Archived News and Events - 2011
Deans Award Exceptional Resident and Fellow Research
William Metheny, PhD, Assistant Dean, Graduate Medical and Dental Education, presented awards to residents and fellows who participated in the third annual UT Graduate School of Medicine Academy of Scholars Resident Research Day and second annual Fellow Research Day. Physicians were judged on their digital posters, research and a four-minute presentation. Presenters and research topics are listed in the June 2011 issue of The Scope.
Resident Research Awards
First Place
Research Presentation:
Ryan Owen, MD
Radiology
"A Novel Modification of the Jaszczak Phantom for Evaluating Scanner Performance and Dosemitry in Y90 Microsphere PET/CT Imaging"
Contributor: Alexander Pasciak, PhD
Second Place Research Presentation:
Robert Thurman, MD
Radiology
"Contrast Reaction Education Through the Use of High Fidelity Simulation"
Contributors: Brian Dupree, MD, Peter Petruzzi, MD, Kathleen Hudson, MD
Third Place Research Presentation:
Brigitte Messenger, MD
Anesthesiology
"TEG-Guided Massive Transfusion in Trauma Patients"
Contributors: Robert Craft, MD, Russell Langdon, MD, Brian Daley, MD, Blaine Enderson, MD, Roger Carroll, PhD, Carolyn Snider, MT
Third Place Research Presentation:
Valerie Sams, MD
Surgery
"Effect of Local Anesthetic on Microorganisms in a Murine Model of Surgical Site Infection"
Contributors: Christy Lawson, MD, Patricia Coan, DVM, David Bemis, PhD, Kim Newkirk, DVM, Michael Karlstad, PhD, Jamison Norwood, BS, Brian Daley, MD
First Place Case Presentation:
Marvin Monty Smith, MD
Radiology
(Presented by Kevin Liaw, MD, Radiology)
"CT-Guided Pericardiostomy for Pericardial Effusion Status Post Mitral Valve Repair: Interesting Case and Literature Review"
Contributor: J. Mark McKinney, MD
Second Place Case Presentation:
Naomi Lynn Ferguson, MD
Pathology
"Adrenal Myelolipoma Masquerading as Pheochromocytoma"
Contributors: Keith Gray, MD, and Amila Orucevic, MD, PhD
Fellow Research Awards
First Place Research Presentation:
Joshua Arnold, MD
Vascular Surgery
"Smooth Muscle Cell Polymeric Transfection Is an Efficient Alternative to Traditional Methods of Experimental Gene Therapy"
Contributors: Deidra Mountain, PhD; Michael Freeman, MD, FACS; Stacy Kirkpatrick, BS; Scott Stevens, MD, FACS; Mitchell Goldman, MD, FACS; Oscar Grandas, MD, FACS
Second Place Research Presentation:
Christy Lawson, MD
Surgical Critical Care
"Estimating Nutritional Requirements in the Critically Ill Obese"
Contributors: Leah Schumacher, MS, RD, CNSC; Susan Brantley, MS, RD, CNSC; Scott Elder, RRT; Brian Daley, MD
Third Place Research Presentation:
William Mahlow, MD
Cardiovascular Disease
"Secured Versus Unsecured Implantable Pulse Generators: Comparison of Pocket Complication and Lead Dislodgement Rates"
Contributors: Umang Shah, MD, Jeffrey Hirsh, MD, James Cox, MD, Patrick Barlow, BS, Tiffany Smith, BS, Dale Wortham, MD
August 30, 2011
Faculty Distinguished for Teaching and Research
The eighth annual UT Graduate School of Medicine Faculty Awards were presented by James J. Neutens, PhD, Dean, and Eddie Moore, MD, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, to the following recipients during the Resident Dinner and Faculty Awards Presentation June 27 at UT Conference Center. New this year, Amy Paganelli, CPA, Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration, also presented honorees with a check to support scholarly activity.
