COMmunicatorThe University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga • Volume 12, Issue 3 • May June 2011

Blending the Art and Science of

Medicine

29th Annual Research Awards

The UTCOMC and Erlanger Health System presented this year’s Research Week, April 11 - April 15th. This event, which dates back to 1983, was the vision of Robert Cod-dington, MD, Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the first Associate Dean for the Chattanooga Campus. Research posters were on display in the Erlanger Medical Mall Atrium all week, and included thirteen case study posters, five research posters, and five oral presenta-tions (which were also displayed as posters in the atrium).

The Scientific Review Committee served as the abstract se-lection committee for this year’s presentations. Poster rounds and selected oral presentations were held on Friday, and the week culminated with the presentation of awards at dinner at the Walden Club on Friday evening.

Awards were presented by the UTCOMC Dean, David C. Seaberg, MD. The top research award was presented to Alicia Andrews, DO (PGY 3, Pediatrics) by Robert C. Cod-dington, MD. Dr. Andrews’ research was titled, The impact of the rotavirus vaccines on a pediatric academic tertiary referral hospital. Dr. Andrews will be presenting a talk at the Nuts and Bolts Research Symposium on August 26, 2011 to the UTCOMC residents, describing her methodol-ogy and process for completing a successful research project.

Judges for the event were James Neutens, PhD (Dean and Professor, UT Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville), Stephanie Stegall, MD (practicing pediatrician and former UTCOMC resident), and Mel W. Twiest, MD (Clini-cal Associate Professor, UTCOMC Dept. of Surgery, past EHS Chief Medical Officer). The UTCOMC extends a special thanks to them for volunteering their time and expertise.

Congratulations to all who participated in this notable College of Medicine event. Please see page two for a complete listing of the award winners.

2 Research Day Awardees

2 Lifetime Achievement-Dr. Fore

Dr. Coddington

Dr. Andrews

Judges Dr. Stephanie Stegall (L) and Dr. Mel Twiest ((R)

3 FriendsRemembered

4 2011 Incoming Residents and Fellows

5 2011 Incoming Residents (continued)

6 Publications andPresentations

8 Congratulations

9 Faculty Promotions

10 Excellence in Teaching Awards

11 Note to PI

12 Grants Corner

13 Continuing MedicalEducation Comments, articles and announcements for the UTCOMmunicator can be submitted in

publishable format to Sylvia Friedl, Office of Research Compliance, Sylvia.Friedl@Erlanger.org.

Author(s) Award Title Dept.Alicia Andrews, DO Coddington Award

Best Research Presentation

The impact of the rotavirus vaccines on a pediatric academic tertiary referral hospital

Pediatrics

Ron Buchheit, MD 2nd Place Research Presentation

Nuclear stress testing in the emergency department chest pain patient with sus-pected acute coronary syndrome: whom should we stress?

Emergency Medicine

Laleisha Knapple, MD, MPHEliza Whitten-Hoskins, MDSelena Dozier, MDSara Harbin, MD

3rd Place Research Presentation

The effects of an educational program regarding pertussis on the administra-tion rates of the pertussis (Tdap) booster

Pediatrics and Family Medicine

Sean Huang, MD, MS 4th Place Research Presentation

Influenza vaccine related adverse events: H1N1 vs seasonal influenza

Internal Medicine

Michael Malandra, MD 1st Place Case Study Chronic pancreatic insufficiency as a sequela of Kawasaki Disease: a unique presentation

Pediatrics

Jacob Hennings, MD 2nd Place Case Study A new electrocardiographic criteria for emergent reperfusion therapy

Emergency Medicine

Daniel Sutphin, MD 3rd Place Case Study Surgical management of Gorlin’s Syn-drome: a four decade experience using local excision technique

Plastic Surgery

2011 Resident Research Awardees

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Robert Fore, EdD, Recognized for Lifetime Achievement

Robert Fore, EdD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and for Continuing Medical Education, and Profes-sor of Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga, was recognized with the University of Georgia 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding success and significant impact in his field. The award was presented by Dr. Andrew Horne, Dean, UGA College of Education at a Faculty and Alumni Awards Luncheon on April 21, 2011 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Athens.

