November/December | 2010
Inside This Issue
Bookmark and Share

Applause!
Awards

Thomas D. Gelehrter wins 2010 ASHG Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Education

Thomas D. Gelehrter, M.D., professor emeritus of human genetics and internal medicine at the Medical School,  recently received  the 2010  American Society of Human Genetics Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Education.  The ASHG Award is given annually to individuals who display exceptional quality and contributions  to human genetics education. 

Gelehrter was honored for the remarkable and far-reaching contributions he has made over the past 40 years to biomedical research, clinical medicine, and medical school and graduate student education in human genetics.

Simeone elected to Institute of Medicine

Diane M. Simeone, M.D., professor of surgery and molecular and integrative physiology, and division chief of gastrointestinal surgery, is one of 65 new members elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies—one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.

Simeone is the surgical director of the Multidisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of a few such centers in the country focused on this disease. She is also the director of the gastrointestinal oncology research program at the Cancer Center.

Ginsburg receives AAMC research award

The Association of American Medical Colleges has recognized Medical School researcher David Ginsburg, M.D., with the Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences Award.

Ginsburg is one of 10 scientists in the country receiving national recognition for their outstanding contributions to academic medicine and the global community. He is an internationally recognized researcher who has devoted his career to finding better ways to treat inherited bleeding and clotting diseases, with a focus on the most frequent disorder of hemostasis, von Willebrand Disease (VWD).

Ginsburg is James V. Neel Distinguished University Professor and Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor in the departments of internal medicine, pediatrics and human genetics. He is also a member of the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Life Sciences Institute.

Thomas wins 2010 National Air Medical Crew Member of the Year

Jeff Thomas, BSN, RN, CMTE, EMT-P, flight nurse for Survival Flight, is the winner of the 2010 National Air Medical Crew Member of the Year.

This is one of nine national awards  presented by the Association of Air Medical Services to individuals and organizations that exemplify the best  air-medical and critical-care-ground transport service.

Watch a video of Thomas.

Dr. Chey recognized as one of America's top gastroenterologists

Becker's ASC named William D. Chey, M.D., director of the GI Physiology Laboratory and the Michigan Bowel Control Program at the University of Michigan, one of America's best gastroenterologists. The organization selected 75 gastroenterologists for the honor based on awards they received from major organizations in the field, leadership in those organizations, work on GI journals and other publications or distinguished service in a GI ambulatory surgery center.

Dr. Chey is the past chair of the Clinical Practice Section of the American Gastroenterology Association and is a board member of the American College of Gastroenterology. Dr. Chey is co-editor of the American Journal of Gastroenterology and serves on the editorial boards of Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Digestive Health Matters, Gastroenterology & Hepatology and the Journal of Medicine.

For more on the awards, visit http://www.beckersasc.com/gastroenterology-and-endoscopy/75-of-the-best-gastroenterologists-in-america.html

U-M Achieves WELCOA Well Workplace Gold Designation

U-M has been recognized by the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) with a 2010 Well Workplace Gold designation. The Well Workplace Awards are given to an elite group of organizations that fully embrace their responsibility for improving the health and well-being of their employees.

MHealthy headed the rigorous application process that measures companies against seven results-oriented benchmarks:  capturing CEO support, creating cohesive wellness teams, collecting data to drive health efforts, crafting an operating plan, choosing appropriate interventions, creating a supportive environment and consistently evaluating outcomes.

Gold designation signifies an organization that is developing comprehensive programs that produce results and are a strategic and integral part of the business.

Six Mott nurses receive DAISY award

The DAISY Award is given through a nationally recognized  program currently in place in more than 450 hospitals.  DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The Barnes family established the award in remembrance of their son, Patrick, and to honor nurses who exemplify compassionate, thorough care. 

Within UMHS, patients and/or their families nominate candidates for the DAISY Award.  Congratulations to Stephanie Biglow , Ashley Humphries, Beth Hollenkamp, Adrienne Ivan, Kristine James and Tammy Hamilton who received the recent DAISY award.  Each nurse was nominated by the mother of a patient.

Surgical ICU wins family-centered care award

The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU, unit 5D in University Hospital) has received the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Family-Centered Care Award for 2010. The award recognizes innovation to improve the care provided to critically ill and injured patients, the family, and those chosen by the patient to be with them. 

Since 2005, the SICU has had a multidisciplinary team of critical care physicians, nurses, pastoral care, social work, a registered dietician, a pharmacist, and families working together to establish an environment that allows the unit to respond to the needs, priorities and choices of patients and families. The SICU is a 20-bed unit caring for a wide variety of critically ill adult surgical patients and others. Many of its patients are unable to communicate directly, so their families and other loved ones become crucial to their care. SICU has instituted programs such as family participation in rounds, allowing children and pets to visit patients under certain circumstances, and computers for family members to use.

U-M Cardiovascular Center earns gold prize for enrollment of women in landmark heart study

A U-M Cardiovascular Center research team recently earned top honors for enrolling young women in the landmark VIRGO heart study.  VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes in Young AMI patients) is the largest, most comprehensive study of young women with heart attacks. It was launched by Yale University School of Medicine in 2008 with the help of 100 U.S. hospitals.