GSM Spirit Award
Jonathan Wall, PhD
Professor, Medicine
Director, Preclinical and Diagnostic Molecular Imaging Laboratory
Dr. Wall came to the UTGSM as a post doctoral researcher in 1995 and joined the faculty in 1997. His research spans basic science, preclinical and clinical investigations and he has received multiple patents. Dr. Wall also receives tremendous extramural funding – greater than 75 percent of his funding comes from grants, and he also helps other researchers apply for grant monies. Dr. Wall often presents internationally and has numerous national and international publications. He also consistently works with postgraduate and Collmann summer students. Dr. Wall was the winner of the Excellence and Leadership in Basic Science Research award in 2006.
Timothy Panella, Chair, Medicine, commented, "He holds such esteem because of his breadth of research abilities, his funding successes, the importance of his work in ameliorating human disease, and his mix of kindness and focus."
Excellence and Leadership in Basic Science Research Award
Deidra Mountain, PhD
Assistant Professor
Vascular Research Laboratory
Dr. Mountain came to the UTGSM as a post doctoral researcher in 2007 and became a faculty member in 2008. She has been involved with more than 10 funded projects as a primary investigator or collaborator with three pending grant submissions with the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. Annually, Dr. Mountain works with surgery fellows, residents and students on research projects and presentations, averaging five trainees per year. Since 2007, Dr. Mountain has presented more than 14 times regionally and nationally.
Excellence and Leadership in Clinical Research Award
John Dougherty, MD
Associate Professor
Medicine
Dr. Dougherty, who has been faculty since 1980, leads clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease in the Cole Neuroscience Center. He received funding from the Cole Foundation to study cognitive capacity and driving skills of Alzheimer's patients. His study is being done using driving simulation in collaboration with the UT Knoxville College of Engineering. Also, working with Department of Comparative Medicine, Dr. Dougherty has developed a questionnaire widely used to recognize memory disorders. He currently has several clinical trials to develop disease-modifying treatments in Alzheimer's disease, including a study with Dr. Alan Solomon to investigate if the 11-1F4 antibody is sensitive enough to detect amyloid protein found in Alzheimer's patients. In addition to funding from the Cole center, Dr. Dougherty has also received support from the Thompson Alzheimer's Research Fund, multiple drug company-sponsored studies, a movement disorders clinical gift fund, and a neurology gift fund. Dr. Dougherty has several articles published in peer-reviewed journals and seven recent abstracts.
Excellence in Teaching Award (Tie)
Ronald Lands, MD
Associate Professor
Family Medicine and Medicine
Dr. Lands joined the UTGSM as Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Medicine in 2007. By seeing patients for benign hematology and allowing residents to round with him, he provides unique experience to residents doing a hematology/oncology elective. Dr. Lands has worked to develop curriculum in palliative care medicine, increasing the breadth of options available at GSM. Resident comments include, "Dr. Lands brings a unique perspective and paradigm to the practice of medicine. He teaches valuable lessons for medicine as well as life," and, "We are lucky to have an attending in our program of his prestige. His depth of knowledge fascinates me and his compassion for patients and residents abounds."
Timothy Panella, Chair, Medicine, said, "His resident teaching evaluations reflect a high level of enthusiasm and excitement about teaching. He has the ability to be a role model to the residents and has developed two new rotations in Department of Medicine."
Excellence in Teaching Award (Tie)
Scott Stevens, MD
Professor
Surgery
Dr. Stevens has been a Surgery faculty member for 22 years and also completed his internship and residency training with the UT Graduate School of Medicine. His evaluations consistently recognize him at the top of the department in teaching, and he is a three-time winner of Surgery's teaching award. Dr. Stevens is named as a co-author to numerous publications, with almost all of them listing a resident or fellow as the primary author. Also, Dr. Stevens has been the course director for multiple vascular surgery meetings and symposiums.
Excellence in Teaching for Volunteer Faculty Award
Tom Thompson, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Surgery
Dr. Thompson worked with Surgery to develop a rural rotation at Morristown-Hamblen Hospital. He sponsors surgery and endoscopy rotations for fourth-year residents at his practice along with a gastroenterologist. Dr. Thompson has received multiple awards from Surgery. Of his rotation, residents have said, "It is a fantastic rotation for a senior-level surgery resident," and, "The technical training was superb."
