UAB Opens Clinic for Rare Genetic Disease
UAB will open the first clinic in the southeast dedicated to treating a rare genetic condition known as tuberous sclerosis (TS). The clinic will serve patients from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas.Tuberous sclerosis is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in different organs, primarily in the brain, eyes, heart, kidney, skin and lungs. It is estimated that there are 50,000 individuals in the United States and more than one million worldwide with TS. There are approximately 700 TS patients in Alabama.
The clinic, which is a collaboration between UAB and Children's Hospital, will provide patient services for both children and adults. Subspecialties involved include genetics, neurology, cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, pulmonology, nephrology, neurosugery, psychology, psychiatry and urology.
UAB Researchers Explore Flu Therapy for Infants
Researchers at UAB recently began a study to ensure the safety and effectiveness of Tamiflu, a common influenza treatment and prevention drug, on infants and children younger than two."Babies metabolize drugs differently than older children and adults," said Richard Whitley, MD, professor of pediatrics in the UAB Department of Pediatrics and co-principal investigator on the study. "So far, little research has been done to figure out the most effective type and dosages of treatment drugs for infants affected by influenza."
Past research shows that the most severe cases of seasonal influenza occur in children less than 2 years of age. In addition, young children are disproportionately impacted by the H5N1 strains of influenza, which is considered a possible source of a pandemic.
Trinity Cancer Center Hosts Memorial Service
The Cancer Center at Trinity Medical Center hosted a Memorial Service to pay tribute to those who lost their battle with cancer, while honoring the friends and family who cared for them during their illness. The service, which was held Saturday, May 12th in Linn Henley Auditorium at Trinity, was designed to bring together family, friends and health care professionals to remember these special loved ones.Korf Named President-Elect of American College of Medical Genetics
Bruce Korf, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Genetics at UAB, has been selected as president-elect of the American College of Medical Genetics. He will serve as president-elect for two years before assuming the presidency in 2009.The American College of Medical Genetics advances the practice of medical genetics by providing education, resources and a voice for more than 1,400 biochemical, clinical, cytogenetic, medical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors and other health care professionals committed to the practice of medical genetics.
Korf came to UAB from Harvard University in 2003 to head the newly created Department of Genetics.
Children's Hospital Adds Board Members
Children's Hospital has announced five additions to its Board of Trustees. The new members are J. David Brown, III, president of Jemison Investment Company, Beverly Blount McNeil, the owner of Portrait Brokers of America, Craft O'Neal, the chairman of O'Neal Steel, Marc Bryant Tyson, president of Ready Mix USA, and Dr. Jerry Oakes, who is the Dan L. Hendley Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery and the Surgeon-in-Chief at Children's Hospital. Children's is governed by an all-volunteer board.Corbett Named Director of UAB Diabetes Center
John A. Corbett, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, will be the inaugural director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center beginning June 1st."A leader in research examining the mechanism by which pancreatic islet cells are destroyed, Dr. Corbett will aptly lead UAB's efforts at finding better treatments, and we hope eventually a cure, for diabetes," said Robert R. Rich, M.D., senior vice president and dean of the UAB School of Medicine.
Corbett earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Saint Norbert College in DePere, Wisc. and his doctorate at Utah State University in biochemistry. After completing post-doctoral training at Washington University in St. Louis, he joined the faculty there as an instructor in pathology.
Drs. Royal and Young Recieve Award for Excellence
Two Children's Hospital physicians have been recognized for excellence in education by the UAB Radiology Residency program.Stuart A. Royal, MD, and Daniel W. Young, MD, of Children's department of pediatric imaging have each been selected as a recipient of a Top Ten Award for Excellence in Resident Education. The awards are presented semi-annually, based upon residents' evaluations.
Dr. Royal, clinical professor of radiology and pediatrics at UAB, is radiologist-in-chief for Children's Hospital of Alabama and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Children's Health System. Dr. Young is a pediatric radiologist and radiation safety officer for Children's Hospital. He also serves as a clinical professor of radiology and pediatrics at UAB.
Johnston Receives Outstanding Preceptor Award
UAB Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Janet Johnston has received the Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Preceptor Award, established by the Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Faculties to recognize a pediatric nurse practitioner preceptor who has made significant contributions to the education of other practitioners.Johnston, professor of pediatrics at the UAB Pediatric Pulmonary Department since 1989, has 30 years of experience in a variety of pediatric nursing settings. Her main focus for the past 20 years has been on care for children with chronic pulmonary conditions. As a preceptor, she mentors nursing students, assisting them in their professional development and helping them create effective approaches to care for children and families in a practice setting. This award honors her outstanding record and contributions to the improvement of the nursing program at UAB.
Flagg Speaks to Princeton Nurses
Fannie Flagg, the native Alabama author who wrote Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Café, spoke recently at a luncheon which was held to honor Princeton nurses as part of National Nurses Week. Flagg began in the 1960s as a staff writer for Allen Funt's Candid Camera. She later became Funt's co-host on the weekly version of the show and returned to writing in the 1980s, penning several successful novels. After the luncheon, the guests received autographed books of Fannie Flagg's recent book Can't Wait to Get to Heaven as well as recipe cards from the menu of the lunch using recipes from Fannie Flaggs books' A Redbird Christmas and Can't Wait to Get to Heaven.Nichols Named Fellow of American College of Healthcare Executives
David Nichols, FACHE, executive administrator in the Department of medicine at UAB, has been named a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation's leading professional society for healthcare leaders.UAB Medical School Ranked Among Best in USA
Five medical specialties within the UAB School of Medicine are ranked in the top 20 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in its graduate school rankings released March 30: AIDS, 5th; women's health, 13th; internal medicine, 13th; geriatrics, 16th; and pediatrics, 20th. The master's degree program in health care management in the School of Health Professions is ranked 7th.The School of Public Health is ranked 16th and the School of Nursing is ranked 26th with two specialties ranked, family nurse practitioner 11th and nursing-anesthesia 32nd.
The School of Medicine is ranked 27th in the research category, tied with Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked 34th in the primary care category, ahead of Mayo Medical School and Emory University.
Sessions Speaks at Prostate Cancer Survivor's Reunion
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer other than skin cancers in American men. One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer sometime in their lives, with African-American men having 1.6 times the incidence rate of white males.Recently, the Prostate Cancer Coalition did a study, comparing prostate cancer outcomes across the country and issuing each state a grade. Unfortunately, Alabama received an F, ranking 48th out of 50 states on prostate cancer mortality.
Senator Jeff Sessions expressed concern over the state's poor grade recently, when he spoke at Urology Centers of Alab
ama's Third Annual Prostate Cancer Survivor's Reunion. Sessions, who is a prostate cancer survivor himself, talked about the need to raise awareness and the significance of early detection, stressing the importance of PSA tests and digital rectal exams.
There were approximately 300 prostate cancer survivors in attendance, all of whom had undergone the da Vinci robotic-assisted prostatectomy. "The idea of the reunion is to honor the men who have undergone the procedure," says Thomas Moody MD. "In many ways, they're pioneers because it was an unknown procedure when we started with it." Since 2002 Urology Centers surgeons have performed approximately 1600 da Vinci procedures, ranking them fifth in the world in number performed.
In an effort to improve Alabama's high prostate cancer mortality rate, Urology Centers has offered a number of free screenings and has worked with state legislators to introduce a bill that would mandate insurance coverage for prostate cancer screening.
May 2007