Events
Continuing Medical and Dental Education Activities
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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
September 15: Dean's Grand Rounds to Focus on Medical Device Security
An important and contemporary issue regarding medical device security will be the focus of the Dean's Grand Rounds, September 15, 4-5 p.m., Morrison's Conference Center, University of Tennessee Medical Center. Nathanael R. Paul, PhD, Research Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will present "Impacting Patient Safety through Medical Device System Security and Reliability."
Medical devices, such as insulin delivery systems, pacemakers and others, are vulnerable to malicious cyber attack. The medical community and professionals who support medical equipment must understand this vulnerability to properly assess patient safety.
The Dean's Grand Rounds on September 15 will help participants differentiate medical devices that are subject to interference; assess measures that are used to interfere with devices; predict potential consequences of interference; and apply possible remedies to device interference.
The grand rounds is approved for 1 AMA and AAPA credit and .1 CEU. No registration is required to attend this free educational activity. It is presented by the UT Graduate School of Medicine Office of the Dean.
For more information, contact Communications and Outreach at 865-305-9190.
Posted: August 30, 2010
GSM Graduates Take Expertise Across the Nation
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine graduated 69 residents and fellows from 19 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, carrying on our mission of excellence in education, research, patient care and service.
See how the Graduate School of Medicine will impact your community:
J. Fernando Aycinena, MD, Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, University of Texas, Houston, Texas
Jujhar Bains, MD, Medicine, Cardiovascular Fellowship, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Gayathri Baljepally, MD, Cardiovascular Disease, private practice, University Cardiology, University of Tennessee Medical Center
Jacob Barbee, MD, Family Medicine, emergency room, Team Health, Jefferson City, Tennessee
Joseph Barber, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Paramveer Bhugra, MD, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Fellowship, Brown University at Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
Clint Brodal, DMD, General Dentistry, private practice, Sunset, Utah
Lisa Buckingham, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, private practice, Charlotte, North Carolina
Jason Buehler, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Michael Carringer, MD, Medicine, hospitalist, University of Tennessee Medical Center
James Chalk, MD, Vascular Surgery, private practice, Mesa, Arizona
Dustin Cladera, MD, Medicine, hospitalist, San Diego, California
Edward Cladera, MD, Medicine, hospitalist, San Diego, California
Ryan Currier, MD, Radiology, Abdominal Imaging Fellowship, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Abigail de Guzman, DO, Medicine, hospitalist, Summit Statcare Hospitalist Group, Knoxville, Tennessee
Jonathan DiRuzzo, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Nashville, Tennessee
Anthony DiVito, MD, Radiology, Body Imaging Fellowship, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
Nicholas Doiron, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Allan Dunlap, MD, Surgical Critical Care, private practice, University General Surgeons, University of Tennessee Medical Center
Benjamin England, MD, Family Medicine Sports Medicine, private practice, Lynchburg, Virginia
Cara Erickson, MD, Anesthesiology, plans pending
Regina Fields, MD, Family Medicine, private practice, Dandridge, Tennessee
Christal Greene, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Christopher Guglielmo, MD, Radiology, Molecular Imaging Fellowship, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Jeremy Hacker, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Mooresville, Indiana
Meredith Hale, MD, Family Medicine Emergency Medicine, private practice, Team Health, Knoxville, Tennessee
Sarah Hamler, DO, Pathology, Cytopathology and Surgical Pathology Fellowship, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Amber Hampton, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Maryville, Tennessee
Jordan Hollsten, MD, Transitional Year, Ophthalmology Residency, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Matthew Holmes, MD, Family Medicine Emergency Medicine, private practice, Richmond, Virginia
Karen Horne, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, private practice, Charlotte, North Carolina
John Hoskins, MD, Medicine, private practice, Dallas, Texas
Homaira Hossain, MD, Transitional Year, Ophthalmology Residency, Case Western, Cleveland, Ohio
Chad Jenkins, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Florida
William Johnson, MD, Transitional Year, Radiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
J. Eli Jones, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Memphis, Tennessee
Leo Lamsen, MD, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine Fellowship, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Christy Lawson, MD, Surgery, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Kevin Liaw, MD, Transitional Year, RadiologyResidency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Charles McGaha, MD, Anesthesiology, private practice, Kingsport, Tennessee
Adam Miller, DO, Family Medicine, emergency room, Princeton, West Virginia
John Milligan, MD, Surgery, private practice, Crossville, Tennessee
