Taub Named Chair-elect For AAAS Psychology Section
Edward Taub, Ph.D, University Professor of Psychology at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) has been elected Chair-Elect of the Section on Psychology (section J) of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Taub began his term as Chair-Elect in February of this year. His term continues through February of 2011.AAAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. In addition to organizing membership activities, AAAS publishes the journal Science <http://www.sciencemag.org> , as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide.
Taub is internationally known as the developer of Constraint Induced Therapy, a family of rehabilitation techniques that greatly improves the rehabilitation of movement after neurological injury.
UAB Hosts First Annual Stroke Gala
The UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Comprehensive Stroke Research Center will host the inaugural Stroke Gala, 7 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at the Riverchase Ballroom in the Wynfrey Hotel.The evening of dining and dancing will help draw awareness to stroke prevention, treatment and research. Cost is $100 per ticket to the black tie event and is tax deductible. Tickets may be purchased by calling 205-975-8508 prior to May 25.
The southeastern United States, often called the stroke belt, has the highest rate of mortality from stroke in the country. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than160,000 people each year.
“While the Stroke Gala is a celebration, we will use this event to remind the public of the symptoms of stroke and stress understanding of the risk factors so people can take steps to better protect themselves,” said Andrei Alexandrov, M.D., director of the UAB Stroke Center.
“Stroke is truly a medical emergency,” Alexandrov said. “If you think you, or someone around you, might be having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. There are treatments and medications that are very effective in limiting the effects of a stroke, but they must be administered within a few hours of a stroke’s onset.”
UAB’s Comprehensive Stroke Research Center is an interdisciplinary program specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke and stroke-related disorders. Components include the stroke team at UAB Hospital, outpatient services at the Kirklin Clinic and comprehensive diagnostic services.
Urology Centers Honored by Governor for Black Belt Screenings
The Black Belt region of Alabama, named for the rich, black soil, is an impoverished area, with unemployment in double digits and 59 per cent of births to unwed mothers. In 2004, Governor Bob Riley created the Black Belt Commission, with the aim of finding solutions to the area’s economic problems.In response to the governor’s goals, Thomas Moody, MD and the Urology Centers of Alabama staff, working with the Alabama Department of Public Health, traveled to the region where they set up free prostate cancer screenings. In April, Governor Riley awarded Urology Centers for their charitable work.
Robert Centor, Md, Elected To Board Of National Doctors’ Organization
PHILADELPHIA — Robert M. Centor, MD, FACP, Associate Dean and Executive Director of the University of Alabama School of Medicine, Huntsville Regional Medical Campus, has been elected to the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the nation’s second-largest physician organization. His term will begin during Internal Medicine 2008 — the ACP annual scientific meeting in Washington, D.C., May 15-17. The ACP Board of Regents is the organization’s main policymaking body. Regents may serve two three-year terms.Dr. Centor is also Professor and Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). In addition, he is a scientist at the Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, UAB.
Dr. Centor was formerly Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, and was Associate Dean for Primary Care, at UAB. Before joining the UAB faculty, he was a professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, and was a member of the ACP Virginia Chapter’s Scientific Program Committee. Dr. Centor also served on the national ACP Medical Informatics Committee from 1990 to 1994.
A graduate of the Medical College of Virginia, Dr. Centor completed residency training at MCV hospitals, followed by fellowship training in renal diseases at University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas. He is board-certified in internal medicine. Dr. Centor was named a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) in 1985. FACP is an honorary designation that recognizes ongoing service and contributions to the practice of medicine.
Dermatopathologists Join Practice
Dr. Scott Acker, Managing Director of Dermatopathology Services, Birmingham, Alabama, takes great pleasure in announcing the addition of two Dermatopathologists to the practice. Dr. Ashley Allison and Dr. Grant Eudy will join Dr. Acker, Dr. Deborah Sanders, and Dr. Alan Long this summer.Ashley received her medical doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. She completed her anatomic and clinical pathology residency at the university of Texas health Science Center at Houston and received additional training at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Ashley will finish her Dermatopathology fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston and will return to Birmingham to begin work in July.
Grant graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He completed anatomic and clinical pathology training at Emory University where he served as chief resident and also trained in surgical pathology and Dermatopathology.
Orthopaedic Surgeon Certified in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Samuel R. Goldstein, MD, of Birmingham, AL, received his Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Goldstein is one of only 529 Academy members that have earned this prestigious subspecialty certification. Dr. Goldstein is the founding partner of Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Specialists, P.C.
