Please join the Department of Medicine in extending congratulations to the following individuals for their significant accomplishments:
Two Departmental Housestaff (Noelle Northcutt and Chi Zheng) are among the six winners of this year’s Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching awards, as selected by the UC medical student body for 2011. The Department is proud not only of Drs. Northcutt and Zheng, but also of eight additional Departmental housestaff who were nominated for this award (Drs. Maria Astiz, Rachael Dirksen, Jenny Fraser, Brian Keogh, Chris King, Mark Learned, Zachary Reese, and Eric Young).
Rohit Katial, MD (Allergy / Immunology) – was recently selected for membership in the Academy of Medical Educators. The Academy is comprised of individuals who have a proven track record of excellence and accomplishment in education and are actively engaged in the education of medical students, residents, fellows or faculty or have a significant impact on medical education at any level.
John Carroll, MD (Cardiology) - has been asked to be a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Interventional Cardiology Exam Committee.
Matthew Taylor, MD, PhD (Cardiology) - received a 2011 Rymer Endowment Innovation Grant from the Academy of Medical Educators for his project, entitled, “Yes, there’s an App for that!...But are the faculty savvy enough to use it?”, a proposal to develop a Faculty-friendly App to promote student ‘self-directed’ learning.
Jane Reusch, MD (Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes) - has been invited to be on the Board of Directors for the Association for Clinical Research Training and as a Fellow in the 2011-2012 Class of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women.
Daniel Bessesen, MD (Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes) – was awarded the highly competitive Physician Nutrition Specialist Award from the American Society for Nutrition. As the Health and Wellness Center takes shape on campus, this award is a reminder of the growing recognition for our nutrition and obesity research and education. Dan was also recently named to the NIH Center for Scientific Review Clinical and Integrative Diabetes and Obesity Study Section.
Teri Hernandez, RN, PhD and Robert Eckel, MD (Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes) – have been recognized by the NY Times for their work, “Study Finds Fat Removed With Liposuction May Return Within One Year.” The New York Times noted that liposuction has "become the most popular plastic surgery, with more than 450,000 operations a year, each costing a few thousand dollars." But until now, no one knew whether the fat comes back. According to a study in the latest issue of Obesity, the fat "came back after it was suctioned out." After one year, all of the fat "returned" but instead of reappearing in the women's thighs, "'it was redistributed upstairs,' mostly in the upper abdomen, but also around the shoulders and triceps of the arms," said study co-author Dr. Robert H. Eckel from the University of Colorado.
Arthur Gutierrez-Hartmann, MD (Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes) - was recently asked to join the Advisory Committee of the Director of NIH task force on the Future of the Biomedical Workforce. This committee has been charged by the NIH Director, Francis Collins, to “Develop a model for a sustainable and diverse U.S. biomedical research workforce that can inform decisions about training of the optimal number of people for the appropriate types of positions that will advance science and promote health.” The final report, to be completed in about a year, will no doubt have a major impact on future NIH support and training of biomedical graduate (PhD), medical (MD-only and MD/PhD), and postdoctoral trainees.
The Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology received commendation from the NIH for significant progress with their T32 training grant. Since 2005, the percentage of GI fellows completing 2-3 years of T32 support has increased 500% as compared to the prior seven year period.
Sara Streich has accepted the position as the new administrator for the division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She has more than 12 years of administration and management experience at academic medical centers and universities, including Northwestern University, where she managed the Cancer Center.
Aimee Truesdale, MD (Gastroenterology/Hepatology) - will be joining the faculty at Denver Health and UCH later this summer. After completing her internal medicine training here, she did her GI fellowship at the University of Virginia, and then returned to the University of Colorado, where she has been doing an exemplary job as a Transplant Hepatology Fellow.
Sachin Wani, MD (Gastroenterology/Hepatology) - will be joining the faculty this summer after completing an Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at Washington University, St. Louis. Sachin will have a 5/8th appointment at the VA and a 3/8th appointment at the University. He is trained in both endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Mel Anderson, MD (General Internal Medicine) – was recently selected for membership in the Academy of Medical Educators. The Academy is comprised of individuals who have a proven track record of excellence and accomplishment in education and are actively engaged in the education of medical students, residents, fellows or faculty or have a significant impact on medical education at any level.
David Bekelman, MD, MPH (General Internal Medicine) – Dr. Bekelman received a VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) grant for a project entitled, "Implementing Palliative Care in Outpatients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Pilot Study." The goal of the project is to examine the feasibility of implementing palliative symptom management and psychosocial care into ongoing heart failure care.
Ingrid Binswanger, MD (General Internal Medicine) – received an R21 award for her project, entitled, “Drug-Related Risk for Death after Release from Prison.”
Lisa Corbin, MD (General Internal Medicine) – was recently selected for membership in the Academy of Medical Educators. The Academy is comprised of individuals who have a proven track record of excellence and accomplishment in education and are actively engaged in the education of medical students, residents, fellows or faculty or have a significant impact on medical education at any level.
Jennifer Tamblyn, MD (General Internal Medicine) - was named Best Internal Medicine Preceptor at the annual Golden Stethoscope Awards event for preceptors in the Foundations of Doctoring Curriculum. Recipients of this award are selected by the medical students.
Eva Aagaard, MD (General Internal Medicine) – was named chair of the education committee for the Society for General Internal Medicine (SGIM). Eva has also accepted a new position as Assistant Dean for Lifelong Learning and will be taking on some additional responsibilities.