Nicholas Misulia, MD, Transitional Year, Anesthesiology Residency, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Joe Mobley III, MD, Urology, fellowship, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, Florida
L. David Moore, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, private practice, Bryan, Texas
Lindsey Nagy, DDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, private practice, Oral Surgery Specialists, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Jacob Noe, MD, Radiology, Neuroradiology Fellowship, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
Daniel Oreadi, DMD, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Fellowship, faculty, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Tony Owens, Jr., MD, Anesthesiology, Pain Management Fellowship, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Kinnaresh Patel, MD, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Fellowship, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Jose Ramirez Porres, MD, Surgery, Urology Residency, Dresden, Germany
Geetha Reddy, MD, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine Fellowship, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Kristen Rice, MD, Transitional Year, Dermatology Residency, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
David Rossow, MD, Radiology, Neuroradiology Fellowship, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
Rubinder Ruby, MD, Cardiovascular Disease, private practice, Reid Hospital, Richmond, Indiana
Quratulain Sabih, MD, Surgery, residency, Albequerque, New Mexico
Edwin Schaumburg, MD, Surgery, plans pending
Cathryn Shaw, MD, Radiology, Interventional Radiology Fellowship, Baylor University, Dallas, Texas
Sabina Siddiqui, MD, Surgery, Pediatric Research/Critical Care Fellowship, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Matthew Smith, MD, Transitional Year, Ophthalmology Residency, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, Louisiana
Aaron Smyth, DO, Medicine, private practice, East Tennessee Medical Group, Maryville, Tennessee
Kathrine Smyth, MD, Medicine, private practice, East Tennessee Medical Group, Maryville, Tennessee
Ronnie Sorrow, DDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, private practice, Jackson, Michigan
Laura Ellen Sullivan, MD, Medicine, plans pending
James Tompkins, MD, Family Medicine, private practice, Byrdstown, Tennessee
Tracy Warden, MD, Surgery, Anesthesiology Residency, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Karen Wells, MD, Nuclear Medicine, faculty, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine; research, Molecular Imaging Research, UT Graduate School of Medicine
Lauren Wilburn, DDS, General Dentistry, private practice, Brentwoood, Tennessee
Ashley Zezulak, MD, Pathology, Forensic Pathology Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Posted: August 19, 2010
Residents and Fellows Lauded for Exceptional Research
Dean James J. Neutens, PhD, presented awards to residents and fellows who participated in the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine and Academy of Scholars Committee Resident Research Day and Fellows' Research Day. Events were coordinated by William Metheny, PhD, Assistant Dean, Graduate Medical and Dental Education.
Resident Research Awards
First place: L. David Moore, MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology
"A Novel Method for Simulating Third Degree Lacerations Using Chicken Thighs"
Contributors: Jaclyn van Nes, MD; Nikki Zite, MD, MPH
Second place: Sabina Siddiqui, MD
Surgery
"Pre-Operative Localization of Parathyroid Adenoma by Multiphasic Computed Tomography: A Single Institution Retrospective Review"
Contributors: Sagar Gandhi, MD; Raymond Higginbotham, MD
Third place: George Sneed, DO
Pathology
"Quantifying the Extent of Invasive Carcinoma and Margin Status in Partial Mastectomy Cases Having a Gross Lesion: Is a Defined Tissue Processing Protocol Needed?"
Contributor: Lisa Duncan, MD
Third place: Karen Wells, MD
Nuclear Medicine
"Biodistribution of a Novel Radiolabeled Fibril-Reactive Monoclonal Antibody in Patients with Systemic Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis"
Contributors: Jonathan Wall, PhD; Stephen Kennel, PhD; Bjoern Jakoby, PhD; Alan Solomon, MD
First Place Case Presentation:
Jeffrey Ollis, II, MD
Anesthesiology
"A Novel Method of Reducing Extreme Hyperthermia Associated with Serotonin Syndrome"
Contributors: K.J. Nagarsheth, MD; Stanley Kurek, DO; Russ Langdon, MD
Fellows' Research Awards
First Place Presentation: James Chalk, MD
Vascular Surgery
"Hormone Replacement Therapy Influences Intimal Hyperplasia after Vascular Injury: Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases"
Contributors: Deidra Mountain, PhD; Stacy Kirkpatrick; David Cassada, MD; Scott Stevens, MD; Michael Freeman, MD; Mitchell Goldman, MD; Oscar Grandas, MD
Second Place Presentation: R. Brad Cook, MD
Vascular Surgery
"The Role of Doxycycline as an Inhibitor of Intimal Hyperplasia after Balloon Angioplasty Arterial Injury"
Contributors: Deidra Mountain, PhD; James Chalk, MD; Alexander Tummers, MD; Stacy Kirkpatrick; David Cassada, MD; Scott Stevens, MD; Michael Freeman, MD; Mitchell Goldman, MD; Oscar Grandas, MD
Third Place Presentation: Daniel Oreadi, DMD
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
"Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Tracheotomies in a University Medical Center"
Contributor: Eric Carlson, DMD, MD
First Place Case Presentation: Benjamin England, MD
Sports Medicine
"A Case of Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm"
Contributors: Rebecca Morgan, MD; Kenneth Bielak, MD
Posted: August 19, 2010
Dr. Goldman Named UTGSM Assistant Dean for Research
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Office of the Dean announced that Mitchell H. Goldman, MD, Professor and Chair of Surgery, has been named Assistant Dean for Research.