August 30, 2011
Dr. Burgiss Honored as Fellow in Telemedicine
Sam Burgiss, PhD, retired professor of Radiology and Health Information Management and Services researcher at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, was recently elected to the American Telemedicine Association College of Fellows, an honor that recognizes significant achievements in telemedicine, service to the general telemedicine community and service to the ATA. Fellow membership is restricted to no more than 0.5% of the current ATA membership. Dr. Burgiss was inducted at the ATA 16th Annual International Meeting and Exposition in May among a class of seven new fellows.
In 2004, Dr. Burgiss received the ATA President's Award for Leadership, an annual award in recognition of contributions to the development and advancement of telemedicine worldwide. Dr. Burgiss directed the UT Telehealth Network from 1994-2005 and has contributed more than 140 invited lectures, papers and book chapters on telehealth. He is currently on the board of directors for The Center for Telehealth & E-Health Law, a member of the Editorial Board of the peer-reviewed journal "Telemedicine and E-Health," and a member of the Advisory Board for iCons in Medicine using appropriate technologies and social networks to improve healthcare globally in remote and medically underserved areas. In the ATA, Dr. Burgiss served as secretary for two years and as a member of its board of directors for four years. He is a past co-chair of the Business and Finance Special Interest Group, member of the Policy Committee, member of the Peer Review Committee, and chair of the Home Telehealth and Remote Monitoring Special Interest Group.
August 25, 2011
Graduates Exemplify the GSM Mission
The UT Graduate School of Medicine graduated 70 residents and fellows from 18 programs. Several graduates have chosen to advance their skills in a GSM residency or fellowship program. Others will commence their medical careers in the private and public sectors. Some physicians have chosen to be teachers and one will give service to the U.S. Air Force.
See how GSM graduates will support education, research, patient care and service:
Obaydah AbdurRaqeeb, DO, Family Medicine, faculty, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Brian Adams, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
George Adams, MD, Medicine, hospitalist, Summit Medical Group, Knoxville
Venkata Aligeti, MD, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Hahnemann Hospital, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Daniel Alterman, MD, General Surgery, Vascular Surgery Fellowship, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Ann Armstrong, DDS, General Dentistry, private practice, Greensboro, North Carolina
Mark Banks, MD, General Surgery, Internal Medicine Residency, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, Louisiana
Robin Bauer, DO, Medicine, hospitalist, Crossville, Tennessee
Ayrika Bell, MD, Family Medicine, private practice, Nashville, Tennessee
Jodi Berendzen, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, private practice, Jefferson City, Missouri
Jeremy Bigge, DO, Pathology, Surgical Pathology Fellowship, Clarian Pathology Laboratory, Indianapolis, Indiana
Jeremiah Bivins, MD, Medicine, Allergy-Immunology Fellowship, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia
Joanna Blankner, MD, Transitional Year, Radiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Charles Bruker, MD, Pathology, Hematology Fellowship, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Christie Carringer, MD, Medicine, hospitalist, University of Tennessee Medical Center
Luke Chesney, MD, Family Medicine, private practice, Summit Medical Group, Knoxville
Jeremy Clark, MD, Transitional Year, Radiology Residency, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
Richard Cook, MD, Vascular Surgery, private practice, Portland, Oregon
Cassy Cook (DiRuzzo), MD, Radiology, Neuroradiology Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
David Dahl, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Bradley Davis, MD, Medicine, hospitalist, Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville, Tennessee
Amit Dhingra, MD, Pulmonary Disease, private practice, Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, Glendale, Arizona
Prince Esiobu, MD, General Surgery, General Surgery Residency, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
Rachel Farrell, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, private practice, Benton, Arkansas
Carrie Francisco, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Commonwealth Anesthesia Associates, Richmond, Virginia
Katherine Frederick-Dyer, MD, Transitional Year, Radiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Lina Ghosh, MD, Medicine, plans pending for a hematology/oncology fellowship
Michael Godbold, MD, Anesthesiology, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
John Gold, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Lighthouse Anesthesia, Savannah, Georgia
Mary Ellen Graham, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Chenoah Gudel, DO, Medicine, United States Air Force
Mackenzie Hay, MD, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine Fellowship, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Brett Hendrickson, MD, Pathology, Pediatric Pathology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Jason Hill, MD, Radiology, Neuroradiology Fellowship, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
