UAB School of Public Health Names New Sparkman Center Director

Craig Wilson, MD, professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the UAB School of Medicine, has been named director of the Sparkman Center for Global Health at the school.

Wilson has been with UAB since 1991. In addition to his appointment as a professor in the UAB School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Pediatrics, he is interim division director in the Division of Geographic Medicine in UAB Department of Medicine and Microbiology. His research efforts for the past 10 years have been almost exclusively related to HIV infections in adolescents, particularly those infected through risk behaviors.

Wilson’s work with HIV infections in adolescents was initiated with the REACH study (1994-2001) and is continuing with the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN), which began in 2001.

UAB Researcher Heads to China for TB and HIV/AIDS Research

Han-Zhu Qian, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine at UAB, will fly to China at the end of this month to begin field work on a study to assess the prevalence and severity HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis co-infections.

Cases of HIV and AIDS are increasing throughout China. Much of this is a result of unhygienic plasma collecting practices in the country during the early 1990s, which caused 20 percent of reported HIV cases. Those infected during this period are now developing clinical AIDS and are at an increased risk of TB, due to their compromised immunity.

The researchers hope to estimate the prevalence of TB; identify lifestyle habits, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, related to TB infection; and to evaluate awareness and health seeking behaviors for TB.

Brascho Awarded Honorary Membership by the American Association of Phyicists in Medicine

Dr. Donn Brascho, radiation oncologist from Pell City and formerly a faculty member at the UAB School of Medicine was recently recognized by the American Association of Phyicists in Medicine with Honorary Membership. This award was presented to Dr. Brascho at the annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minn on July 23, 2007.

Dr. Brascho received his medical degree from the State University of New York in Syracuse in 1958. Following an internship at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, Col., he completed a three year residency in Radiology at Brooke General Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He served as a general radiologist in the military, including a 13 month tour in Korea.

New Physicians Join Children’s Hospital Medical Staff

Joseph G. Khoury, MD, Jeanine Scarber Maclin, MD, and Wynton C. Hoover, MD have joined the medical staff of Children’s Hospital.
Khoury comes to Children’s from Shriners Hospitals for Children in Erie, Pennsylvania where he served as assistant chief of staff and vice president of the medical executive committee. He is Board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Maclin is a third-year Fellow in the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at UAB. She is a Board-certified pediatrician and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in public health in Maternal and Child Health.

Hoover comes to Children’s from Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis where he was a fellow in pediatric pulmonary medicine. Dr. Hoover is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Encore Opens Gardendale Clinic

Encore Rehabilitation of Gardendale began operations on August 23, 2007. The new clinic is located at 919 Sharit Avenue, Suite 101 and specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation and sports medicine.

Encore Rehabilitation, Inc. is headquartered in Decatur, AL and is Alabama and Mississippi’s largest private owned rehabilitation company. Encore is the exclusive provider of athletic training services for the Alabama High School Athletic Association. In addition Encore provides athletic training services for over 80 high schools including the Fultondale Wildcats, the Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils, and the Hoover Bucs.

Shufflebarger Honored with ACHE Award

Tom Shufflebarger, FACHE, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Children’s Health System was honored with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Senior-Level healthcare Executive Regent’s Award at the recent annual meeting of the Alabama Hospital Association

“Tom is an outstanding leader who has demonstrated ability in various capacities over the past 15 years with Children’s Health System,” said Michael Wiggins, vice president of operations at Children’s.

Briggs Leaves Trinity

Vicki Briggs has resigned as CEO of Trinity Medical Center. Chief Operating Officer Tim McManus will serve as interim CEO while a nationwide search is undertaken.

“This was not an easy decision, but I know in my heart it is the right decision at the right time — both for me personally and for the hospital,” Briggs said. “I have enjoyed these two years with Trinity and the leadership team here is second to none. We have accomplished a great deal together. But now is the most appropriate juncture for me to take some time to treasure my family and evaluate the opportunities ahead.”

McManus earned a bachelor’s degree at Tulane University and holds a master’s degree in health science from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

September 2007