"Dr. Goldman brings a tremendous amount of experience to this new position at the Graduate School of Medicine," said James J. Neutens, PhD, Dean, UT Graduate School of Medicine. "In addition to his experience as a surgeon and his knowledge of surgical transplantation, he is a recognized and respected researcher in his own right, having led numerous clinical trials and dedicated more than 25 years to extensive bench research focusing on improved patient outcomes. He brings this breadth of experience to the position to provide leadership to the Graduate School of Medicine's research efforts."
In his new position as assistant dean, Dr. Goldman will provide leadership and advocacy for core research programs, including molecular imaging and tracer development, simulation, anesthesiology, vascular and others, as well as research completed through the Graduate School of Medicine fellowship programs. He will also facilitate collaboration with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Oak Ridge National Laboratories and other external research partners.
"I believe research is integral to the education of residents and students so they can ultimately contribute to the betterment of medical practice," said Dr. Goldman. "The environment created by scholarly activity by practicing physicians in an academic medical center improves the quality of patient care, residency training and delivery of services to the community. In addition to fostering faculty, resident and student research, I hope to help the Graduate School of Medicine expand its research to become a recognized facility in the area of biomedical translational research."
A native of Massachusetts, Dr. Goldman earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School after an undergraduate degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He joined the UT Graduate School of Medicine in 1985, and that same year, he performed the first kidney transplant at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. His ongoing research endeavors include those in the areas of vascular injury and intimal hyperplasia, as well as surgical education.
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville is part of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the statewide academic health system. The mission of the UT Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care and public service. The Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville is home to more than 200 teaching physicians and researchers; more than 190 medical and dental resident physicians in 12 residency and 12 fellowship programs; and more than 180 volunteer faculty physicians and dentists. The school, together with clinical partner University Health System Inc., form the University of Tennessee Medical Center, the only academic medical center in the area. For more information about the UT Graduate School of Medicine, visit http://gsm.utmck.edu.
Posted: August 17, 2010
Faculty Distinguished for Teaching and Research
The seventh annual University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Faculty Awards were presented by James J. Neutens, PhD, Dean, to the following recipients during the Resident Dinner and Faculty Awards Presentation July 1 at UT Conference Center.
Spirit of the Graduate School of Medicine Award
Eddie Moore, MD
Associate Dean and Designated Institutional Official
Graduate Medical and Dental Education
Dean Moore joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Medicine in 1988 as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics. He was appointed Designated Institutional Official (DIO) in 2003 and Associate Dean in 2004. As the DIO, he has the authority and the responsibility for the oversight and administration of all Graduate Medical and Dental Education residency training programs. As Associate Dean, he is responsible for developing position reports and policy proposals for the GSM and serves as UT Health Science Center PS/QI Clerkship Coordinator, Knoxville Campus. He also oversees several departments, including Communications and Outreach, Preston Medical Library and Student Affairs.
Dean Neutens said, "Dr. Moore embodies the Spirit of the Graduate School of Medicine as evidenced by his passion for education, his respect for scholarly activity, and his dedication to patient care. His role in the GSM is significant in serving as a mentor and role model to all of us."
Excellence and Leadership in Basic Science Research Award
George Kabalka, PhD
Professor, The Robert H. Cole Neuroscience Endowed Chair, Radiology
Director, Basic Research, Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program
Dr. Kabalka is a pioneer in the use of organoborane chemistry in the area of radiopharmaceuticals containing short-lived nuclides. He joined the Department of Chemistry at UT Knoxville in 1970. He is a Distinguished Service Professor of Chemistry, and in 1994 he became the first Endowed Professor of the Robert H. Cole Chair in Neuroscience at the UT Graduate School of Medicine where he is also Director of Basic Research in the Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program. Dr. Kabalka is also a consultant with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Chemistry Division, the Medical and Health Sciences Division, and the Nuclear Medicine Group, Health and Safety Research Division. In 1993 he won the American Chemical Society award for the South's most distinguished chemist.
Dean Neutens said, "Dr. Kabalka is nationally known for his research ability, being asked to give lectures throughout the world. We are indeed fortunate that he shares his talent with us by playing a principal role in our Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program. As a leader in chemistry, he is critical to our research and endeavors on several fronts, fostering collaboration among a wide variety of professionals here and around the country."
Excellence and Leadership in Clinical Research Award
Robert Craft, MD
Vice Chairman, Program Director and Professor
Anesthesiology
Dr. Craft supervises, coordinates and encourages all research efforts for Anesthesiology. He serves as an abstract reviewer and moderator for the International Anesthesia Research Society and publishes numerous papers and abstracts himself. His latest research grant totaled $450,000 to study, "Point of Care Assay for Platelet Function." In addition to his research efforts, Dr. Craft has been named a "Top Doctor" by his peers in CityView Magazine.