Virginia Homewood, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, private practice, Park City, Utah
Melissa House, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Aaron Hurd, MD, General Surgery, Vascular Surgery Fellowship, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina
Leah Jennings, DMD, General Dentistry, private practice, pediatric dentistry, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Eugene Kang, DMD, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Fellowship, medical school, UT Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
Eric Kujawski, DO, Family Medicine Sports Medicine, private practice, Gulf Coast Orthopedics Specialists, Pensacola, Florida
Leonard Lamsen, MD, Family Medicine Emergency Medicine, private practice, Team Health, UT Medical Center Emergency Room
Muriel Law, DDS, General Dentistry, private practice, Knoxville
Christy Lawson, MD, Surgical Critical Care, faculty, UT Graduate School of Medicine and private practice, University General Surgeons, PC, Knoxville
Zachary Lopater, MD, Transitional Year, Radiation Oncology Residency, University of Minnesota
LaMar Mack, MD, General Surgery, Vascular Surgery Fellowship, UT Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
Robert McGee, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Community Anesthesia Associates, Indianapolis, Indiana
Samuel McIlrath, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Anesthesia Medical Alliance of East Tennessee, Parkwest Medical Center, Knoxville
Jennifer McMillen, MD, Medicine, private practice, Knoxville
Brigitte Messenger, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, University Anesthesiologists, Knoxville
Whittaker Moss, DDS, General Dentistry, private practice, Kingsport, Tennessee
Khanjan Nagarsheth, MD, General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
H. (Brian) Nguyen, DMD, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, private practice, Carbondale, Illinois
Payal Patel, DMD, General Dentistry, private practice, Dr. George Changas's office, Knoxville
Susan Paul, MD, Medicine, private practice traveling across the U.S.
Ryan Pickens, MD, Urology, Endourology & Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
Benton Pitkanen, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Geetha Reddy, MD, Family Medicine Emergency Medicine, private practice, Team Health, UT Medical Center Emergency Room
Matthew Richman, DDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, private practice, Sonoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Gilbert, Arizona
Erin Rowe, MD, Transitional Year, Radiology Residency, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
Chris Schrock, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Adeel Shibli, MD, Pulmonary Disease, private practice, Dallas Regional Hospital, Dallas, Texas
Marvin Monty Smith, MD, Radiology, Neuroradiology Fellowship, University of Alabama Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama
Wayne Smith, MD, Anesthesiology, Private practice, Holston Anesthesia Associates, PC, Kingsport, Tennessee
Daryl Tharp, Jr., MD, Pathology, Transfusion Medicine Fellowship, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Deaunte Thompson, MD, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine Fellowship, UT Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
Robert Thurman, MD, Radiology, Abdominal Imaging Fellowship at University of Alabama Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama
Carmelo Venero, MD, Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
Nicholas Waddell, MD, Radiology, private practice, Regional Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee
Tessa Wigger, MD, Family Medicine, private practice, Florida
Grover Wilson, MD, Family Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
August 23, 2011
Awards Issue of The Scope Honors Faculty, Staff, Residents, Fellows
The 2011 Awards Issue of The Scope E-Newsletter distinguishes faculty, staff, residents and fellows who embody the spirit of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine and its commitment to education, research and service. Read who has been honored with awards from the institution and its departments.
August 16, 2011
Dr. Carlson Receives Prestigious Honor from His Alma Mater
The Board of Trustees of Connecticut College awarded Eric R. Carlson, DMD, MD, FACS, the Harriet Buescher Lawrence '34 Prize during the College's annual awards ceremony. Dr. Carlson is a 1981 graduate of Connecticut College and was recognized specifically for his clinical and academic work in head and neck tumor surgery.
The award is presented annually to a member of a reunion class and recognizes outstanding contributions to society by a member of the Connecticut College community. Award winners are leaders in improving society or inspiring others for good, either through direct service or through changing the climate of human life materially, socially, ethically or spiritually. The candidate's life achievements will have equaled or surpassed those of other leaders in his or her field, and should reflect the values instilled in graduates of Connecticut College.
The prize was created in honor of Harriet Buescher Lawrence, a 1934 graduate of Connecticut College who, in the last years of her life, became increasingly involved with charitable activities and the support of higher education.
