback" sessions for safety and quality improvements. Dr. Rasnake has also received several awards, including the Department of Medicine's London Award and the GSM Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dean Neutens said, "The Spirit Award is given to a faculty member who upholds and promotes the UT Graduate School of Medicine mission to colleagues, residents, students, staff and the community. Clearly Dr. Rasnake has accomplished this through his efforts as program director and to reduce hospital-wide infection rates."
July 2011
Dr. Norwood Serves as ACP Governor
Daphne Norwood, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, has been selected to serve on the Tennessee American College of Physician's (ACP) Governor's Council for a four-year term. Daniel Ely, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, is also serving on the Council. The ACP is a national organization of internists and is said to be the largest medical-specialty organization and second-largest physician group in the United States. Its membership of 132,000 includes internists, internal medicine subspecialists, and medical students, residents, and fellows.
June 2012
UTGSM Medicine Faculty Named 'Top Docs' by Their Peers
Medicine
John Acker, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Cardiology)
Mark D. Anderson, MD, Assistant Professor (Gastroenterology)
Ilse Anderson, MD, Assistant Professor (Genetics)
Calvin Bard, MD, Assistant Professor (Internal Medicine)
Paul Branca, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Critical Care, Pulmonary Medicine)
Stuart Bresee, MD, Clinical Associate Professor (Cardiology)
Lawrence Bushkell, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Dermatology)
Peter Campbell, MD, Clinical Associate Professor (Endocrinology)
James Cox, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Cardiology)
Monica Crane, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Geriatric Medicine)
W. Corbet Curfman, MD, Associate Professor (Psychiatry)
Thomas Doty III, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Endocrinology)
John Dougherty, Jr., MD, Associate Professor (Neurology)
Tina Dudney, MD, Fellowship Director and Associate Professor (Critical Care, Pulmonary Medicine)
Michael Eisenstadt, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Sleep Medicine)
Daniel Ely, MD, Associate Professor (Internal Medicine)
Sangeeta Gulati, MD, Assistant Professor (Gastroenterology)
Wahid Hanna, MD, Professor (Hematology/Oncology)
Jeffrey Hecht, MD, Associate Professor (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
Charles Huddleston, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Dermatology)
D. Russell Huntsinger, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Cardiology)
Susan Huntsinger, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Hematology/Oncology)
Clark Julius, MD, Clinical Professor (Dermatology)
Gary Klipple, MD, Associate Professor (Rheumatology)
John Lacey, III, MD, Assistant Professor (Internal Medicine)
Claude LaCharite, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Hospitalist)
William Law, Jr., MD, Clinical Professor (Endocrinology)
Joseph Liu, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Cardiology)
Carmen Lozzio, MD, Professor (Genetics)
Bruce Ludwig, MD, (Pulmonary Medicine)
Kevin Martinolich, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Critical Care, Pulmonary Medicine, Sleep Medicine)
Daniel McCammon, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Endocrinology)
Michael Miller, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Allergy and Immunology)
Steve Miller, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Hematology/Oncology)
Thomas Miller, MD, Clinical Associate Professor (Nephrology)
Robert Montgomery, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Internal Medicine)
Kimberly Morris, MD, Associate Professor (Hospitalist)
John Narro, MD, Associate Professor (Infectious Disease)
Robert Overholt, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Allergy and Immunology)
Casey Page, Jr., MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Endocrinology)
Timothy Panella, MD, Associate Professor (Hematology/Oncology)
William Paulsen, MD, Associate Professor (Neurology)
Mark Rasnake, MD, Residency Program Director and Assistant Professor (Infectious Disease)
Steven Rider, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Neurology)
Denise Rivers, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Nephrology)
Carlos Rollhauser, MD, Assistant Professor (Gastroenterology)
Ramanujan Samavedy, MD, (Gastroenterology)
Elise Schriver, MD, Clinical Associate Professor (Critical Care, Pulmonary Medicine)
J. Christopher Scott, MD, Clinical Associate Professor (Cardiology)
Paul Serrell, MD, Clinical Associate Professor (Nephrology)
James Shamiyeh, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Critical Care, Pulmonary Medicine)
David Shupp, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Dermatology)
Russell Smith, MD, Associate Professor (Infectious Disease)
John Stancher, MD, Assistant Professor (Gastroenterology)
Thomas Sullivan, MD, Clinical Associate Professor (Sleep Medicine)
Urath Suresh, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Nephrology)
John Williams, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor (Endocrinology)
Donna Winn, MD, Clinical Instructor (Rheumatology)
Dale Wortham, MD, Fellowship Director and Professor (Cardiology)
Thomas L. Young, MD, Assistant Professor (Gastroenterology)
June 2012
Medicine Department Faculty Interviewed by KNS
The Knoxville News Sentinel Features Alzheimer's Disease Research and Breakthroughs
June 2012
Patent Awarded for Amyloid Removal Therapy
Fourteen years of research by Alan Solomon, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, and Director of the Human Immunology and Cancer Program; Jonathan Wall, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, and Director the Preclinical Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, and their research team, to develop a new method of treating amyloid-related diseases and conditions, has culminated in a patent through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office entitled, "Methods for amyloid removal using anti-amyloid antibodies."