Dr. Fore is also Emeritus Director of the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education. Additional leadership posi-tions that Dr. Fore has held include Associate Executive Director of the Florida Medical Association, Executive Editor of the Journal of the Florida Medical Association, and Associate Dean for Graduate and Continuing Medical Education and Professor of Medical Education at Mercer University School of Medicine.

Awardees (L-R): Drs. Sean Huang, Ron Buchheit, Jacob Hennings, Alicia Andrews, Eliza Whitten, and Michael Malandra

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Friends Remembered

Faculty, staff, patients and families were saddened to learn the news of Dr. Hossein Massoud’s passing on April 26, 2011, following a short illness. Dr. Massoud was long-time Medical Director at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Massoud was born in Yazd, Iran. He was educated in a private Zoroastrian High School in Yazd and then went to medical school in Isphahan, Iran where he graduated in 1956. After graduation he went to work as a company physician for Amiran Oil Co. in Abadan, Iran. In June of 1959 he accepted an internship at Baltimore City Hospital. Following his internship he moved to Chattanooga, having received a two-year

residency in pathology at Erlanger Hospital. During that residency he decided to change his specialty to pediatrics and transferred to a Pediatric Residency at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital (now Children’s Hospital at Erlanger). He then shared a Fellowship in Cardiology with Dr. Walter Puckett for one year.

He became Medical Director of T.C. Thompson in 1965 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1996. During that time he was instrumental in overseeing the move of the hospital from its former home in Glenwood to its present location on the Erlanger main campus in 1975. When he became Medical Director, there were no pediatric subspecialties and over the years he built the program so that when he retired, the hospital had multiple subspecialties covering the total spectrum of care in pediatrics.

In addition to his position as Medical Director he was Professor in the University of Tennessee Medical School, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University College of Medicine, and maintained a private practice for many years in Brainerd with Dr. Hicks Corey, Dr. M. Foy Perrin, and Dr. Charles “Toby” Von Canon. Dr. Massoud served as lead pediatrician for Head Start during its beginning in Chattanooga. He also served as an assistant to Dr. Walter Boehm at the Chattanooga Birth Defects Center.

Following his retirement, he continued to work as a part-time consulting pediatrician at the hospital and continued to work with pediatric residents, training many of the area’s most respected pediatricians. Dr. Massoud was honored by the hospital in 1992 with the naming of the main building on the T.C. Thompson campus as the Massoud Pediatric Building.

Dr. Massoud became a member of the American Board of Pediatrics in 1965 and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1974. In 1981 he was honored for outstanding service to the academy and was honored with an award for outstanding service rendered to the academy in 1985. In 1993, he was presented the Augustus McCravey Award for his years of service to the residents of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga. In 1997 he was named Senior Pediatrician of the Year by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Tennessee Pediatric Society. In January of 2011 the Baroness Erlanger Foundation honored Dr. Massoud during its Distinguished Physicians Brunch for his “unquestionable character, as well as his commitment and excellence in medicine to the region.”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital Foundation, 975 E. Third St., Chattanooga, TN 37403. Donations can also be made online.

The UTCOMC community also felt a great loss in the sudden death of Herbert Michael “Mike” Morgan who died on April 17, 2011. Mr. Morgan graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He was a member of Rock Spring United Methodist Church where he served as a musician, composer, sound system operator, softball team pitcher, and graphic designer/artist.

Mr. Morgan was a philanthropist, humanitarian, writer and an intellectual. He was employed at Erlanger Hospital for ten years where he served as an audio-visual and multimedia specialist. Many of us will remember him for his unfailing willingness to help when called, whether scheduled months in advance or right down to the last minute, and always with kindness and good humor.

Memorial contributions may be made to Rock Spring United Methodist Church, Costa Rica Mission Team, 3477 Peavine Road, Rock Spring, GA 30739.

