Grand Rounds September

Uab Grant To Speed Benefits Of Research To Community, Alabama

Accelerating the pace of turning fundamental scientific discoveries into practical applications that enhance the lives of Alabamians is the focus of a new five-year $26.9 million grant at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It is one of the largest single grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in UAB's history. The funds will be used to establish the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) at UAB. "From the outset, UAB's mission has been to offer top-quality health care and education to the people of our state. With this grant, we'll be able to move early scientific discoveries much more rapidly into the community to have a more immediate impact on people's lives and health" said UAB President Carol Garrison. A key focus of the grant is increasing interaction between UAB researchers and the community, and among researchers at UAB and elsewhere, to share information about community needs and available resource, and to enhance collaboration. This new approach to how research is viewed and conducted builds upon UAB's tradition of interdisciplinary work. UAB will be working with the state's historically black colleges and universities, including Tuskegee University, and Southern Research Institute, Children's Health System of Alabama, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and a variety of community organizations throughout Birmingham and the state. For years, UAB has worked with community organizations to enhance the health of the population and to decrease health disparities. Through the CCTS, UAB will expand those efforts so that people within the general community can advise researchers how best to reach community members. At the same time, scientists will be able to help people understand the complexities of the research continuum and provide realistic timeframes for new advances. A second major portion of the grant revolves around training and education. Young researchers will be assisted in designing their research in the most effective way to solve the problem at hand. However, UAB's efforts will be directed at all levels of researchers, from undergraduate students who are just experiencing an interest in scientific inquiry, to graduate students and clinicians who are making careers of science. Sharing data and information within the university research community is another key goal of the CTSA. The Biomedical Informatics Component will capitalize on existing strengths across the university and the Health System, and develop new capabilities to enhance clinical and translational research at UAB. Additionally, having the expertise and physical resources of HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology available will expand the knowledge-base and equipment available for the generation of research ideas, interpretation of those ideas and eventual development of those ideas into useful products for the general public. UAB joins 37 other institutions as part of the federally funded consortium of Clinical and Translation Science Award Centers. "Earning this grant is a demonstration that UAB is among the top clinical and translational research institutions in the nation," said Dr. Robert R. Rich, UAB senior vice president of medicine and dean of the School of Medicine.

Roth Named Chair Of Pathology

Kevin Roth, M.D., Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Pathology at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Roth came to UAB from the Washington University School of Medicine in 2002 as director of the division of neuropathology. "We are extremely enthusiastic about the vision that Dr. Roth has for the Department of Pathology," said Robert Rich, M.D., Senior Vice President and Dean of the School of Medicine. "With his focus, energy and resources, he is poised to lead the department to an even higher level of accomplishment and esteem." Last year, Roth was named the founding director of the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, an interdisciplinary collaboration for neuroscience research, clinical care and education. That center draws on a variety of disciplines, including neurology, psychiatry, neurobiology, neurosurgery, psychology, vision science and biomedical engineering. Roth earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University School of Medicine after graduating with highest honors from the University of Michigan. He completed residency at Washington University before joining the faculty there. He currently severs as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. He is a member of the Histochemical Society, the International Association of Neuropathologists, the American Society for Investigative Pathology and the Society for Neuroscience. Roth is replacing Jay McDonald, M.D., who is retiring as chair after 18 years at the helm of the department.

Pencer Named Ruby F. Meredith Endowed Chair In Radiation Oncology

Sharon Spencer, M.D., professor of radiation oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has been named the Ruby F. Meredith Outstanding Clinician in Radiation Oncology Endowed Chair. The appointment was approved by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees. Spencer is a noted expert in the field of head, neck, lung and breast cancer therapy. She serves as clinical director for UAB's Department of Radiation Oncology and helps coordinate research and patient programs between her department and others, including medical oncology and surgery. Spencer earned her medical degree and completed her residency at UAB. She joined the Department of Radiation Oncology as an instructor in 1987 and rose through the ranks to become a professor and clinical director. She later earned a master's degree in health administration and also serves as medical director for the radiation therapy program at the UAB School of Health Professions.