Diana Mancini, MD (General Internal Medicine) - received an “Excellence in Educational Leadership” award from the Academy of Medical Educators.
Richard Penaloza, MD (General Internal Medicine) – has been selected to participate in the Advanced Physician Leadership Program (APLP). The Colorado Medical Society and the Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership (RIHEL) have teamed up to present this program for Colorado physicians who want to grow their leadership potential, ensure access to health care and bring a diversity of perspectives and experiences to the program.
Darlene Tad-y, MD (GIM, Hospitalist Medicine) – received a 2011 Rymer Endowment Innovation Grant from the Academy of Medical Educators for her project, entitled, “A Teaching Intervention to Improve the Quality and Timeliness of Resident Discharge Summaries.”
Jeannette Guerrasio, MD (GIM, Hospitalist Medicine) - received the 2011 Kaiser Permanente award for Outstanding Clinical Sciences Teacher of the Year, as selected by the School of Medicine 4th year medical students.
Wendy Kohrt, PhD (Geriatric Medicine) – received a new R21 award for her project, entitled, “Ovarian Hormone Suppression and Regulation of Adipogenesis in Women”. Dr. Kohrt has also been appointed by Dr. Toni Scarpa of the NIH Center for Scientific Review as Chair of the Aging Systems and Geriatrics study section.
Rachel Van Pelt, PhD (Geriatric Medicine) – received a R01 award for her project, entitled, “Time since menopause, estrogen deficiency, and insulin action”. This 4-year study, funded by the NIDDK, is designed to test whether estrogens improve insulin sensitivity and whether this effect depends on how long after menopause treatment is initiated. It is expected that estrogens improve insulin sensitivity when given early, but not late, after menopause; likely delaying the onset of diabetes.
Hematology Division – the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center recently moved from Building 500 to the new UPI Bldg. In its new location, the Center occupies 17,000 square feet and has 4,400 square feet of clinic space with 6 exam rooms and 3 consult rooms. The pharmacy is 2,200 square feet, and staff offices occupy 11,000 square feet.
Elizabeth Connick, MD (Infectious Diseases) – received an “Excellence in Mentoring and Advising” award from the Academy of Medical Educators. Dr. Connick was also invited to serve as a member of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Antiviral Drug Advisory Committee. She served as a consultant and voting member at the FDA meeting in April, where the committee recommended approval of two new hepatitis C drugs. She became an official member in May.
Pepper Schedin, PhD (Medical Oncology) – is Chair of the Mammary Gland Biology Gordon Research Conference, which was held earlier this month at the Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Reflecting Dr. Schedin’ s long held interest in stromal-epithelial interactions, the focus of this year’s conference was on the role of the stroma in normal mammary gland development and breast cancer. Fourteen University of Colorado faculty and students attended the conference.
Virginia Borges, MD, MSc (Medical Oncology) – has been invited to serve a three-year term on the Strategic Infrastructure for Research Committee (SIRC). The SIRC advises the Dean on the use of Academic Enrichment Funds and other institutional funding to support research infrastructure.
Robert Doebele, MD, PhD (Medical Oncology), whose research focuses on resistance mechanisms in oncogene-driven lung cancer, was among five people named to the 2011 class of Boettcher Investigators in the Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Program. This is the second year for the program, which supports early career scientists in their work toward making discoveries that improve human health.
The Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine has received a 5-year fellowship renewal from the ACGME.
William J. Janssen, MD (Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine) – received an “Excellence in Direct Teaching” award from the Academy of Medical Educators.
Philip Simonian, MD (Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine) – recently received the American Thoracic Society, (ATS) Carl Booberg Research Award. This award is named in honor of Carl Booberg, former ATS Executive Director, in recognition of his more than 40 years of service to the American Thoracic Society and the American Lung Association. Carl has been a strong advocate for advancing respiratory, critical care, and sleep-related research and providing resources to support the careers of young investigators.
Eric Schmidt, MD (Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine) – received a new K Award for his project, entitled, "Pulmonary endothelial glycocalyx degradation causes ARDS during sepsis".
Jennifer Taylor-Cousar, MD (Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine) – received a new K Award for her project, entitled, “Use of Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors to Evaluate the Pathobiology of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease”.
Brian Graham, MD (Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine) – received a new K Award for his project, entitled, “Schistosomiasis Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension”.
Gabriela Garcia, MD (Renal Diseases and Hypertension) – received her first R01 award for her project, entitled, “Reduction of kidney progressive fibrosis by A2A adenosine receptor activation”. The project period is 04/10/2011 – 03/31/2016.
Seth Furgeson, MD (Renal Diseases and Hypertension) – received a K08 award for his project, entitled, “The role of smooth muscle PPAR gamma in neointima formation”. The project period is 04/18/2011 – 3/31/2016.
Jessica Kendrick, MD (Renal Diseases and Hypertension) – received a K23 award for her project, entitled, “Vitamin D and Arterial Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease”.
Sarah Faubel, MD (Renal Diseases and Hypertension) – received an AAP Section on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery 2011-12 Research Fellowship Award for her project, entitled, “Use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for the Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury in Children Post Cardiopulmonary Bypass”.
Alkesh Jani, MD (Renal Diseases and Hypertension) – has been officially named as the Chief of Nephrology at the VA.
Liron Caplan, MD (Rheumatology) – was named Best Physical Exam Preceptor at the annual Golden Stethoscope Awards event for preceptors in the Foundations of Doctoring Curriculum. Recipients of this award are selected by the medical students.
<< First Quarter 2011 News and Updates