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2011 UTCOMC Incoming Residents and Fellows

Program Name Medical School DegreeColon & Rectal Surgery Ashcraft, John Henry Des Moines University

School of Osteopathic MedicineDO

Emergency Medicine Bruffy-Holmes, Gabriel Emmanuel

University of Tennessee MD

Emergency Medicine Clinkscales, Jeffrey Medical University of South Carolina MDEmergency Medicine Courtwright, Paul William Medical College of Georgia MDEmergency Medicine Helton, Bernadette Marie East Tennessee State University MDEmergency Medicine Patterson, Derek Alan University of Alabama MDEmergency Medicine Peterson, Steven Marshall University MDEmergency Medicine Smith, Brian Samuel East Tennessee State University MD

Family Medicine Djernes, Karisten Rochelle Loma Linda University MDFamily Medicine Houston, Cole Jackson American University of the Caribbean MDFamily Medicine Lisic, Eric Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine DOFamily Medicine Mitchell, Bradford Lyle University of Alabama MDFamily Medicine Sims, Elise Sheffield University of Alabama MDFamily Medicine Sutherland, Philip Anthony University of Tennessee MDFamily Medicine Walthour, Amy Elizabeth Medical College of Georgia MD

Internal Medicine Bentley, Nanette University of Missouri (Kansas City) MDInternal Medicine Braun, Eric J. University of Arkansas MDInternal Medicine Kagan, Michael Aaron American University of the Caribbean MDInternal Medicine Kandel, Sarita University of Nepal MDInternal Medicine Lewis, John Marshall Lincoln Memorial University--

Debusk College of Osteopathic MedicineDO

Internal Medicine Nieckula, Gregory Joseph Lincoln Memorial University--Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

DO

Internal Medicine Ragins, James Morehouse School of Medicine MDInternal Medicine Usifo, Katrin Medical College of Georgia MDInternal Medicine Wintje, Joshua Medical College of Georgia MD

OB/GYN Gonzales, Stephen Kyle Lincoln Memorial University--Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

DO

OB/GYN Johnson, Natalie Lynn A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine (Arizona)

DO

OB/GYN Shaker, Mena Adel Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine DOOB/GYN Stevens, Joshua David University of Miami MD

Orthopaedic Surgery Cunningham, Bryce Allen St. Louis University School of Medicine MDOrthopaedic Surgery Lemons, Alexander

ClaytonUniversity of South Carolina School of Medicine (Columbia)

MD

Orthopaedic Surgery Pankiw, Christopher D. Mercer University School of Medicine MD

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2011 UTCOMC Incoming Residents and Fellows (continued)

Program Name Medical School DegreeOrthopaedic TraumaFellow

Owen, Sean Michael Drexel University (Pennsylvania) MD

Pediatrics Allen, Steven William University of Tennessee MDPediatrics Bali, Neetu D. Ross University MDPediatrics Barros, Thomas Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine DOPediatrics Carlson, Anna Rose University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) MDPediatrics Nayeri, Zainab American University of the Caribbean MDPediatrics Simpson, Kendra Elyse University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston) MDPediatrics Wakefield, Brian Scott University of Tennessee MDPediatrics Walkup, Jr., Jerry Don Ross University MD

Plastic Surgery Chapman-Jackson, Emme Duston

West Virginia University School of Medicine (Morgantown)

MD

Plastic Surgery Griner, Devan University of Utah (Salt Lake City) MDPlastic Surgery Jarrell, John Arthur University of Tennessee MD

Surgery (Categorical) Huggins, John Cavan University of Alabama MDSurgery (Categorical) John, Scott Michael Tulane University MDSurgery (Categorical) Reynolds, Jessica Kathleen Medical College of Georgia MDSurgery (Preliminary) Hina, Miss Dow Medical College (Pakistan) MDSurgery (Preliminary) Drahush, Nicholas Michael Medical College of Georgia MDSurgery (Preliminary) Lawrence, Jonathan A. Mercer University School of Medicine MDSurgery (Preliminary) Nelson, Rachel Meredith East Tennessee State University MDSurgery (Preliminary) Petros, Tommy John St. George’s University (Granada) MDSurgery (Preliminary) Prince, S. Eva University of Tennessee MD

