Archived News and Events - 2010
UTGSM Welcomes New Residents and Fellows
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine welcomed 72 residents and fellows in 18 programs July 1 with orientation and the Resident Dinner. These physicians and dentists come from across the world, bringing diverse knowledge to the residency and fellowship programs that uniquely combine to make the Graduate School of Medicine.
View 2010 Resident Dinner and Faculty Awards Presentation Slideshow.
Anesthesiology
Jason Buehler, MD, University of Toledo College of Medicine
Nicholas Doiron, MD, University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Barry Faust, Jr., MD, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Christal Greene, MD, Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Ashley Hambright, MD, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Gregory Jackson, MD, University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Nicholas Misulia, MD, Mercer University School of Medicine
Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship
Patricia Crawley, MD, University of Kansas School of Medicine
Jujhar Baines, MD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Emergency Medicine Fellowship
Leonard Lamsen, MD, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Geetha Reddy, MD, Meharry Medical College School of Medicine
Family Medicine
Emily Edwards, DO, Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Alan Haney, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Benjamin Huff, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Alfred Jackson, Jr., MD, American University of the Caribbean
Jonathan Laymance, MD, Meharry Medical College School of Medicine
Sahar Lotfi, MD, Ross University School of Medicine
Michael Martin, DO, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Jennifer McHardy, MD, St. Christopher Iba Mar Diop College of Medicine
General Dentistry
Ann Armstrong, DDS, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
Andrea Cox, DDS, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry
Payal Patel, DMD, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Whitaker Moss, DDS, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry
General Surgery
Mark Banks, MD, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport
James Bienvenu, MD, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport
Camille Blackledge, MD, University of Alabama School of Medicine
Prince Esiobu, MD, East Tennessee State University College of Medicine
Charles Ford, MD, University of Arkansas College of Medicine
Brian Freeman, MD, Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Danielle Giesler, MD, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Donald Monroe, III, MD, Meharry Medical College School of Medicine
Jared Moss, MD, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport
Stephen Pacifico, MD, East Tennessee State University College of Medicine
Lindsay Rumberger, MD, University of South Florida College of Medicine
Medicine
Tonya Baker, MD, American University of the Caribbean
Mathew Edwards, DO, Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
David Graham, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Shane Kelley, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
William Lambert, MD, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Adrianne Netterville, MD, St. George's University
Soham Patel, MD, B.J. Medical College
Owaisur Rahman, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Deepti Reddy, MD, St. George's University
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Arthur Mitch Dizon, MD, University of Alabama School of Medicine
Meredith Fields, DO, Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Cheryl Onwuchuruba, MD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Brian Richman, DDS, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Glendon Smalley, III, DMD, Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry
Oral/Head and Neck Surgery Fellowship
Eugene Kang, DMD, Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry
Pathology
Naomi Lynn Ferguson, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Solomon Lee, DO, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Henderson
Pulmonary Disease Fellowship
Kamran Manzoor, MD, Nishtar Medical College
Muhammad Mir, MD, King Edward Medical College
Radiology
Eric Biesbroeck, MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine
William Johnson, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Kevin Liaw, MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Ryan Owen, MD, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Lance Warren, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Sports Medicine
Eric Kujawski, DO, University of England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship
Christy Lawson, MD, Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Transitional Year
Brian Adams, MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Joanna Blankner, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Jeremy Clark, DO, University of North Texas Fort Worth College of Osteopathic Medicine
David Dahl, MD, East Tennessee State University College of Medicine
Katherine Frederick-Dyer, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Melissa House, MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Zachary Lopater, MD, Tulane University School of Medicine
Ron Pitkanen, MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Erin Rowe, MD, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Christopher Schrock, MD, University of South Florida College of Medicine
Urology
John Beddies, MD, East Tennessee State University College of Medicine
Vascular Surgery Fellowship
Joshua Arnold, MD, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Posted: September 30, 2010
Actress Angie Harmon Trains for New Detective Role with Dr. Mileusnic-Polchan
Actress Angie Harmon recently toured the Human Anthroplogy Center, guided by Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Knox County Medical Examiner, in preparation for her role as a homicide detective on TNT's Rizzoli & Isles. Video footage of Harmon's tour aired on The Oprah Winfrey Show Monday, September 27, when Harmon appeared as a guest on Oprah's show.
See Harmon train with Dr. Mileusnic-Polchan for her role as a homicide detective.
Posted: September 28, 2010
The Scope Highlights Education, Research, Patient Care and Service
The September 2010 issue of The Scope E-Newsletter highlights the many efforts of University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students to suport UTGSM's four-fold mission of education, research, patient care and service. Additionally, Dean James J. Neutens, PhD, announces a task force exploring the possibility of a four-year medical degree program at UTGSM.
Read the September 2010 issue of The Scope.
Posted: September 28, 2010
CEM Seminar Will Address Rising Cholesterol in Adverse Conditions
The Comparative and Experimental Medicine Seminar Series will meet Monday, September 27, with speaker Jeffrey S. Elmendorf, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, who will present, "Cellular Cholesterol Accrual at the Interface of Insulin Resistance and Dyslipidemia." The meeting will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in Veterinary Medicine Building Room A118 on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus.
