Country Cottage Caregiver Awards
Country Cottages recently announced that Mattie Hughes and Annette McCrory were winners of the Caregiver of the Year Individual and Professional awards, respectively.
Mattie Hughes, winner of the individual award, dedicates her time to caring for her 104 year old mother who is bed bound, on a liquid diet, hard of hearing and legally blind. Annette McCrory is a therapist at Amedisys Home Health who has shown exceptional dedication.
UAB's Curtis Receives Award
The American Society of Transplantation (AST) has selected John J. Curtis, MD, professor of medicine and surgery and Endowed Professor of Transplant Nephrology at UAB as the recipient of its highest honor, the Ernest Hodge Distinguished Achievement Award, for 2009.
The award recognizes a senior investigator whose lifelong work has advanced the field of transplantation and whose contributions to the field have been broad and far reaching.
Curtis was one of the first researchers to recognize the importance of studying non-immunologic issues in clinical transplantation. His research documented the importance of the kidney in influencing blood pressure responses and remains definitive in the field. He also began UAB's transplant nephrology training program in 1988, which was one of the first such training programs in the country.
Haddox Receives Sherrill Award
Jeff Haddox, founder and CEO of Sight Savers America, received the 2010 Robert G. Sherrill, Jr. MD Quality Award at a special luncheon held at the Wynfrey Hotel.
The Sherrill Award is presented by AQAF, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for the state of Alabama, to a senior health care leader in Alabama who is a champion of quality. It is named after Robert G. Sherrill, Jr., MD, one of the founders of AQAF who served as both medical director and CEO.
Under Jeff's leadership, Sight Savers America has provided eye care to more than 130,000 disadvantaged children since 1997.
Princeton Names Directior of Operations
Sarah Dudley was named the director of operations and business development for Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Dudley served as administrative resident at the hospital prior to accepting her position.
Dudley will oversee the daily operations of invasive and non-invasive cardiology, cardiac rehab and the physician liaison department, and will direct the planning of business strategies to improve market share.
Dudley earned a Master of Science in health administration from UAB and a Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences from Auburn University.
UAB Study Finds Drug for Significant Weight Loss
UAB researchers have found that an experimental drug that combines an appetite suppressant and a commonly used epilepsy medicine not only helped overweight patients control hunger and lose weight, it also lowered patients' blood pressure.
The study showed that an oral, once-daily, low-dose combination of the appetite suppressant phentermine and the anti-seizure drug topiramate resulted in significant weight loss, and improvement in both systolic and diasystolic blood pressure.
The drug, known by the trade name Qnexa®, is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration for weight loss in clinically obese adults.
St. Vincent's East Cancer Program Accredited
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Program at St. Vincent's East. Overall, the program received eight commendations and zero recommendations for improvement.
A facility receives a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program. In addition, a facility receives a compliance rating for all other standards.
Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and 42 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.
Baptist Health Systems Appoints Breaux
Stan Breaux has been named executive director of graduate medical education for Baptist Health System (BHS). Breaux previously served as operations director and chief financial officer of Baptist Health Centers, a subsidiary of BHS.
Breaux will develop the business aspects of the department of medical education and will serve as the designated institutional official and education liaison to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Breaux holds a master of hospital administration from Washington University School of Medicine and bachelor degrees from Duke University.
Southern Diagnostic Labs Opens New Service Center
Southern Diagnostic Laboratories announces the opening of a new patient service center in the Professional Office Building on the campus of Brookwood Medical Center. The new center, which opened in early July, is staffed with skilled personnel who will provide quality patient care and are specialized in specimen collection and handling.
The new Southern Diagnostic Laboratories Patient Service Center is located in Suite 111 of the Professional Office Building and is open to patients from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
The Brookwood location is the ninth patient service center for the Birmingham-based pathology and clinical laboratory. The company has offices across Alabama, as well as in Georgia and Mississippi.
Frey Appointed Interim Program Director at BHS
Shields Frey, MD has accepted an appointment as the interim program director for the Baptist Health System's general surgery residency program. Frey has served as an associate program director for five years and will replace William Tapscott, MD, who moved into private practice. Frey was a Hugh Linder Award recipient completing his training at BHS in 1988. He has been an active and integral part of the faculty for 22 years.
Albright Joins Birmingham Surgical
Jeffrey B. Albright, MD is joining Birmingham Surgical, PC. Allbright, a board certified colon and rectal surgeon and a board certified general surgeon, comes to the practice from Surgical Specialists of San Diego, a southern California medical practice.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Wartburg College in Iowa, and his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. He completed a general surgery residency at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at the University of Texas - Houston. He was also a Detiger Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Florida.
UAB Study Links Diabetes Risk to Prenatal Exposure to High Blood Sugar
Research from UAB provides the first evidence that Type 2 diabetes in children may be linked to their mothers' blood sugar during pregnancy.
Pre-pubertal children of women with high blood sugar during pregnancy have alterations in the way their bodies process carbohydrates — alterations that may lead to Type 2 diabetes.
Children who were prenatally exposed to relatively high maternal blood glucose had lower insulin sensitivity and greater post-meal insulin secretion. The authors say this suggests that the prenatal environment may program fetal carbohydrate metabolism.
"These findings support the concept that maternal blood glucose plays a role in how the developing fetus manages insulin secretion from the pancreas and also of insulin sensitivity at target tissues such as the skeletal muscle and liver," said Paula Chandler-Laney, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences and study co-author.