Transitional Year Allen, John Medical College of Georgia MDTransitional Year Hungerford, John P. Medical University of South Carolina MDTransitional Year Kline, Aaron D. University of Florida MDTransitional Year Maass, Genevieve University of Florida MDTransitional Year Tamboli, Diana West Virginia University School of Medicine

(Morgantown)MD

Transitional Year Whitmire, William Medical College of Georgia DO

Vascular Surgery Katraguntra, Neelima Armed Forces Medical College (India) MD

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Publications and Presentations

Anderson JL, Adams CD, Antman EM, Bridges CR, Califf RM, Casey DE Jr, Chavey WE 2nd, Fesmire FM, Hochman JS, Levin TN, Lincoff AM, Peterson ED, Theroux P, Wenger NK, Wright RS, Smith SC Jr. 2011 ACCF/AHA focused update incorporated into the ACC/AHA 2007 guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2011 May 10;123(18):e426-579. Epub 2011 Mar 28.

Baird D, Hall P, Galeano N, Heath GW. Promoting active transport: a multimodal travel time pilot study. Med and Sci in Sports and Exercise. 2011;43(5)Suppl:S45.

Burkhardt DD, Rosenfeld JA, Helgeson ML, Angle B, Banks V, Smith WE, Gripp KW, Moline J, Moran RT, Niyazov DM, Stevens CA, Zackai E, Lebel RR, Ashley DG, Kramer N, Lachman RS, Graham JM Jr. Distinctive phenotype in 9 patients with deletion of chromosome 1q24-q25. Am J Med Genet A. 2011 Jun;155(6):1336-51. doi:10. 1002/ajmg.a.3 409. Epub 2011 May 5.

Diercks DB, Mehrota A, Nazarian DJ, Promes SB, Decker WW, Fesmire FM: American College of Emergency Physicians. Clinical policy: critical issues in the evaluation of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute blunt abdominal trauma. Ann Emerg Med. 2011 Apr;57(4):387-404.

Dolinay T, Howrylak J. Fredenburgh LE, et al. Gene expression profiling of sepsis patients reveals inflammasome-mediated susceptibility to acute respiratory distress syndrome development. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;183:A2896.

Dolinay T, Kyle W, Lansing C, et al. Patients with acute lun injury benefit from airway pressure release ventilation. Am J. Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;183:A1652.

Fesmire FM, Brown MD, Espinosa JA, Shih RD, Silvers SM, Wolf SJ, Decker WW. Critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected pulmonary embolism. Ann Emerg Med. 2011 Jun;57(6):628-652 e75.

Hopoate-Sitake ML, Adair CD, Mason LA, Torres C, Kipikasa J, Graves SW. Digibind reverses inhibition of cellular rb+ uptake caused by endogenous sodium pump inhibitors present in serum and placenta of women with preeclampsi. Reprod Sci. 2011 Feb;18(2):190-9.

Ismail H. Self-rated health and factors influencing responses among young Egyptian type 1 diabetes patients. BMC Public Health. 2011 Apr 7;11:216.

Kauvar EF, Hu P, Pineda-Alvarez DE, Solomon BD, Dutra A, Pak E, Blessing B, Proud V, Shanske AL, Stevens CA, Rosenfeld JA, Shaffer LG, Roessler E, Muenke M. Minimal evidence for a direct involvement of twisted gastrulation homolog 1(TWSG1) gene in human holoprosencephaly. Mol Genet Metab. 2011 Apr;102(4):470-80. Epub 2010 Dec 21.

Kolade VO, Huang X, Ramachandra Pai RP, Doshi R. Vaccine-related adverse events in the USA: a need for an integrated open global surveillance system. Poster presented at the Global Health Metrics & Evaluation (GHME) Conference. Seattle, WA, March 14-16, 2011.