Jerry Epps, MD, Associate Professor and Chair, Anesthesiology, said, "Dr. Craft embodies the criteria for excellence and leadership in research. He has been instrumental in encouraging resident and faculty interest in research and, by his own efforts, tremendously increased the yearly publications and abstracts from our department."
Excellence in Teaching Award
Mark Rasnake, MD
Associate Professor and Program Director
Medicine
Dr. Rasnake has been described as the "quintessential professor." He keeps up with the latest medical literature and uses the information to design questions for the Medicine Quiz Bowl. Dr. Rasnake has utilized the BlackBoard online learning system for teaching procedures and uses the Medical Simulation Center for hands-on training. Dr. Rasnake has won the Department's London Award for Excellence in Teaching, and his teaching has been described as enthusiastic, innovative and supportive of the objectives of the Department. A resident said of Dr. Rasnake's teaching, "We are lucky to have him. I hope his passion for teaching residents spreads like a wildfire."
Timothy Panella, Associate Professor and Chair, Medicine, said in nominating Dr. Rasnake, "He has two different teaching strengths that make him an excellent candidate for this award. First is his teaching excellence and second is his administrative leadership developing new programs for teaching."
Excellence in Teaching for Volunteer Faculty Award
Michael Henderson, MD
Volunteer Faculty
Medicine
Dr. Henderson graduated from the Medicine Residency Program in 2006. He hosts the Community Medicine Ambulatory rotation for Medicine residents at his private practice, which he has been doing since he graduated. His rotation is ranked the highest among the residents, who have been quoted as saying, "Dr. Henderson is intelligent and enthusiastic," and, "I had a wonderful experience in Oak Ridge."
Dr. Panella said, "It is his influence that will bring more and more residents to realize the benefit of primary care practice in Medicine."
Posted: August 16, 2010
The Scope Awards Issue 2010 Honors GSM Accomplishments
The Scope E-Newsletter Awards Issue 2010 is available now online. Read where University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine graduates will embark on their careers or further their education. Also see which faculty, staff, residents and fellows have been honored by their peers.
Posted: August 12, 2010
Medicine Grand Rounds Addresses Violence in Mental Illness
The Department of Medicine Grand Rounds Series will address "Violence in Mental Illness" at its next meeting Tuesday, August 10, 8-9 a.m., Morrison's Conference Center, University of Tennessee Medical Center. Led by Richard Gibson, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine, the CME-certified meeting will include information on the stigma and burden of living with mental illness; key verbal and behavioral signs of agitation and impending violence; basic strategies for verbal de-escalation of agitated patients; and pharmacologic management of the violent patient. Learn more information about the Medicine Grand Round Series and other CME courses.
Posted: August 9, 2010
Special Edition Frontiers Magazine Features New Dedicated Heart Hospital
The new University of Tennessee Medical Center Heart Hospital is not just an example of intelligent architecture. More importantly, it demonstrates an academic medical center at its best: teams comprised of physicians, fellow physicians, nurses and staff providing unparalleled services and accessing the best technology dedicated to the care of cardiovascular disease. The Special Edition Frontiers gives an inside look at the new facility and highlights cardiac intensive care; lung and respiratory diseases; fellowships; and cardiac and vascular diseases. It also features intensive research at the UT Graduate School of Medicine that explores the relationship between hormone replacement therapy and outcomes after vascular interventions in women.
This Frontiers is available in print and online. To request a copy, contact the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine at 865-305-9190, or visit the Frontiers subscription page to be added to the mailing list.
Frontiers magazine is a publication for alumni and friends. It is produced by the University of Tennessee Medical Center and UT Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, which form the region’s only academic medical center.
Posted: August 4, 2010
Faculty Evaluate Pediatric Prescriptions for Consumer Medical Information and Measuring Device Efficacy
Family Medicine faculty Lorraine Wallace, PhD, Associate Professor, and Amy Keenum, PharmD, DO, conducted a study to evaluate consumer medical information and oral liquid measuring devices accompanying pediatric prescriptions. Working in collaboration with Jennifer DeVoe, MD, DPhil, Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, they found supplemental materials accompanying prescriptions were suboptimal and physicians need to be cognizant of these shortcomings. Learn more about their study in the July-August 2010 issue of Academic Pediatrics.
Posted: August 3, 2010
CME-Certified Dermatology Meeting, September 17
The September 17 meeting of the East Tennessee Dermatology Society will be CME-certified. Make plans to attend the meeting, 4-6 p.m., Knoxville Dermatology Group, Suite 209, University of Tennessee Medical Center. This interactive meeting allows dermatologists and their team members to observe patients and discuss unusual presentations of dermatologic disorders and diseases that are refractory to typical therapy. Case presentations highlight dermatologic disorders, their mimics, and treatment strategies.
