October Grand Rounds

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.

The Compounding Shoppe Featured Nationally

The Compounding Shoppe in Homewood was featured in articles in the August 2008 issues of America's Pharmacist and Computer Talk for the Pharmacist. Both articles highlighted technology that Scott Wepfer, RPh has incorporated into the pharmacy to improve customer service and the safety of their compounded medicines. "The computer system forces compliance with policies and procedures, so the same level of quality is maintained day after day," Wepfer said. His early adoption of technology allowed The Compounding Shoppe to be the first in the United States to receive accreditation from the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board. The America's Pharmacist article also focused on the pharmacy's adoption of a holistic wellness approach to helping people solve their health problems. In this clinical role, Wepfer describes himself as a "naturopathic pharmacist" and integrates herbs, homeopathics and whole-food nutrtionals when working with patients to develop rational therapy plans.

Farrar Named to Baptist Health System Board

Richard Farrar has been named to the Board of Trustees of Baptist Health System. "We are grateful for the knowledge and expertise Rick Farrar brings to our Board," said Shane Spees, president and CEO of Baptist Health System. "As a veteran of more than 25 years in the financial planning industry, his participation will be a great benefit to Baptist Health System." Farrar is a Certified Financial Planner with First Financial Group, and has served in many capacities within the financial services industry, including local chapter president of both the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and the Society of Financial Services Professionals. He was recognized as Advisor of the Year by the local chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Planning Advisors.

UAB Hospital Wins Next-To-Top U.S. Honor

UAB Hospital was chosen first runner-up in the Hospital of the Year Award, according to the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. The alliance ranks accredited hospitals based their consumer friendliness, care-related performance and other professional standards. UAB Hospital was named one of 10 U.S. finalists for the award earlier this year. Award criteria include such things as scoring patient handouts, hospital Web pages and staff helpfulness, and a review of steps taken to guarantee patients and their families are fully involved in medical decisions. The award also looks at community involvement, hospital staff development and comparative factors like nursing numbers, licensed beds and surgical procedures performed at each hospital. Before UAB Hospital became a top 10 finalist for Hospital of the Year it won the Hospital of Choice Award, a prerequisite honor from the alliance. Recently nine UAB Hospital specialty programs ranked in the top 50 for U.S. News & World Report's annual "America's Best Hospitals" special issue. As a whole UAB Hospital was one of 170 hospitals, and the only one in Alabama or Mississippi, to rank high enough to make the magazine's "Best Hospitals" list from 3 percent of U.S. medical centers studied

Pogwizd Named Featheringill Endowed Professor At UAB

UAB Professor of Medicine and Associate Director of Cardiovascular Biology Steven M. Pogwizd, M.D., has been named the first holder of the Featheringill Endowed Professorship in Cardiac Arrhythmia Research at UAB. The appointment was made by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees at its June 20 meeting. Pogwizd, an internationally known cardiologist skilled in the cardiologic principals and practice of arrhythmias in the failing heart, came to UAB earlier this year from the University of Illinois at Chicago where he was professor of medicine and interim director of research in the cardiology section. He also had joint appointments as professor in the departments of physiology and biophysics and biomedical engineering. He is the principal investigator for several NIH RO1 grants and his research focuses on cellular and electrophysiological mechanisms of arrhythmias in heart failure and three-dimensional electrocardiographic imaging. Pogwizd is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American College of Physicians, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Cardiology and cardiac Electrophysiology Society. He also has received a number of awards, including Fellow of the American College of Physicians and American Heart Association Established Investigator Award. Pogwizd earned his bachelor's in chemistry from the University of Chicago and his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his internship and residency at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago and clinical and research fellowships in cardiology at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