The research team has developed a monoclonal antibody, designated 11-1F4, for the treatment and imaging of patients with AL (light chain) amyloidosis. The antibody works by binding to amyloid fibrils and enhancing a cellular response which has been shown in their experimental animal model to remove this pathologic material. The investigators are hopeful that this antibody could benefit patients with AL and other types of systemic amyloidosis both as a novel form of treatment, as well as a means, when radiolabeled, to monitor response to therapy. The National Cancer Institute's Drug Development Group has allocated more than $3 million to produce the 11-1F4 for a clinical trial to be conducted at the UT Graduate School of Medicine. Read full details of the patent on the USPTO Web site.
Patents are awarded for unique technologies and ideas and serve to protect inventions that can benefit society. The University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) supports the patent process for UT inventions.
Read more on the history of research behind 11-1F4.
June 2012
Dr. Morris Named Internal Medicine Chief
Rajiv Dhand, MD, Chair of Medicine, recently announced Kimberly Morris, MD, has been appointed Chief of the Division of Internal Medicine for the Department of Medicine. Dr. Morris is an Associate Professor and key faculty member with interests in curriculum development and the educational training of general internists for practice in both the inpatient and ambulatory setting. Dr. Morris graduated from Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University and completed her internship and residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Dr. Morris is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, and participates in several academic medical organizations.
June 2012
In Touch Newsletter
Department of Medicine has released its first issue of "In Touch." In Touch is produced by the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Department of Medicine. The mission of the newsletter is to build pride in the Department of Medicine by communicating the accessible, collaborative and human aspects of the department while highlighting pertinent achievements and activities.
Medicine Residency Program Provides Model for Performance Improvement
In light of ACGME's renewed focus on resident performance improvement efforts, "Residency Program Alert," a newsletter published by HCPro, Inc, featured the Internal Medicine Residency and its Monday Morning Quarterback meeting program as a model for other residency programs to follow. The meetings were initiated by Medicine faculty Mark Rasnake, MD, and Daphne Norwood, MD, in fall 2010 as a way for residents to identify issues related to safety and quality and recommend a plan of action to the department. MORE>>
March 2012
Medical Student Evolves Through Narrative Medicine
Katie Phillips, a fourth-year medical student at UT Health Science Center, expected the Narrative Medicine elective to teach her how to focus on learning the patients' stories to help her become a "stronger" doctor. What she did not foresee was how the rotation would also bring healing to her. Read more on her experience as the first student to complete the rotation. MORE>>
March 2012
Resident Dr. South Participates in International News Interview
Dr. Harry South, Internal Medicine resident, participated in an international interview with Israeli TV News to compare the economic condition of young doctors around the world, including those in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain and the U.S., to those in Israel. MORE>>
January 2012
Dr. Dougherty Discusses Alzheimer's with the Community
Dr. John Dougherty led a discussion at Sevier Heights Baptist Church to promote awareness for Alzheimer's disease and discuss warning signs. Hundreds came to hear what Dr. Dougherty had to say about the degenerative brain disease and shared their stories about loved ones' experiences. MORE >>
January 2012
Dr. Lands Learns the Patient's Story Through Narrative Medicine
Dr. Ronald Lands has developed a narrative medicine elective for medical students and medicine residents using creative writing and literature to illustrate clinical concepts. Narrative medicine is a philosophy of medicine that says the patient has a story to tell and the physician has an obligation to hear it. Read Dr. Lands's story. MORE>>
January 2012
Dr. Rajiv Dhand Named Chair of Medicine
Dr. Rajiv Dhand, a noted expert in pulmonary and critical care medicine, has been appointed Chair of Medicine. As Chair, he oversees patient care, research and educational activities of the department, which encompasses 16 medical specialties and is comprised of more than 100 faculty physicians, research scientists, residents and fellows, who serve patients through inpatient and outpatient services. MORE>>
January 2012
Dr. Alan Solomon Is 'Health Care Hero'
The Greater Knoxville Business Journal selected Alan Solomon, MD, Professor of Medicine and Program Director, Human Immunology and Cancer Program, as one of its 2011 Health Care Heroes, an annual celebration of individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the quality and availability of medical care in East Tennessee. MORE>>
October 2011
Medicine Honors Residents, Fellows, Faculty
Medicine held an awards and graduation reception June 11 to honor residents and fellows in Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Pulmonary Disease programs. The Freeman Rawson award was presented to Jeremiah Bivins, MD, and Benjamin Helms, DO. Faculty award winners for 2010-2011 are Paul Branca, MD, Timothy Panella, MD, and William Paulsen, MD. MORE >>
July 2011
Faculty Distinguished for Teaching and Research
Medicine Faculty members Dr. Jonathan Wall, Dr. John Dougherty, and Dr. Ronald Lands awarded UTGSM Faculty Awards for 2011. MORE >>
July 2011
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Knoxville, TN 37920
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