This activity offers up to 2 CME credits through AMA and AAPA and up to .2 CEUs. To register and for more information, contact Charlsie Huffstetler, Knoxville Dermatology Group, 865-342-5808.
Posted: August 3, 2010
Surgery Resident Dr. Jones Gains Third-World Medical Experience
Matt Jones, MD, Surgery Resident, recently spent five months working at Baptist Medical Centre, a mission hospital, in northern Ghana. Having visited Ghana, located in West Africa, twice before, Dr. Jones decided to take advantage of the study abroad opportunity offered with his elective research year so that he could spend a meaningful amount of time practicing medicine in a third-world environment.
The mission hospital is a 200-bed facility that had only three doctors to treat the patients it draws from not only the north but also across Ghana, as well as neighboring Togo and Burkina Faso. The general surgeon, who served the hospital for more than 20 years, retired in September 2009, leaving only an obstetrics and gynecology physician and Dr. Jones to provide the hospital's surgical care.
The third year surgery resident said that he was able to complete a significant number of cases in Ghana, as well as participate in procedures no longer common in the U.S.
"Healthcare in northern Ghana is about 30 years behind," he said. "They do all of their hernia repairs with suture. In the states, we implant mesh using open or laparoscopic procedures. Only in rare cases do we use a simple suture technique, but there, we repair them all using the classic method. You really learn and understand the disease better because the procedure shows the anatomy better."
Dr. Jones said he also got to experience more continuity of care with patients.
"I would see them in the clinic, do their surgery, see them post-operation, take their stitches out, and if there was a complication, I would take care of them until they got better," he said. "As a resident, I don't often see the same patients in clinic that I operate on, and I rarely get to see them one or two months down the road. With skin grafts, which are common at the mission hospital, I would see patients a couple of weeks after they went home. I actually got to see that they got better and not just hope that they got better."
While Dr. Jones worked at the hospital, his wife, Megan, was learning the local language, Mampruli, and became involved with efforts to open a public library. Upon returning to the U.S., Megan organized a book drive, partnering with the UT Graduate School of Medicine Preston Medical Library and First Baptist Church, Knoxville. Through the drive, approximately 5,000 books were donated, including medical textbooks, children's books, and books of all other genres.
"We hope to go back to Ghana one day," Dr. Jones said. "They are very welcoming people. Because the hospital has been there a long time, they have a lot of respect for visiting doctors and Americans in general. The longer you stay, the more you get to be friends with people. They are not just patients. Even though their world seems different, they are more like you than you think."
A chronicle of the Jones's trip is available on Megan's blog.
Posted: July 26, 2010
Rinehart Becomes Distinguished Anesthesiology Residency Coordinator
Paige Rinehart, Medical Administrative Coordinator, Anesthesiology, recently earned Training Administrators of Graduate Medical Education (TAGME) Certification in Anesthesiology and has been recognized as an outstanding coordinator in her specialty by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Rinehart joined with several other anesthesiology program coordinators to become the first class of administrators to earn certification in their specialty. Rinehart spearheaded the effort to establish the certification as chairperson.
"It was a personal goal of mine to see this accomplished," Rinehart said. "The other specialties were already ahead of Anesthesiology with having a certification program, and my goal was to get Anesthesiology in line with other specialties."
Rinehart's efforts did not go unnoticed. She was invited by ACGME to speak at its July workshop for new program coordinators to learn the basics of accreditation. Rinehart discussed, "A Year in the Life of a Coordinator," and participated in a question and answer session. Rinehart said her presentation covered deadlines faced by the coordinator and the requirements coordinators are challenged to follow by each regulatory body.
Rinehart has been a residency coordinator for the UT Graduate School of Medicine since 1991, serving the hospital since 1985, and is a member of TAGME.
Posted: July 22, 2010
Consistency of Care is Topic of October Stroke Symposium
Consistent care for stroke patients often does not exist, despite nationally accepted guidelines. Medical experts at the Third Annual Stroke Symposium hope to change that.
The Third Annual Stroke Symposium: Providing Quality Care and Improving Outcomes is scheduled for Friday, October 1, at University of Tennessee Conference Center, Knoxville. This course offers up to six continuing medical education (CME) credits, as well as CEUs and contact hours.
The need for improvement in care is urgent: Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of mortality in Tennessee. The state ranks third highest among states in mortality due to stroke.
Using published goals and guidelines as well as feedback from participants at the Second Annual Stroke Symposium and identified knowledge gaps, regional and national experts at the Third Annual Stroke Symposium will address the value of adhering to guidelines, successful treatment options, primary and secondary prevention of stroke and medical management, rehabilitation and nursing care of those experiencing stroke.
Participants will learn from nationally renowned experts in stroke care: Pamela Woods Duncan, PhD, Professor, Physical Therapy, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, and Kiwon Lee, MD, Assistant Professor, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York. Regional experts also will present information on topics including speech pathology, pharmacy, radiology, nutrition and more.
