Wilson Joins MediSYS

Wyatt Wilson has joined MediSYS as Account Manager. With twenty years in the healthcare industry, Wilson will serve as account manager for MediSYS Practice Management Systems and Encite Electronic Health Records. As MediSYS Account Manager, he will perform medical practice assessments and provide custom demonstrations for practices located in Jefferson, Morgan, Lauderdale, Madison, Cullman, Etowah and other north Alabama counties.

Most recently, Wilson served as Business Development Manager for AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation. Wilson has also served as a sales representative for Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals. With a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications from Auburn University at Montgomery, Wilson is active in professional organizations including the Medical Group Management Association.

Koehler Named Professor Emeritus

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees has appointed Robert Koehler, MD as professor emeritus of radiology. Koehler joined UAB in 1982 and is internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of radiology and investigation of esophageal disease.

Koehler is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American College of Radiology, American Board of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, Association of University Radiologists and Society of Chairmen of Academic Radiology Departments.

He has received a number of honors and awards throughout his career, including the Distinguished Service Award from the American Board of Radiology, Herbert M. Stauffer Award for best education paper published in Academic Radiology, and twice won the UAB Department of Radiology Gary T. Barnes Distinguished Faculty Award. He also has been listed in several top physician and teaching publications, including Best Doctors in America.

Trinity Recognized by Department of Health and Human Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recognized Trinity Medical Center for its efforts in organ donation. The hospital received the Department’s Medal of Honor for Organ Donation for achieving a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors. Trinity representatives received the award during the Third National Learning Congress on Organ Donation and Transplantation held in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tran Begins General Surgery Clinic

General surgeon Quan D. Tran, MD, has opened a surgical clinic in Fayette. Tran, who is affiliated with Tuscaloosa Surgical Associates, will perform surgery at Fayette Medical Center, as well as at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa and Northport Medical Center.

Tran completed his residency in general surgery at The Ochsner Clinic of New Orleans, where he served as chief resident from 2005-2006. He received his medical degree from UAB in 2001. He received his bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from Florida State University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

“We welcome Dr. Tran to our hospital and look forward to working closely with him to continue our tradition of providing outstanding surgical care to the people of Fayette and Lamar counties and the surrounding area,” said Barry Cochran, Fayette Medical Center administrator.

Goldenberg Named Professor Emeritus

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees has appointed UAB Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Robert Goldenberg, MD as professor emeritus. Since joining UAB in 1976, Goldenberg has held a number of positions, including director of the UAB Center for Women’s Reproductive Health, director of the UAB Center for Obstetric Research, chairman of the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Charles E. Flowers Endowed Chair in the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Goldenberg has also been active in public service work, including the Children’s Defense Fund, as well as serving on the Child Health Advisory Panel for the U.S. Congress and as Chairperson of the US-India Collaboration on Maternal Child Health research.

UAB Establishes Research Initiative for Aging Minorities

UAB, in partnership with three other Southern universities, has received a federal grant to create the Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR). The National Institute on Aging and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities have awarded $2.7 million over five years to UAB, the University of Alabama, Tuskegee University and Morehouse School of Medicine to examine health disparities in older minority adults.

The RCMAR will focus on health problems that are particularly prevalent among older African Americans, and will give special attention to issues related to rural elders, intervention research addressing exercise, diet, or preventive health strategies and studies addressing socio-economic, discrimination, trust, and bioethical issues affecting both physical and mental health.

Musculoskeletal Centers Wins $3.8 Million Research Grant

The UAB Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) has won a $3.8 million grant renewal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for research into inflammatory, arthritic and musculoskeletal diseases.

The award allows the UAB CERTs, one of 14 centers in the nation, to continue its often-cited research on the safety and effectiveness of new therapeutics for these diseases.

Additionally, the renewal funds will help UAB CERTs continue its work at reducing treatment disparities among minority communities where musculoskeletal diseases are a problem. Focusing on such disparities is accomplished through physician, health-care training and community outreach programs, said Kenneth Saag, M.D., M.Sc., professor of in the UAB Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology and director of the UAB CERTs.




January 2008