Bright Awarded Prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member Designation
LtCol. Bruce Bright, USMC (Ret.) Director of Business Development at The Sanders Trust, Birmingham, Alabama, has been awarded the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation by the CCIM Institute at their annual meeting in Newport Beach, California. The CCIM (a recognized expert in commercial and investment real estate) designation allows Bright to couple his many years of leadership experience in the Marine Corp with the strategic management skills of The Sanders Trust as they continue to own, acquire, develop and manage strategic healthcare properties throughout the United States. The Sanders Trust provides capital to leading institutions through the acquisition and development of income–producing real estate properties related to the delivery of healthcare services including medical office buildings, ambulatory care centers, and surgery centers.
Lieutenant Colonel Bright brings 28 years of leadership experience to The Sanders Trust. The Colonel is the company’s Ambassador, tasked with building strong client relationships nationally. His service includes four years as a Marine Infantryman and 24 years as a Marine F/A-18 Fighter Pilot. In addition to his Master of Strategic Studies from the Air war College, Colonel Bright holds a Bachelor of Science degree. Prior to his leadership role at The Sanders Trust, Bright was the Commanding Officer of the F/A- 18 Squadron, VMFA-212 and served two combat tours in the Middle East
Baptist Health System to be Part of National Medicare Project
Baptist Health System (BHS) will play a key role in a five-year, first-of-its-kind Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) project aimed at improving the quality of patient care. Through the demonstration project, incentive payments will be provided to physicians for using electronic health records (EHR).Alabama Medicaid Commissioner Carol Steckel announced June 11 that Alabama is one of only 12 communities selected to participate in the project from a field of 30 applicants. BHS, which was part of the state’s winning application, will be involved mainly through its Baptist Health Centers, the largest primary care network in the state and the only primary care network included in the application. (Note: a list of BHC locations follows this release.)
“I think our inclusion is a testament to our continued strength and history as a provider of vital health care services, and reflects our continuing commitment to better serve our patients,” said BHS President and CEO Shane Spees. “We are happy to participate in a project that could, ultimately, have such great benefits for Alabamians.”
“The use of electronic health records, and of health information technology as a whole, has the ability to transform the way health care is delivered in our nation,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. “We believe EHRs can help physicians deliver better, more efficient care for their patients, in part by reducing medical errors. This project is designed to demonstrate these benefits and help increase the use of this technology in practices where adoption has been the slowest — at the individual physician and small practice level.”
The project will be implemented in two phases with Baptist Health System participating in Phase II, which begins June 2009.
Advanced Surgeons, P.C. Brings First Endocrine Surgeon to Birmingham
On July 7th, Gardner Scott Smith, MD joined Advanced Surgeons, P.C., as the first Endocrine Surgeon in Birmingham. After graduating from UAB Medical School in 2002, Smith did his internship with Baptist Health Systems, where he was honored as the Most Outstanding Intern. He then completed a general surgery residency with Baptist Health Systems, before doing an endocrine surgery residency at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, which he completed this year.“The fellowship in endocrine surgery allowed me to concentrate on the preoperative work-up and post-operative care of patients with a wide variety of diseases that may rarely be seen in a general surgery residency,” Smith said. “During the past year, I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from one of the world’s leaders in endocrine surgery, Dr. Richard Prinz, who has authored or co-authored over 75 articles and book chapters on the topics of thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal surgery.”
Smith is excited about joining Advanced Surgeons, P.C. “When choosing medicine, I wanted a career that taught my children the importance of caring for and serving others. I am privileged to now practice surgery with a group of men that have similar faith.”
UAB Health System Administrators Named Fellows
Four administrators from the UAB Health System have been named fellows by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Marilyn M. Henry, Joseph S. Watson, Anthony W. Patterson and Louis H. Dunhe are now among a select group of 7,500 healthcare executives who have achieved this high standard of professional development.ACHE is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who are leaders in a variety of healthcare settings. To obtain fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional and community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.
DCH Employee Assistance Program Director named 2008 Hal Davidson
USCALOOSA — The director of the DCH Health System’s Employee Assistance Program has received the Alabama Chapter of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association’s highest honor.Emily Smith, Ph.D., was named the recipient of the 2008 Hal Davidson Employee Assistance Professional of the Year award. The award is presented to an EAP professional with exceptional commitment to the industry and proven excellence as an employee assistance professional.
Smith has been with the DCH EAP for 10 years and has served as its director for the last three years.
The DCH EAP serves DCH employees and more than 60 companies and organizations in the Tuscaloosa/Northport area and surrounding counties.
The EAPA is the world’s oldest and largest membership organization for employee assistance professionals, with approximately 5,000 members in the United States and more than 30 other countries.
July 2008