Children's Hospital Receives Organ Donation Medal Of Honor Second Year In A Row

For the second consecutive year, the Children's Hospital of Alabama has earned the Organ Donation Medal of Honor from the United States Department of Health and Human Services for exceeding the national target for organ donation conversion rates between May, 2007, and April, 2008. The award will be presented Oct. 24 at the meeting of the National Learning Congress in Nashville. Children's achieved a 77 percent conversion rate during this period, higher than the 75 percent national target. The conversion rate reflects the number of actual organ donations received from eligible organ donors. An interdisciplinary organ donation team, led by Margaret Winkler, M.D., works with all units of the hospital to improve the conversion rate. Team members include Children's employees Bryn Manzella, Beverly Barrett, Doreen Duley, Delicia Mason, Jimmy Barnett, Elena Terminiello, Peggy Logan, Shirley Ward, Eleanor Barnes, Vickie Atkins and Andrew Patrick. Ann Rayburn of the Alabama Organ Center also serves on the team. Children's Hospital of Alabama is the 10th busiest pediatric medical center in the United States. Located in Birmingham, Children's is one of only about 45 freestanding acute care hospitals of its kind in the nation and the only hospital in Alabama dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children. It is licensed for 275 beds. Children's is a private, not-for-profit hospital governed by a volunteer board of trustees. The hospital was recently recognized for the excellence of its nursing care by achieving Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Children's will celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2011.

Latamia White Tapped To Lead Uab's Civitan Sparks Clinics

LaTamia White, M.D., has been named director of the UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics, where she succeeds Alan Percy, M.D., who is returning to a full time faculty position in the UAB Department of Pediatrics. The Civitan-Sparks Clinics provide clinical services for individuals and families throughout Alabama with or at risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders, Rett syndrome, cerebral palsy, inherited metabolic diseases, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Downs syndrome. The clinic takes a multi-disciplinary approach and involves faculty from pediatrics, psychology, speech pathology, audiology, physical and occupational therapy, special education, nutrition, dentistry, optometry and social work. White is an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology. Her clinical interests include autism and other developmental disorders; her current research focuses on autism spectrum disorders. "Dr. White is an excellent clinician and compassionate caregiver," said James Meador-Woodruff, M.D., chairman of the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology. "Her work, in both research and in the clinical setting, with not only autism, but a variety of developmental disorders, makes her an excellent choice for this position. She is personally committed to helping patients and families and will honor the center and its history with the course she sets for the future." White is uniquely positioned to lead the Civitan-Sparks Clinics. Not only is she a clinician specializing in autism and other developmental disorders and a member of Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's Autism Task Force, she has a child with high functioning autism. Her 13-year-old son Teddy was diagnosed when he was three. "Originally, my specialty was going to be obstetrics and gynecology. My great-grandmother was a midwife and I felt it was just in my DNA," White said. "But after Teddy's evaluation, I decided to pursue a specialty that would allow me to help children and families living with autism and other developmental disorders." White said she is excited about the opportunity to lead the clinics and with the faculty, staff and other leadership, hopes to bring even more services to the people of Alabama. "Everything the clinics have done for nearly 40 years has been amazing," she said. "Its clinical, educational and research-oriented leaders have been instrumental in shaping the lives of so may people with developmental delays and other diseases and disorders. I hope to continue that excellent work, adding to and streamlining services to help those who need us most." White earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Florida A&M University and M.D. from the University of South Florida. She completed residency training in both the adult and child and adolescent psychiatry programs at UAB and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. White is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Autism Society of Alabama.

St. Vincent's Chief Medical Officer Elected Board Chairman Alabama Quality Assurance Foundation

Mark S. Williams, MD, MBA, JD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the St. Vincent's Health System was re-elected as chairman of the board of directors of the Alabama Quality Assurance Foundation (AQAF). Dr. Williams has been a board member of AQAF for over a decade. AQAF is the statewide organization charged by the federal government with improving the health of the state's nearly 800,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Dr. Williams is a clinical associate professor at UAB. He continues to practice part-time as a board certified anesthesiologist and has been an oral examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology for 18 years. He is the CEO of Southern Perioperative Services and was formerly chief of staff at Carraway Methodist Medical Center. A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law (2001), Dr. Williams clerked at Sirote & Permut and is a member of the Alabama State Bar. He earned his MBA degree from Samford University in 1995.

