Archived News and Events - 2011
Early Intervention is Focus of MI-Stroke Conference
Register today to attend the continuing medical education conference, Early Intervention: Closing the Gap on Heart Attack and Stroke Care, set for Wednesday, December 7, 2011, UT Conference Center. The course is approved for 6.5 AMA, AAPA and ACPE credits.
Diseases of the heart were the leading cause of death in Tennessee in 2009, and the state ranked third in stroke-related mortality. Clearly, an opportunity exists to improve care of our patients and education of our physicians.
In response to this opportunity, guest presenters, David Rempe, MD, PhD, University of Rochester, New York; Kiwon Lee, MD, Columbia University, New York; and Mayme Roettig, RN, MSN, Duke University Medical Center, as well as regional experts will offer presentations and breakout sessions focusing on cardiac care, stroke care and community education.
Early Intervention: Closing the Gap on Heart Attack and Stroke Care is ideal for physicians in emergency medicine, family medicine and internal medicine; pharmacists; early responders and others. It is jointly sponsored by the UT Graduate School of Medicine; the University of Tennessee Medical Center Brain and Spine Institute; and the University of Tennessee Medical Center Heart Lung Vascular Institute. Course director is John Beuerlein, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer and Medical Director, University of Tennessee Medical Center Stroke Center.
October 31, 2011
Donna Doyle Writes Poetry for Healing, Publishes in JAMA
The Journal of the American Medical Association recently featured three poems written by Donna Doyle, Consumer and Patient Health Information Specialist and Evening Supervisor in Preston Medical Library, including "The Kiss" in the June 22/29 issue, "Intensive Care" in the July 13 issue and "Storm Damage" in the July 20 issue. To date, JAMA has published four of Doyle's poems, publishing "Stroke" in the February 24, 2010 issue. According to Poet's Market, JAMA receives approximately 750 poems per year and accepts only 7 percent.
Doyle first used poetry as a healing outlet several years ago when she wrote a poem about her father's terminal battle with cancer. Today, her poems in JAMA are still centered on a loved one's medical condition, this time reflecting as the wife of an aortic trauma patient.
"The JAMA poems have received a lot of positive feedback and have been used at conferences and in support groups," Doyle said. "I feel beyond good knowing they have been meaningful to patients, caregivers and medical professionals."
Currently, Doyle is working with Ronald Lands, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine, to explore ways to make narrative medicine a significant component in medical education and training. Narrative medicine is the philosophy of care that says the patient has a story to tell and the doctor has an obligation to hear it and become part of it.
If you are unable to access Doyle's poems on JAMA's website or would like more information on her writing, contact Donna Doyle.
October 27, 2011
Medical Explorations: Transforming High School Students for Twenty Years
Medical Explorations, a program for high school students to shadow University of Tennessee Medical Center and UT Graduate School of Medicine medical staff, celebrated its 20-year anniversary this year. Among the attendees at the celebration were Mitchell Goldman, MD, Chairman of Surgery and Assistant Dean of Research, who created the program, and Brooks Davis Hagee, MD, pediatrician at Northeast Pediatric Associates, P.A. in Schertz, Texas, Dr. Goldman's former mentee who inspired the idea for Medical Explorations.
Twenty years ago, Dr. Hagee, then a high school sophomore, approached Dr. Goldman following a presentation at West High School and said, "Will you be my mentor?"
After considering the request, Dr. Goldman convinced himself and hospital leadership of the potential positive impact of having high school students accompany medical staff to see all aspects of their jobs. As a result, the Medical Explorations Program was born.
"The way I see it, there's no way the program can't be a success," Dr. Goldman said. "If kids come in and realize they truly do want to go into medicine, we've helped them. Likewise, if they determine medicine isn't for them, we've helped them as well. As long as the students buy in to the program and are willing to learn, we achieve success.
"And I want to thank participating medical staff for allowing the students to be a part of their day. This program would not be possible without them. They make this program a success."
Following Dr. Hagee, more than 400 Knoxville-area high school students have completed the program, including another student, Abigail Cacace, whom Dr. Goldman has also mentored. Cacace said she first heard of Dr. Goldman and the Medical Explorations Program through Lisa Holt, RN, nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, six years ago when she was 12. Then, at age 14, Cacace met Dr. Goldman at a baby shower.
"I asked Dr. Goldman to give me advice about classes to take, and Dr. Goldman said, ‘You're fourteen. You need to be swimming,'" Cacace said. "He said to come back and see him my senior year of high school."
Cacace began volunteering at UT Medical Center July 9, 2010, before beginning her senior year in the Berean Christian School Independent Study Program. Two weeks into her volunteer position, she met Dr. Goldman again and applied to Medical Explorations.
The program includes six weeks of rotations during the summer, each week shadowing medical staff in a different field. Cacace said students really get to know the physicians because mentees spend a week at their sides going everywhere they go, whether it be the operating room or conferences.
Cacace said, "Put aside your thinking. Bother the doctors with questions. They will let you know if they can't answer right away."
Medical Explorations also includes a weekly ethics class and a group research project. Students use Preston Medical Library and its resources for their research. Staff provide training and support and evaluate the research papers and presentations, which are then scored and awards given to the top three scores. For the first time this year, Sandy Oelschlegel, Preston Library Director, also presented an award for "Library Research Participation," awarded to Cacace for being proactive throughout the program, asking many questions to the librarians, and leading other group members during collaborations in the computer lab.
Cacace said she was shocked, excited and thankful to win the award. About the entire program she said, "I absolutely loved it. I would recommend it to anyone interested in medicine or trying to figure out if medicine is what they want to do."
Read news coverage on the anniversary celebration and the Medical Explorations Program on wate.com and knoxnews.com.
Thanks to generous donations through the Cole Foundation and other private individuals, the program provides stipends for students, allowing many to participate in the program who would have otherwise had to work during the summer to pay for college or other living expenses. For more information about the Medical Explorations Program or to make a donation, call 865-305-9244.
October 27, 2011
The Scope Highlights Change
From groundbreaking ceremonies to new departments and chairs named, change is happening at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine. Read about these changes as well as achievements by our faculty, residents, fellows, students and staff in the October issue of The Scope.
October 26, 2011
Preston Library Celebrates Medical Librarians Month
October is National Medical Librarians Month, and Preston Medical Library is celebrating all month with activities and classes. This year's theme, "Medical Librarians: Your Ultimate Search Engine" highlights that medical librarians are the best resource when searching for health information. Preston staff assist both healthcare proressionals and community members in finding evidenced-based health information.
Friday, October 14, Preston Library will host its annual Open House, giving the Knoxville community an oportunity to meet the librarians, learn about its programs, and enjoy food and festivities. Library Training Classes will also be held throughout the month.
Like Preston Library on Facebook to learn more about its events and resources.
October 5, 2011
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
gsmnews@utmck.edu
865-305-9290
1924 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville, TN 37920