Reduced insulin sensitivity impairs the body's ability to clear glucose from the blood stream, driving up insulin secretion from the pancreas. Eventually this may exhaust the pancreas so that it can no longer produce insulin, resulting in Type 2 diabetes.
"Many other studies have shown that children from mothers with high blood sugar during pregnancy are at greater risk for Type 2 diabetes," Chandler-Laney said. "This study is the first to show that even for children who have not yet become diabetic, there are changes in the way the body secretes and responds to insulin following prenatal exposure to high maternal blood sugar."
Schneider Named Director at Children's CHIPS
Debra Schneider has been named director of the Children's Hospital Intervention and Prevention Services Center for child abuse. She has served as assistant director for the past three years.
Schneider earned her bachelor's degree in social work from UAB and her master's from Florida State University. She joined Children's Hospital in 1985 as senior medical social worker and was a founding team member of the Sexual Abuse Follow-up and Evaluation Clinic. She is a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and is a founding member of the Alabama Professional Society on the Abuse of Children where she serves on the nominations committee.
Schneider succeeds Lou Lacey, who has been named director of caregiver services at Children's, a new position that addresses the emotional issues staff members experience as they care for Children's patients and their families.
Comfort Care Announces New CEO
Alan Parker has joined Comfort Care Hospice, LLC and Comfort Care Home Health Services, LLC as CEO. Parker has extensive experience in the health care industry. After starting as an accountant with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama in 1984, Parker went on to serve as president of Ancillary Management Services, a billing and reimbursement company.
In 1994, Parker joined Baptist Health System as corporate vice president of audit services. He became president of New Beacon hospice in 2001, serving there until 2006. He was most recently a partner in Tatum, LLC, an executive consulting firm.
"Comfort Care would like to be known as the provider of high quality, compassionate Hospice and Home Health Services," Parker said. "We will accomplish this by bringing together the best group of health care professionals. We also want to provide excellent service to our referral
Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation Forms New Board
The Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation is pleased to announce its formation and founding board members: serving as President is James Crandall; Walter Brown is Vice President; and Rachel Sizemore is Secretary/Treasurer. Also serving are Doris Moody and Lindsey Boan.
On March 1, the Foundation hired its first Executive Director, Kristin Martin, CFRE. Martin is a certified fundraising executive having worked in the development field for more than 20 years.
The Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation strives to raise awareness and fund research specifically in the area of early detection of ovarian cancer. Please visit or the website at www.thinkoflaura.org or call 205/903-9574.
Children's Hospital Joins Nation's Elite On National Listing
The Children's Hospital of Alabama has been ranked among the nation's best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report magazine. Five of Children's pediatric specialty services were placed among the top 30 in the United States, including Pediatric Neurosurgery and Neurology, Neonatology, Respiratory Services, Nephrology and Orthopedics. The complete listing and corresponding rankings may be found at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals.
"We are excited that five of our programs were ranked among the nation's best, particularly since this was our first year to participate in the survey," said Mike Warren, Children's President and CEO. "The submission and rankings could have not been achieved without the strong relationship with UAB, our academic medical partner."
The rankings are based on methodology that includes reputation, clinical outcome data and other care-related measures such as nursing care, surgical volume and credentialing.
Blue Cross Names Kellogg as CEO
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Board has elected Terry Kellogg as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. He assumed the office following the retirement of Phillip Pope on June 30, 2010.
Kellogg joined Blue Cross in 1982. He most recently served as President and Chief Operating Officer.
"As everyone knows, the future will be challenging for the healthcare industry," Kellogg said. "Working with the knowledgeable team we have at Blue Cross, we will remain committed to improving healthcare for the 3.2 million individuals we serve. We will continue our mission of providing employers, families and individuals access to quality, affordable healthcare."
Trinity Cancer Program Accredited
The Cancer Program at Trinity Medical Center has been granted a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).
The CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. The Accreditation Program, which is a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards.
Trinity's Soekoro and Romine Honored
Chief Financial Officer Julie Soekoro and Chief Nursing Officer Andy Romine of Trinity Medical Center have been honored with Outstanding Achievement Awards from Community Health Systems. The award recognizes hospital leaders who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to quality healthcare and operational excellence.
Julie Soekoro was named CFO at Trinity in August 2009. She came to Birmingham from Lancaster, South Carolina, where she served as CFO for Springs Memorial Hospital. Prior to that, she was CFO for Lea Regional Medical Center in Hobbs, New Mexico.
Andy Romine joined Trinity Medical Center in July 2007 as Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, and was subsequently promoted to Chief Nursing Officer. He was previously with Mercy Hospital Western Hills in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Uab's New Magnetic Therapy For Depression
UAB is the first provider in the state to offer a cutting-edge treatment for depression. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or rTMS, is the first device of its kind to be cleared for the treatment of depression by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The non-invasive device delivers focused, MRI-strength magnetic pulses to a particular area of the brain that is linked to depression. It is indicated for patients who have failed to achieve improvement from antidepressant medication.
"rTMS uses a series of magnetic pulses to stimulate the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex," said Bates Redwine, MD, assistant professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology. "Repeated stimulation over a series of weeks causes activation of this specific area of the brain that results in significant improvements in depressive symptoms."
The procedure takes about 40 minutes. Patients come five days a week for therapy, and results usually are evident within four to six weeks. The device consists of a chair with the magnetic stimulator attached to a flexible arm.
Redwine says clinical trials of the rTMS system show that more than half of patients treated had significant improvement in symptoms of depression and a third had complete remission of all symptoms.
