The Scope E-NewsletterJune 2010 Dean's Message

This edition of The Scope provides excellent illustrations of GSM efforts on the international front in addition to our national and regional accomplishments. As a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Lorraine Wallace (Family Medicine) highlights her experiences in Moldova, painting a picture of a struggling health care system. Dr. Matt Jones (Surgery) offers similar examples based on his five months in Ghana but as a medical resident used the opportunity to hone his surgical skills while providing excellent care to the people living in that area. In China Dr. Charles Bruker (Pathology) presented GSM recent findings from our ODAM (Odontogenic Ameloblast protein) research — these efforts continue with a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Dr. Ben England (Family Medicine) had a poster presentation in Mexico, and Dr. Lorraine Wallace had several oral presentations in Canada with one of her papers earning the Distinguished Research Paper award. Several other residents and faculty had national presentations at major meetings in the United States. Congratulations to all of the presenters, their colleagues, and of course, for the residents, their mentors. Through all of these efforts the GSM is gaining recognition well beyond our regional borders.

Recognition of our staff at the national level is demonstrated through Misty Long, who is well respected for her prowess in PET/CT (including internationally), and Paige Rinehart for her role as a residency program coordinator in Anesthesiology. Similarly, Dr. Christy Lawson (Surgery) has been asked to join the inaugural class of six fellows in the Enteral Nutrition Fellowship sponsored by Nestlé Nutrition Institute. Dr. Ben Helms (Internal Medicine) was recognized by the Health Science Center as an outstanding educator. Our educational outreach is exemplified by Dr. James Boyd (Radiology) and others through their interaction with Nashville high school students.

I want to publicly thank everyone for representing the GSM in such stellar fashion. Our culture is slowly changing from a local campus to a regional/national one with the beginnings of inroads at the international level. Working with our UHS partner in the new Heart Hospital should enhance our opportunities for education and research.