This CME symposium is ideal for healthcare professionals practicing in emergency medicine, family medicine and internal medicine, as well as pharmacists, advanced practice nurses, staff nurses, therapists and other professionals who work to prevent and treat stroke. It is directed by John Beuerlein, M.D., Medical Director of Knoxville Inpatient Physicians and University of Tennessee Medical Center Primary Stroke Program and presented by the University of Tennessee Medical Center Brain and Spine Institute and UT Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville.
Register at www.tennessee.edu/cme/Stroke2010. For more information, contact Communications and Outreach at 865-305-9190 or CME@utmck.edu.
Posted: July 20, 2010
Dr. Lawson Selected for New Nestlé Nutrition Fellowship
Nestlé Nutrition Institute (NNI) is launching an Enteral Nutrition fellowship program, and Christy Lawson, MD, Surgical Critical Care Fellow, will be in the inaugural class of six fellows. These physicians will receive training in nutrition therapy as an integral part of trauma, surgery, gastroenterology, endocrinology and critical care specialties at some of the nation's leading medical centers.
Dr. Lawson said the fellowship affords a unique opportunity to study surgical nutrition from some of the nation's leading experts in the field, which she hopes to bring back to the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine.
"The new fellows identified through the NNI's initiative represent the next generation of physician thought leaders," said David Yates, Regional Business Head of Nestlé HealthCare Nutrition. "Their dedication to using enteral nutrition as a key component in the critical care process will not only change the landscape of care, but it will ultimately save lives. We are proud to welcome these fine candidates to the program."
The one-year program will include a four-week clinical rotation where fellows will be exposed to an intense educational curriculum while participating in hospital rounds and learning tube-feeding related procedures. The fellowship also provides mentoring and professional support, enabling participants to publish, identify research interests, and participate in U.S. and international professional meetings, including the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Clinical Nutrition Week meeting.
For more than 60 years, Nestlé has contributed to the continuing nutrition education of health professionals. Founded in 2000, the Institute formalizes Nestlé's commitment to collaborate with health professionals in the area of infant, clinical and performance nutrition to actively participate in the exchange of knowledge and nutrition expertise. Primary activities under the Institute include the sponsorship of workshops, the development of publications and educational tools, and provide scholarships for postgraduate study or training in fields related to health and nutrition.
Posted: July 15, 2010
New Dedicated Heart Hospital Enhances Fellowship Programs
The opening of the University of Tennessee Medical Center's Heart Hospital is not only combating Tennessee's number one killer, cardiovascular disease, but it is also bolstering Graduate School of Medicine fellowship programs.
The Heart Hospital is designed to optimize patient outcomes by following evidence-based clinical pathways. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association found that dedicated heart hospitals following appropriate clinical guidelines saw improved outcomes in 20 percent of heart surgery cases and improved care processes in 90 percent of cases. This is the type of training Cardiovascular Disease, Pulmonary Disease and Vascular Surgery fellows are being exposed to at the UT Graduate School of Medicine and can carry forward to other institutions in the southeast region and beyond.
Program Directors Dale Wortham, MD, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship; Tina Dudney, MD, Pulmonary Disease Fellowship; and Michael Freeman, MD, Vascular Surgery Fellowship, agree that the Heart Hospital provides further opportunities for fellows to meet the core competencies as outlined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, including patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice.
Dr. Wortham said, "The Heart Hospital cardiovascular critical care units have large individual rooms. Families sleep in these rooms with the patient. This is an excellent educational opportunity for the fellows to learn to interact with patients and families."
The Heart Hospital currently includes 24 private cardiovascular intensive care units equipped with computers and monitoring equipment on a movable track. The units are also connected to existing operating rooms and cardiac catheterization labs.
"The state-of-the-art facilities and technologies available in the Heart Hospital promote a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach to health care that greatly enhances fellowship education in pulmonary and critical care medicine," Dr. Dudney said.
The facility, which will include an information desk, conference center, and an enlarged UT Graduate School of Medicine Preston Medical Library, is already gaining attention among prospective fellows.
Dr. Freeman said, "I don't think there's any question that an outstanding facility will have an effect on recruitment. Candidates want to work in a pleasant environment, one that is pleasing to the eye, and the Heart Hospital will be impressive to them."
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Heart Hospital April 22 with participants including James Neutens, PhD, Dean; John Mack, Jr., MD, Associate Professor, Surgery; Timothy Panella, MD, Associate Professor and Chair, Medicine; Paul Branca, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine; Dr. Freeman; and D. Russell Huntsinger, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine.
Posted: July 12, 2010
Pathology Resident Dr. Bruker Presents ODAM Research in Beijing
Charles Bruker, MD, Senior Pathology Resident, recently returned from Beijing, China, where he presented research findings on, "ODAM: A Novel Biomarker for Epithelial Carcinomas," at PepCon 2010, which is a conference focused on cutting-edge peptide and protein research. As the only resident among an international group of scientists and physicians, Dr. Bruker said he felt quite honored to be chosen to represent his research team and the UT Graduate School of Medicine.