Woodworth Named Hicks Chair In Otolaryngology

Bradford Woodworth, M.D., assistant professor of surgery in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, has been named the James Johnston Hicks Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology. The appointment was made by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. He earned his medical degree Tulane University in New Orleans and completed his residency training at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he was honored with numerous awards for scientific research and teaching.

Children's Hospital Cancer Specialist Presented Life Inspiration Award From American Cancer Society

Thomas Howard, MD, FAAP, is the recipient of this year's American Cancer Society (ACS) Medical Professional Life Inspiration Award in Birmingham. Dr. Howard is a professor in the UAB Division of Hematology and Oncology at Children's Hospital. He holds membership in the American Federation of Clinical Research, the American Society of Hematology, the American Pediatric Society, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and the Southern Society of Pediatric Research.

UAB Study Shows Modified Technique Further Reduces Lung Surgery Pain

A simple variation in a surgical technique developed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to reduce acute and chronic pain following lung surgery further reduces pain and helps return patients to normal activity quicker than the previous technique, according to a study published in the June issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Instead of crushing the intercostal muscle and nerve that lies between the ribs during rib spreading when performing a lung resection, UAB Chief of Thoracic Surgery Robert J. Cerfolio, M.D., teases the muscle and nerve away from the rib and then moves it out of the way before spreading the ribs. This leads to less trauma to the muscle and intercostal nerve and dramatically reduces post-operative pain. This new technique is a further modification of a concept that Cerfolio and colleagues reported in 2005. As reported in that paper, the technique divided, then moved, the intercostal muscle and the nerve away from the rib spreader so it was not crushed. In this new modification, the muscle is no longer divided but is allowed to dangle under the rib spreader, further avoiding trauma to the nerve and muscle. For the 160 patients participating in this study, those who received the modified muscle flap technique reported that pain was reduced both in the hospital and after surgery at weeks three, four, eight and 12. Those who received the modified muscle flap procedure had lower pain scores and required less pain medications than those who did not. They also were more likely to return to normal activities within eight to 12 weeks after the surgery. The original idea for the Cerfolio technique was generated from an earlier study Cerfolio published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery in 2004. "In the first study, we found a way to avoid injury to the intercostal nerve that lies below the sixth rib during closure by drilling holes in the ribs so the closure stitches would not entrap that nerve," Cerfolio said. "Then, I got the idea that maybe we could further reduce the pain by avoiding the intercostal nerve and muscle that lie above the sixth rib during opening and came up with the idea of harvesting the intercostal muscle flap prior to chest retraction." To date, a number of surgeons and other clinical staff from all over the world, including, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, France and Spain have recently come to UAB to observe Cerfolio perform lung surgery and learn this new technique. Cerfolio is recognized as one of the busiest thoracic surgeons in the world and performs more than 1,200 surgeries each year.

Markert Named Galbraith Chair Of Neurosurgery At UAB

James M. Markert, M.D., professor and division director, department of surgery, division of neurosurgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has been named the James Garber Galbraith Endowed Chair of Neurosurgery at UAB. The appointment was made by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees at its June 20 meeting. Markert, who joined the UAB faculty in 1996, also is the co-director of the UAB Brain SPORE, a $13 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop new therapies to treat brain cancer. Markert earned his doctor of medicine degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1988 as well as his master's degree in public health followed by the completion of his residency training at the University of Michigan Medical Center.