Levy FH, Brilli RJ, First LR, Hyman D, Kohrt AE, Ludwig S, Miles PV, Saffer M. A new framework for quality partnerships in children’s hospitals. Pediatrics. 2011 Jun;127(6):1147-58. Epub 2011 May 16.

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Publications and Presentations--continued

Mathis RS. Braintrust (book review). Sci. 2011;332:793.

Nakagawa TA, Rigby MR, Bratton S, Shemis S, Ajizian SJ, Berkowitz I, Bowens CD, Cosio CC, Curley MA, Dhanani S, Dobyns E, Easterling L, Fortenberry JD, Helfaer MA, Kolovos NS, Koogler T, Lebovitz DJ, Michelson K, Morrison W, Naim MY, Needle J, Nelson B, Rotta AT, Rowin ME, Serrao K, Shore PM, Smith S, Thompson AE, Vohra A, Weise K. A call for full public disclosure for donation after circulatory determination of death in children. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2011 May, 12(3):375-377.

Peters CA, Skoog SJ, Arant BS Jr, Copp HL, Elder JS, Hudson, RG, Khoury AE, Lorenzo AJ, Pohl HG, Shapiro E, Snodgrass WT, Diaz M. Summary of the AUA guideline on management of primary vesicoureteral reflux in children. J Urol. 2010 Sep;184(3):1134-44. Epub 2010 Jul 21.

Ramsay PT, Mejia VA. Management of enteroatmospheric fistulae in the open abdomen. Am Surg. 2010 Jun;76(6):637-9.

Rowin ME, Reade EP, Christianson J. Central nervous system infections presenting to the pediatric intensive care unit. Chapter in Pediatric Critical Care. 4th edition, Fuhrman BP and Zimmerman JJ (ed), 2011, Elsevier Saunders:Philadephia PA.

Ruffner BW. Accountable care organizations: an opportunity for physicians. Tenn Med. 2010 Nov-Dec 2010;103(10):5,8.

Ruffner BW. Health insurance exchanges: benefits to be determined. Tenn Med. Jan 2011;104(1):5,12.

Ruffner BW. Will the IPAB “bend the curve?” Tenn Med. Feb 2011;104(2):5.

Ruffner BW. PCPI--physician-led quality measures. Tenn Med. Apr 2011;104(4)5.

Rutkowski MR, Stevens CA, Green WR. Impaired memory CD8 T cell responses against an immunodominant retroviral cryptic epitope. Virology. 2011 Apr 10;412(2):256-68. Epub 2011 Feb 4.

Schoch DM, LeSar CJ, Joels CS, Erdoes LS, Sprouse LR, Fugate MW, Greer MS, Fisher DF, Mixon H, Hogan M, Burns RP. Management of chronic mesenteric vascular insufficiency: an endovascular approach. J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Apr;212(4):668-75; discussion 675--7.

Shah J, Boldt Jr J. Acrylic and platinum in my lung helped me live longer. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;183:A2969.

Smith JS, Shaffrey CI, Sansur CA, Berven SH, Fu KM, Broadstone PA, Choma TJ, Goytan MJ, Noordeen HH, Knapp DR Jr, Hart RA, Donaldson WF 3rd, Polly DW Jr, Perra JH, Boachiei-Adjel O; Scoliosis Research Society Morbidity and Mortality Committee. Rates of infection after spine surgery based on 108,419 procedures: a report from the Scoliosis Research Society Morbidity and Mortality Committee. Spine (Phila PA 1976). 2011 Apr 1;36(7):556-63.

Stanley JD, Bell C, Hinkle N, Moore RA, Burns RP. The Ferguson Operating Anoscope as a minimally invasive option for the treatment of rectal tumors. Am Surg. 2010 Aug;76(8):850-6.

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Publications and Presentations--continued

Stevens CA. Further characterization of the duplication of 16p13.11 disease phenotype. Poster presentation at the 2011 American College of Medical Genetics Meeting. Vancouver, BC, March 16-20, 2011.

Underwood SA, Heath GW, Kang M. The kid fitness school program: effects on daily physical activity. Med and Sci in Sports and Exercise. 2011;43(5)Suppl:S23.