Odontogenic Ameloblast associated protein (ODAM) was first detected by Alan Solomon, MD, Director, Human Immunology and Cancer Program, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, and is currently being researched by a team including Daniel Kestler, PhD; Dr. Bruker; Sabina Siddiqui, MD; Keith Gray, MD; James Foster, MD; Sagar Gandhi, MD; John Bell, MD; and James Lewis, MD. Dr. Bruker said that with Dr. Solomon's encouragement, he had the confidence to make a successful presentation in the international arena, which is an uncommon step forward for the institution.
"I feel that I represented the University of Tennessee and the Graduate School of Medicine quite well," Dr. Bruker said. "If the momentum of our ODAM research persists and we continue to have promising results, then it has the potential to have international importance. This is the first step in that growth."
Dr. Kestler and Dr. Bruker recently received funding from the Susan G. Komen Foundation to continue their ODAM research, studying its expression in breast tumors as well as patients' humoral response to this protein.
Posted: July 8, 2010
Medicine Resident Dr. Helms Receives Teaching Award
Benjamin Helms, DO, Internal Medicine Resident, was selected by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Class of 2011 to receive an Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award. Recipients were selected by medical students based on residents' demonstrated commitment to teaching during medical students' rotations and residents' compassionate treatment of patients and families, students, and colleagues as outlined by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Inc.
In nominating Dr. Helms, who was then a first-year resident, student comments included,
"He has been a really great teacher and definitely took time out of his daily floor work to give mini teaching sessions to us. He was always very helpful with things and always gave us the credit when we contributed to the treatment plans for our patients."
-- UT College of Medicine Medical Student
"He went above and beyond for his patients and was always willing to teach. He was an excellent role model and an advocate for students. He has displayed the same level of professionalism to medical students as he did for his colleagues and patients."
-- UT College of Medicine Medical Student
Other recipients of the award are W. Heath Giles, MD, General Surgery, Chattanooga; Jaclyn Bergeron, MD, Medicine/Pediatrics, Memphis; Holly D. Corley, MD, Medicine/Pediatrics, Memphis; Miriah Denbo, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memphis; and Danielle L. Tate, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memphis.
Posted: July 6, 2010
Dr. Boyd Inspires AVID Nashville High School Students
Approximately 170 high school students from metropolitan Nashville schools recently gathered at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine to glimpse a day in the life of a radiologist, as presented by James Boyd, MD, Assistant Professor, Radiology. Through the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, a college preparatory program, a diverse group of students visit college campuses in the Nashville area throughout the school year and then visit the University of Tennessee at the end of the year.
Wilson Boyd, Nashville area teacher, AVID chaperone, and son of Dr. Boyd, said AVID staff wanted to give the students an interactive, real medical experience, which is why the tour included the UT Graduate School of Medicine for the first time this year.
Welcomed by J. Mark McKinney, MD, Chair, Radiology, the students were asked to assist Dr. Boyd in diagnosing three cases with the help of participating Radiology Residents Jason Hill, MD, chief; Christine Ormsby, MD; Brian Dupree, MD; Nicholas Waddell, MD; Josh Medina, MD; Samuel Porter, MD; and Amanda Ingram, MD, and Medical Student Lindsay Luttrell. AVID students brainstormed a list of questions that radiologists should ask when introduced to a new case. Then, Dr. Boyd showed students images of three brain scans taken using CT and MRI equipment and explained how differential diagnosis was used to identify hyperdense mass foramen of Monro, brain abscess and glioblastoma multiforme in these three cases.
Dr. Boyd encouraged students to pursue the medical field, saying "take the challenging path" and "easy things don't allow you to grow."
Of the rewards of radiology, Dr. Boyd said, "Radiology is a super cool field. You work with computers all day, doctors send patients to you and say, 'I have this problem, how do I image it?' We help them. It's also rewarding for me to train young radiologists."
Students found Dr. Boyd's presentation inspiring, including LaTericka Hudson, 10th grade AVID participant, who said the event encouraged her and gave her the drive to continue her pursuit of a career in medicine.
Posted: July 1, 2010
Dr. Wallace Practices the GSM Mission in the Republic of Moldova
As a Fulbright Scholar, Lorraine Wallace, PhD, Associate Professor, Family Medicine, immersed herself in a foreign culture, learning the effects of a healthcare system that has been based on reactive medicine and teaching its physicians ways to practice preventive health care. From August 2009 through January 2010, Dr. Wallace, with her husband Will Wallace, Compliance Officer, Dean's Office, and their daughter Muriel, lived in Moldova, a country located between Romania and Ukraine that was once part of the Soviet Union.