UAB Receives Most APDA Grants For 2008

UAB (University of Alabama Birmingham) has received five American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) research grants, the most awarded to one institution this year. UAB was named an APDA Center for Advanced Research, one of nine APDA-supported centers in major academic and research institutions across the United States. David G. Standaert, MD, PhD, director of UAB's Center for Neurodegeneration & Experimental Therapeutics, is the center director and medical director of the APDA Information & Referral Center at UAB. Advanced centers receive $125,000 annually for five years based upon favorable yearly progress reports. One-year, $50,000 research grants were awarded to Anthony Nicholas, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of neurology; Andrew West, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology, and Theodore Shaji, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow. Stephen Crimmins, Ph.D., received a one-year, $35,000 postdoctoral fellowship. APDA's Scientific Advisory Board, a panel of 15 experts in Parkinson disease specialties that reviews and recommends all research funding, accepted the work of Talene Yacoubian, M.D, Ph.D, a Dr. George C. Cotzias Fellowship winner last year. Awarded to assist promising neurologists in establishing careers in research, teaching and clinical services relevant to the problems, causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of PD, the Cotzias Fellowship is APDA's most prestigious research award and carries a three-year, $80,000 annual award based upon favorable progress. Standaert and Ray L. Watts, M.D., UAB's chairman of neurology and acting CEO of the Health System, are past Cotzias fellowship recipients. APDA is the country's largest grassroots organization serving the more than 1.5 million people afflicted with the progressively degenerative neurological disease and their caregivers.

Trinity Medical Center Names Assistant Chief Executive Officer

Patrick Trammell has been named Assistant Chief Executive Officer at Trinity Medical Center. Prior to his appointment, he served as Assistant Chief Executive Officer at Lake Granbury Medical Center in Granbury, Texas and as Associate Administrator for North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. Trammell received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and management from University of West Florida in Pensacola and masters degrees in both business administration and health administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His past community involvement includes serving as Lake Granbury campaign chairman for United Way of Hood County and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Mendelsohn Named National Coordinator for TAMARIS Study

Farrell Mendelsohn, M.D., a cardiologist with Princeton Baptist Medical Center, has been chosen as the National Coordinator for the TAMARIS Study, which involves study centers across the United States conducting research for patients with advanced Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and skin ulcers of the foot or leg. "There are tens of thousands of Americans who undergo amputation of their legs for severe critical peripheral artery disease because there is a severe unmet medical need," Mendelsohn said. "For these patients who have failed or are not candidates for revascularization, there's no good therapy. "The TAMARIS Study is a follow-up study to the Talisman Study, a landmark study in the field of peripheral artery disease," Mendelsohn said. "Talisman was the first ever to show that a medicine can cut the likelihood of death or amputation of this patient population by half. Because of our in-depth background in therapeutic angiogenesis, we have anchored many of the trials in the field of angiogenesis in the last nine years. It's critical for us to take the leadership in helping other sites throughout the country to identify patients who may be helped by this study."

Children's Health System Adds Two New Specialists To Medical Staff

Suthida Kankirawatana, M.D., and Mary Dell Railey, M.D., have joined the staff of the UAB Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital. Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Dr. Kankirawatana earned her master of science degree in epidemiology and her medical degree from Mahidol University, where she graduated with second degree honors. She completed her initial training in pediatrics at Siriraj Hospital in Thailand. She continued her pediatric training at UAB in allergy and immunology in the department of pediatrics. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is Board-eligible for allergy and immunology. Her professional interests include immunodeficiency, general allergic diseases, asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. A native of Eufaula, Dr. Railey holds a bachelor of science degree in zoology from Auburn University, where she graduated magna cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her internship and residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology at Duke University. She is a Fellow with the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and Board-eligible for allergy and immunology. Her professional interests include food allergy, asthma, immunodeficiency, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis.

Therapy South Names Marketing Coordinator

Therapy South has named Suzanne Moore to the position of Marketing and Physician Relations. Moore, who is a graduate of the University of Alabama, will manage contacts with healthcare referral sources, informing physicians and their staffs about Therapy South rehabilitation services, as well as communicating on care of referred patients. Moore has held several healthcare marketing and consulting positions, most recently as Activities Director of South Haven Health and Rehabilitation in Hoover.

Allison Named BHS Director of Business Development and Planning

Blake Allison has joined Baptist Health System (BHS) as director of business development and planning, where he will work with the BHS planning process, the gathering and analysis of market data for current and new markets, and assist in the development of new business ventures. Allison began his career in health care in 2003 as an administrative fellow with the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston, Texas. Later, he was appointed chief operating officer of urgent care services, where he was responsible for driving the development and operations of freestanding emergency departments and urgent care services across the health care system.