August 15, 2011
Dr. Terrell Examines the 'Nature' of Concussions
Concussion is a momentous topic in athletic fields, and rightfully so. Recent estimates are that concussion occurs in 1.6 to 3.6 million young athletes per year. Congress is even considering a bill, the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act, which would establish standards for student athletes who sustain concussion, so research is critical.
The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, a leading nongovernmental source for research funding in concussion, recently awarded Thomas Terrell, MD, Associate Professor, Family Medicine, a second-year grant of $90,000 to continue his research, "Genetic risk factors for concussion, concussion severity, and neurocognitive recovery in athletes."
Great variability exists in how athletes and non-athletes experience concussion and the duration and quality of their neurocognitive recovery after the injury. Environmental factors have long been considered most critical in explaining this variability. However, Dr. Terrell has developed a multi-center prospective cohort study to investigate the role of different genes on concussion risk, severity, and neurocognitive recovery.
Dr. Terrell began his research in 2003 and has steadily grown the project through grant funding. He said his research started when the Centers for Disease Control determined minimal traumatic brain injury (TBI) to be a major public health issue. As a sports medicine physician, Dr. Terrell found a gap in literature at this time. He said that while there was a lot of research showing APOE e4 as a risk factor for poor outcomes following severe TBI, he found that only two studies had been published pertaining to athletes.
The long-term goal of Dr. Terrell's project is to further understand the association between genetic and environmental risk factors related to concussion onset and causes, recurrence and severity of concussion, and concussions with slower neurocognitive recovery. Dr. Terrell hypothesizes that genetic polymorphisms are associated with risk for sustaining a concussion, the severity of the concussion, and the short- and long-term outcome after a concussion.
The clinical application of this research is still unfolding, but if the association between genetic factors and concussion severity and neurocognitive recovery is significant, these findings may eventually lead to the use of genotype to determine the timing of return to collision sports and risk for more severe future concussions.
In addition to answering questions on concussion, the molecular research of Dr. Terrell's study may contribute to new diagnostic approaches for TBI diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Several lines of evidence suggest that certain genetic polymorphisms may play a role in TBI, specifically apolipoprotein (APOE) e4, which remains the main genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer's disease. APOE is responsible for maintaining neural structural integrity and recovery after neurological injury. Investigators have shown in bench research that a synthetic apolipoprotein-like peptide improved functional recovery after TBI. However, the role of APOE e4 as a risk factor for concussion in athletes is currently unclear.
In addition to APOE e4, Dr. Terrell is investigating genes not previously studied. In a retrospective study of athletes who self-reported concussion, Dr. Terrell found that those with the APOE G (219t) TT genotype were 2.7 times more likely to have sustained a concussion compared to athletes with the GG genotype.
Dr. Terrell hopes that by December he will be able to answer whether or not a genetic risk factor exists in determining concussion severity and possible recurrence in athletes.
August 8, 2011
Medtronic Awards Grant to Study Possible BRONJ Prevention Treatment
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery faculty at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine received a grant from Medtronic Corp. for more than $75,000 to study the effects of high-dose bisphosphonate treatment on dental extraction sites and treatment with a human recombinant growth factor (rhBMP2). Participating in the study are David Gerard, PhD, Professor and Director of Research; Eric Carlson, DMD, MD, Professor, Chairman and Residency Program Director; and Jack Gotcher, DMD, PhD, Professor.
Bisphosphonate medications are commonly used to treat patients with osteoporosis and metastatic cancer, including multiple myeloma, breast and prostate cancer. While high-dose bisphosphonates are effective treatment for cancer patients, these patients can also suffer negative effects if they later need dental treatment. These patients who undergo oral surgical procedures may develop bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), or death of jawbone.
The recombinant human protein rhBMP2 is already FDA-approved for spinal surgeries. The growth factor works by replacing bone activity in the spinal region where it is applied. Its use has resulted in shorter surgery times and faster recovery times. The investigators hope to find that placing rhBMP2 in sites where dental procedures are done will be a way to alleviate or minimize development of BRONJ.
Currently, patients who have had high-dose bisphosphonate treatment and present with BRONJ following a dental procedure undergo debridement followed by antibiotics, or, in extreme cases, portions of the bone are removed followed by reconstructive surgery.
August 2, 2011