Dr. Wallace said the atmosphere in Moldova is best expressed by a billboard that says, "Towards Europe, Towards a Decent Future." She explained that even though the Republic of Moldova became an independent state in 1991, the country is still rebuilding its economy and wants to westernize its culture, including the incorporation of more community health education.
"The experience was eye-opening," Dr. Wallace said. "I got to see another culture with another standard of care. The Soviet Union was hospital–based, so people only got treatment if they were sick. They didn't practice preventive care. After the collapse of the former Soviet Union, they were left with a subpar health system. The patient rooms and ambulances are not well-equipped."
As part of the Fulbright Program, Dr. Wallace taught classes in the Master Public Health program in community health and biostatistics. She also assisted practicing physicians in translating their master's theses from Romanian to English to help students publish their results in international journals. Dr. Wallace said there was not much of a language barrier because most people in Moldova younger than 40 years old speak English to some degree.
Dr. Wallace also completed two research studies in Moldova. Through her research, "Female Family Physicians' Scope of Practice and Personal Experiences in the Republic of Moldova," she discovered that 75 percent of family medicine practitioners are female, and while they find their work rewarding, they are limited through system-related factors and need to increase public health knowledge.
In another project, "Romanian or Russian: The Influence of Language on Knowledge and Attitudes towards Tuberculosis among Moldovan Adults," Dr. Wallace found that novel approaches are necessary to provide Moldovan adults with accurate, understandable messages in both languages to prevent the spread of this disease, which is an excessive public health concern throughout the region.
In addition to teaching and research, Dr. Wallace provided service work to the U.S. Embassy's English Language Center and the Peace Corps. For the Peace Corps, she trained volunteers on ways to promote health behavior changes in the communities where they lived.
Upon returning home, Dr. Wallace is staying connected to the Moldovan community. She has written some grants to work with physicians on community health projects, including tuberculosis and asthma management for children. She hopes to return to Moldova for a short period in 2011 under the Fulbright Program and also hopes that faculty she met there will apply for a Fulbright Scholarship to work in the U.S.
Posted: June 28, 2010
The Scope E-Newsletter Emphasizes How UTGSM Is Reaching Across Borders
From across the U.S. to Ghana to Moldova to Beijing, the June issue of The Scope E-Newsletter highlights achievements of University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine faculty, staff, residents and fellows in the national and international arenas, providing education, patient care and service and sharing research. Also, discover how the University of Tennessee Medical Center's new Heart Hospital is enhancing fellowship programs; how our faculty are inspiring high school students; and why a first-year resident was chosen for a teaching award.
Read the June issue of The Scope E-Newsletter.
Posted: June 24, 2010
UT Interim President Jan Simek Appoints Steve J. Schwab, MD, Chancellor for the UT Health Science Center
Interim University of Tennessee President Jan Simek has recommended that Steve J. Schwab, MD, be elected chancellor for the UT Health Science Center. Simek recommended Dr. Schwab at a meeting of the Executive and Compensation Committee in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the UT Board of Trustees in Knoxville. The committee approved Simek's recommendation and will forward it to the full Board of Trustees for action on Thursday.
Dr. Schwab has served as UTHSC interim chancellor since October 1, 2009. He simultaneously served as executive dean for the UTHSC College of Medicine, largest of the Health Science Center's six colleges. A national search was conducted to fill the chancellor post.
"Throughout the search process, Dr. Schwab demonstrated his commitment to thinking strategically, responding openly, and acting in a collaborative and decisive fashion," Simek said. "His management skills coupled with his ability to innovate and build strong, mutually beneficial bonds with internal and external partners are tremendous assets that he brings to his role as chancellor.
"Under Dr. Schwab's leadership, UTHSC will continue to expand its outreach and service to the community, to increase its research capacity, and to sustain its long-term commitment to educating competent caring health care professionals to serve the region and the global community."
Dr. Schwab joined UTHSC as the first-ever executive dean for the UT College of Medicine in July 2006. In this role he took on responsibility for the Health Science Center's three College of Medicine campuses in Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga. As chancellor, Dr. Schwab will relinquish his role as executive dean, and a search will be conducted for his successor in that post.
"It is an honor to be selected to serve as the leader for the UT Health Science Center team," Dr. Schwab said. "Our faculty, staff and students have many reasons to be proud of our legacy and optimistic about our future as we move forward to fulfill our mission -- to improve the health of our local, regional and global community."
Prior to joining UTHSC, Dr. Schwab served as interim dean and chief clinical officer of the Medical College of Georgia, where he was also a Regents Professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine. Before that, from 1985 to 2003, he was at Duke University where he rose to become professor and vice chairman of medicine. He has held board positions in both the private and public sectors. Dr. Schwab is internationally recognized in the field of renal disease with more than 150 refereed publications and five books to his credit.
The UT Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville is part of the UT Health Science Center, the statewide academic health system. The mission of the UT Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care and public service.
Posted: June 23, 2010
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