Wright RS, Anderson JL, Adams CD, Bridges CR, Casey DE Jr, Ettinger SM, Fesmire FM, Ganiats TG, Jneid H, Lincoff AM, Peterson ED, Phillippides GJ, Theroux P, Wenger NK, Zidar JP, Jacobs AK. 2011 ACCF/AHA focused update of the guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (updating the 2007 guideline): a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2011 May 10;123(18):2022-60. Epub 2011 Mar 28.

Wright RS, Anderson JL, Adams CD, Bridges CR, Casey DE Jr, Ettinger SM, Fesmire FM, Ganiats TG, Jneid H, Lincoff AM, Peterson ED, Phillippides GJ, Theroux P, Wenger NK, Zidar JP. 2011 ACCF/AHA focused update of the guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (updating the 2007 guideline): a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines developed in collaboration with the American College of Emergency Physicians, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011 May 10:57(19):1920-59, Epub 2011 Mar 28.

Wright RS, Anderson JL, Adams CD, Bridges CR, Casey DE Jr, Ettinger SM, Fesmire FM, Ganiats TG, Jneid H, Lincoff AM, Peterson ED, Phillippides GJ, Theroux P, Wenger NK, Zidar JP. 2011 ACCF/AHA focused update incorporated into the ACC/AHA 2007 guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Family Physicians, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011 May 10:57(19):e215-367.

Congratulations

Dr. Andrew Todd, Chief Resident in Internal Medicine, and Mr. Matthew Pugh won the national research competition award at Internal Medicine 2011, the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians, held April 7-9, 2011 in San Diego, CA. They presented their research poster, “Falls in the elderly patient--a retrospective evaluation of the association of falls and pain management.” Co-investigators are Drs. Lisa Staton, Victor Kolade, Mukta Panda, Yan Li, and Ann Rybolt. Dr. Bassel Obaid also presented a poster, “Pathological crying in a patient with basal ganglia bleeding,” coauthored with Dr. Abdelazim Sirelkhatim.

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Heavy Lifting

UTCOMC residents and over 50 EHS and UTCOMC staff members participated in this year’s “Press Out Domestic Violence,” a fundraiser benefitting the Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults,” raising $2,000 for the organization. The winners were:

Most Weight Overall Female Division: Alex Lewis, IMCU Most Weight Overall Male Division: John Phillips, MD, Transitional Year Resident Most Weight for Residents Female Division: Kristen Hinson, MD, General Surgery Most Weight for Residents Male Division: John Phillips, Transitional Year Resident.

Congratulations to all who participated in this very worthwhile annual event.

Faculty Promotions

Faculty promotions were announced this month. Promotion in rank is not only an acknowledgement of past achievement but also an expression of confidence that the individual will continue to provide meritorious service and assume increasing campus responsibilities. Promotion from one rank to another requires evidence of sustained contributions in the faculty member’s assigned areas. The process involves a systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of information about the activities and outcomes of the individual by faculty peers and administrators. Collegial contributions as well as contribu-tions in the missions of teaching, research/creative and other scholarly activities, patient care, and service/outreach activities are all important in assessing faculty performance (from the UTHSC Faculty Handbook). Congratulations to these faculty on their recent promotions.

Benajmin Dart, MDSurgery

Associate Professor

Marielisa Rincon-Subtirelu, MDPediatrics

Associate Professor

Teabra Dixon, MDInternal Medicine

Assistant Professor

Jasmine Shaw, MDInternal Medicine

Assistant Professor

Victor Kolade, MDInternal Medicine

Associate Professor

Phillip Smith, MDSurgery

Associate Professor

Vincente Mejia, MDSurgery

Associate Professor

Shawn Stallings, MDObstetrics and Gynecology

Associate Professor

Sudave Mendiratta, MDEmergency Medicine

Assistant Professor

Mihail Subtirelu, MDPediatrics

Associate Professor

Christopher Poole, MDInternal Medicine

Assistant Professor

Gregory Talbott, MDPediatrics

Associate Professor

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Excellence in Teaching

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Student Government Association Executive Council (SGAEC) announced their nominations for the nineteenth annual Excellence in Teaching Awards. These awards recognize faculty for their outstanding teaching and genuine concern for students. Mukta Panda, MD, Chair of Internal Medicine and Director of the Transitional Year Program, was the only faculty mem-ber recognized from the UTCOMC. The nominations consisted of a detailed description outlining reasons why the nominees should be considered for the awards.