The University of Michigan was the gold prize winner in the VIRGO trial's first enrollment challenge. Elizabeth Jackson, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine, and clinical research coordinators Wendy Warshal, BSN, and Gretchen Bautista make up the U-M research team.

Andrea Oliverio receives scholarship from AMA Foundation

Andrea Oliverio, a U-M Medical School student, recently received a Physician of Tomorrow Scholarship from the American Medical Association Foundation. She is one of 20 fourth-year medical students across the country to be awarded scholarships in four different categories. Recipients were nominated by their medical schools and chosen based on their academic standing and financial status, as well as community involvement, letters of recommendation and personal statement.

Oliverio received one of the Audio-Digest Foundation Scholarships for supporting the communication of science, including mentoring and teaching

U-M wins 2010 Pharmacy Residency Excellence Award

The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers and the College of Pharmacy have been named the 2010 recipient of the Pharmacy Residency Excellence Award from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Foundation.

The Pharmacy Residency Excellence Awards program was created to recognize excellence and leadership in the training and mentoring of pharmacy residents - training that is crucial to the development of future leaders and raising the level of practice. The awards program honors leading practice facilities and mentors in pharmacy residency training who  are forerunners in excellence, leadership, innovation and training in the United States.

Stevenson receives 2010 John. W. Webb Lecture Award

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has named James G. Stevenson, Pharm.D., a leader in health system pharmacy and patient safety, the recipient of the 2010 John W. Webb Lecture Award. Stevenson is director of pharmacy services at the U-M Health System and associate dean for clinical sciences at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. Stevenson has a long history as a pharmacy leader in both health systems and academia.  He served as director of pharmacy in several large health systems while maintaining a teaching presence in a number of schools of pharmacy, including his current role as associate dean of the U-M College of Pharmacy.

Kerr selected for Leadership Program in Academic Medicine

Eve Kerr, M.D., M.P.H, has been selected to participate in the Hedwig Van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program for Women. The national leadership program was designed for senior women faculty with exceptional leadership experience and academic accomplishments in health services research.

Kerr is a general internist and professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School. Kerr was nominated for the Executive Leadership Program by the UMMS Dean's Office because of  her role as  director for the Veteran Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center of Excellence in Ann Arbor and her potential for assuming future leadership positions at U-M.

Spencer and "The Poke Plan Campaign" team win Evan Newport HOPE Awards

Perry Spencer, manager of Uniformed Services Security and Entrance Services, won this year's individual Evan Newport HOPE Award. "The Poke Plan Campaign," a component of the "Campaign for Less Pain," won the team award. The award recognizes C.S. Mott Children's Hospital staff, faculty, and volunteers who demonstrate the principles of patient & family-centered care - dignity and respect, information sharing, participation and collaboration - in their everyday actions and behaviors.

HPV Resource Team wins 2010 Spirit of Collaboration Award

The Washtenaw County HPV Resource Team has received the 2010 "Spirit of Collaboration" Award from the statewide Michigan Cancer Consortium. The award panel was very impressed by U-M's collaborative project of HPV awareness and its contribution to cancer control in Michigan. Other members of the team include St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Washtenaw County Public Health, Michigan Department of Community Health, American Cancer Society, Planned Parenthood and Merck and Co., Inc.

Dixon wins ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

Shandee Dixon, a graduate student at the Medical School, was awarded the 2010-2013 ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship from the American Society for Microbiology.  Her award includes a stipend for three years to conduct research.

The Watkins fellowship is aimed at highly competitive students enrolled in a Ph.D. program who have completed their graduate coursework in  microbiological sciences. The program seeks to increase the number of graduate students from underrepresented groups completing doctoral degrees in microbiological sciences.

Dong receives Research Scholar Grant

Qian Dong, M.D., assistant professor in Musculoskeletal Division, Department of Radiology, was awarded a two-year Radiological Society of North America Research and Education Foundation Research Scholar Grant.

Her research will use molecular imaging to assess responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy within days or hours of initiating the treatment. By determining treatment efficacy early in the course of therapy, the research could  allow oncologists to optimize treatment protocols for individual patients, improving quality of life and enhancing disease-free survival for those with soft tissue sarcoma.

Walker named Pharmacist of the Year

Paul Walker, Pharm.D., an associate professor of pharmacy, was named Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) Pharmacist of the Year at the MSHP Annual Meeting on Nov. 5 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Every year, MSHP recognizes a pharmacist who is a model in leadership and achievement, committed to health-system pharmacy, active in pharmacy organizations, participates in community service, demonstrates innovative practice and has professional demeanor, integrity and ethics.

Six win General Pediatrics Educators Awards

The 2010 winners of the new General Pediatrics Educators Awards for being the top teachers of residents in General Pediatrics are:

  • Margie Andreae, M.D., Canton Health Center
  • Heather Burrows, M.D., East Ann Arbor Health Center
  • Gary Freed, M.D., M.P.H., Canton Health Center
  • Shanti Rao, M.D., Brighton Health Center
  • Sharon Swindell, M.D., Ypsilanti Health Center
  • Julia Madison Williams, M.D., Brighton Health Center
Other Internal Publications:    Daily Bulletin    |    M-News Now!    |    Community Beat