UAB School Of Nursing Awarded $2.5 Million In Federal Grants

Three faculty members from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing have received grants totaling $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Teena McGuinness received an Advanced Education Nursing Award, a three-year grant, $793,384, "Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners in the Rural Deep South," from the HRSA Division of Nursing. Beth Stullenbarger received a Nursing Workforce Diversity Award, a three-year grant, $867,265, "Enrichment for Academic Success in Nursing," from the HRSA Division of Nursing Anne Turner Henson received a Leadership Education in Child Health Nursing Award, a five-year grant, $896,855, "Building Capacity and Leadership in Child Health Nursing," from the HRSA Maternal and Child Health Federal Consolidated Programs.

DCH Regional Medical Center Names Vice President of Patient Care Services

Patrice Jones has been named the Vice President of Patient Care Services at DCH Regional Medical Center. She will begin work at the Regional Medical Center on Sept. 2. Jones comes to the Regional Medical Center from UAB Hospital, where she served as Nursing Administrative Director responsible for Neuroscience units, Spain Rehabilitation Hospital and the Emergency Department. She was also responsible for the recruitment and retention of nursing staff and was the Nursing liaison to UAB Health System's Information Systems. Jones will assume the position held by Eula Das, Ph.D., since 1996. In July 2007 Das announced her intent to retire, and DCH officials have been searching for a replacement since then. As Vice President of Patient Care Services, Jones will be responsible for the Regional Medical Center's nursing staff, the pharmacy, respiratory services, and food and nutritional services. "Mrs. Jones is an accomplished nurse administrator with more than 20 years of progressive and successful nursing leadership experiences gained in a variety of health-care delivery systems," said Regional Medical Center Administrator Bill Cassels. "We look forward to Mrs. Jones bringing her people skills and personnel leadership abilities to the Regional Medical Center." Jones has a broad base of nursing leadership experience. The positions she has held at UAB Hospital include assistant chief nursing officer, interim chief nursing officer, interim administrative director of emergency medicine and director of nursing services/assistant chief nursing officer. She is presently an adjunct faculty member at the UAB School of Nursing. Jones holds a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Administration from UAB and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Troy State University. She holds professional licensure from the Alabama State Board of Nursing and certification in Nursing Administration from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Pasche Named Uab Director Of Hematology/Oncology, Associate Director Of Uab Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Boris Pasche is the new director of the division of hematology/oncology and associate director for translational research in the Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. "Dr. Pasche is internationally recognized for his basic and clinical research on critically important issues relating to cancer risk and treatment," said Dr. Dr. Edward Abraham, chairman of the UAB Department of Medicine. "His work on the genetics and treatment of cancer will help our cancer center sustain its rankings as one of the nation's best." Dr. Pasche is an associate professor of medicine and director of the cancer genetics program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. He also is the leader of the Cancer Genes and Molecular Targeting Program at Northwestern's Cancer Center. Dr. Pasche received medical degrees from both the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. He also earned a Ph.D. from the Karolinska Institute. His internship and medical residency were at The New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center and his fellowship in hematology/oncology was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the New York Hospital, Cornell University Medical College. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Pasche remained at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for three years and then moved to Northwestern University. Dr. Pasche serves on the NCI Cancer Genetics study section. He is contributing editor at the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and also editor of The Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research. Dr. Pasche is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation. His primary research interests are focused on the genetics of cancer, and he presently has two NIH grants relating to TGF-polymorphisms and breast and colon cancer.

Baptist Health System Adds Stuckey to HR Team

Baptist Health System (BHS) recently named Don Stuckey to its human resources team as director of talent management. In this newly created position, Stuckey will play a key role in ongoing training and development activities for the BHS management team. Additionally, he will be part of projects focused on enhancing the work life for all employees at BHS. "Don brings with him more than 20 years experience in recruiting and selecting employees, improving customer service, and training and developing managers," said Alan Bradford, BHS vice president of human resources. "That experience, as well as his personal skill set, makes him a great resource for Baptist Health System." Stuckey is a native of Illinois and earned a Master of Arts degree in communication from Purdue University. Prior to joining BHS, he was responsible for training and development as well as employee relations, and served as a customer service strategist at BI-LO, LLC in South Carolina.