English Rockholt, MD, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UTCOMC has received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO). The APGO is a non-profit, membership-based organization for women’s health educators. APGO Pro-motes excellence in women’s health care by providing optimal resources and support to educators who inspire, instruct, develop and empower women’s health care providers of tomorrow.

US Health Care:The View from 30,000 Feet

Echezona Ezeanolue, MD, MPHRobert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow 2010-2011

Assigned to the Office of the Secretary, Health and Human Services, Washington DC

OBGYN Department Lecture SeriesFriday, June 24, 2011

9:00 - 11:00 amProbasco Auditorium

For 2010-2011, Dr. Ezeanolue is one of only six physicians in the country awarded a prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellowship by the Institute of Medicine. He was selected to spend his Fellowship time in the Office of the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC. Before his Health Policy Fellowship, Dr. Ezeanolue was Director of Pediatric Research and Associ-ate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, which he joined after completing his pediatric infec-tious disease fellowship at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in 2005 and MPH degree in Epidemiology from the School of Public Health at the same time.

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Note to PI

Quality Improvement Activities--Frequently Asked Questions

The following article includes information from the Office of Human Research Protections website of the Department of Health and Human Services; for complete information go to http://answers.hhs/gov/ohrp/categories/1569.

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How does HHS view quality improvement activities in relation to the regulations for human research sub-ject protections?

Protecting human subjects during research activities is critical and has been at the forefront of HHS activities for decades. In addition, HHS is committed to taking every appropriate opportunity to measure and improve the quality of care for patients. These two important goals typically do not intersect, since most quality improvement efforts are not research subject to HHS regulations. However, in some cases quality improvement activities are designed to accomplish a research purpose as well as the purpose of improving the quality of care, and in these cases the regulations for the protection of subjects in research (45CFR46) apply.

Do the HHS regs for the protection of human subjects in research apply to quality improvement activities conducted by one or more institutions whose purposes are limited to: (a) implementing a practice to im-prove the quality of patient care, and (b) collecting patient or provider data regarding the implementation of the practice for clinical, practical, or administrative purposes?

No, such activities do not satisfy the definition of “research” under 45CFR46.102(d), which is “... a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to gen-eralizable knowledge...” Therefore the HHS regs for the protection of human subjects do not apply to such qual-ity improvement activities, and there is no requirement under these regs for such activities to undergo review by an IRB, or for these activities to be conducted with provider or patient informed consent.

Do quality improvement activities fall under the HHS regs if their purposes are limited to: (a) delivering healthcare, and (b) measuring and reporting provider performance data for clinical, practical, or admin-istrative uses?

No, such QI activities do not satisfy the definition of research.

Are there types of QI efforts that are considered to be research that are subject to the HHS human subjects regulations?

Yes, in certain cases, a QI project may constitute non-exempt human subjects research conducted or supported by HHS or otherwise covered by a federalwide assurance (FWA). For example, if a project involves introducing an untested clinical intervention for purposes which include not only improving the quality of care, but also collect-ing information about patient outcomes for the purpose of establishing scientific evidence to determine how well the intervention achieves its intended results, that quality improvement project may also constitute nonexempt research under the HHS regs.

NOTE: Always ask the IRB first if you’re not sure whether your project fits the HHS definition of human sub-jects research. Retrospective approval cannot be given and you may lose an opportunity to share/publish your research results. And remember, the IRB also serves as the UTCOMC/EHS Privacy Board. Contact Stacey Hendricks, IRB administrator (stacey.hendricks@erlanger.org, 423-778-3818)

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Grants CornerThinking of an idea for research project? Need to identify funding? These sites may help.