Posted: September 21, 2010
Dr. Wells Wins CEM Research Symposium Award
Karen Wells, MD, won the Award of Excellence in the intern/resident category at the Comparative and Experimental Medicine and Public Health Research Symposium for her research, "Biodistribution of a Novel Radiolabeled Fibril-Reactive Monoclonal Antibody in Patients with Systemic Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis." Dr. Wells is a University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Nuclear Medicine Resident Alumnus and is continuing work with the Graduate School of Medicine by special appointment. Her research was co-authored by Jonathan Wall, PhD; Yitong Fu, MD; Bjoern Jakoby; Stephen Kennel, PhD; and Alan Solomon, MD, of the Graduate School of Medicine.
The Comparative and Experimental and Public Health Research Symposium is sponsored by the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Public Health, UT Graduate School of Medicine, Tennessee Agricultural Research, the UT Graduate School and the UT Knoxville Office of Research.
Posted: September 15, 2010
Employees Honored for Excellence
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine recently honored employees with the fourth annual Employee Excellence Awards program. Excellence Awards are given to staff members who go beyond the scope of their jobs by providing outstanding job performance, courtesy and customer service, community service and leadership.
Excellence in Job Performance
Patti Hamilton
Administrative Support Assistant III
Surgery
Hamilton is considered a fixture in the Department of Surgery, helping residents and faculty to excel. She is said to be an integral part of helping the Surgery Residency, Vascular Surgery Fellowship, and Critical Care Fellowship programs to flourish. She has taken the initiative to develop novel tracking methods to assure residency compliance and is said to develop solutions to issues before they arise.
In nominating Hamilton, Michael Freeman, MD, Chief and Program Director, Surgery's Division of Vascular Surgery, said, "There are few people who have gained the respect of both residents and faculty as has Patti. I believe that she deserves the recognition of being an employee who strives and attains excellence in her job."
Excellence in Courtesy and Customer Service
Peggy Hull
Information Technology Analyst II
Health Information Management and Services
In supporting the GSM HelpDesk, Hull provides exceptional customer service and often goes beyond the call of duty to ensure people's needs are met in a timely manner. She works with a positive attitude in every situation, which often includes recovering multiple crashed or virus-infected computers in a single day. Hull is known for following up with people to ensure things are working properly. She demonstrates excellent problem solving skills and approaches each situation as an opportunity to learn something new and provide superior customer service.
Don Peruski, Systems Manager, HIMS, said, "People often go out of their way to personally call me to say what a good job Peggy did and how nice she was. In addition to the exceptional feedback she receives on customer satisfaction surveys, she always volunteers to take on tasks that require research and learning something new."
Excellence in Community Service
Tim Willen, EMT
Clinical Assistant III
Family Medicine
In his job, Willen is known for his positive attitude and for volunteering to help others, often going beyond his job requirements to assist physicians with patients. Numerous patients have commented on his kindness, friendliness and sincere, caring attitude. He is well liked by his peers and serves as a role model for all through his professionalism. Outside of work, Willen is active in his church and missionary work.
In nominating Willen, Steven Spalding, MD, Associate Professor, Family Medicine, said, "Tim's attitude and work ethic serve our clinic well. Simply put, Tim is one of the best employees, persons, I have worked with at UT over the last 17 years."
Excellence in Leadership
Shannon Campbell
Senior Research Assistant
Radiology
Campbell has been an integral part in encouraging scholarly activity among residents in many departments. He annually lectures on the aesthetics of poster presentations and, in his spare time, assists residents with poster construction. He is said to be a great mentor for the poster side of research. In addition to assisting with poster and PowerPoint presentations, Campbell maintains Radiology software and assists faculty and staff when problems arise.
In nominating Campbell, Ronald Lands, MD, Associate Professor, Family Medicine and Medicine, said, "Shannon has participated in special projects beyond his normal responsibilities, mentored residents (and me), and had creative ideas regarding national presentations, and by example demonstrates leadership in the GSM."
Honorable Mentions
This year, in addition to the overall winners, the following employees have been recognized as outstanding nominees in the Employee Excellence Awards program. Congratulations to the following:
Performance:
Martha Branch, Administrative Assistant II, Graduate Medical and Dental Education
Susan Hargrove, Nurse Practitioner, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Bertha Jarnagin, Administrative Specialist I, Radiology
Laura Maples, Coordinator II, Communications and Outreach
Courteous and Customer Service:
Shannon Campbell, Sr. Research Assistant, Radiology
Lolita Davis, Medical Administrative Coordinator, Human Immunology and Cancer Program
Carol Houser, Administrative Coordinator I, Dean's Office
Community Service:
Travis Turner, Information Technology Specialist I, Health Information Management and Services
Leadership:
Brenda Chaves, Administrative Specialist I, Dean's Office
Posted: September 10, 2010
GSM Research Seminar Series Kicks Off September 14
The 2010 University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Research Seminar Series will hold its first meeting Tuesday, September 14, from noon to 1 p.m. in Morrison's Conference Center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Vitalay Ganusov, PhD, Assistant Professor, UT Knoxville, will present, "Investigating the Dynamics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus During Early Stages of the Infection."
The Series welcomes faculty, staff, residents, fellows and other professionals interested in the topic. Light refreshments will be provided.
Posted: September 8, 2010
GSM Faculty Earn Promotions
The UT Graduate School of Medicine promoted the following seven faculty members in 2010.
Joseph Chun, MD, Associate Professor, Surgery
Tina Dudney, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine
Mark Hennessy, MD, Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jeffrey Keenan, MD, Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Edwin Rogers, PhD, Professor, Family Medicine
William Smith, MD, Professor, Medicine
Nikkie Zite, MD, Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Posted: September 2, 2010
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