Langhorne Waterhouse, MLSUTCOMC Grant Writer

Foundation Center’s SearchZonehttp://fdncenter.org/search/SearchZone provides keyword access to all the resources posted on the Foundation Center’s web pages. A search can be conducted simply by entering a word or several words into the box provided and clicking “search”. SearchZone also pro-vides a link to Foundation Finder, a handy look-up tool for basic information on more than 50,000 private and community foundations. It will provide users with the foundation address, telephone number, contact name web address (if applicable), email address, foundation type, fiscal information, and employer identification number (EIN).

Administration on Aging (AoA)http://www.aoa.gov/Grant Opportunitieshttp://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/index.aspxGrants and cooperative agreements are the vehicles by which AoA transfers its appropriated funding resources to the Ag-ing Network. Grants are used when AoA has not substantial involvement in the administration of a project and there is no direct benefit to AoA.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Funding Opportunitieshttp://www.ahrq.gov/fundProvides grants and contracts announcements, notices, information about upcoming research agendas and research training.

Department of Defense Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Programshttp://cdmrp.army.mil/Be sure to check the press releases and funding opportunities sections

Grants.govhttp://grants.gov/The electronic storefront for Federal grants, this website is a single place to assist grant-seekers in finding and applying for all Federal grants. The site includes information about more than 1,000 grant opportunities at 26 agencies. Potential grant applicants can search Grants.gov to view listings of available funding. Once they have selected a grants program, they can download applications and submit the forms online. Note there is a link to “new opportunities this week” at the bottom of the What’s New This Week at Grants.gov box.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Developmenthttp://www.nichd.nih.gov/Supports research involving reproductive, developmental, behavioral/social, and rehabilitative processes that determine health or optimize health among newborns, infants, children, adults, families, and populations. Check out the section, Fund-ing by NICHD.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)--Internet Guidehttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/internet_guide.htmThis handout provides a list of useful URL website addresses for organizations/individuals interested in applying for and receiving grants from the NIH. The sites provide pertinent information on policies, procedures, and issues, as they pertain to the grants and cooperative program.

Assistance with grant seeking and writing is available on the UTCOMC website or by contacting Langhorne Waterhouse, UTCOMC grant writer, at Langhorne.Waterhouse@erlanger.org, 423-778-8102.

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Continuing Medical Education

www.UTCOMChatt.org/CME

COMmunicator 13

Medical RecordsHealthcare Principles in Practice

Carol Schwab, JD, LLM, Director of Medical/Legal Education, UTHSCTuesday, July 12, 2011, noon - 1:00 pm

Probasco AuditoriumAll 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year residents and fellows are required to attend. Key faculty are strongly encouraged to attend.

All faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students are invited.

Teamwork, Conflict Resolution and the Art of NegotiationHealthcare Principles in Practice

Dale Hetzler, JD, Chief Legal Counsel Erlanger Health SystemTuesday, July 12, 2011, noon - 1:00 pm

Probasco AuditoriumAll 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year residents and fellows are required to attend. Key faculty are strongly encouraged to attend.

All faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students are invited.

Lean for HealthcareSix-day course offered by the

UTK Center for Executive Education (UT College of Business)8/21/11-8/26/11, 11/6/11 - 11/11/11

Haslam Business Building

Nuts and Bolts Research SymposiumKeynote Speaker: Robert P. Schwartz, MD

Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of MedicineFriday, August 26, 2011

8:00 am - 4:00 pmUniversity of Tennessee Chattanooga Student Center

Registration materials available soon

Ethics Quarterly: The Therapeutic Relationship and Physician ObligationHealthcare Principles in Practice

Richard R. Pesce, MD, MS, FCCP, FACPMemorial Health System, Chattanooga, TN

Tuesday, September 13, 2011, noon - 1:00 pmProbasco Auditorium

All 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year residents and fellows are required to attend. Key faculty are strongly encouraged to attend. All faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students are invited.