Be a bridge

“He That Would Be a Leader Must Also Be a Bridge.” ~ Welsh Proverb
April 13, 2012
Dear Colleagues and Friends:
Congratulations …

National Award … Please join us in congratulating Ms. Gareth Fenley, Certified Peer Specialist on receiving the National Alliance on Mental Illness 2012 Multicultural Award. This is a well-deserved and distinct honor for Ms. Fenley’s commitment, dedication, and leadership in mental health advocacy and recovery. Congratulations!

Hall of Fame … Also join us in congratulating Dr. Dan and Mrs. Cameron DeLoach on receiving the USG Regents Hall of Fame Alumni Awards. They are the first couple to receive this award and were chosen for their commitment to health care through leadership, tireless service and fundraising. They have brought credit and distinction to GHSU through their volunteerism, philanthropy, and engagement with alumni.

Faculty Senate Awards … Congratulations also to the following Awardees: Educators of the Year: Drs. Walt Moore (Class of 2012), Laura Mulloy (Class of 2012), Greer Falls (Class of 2014), Adarsh Gulati (Class of 2015), Gregg Nagle (MCG-UGA Medical Partnership); Outstanding Clinical Science Teaching Dept: Dr. Bernie Maria for Pediatrics; Outstanding Basic Science Teaching Dept: Dr. Amyn Rojiani for Pathology; Resident of the Year: Dr. Jill Trumble; AOA Medical Society Volunteer Clinical Faculty: Dr. James Holz; Distinguished Faculty: Drs. Ruth Harris, Renuka Mehta, Janet Monroe, Wendy Bollag, Adviye Ergul, Abdullah Kutlar, Reda Bassali, Alex Mabe, Kathryn Martin, Robert Sorrentino; Outstanding Young Basic Science: Drs. Jessica Filosa and Shayong Su; Outstanding Young Clinical Science: Drs. Christie Palladino and Norman Pollock; Outstanding Faculty: Dr. David Hess; MCG Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Rhee Fincher … Congratulations to all our award winners!

GHSU/UGA Medical Partnership SGO Golf Tournament Update … A Swinging Event …

The 2nd Annual GHSU/UGA Medical Partnership SGO Golf Tournament was recently held and was a HUGE SUCCESS. The weather was absolutely perfect that day with 52 players coming out. Over $8000 was raised to benefit Children’s Specialty Services which brings pediatric experts from all over Georgia to provide specialized healthcare to children in Athens. Many thanks to Nitya Nair and all the other students, faculty and staff that helped to make this event so successful.
Masters 2012 in the Garden City … An Uplifting Event … and We Were Well-Represented …

Masters 2012 is now behind us and our community fared very well and we were all uplifted by Gerry Lester ‘Bubba’ Watson, Jr., winning the “Green Jacket”. We appreciated the opportunity to participate in the Chamber of Commerce Red Carpet Event; GHSU was well represented and continued in our community outreach endeavors.
Consolidation Update … Keeping Our Promise to Keep You Informed …

For the latest consolidation news and updates, please plan to attend one of two (2) open forums that have been scheduled for April 23. The forum at noon will be at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theater (ASU campus) and the one at 2 pm will be at the Lee Auditorium (GHSU campus). Faculty, staff, students, Alumni and community members are invited to attend to hear the latest and greatest on the consolidation efforts. Also, please check out Mayor Deke Copenhaver’s guest blog http://asughsu.org/.

Diversity Month …

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion has designated April “Diversity Month” to encourage the exploration of cultures and perspectives that may differ from our own. Earlier this week we saw a remarkable documentary of Augusta activities and leadership in U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Check out the website for more information and to get the listing of events happening around campus and our community http://www.georgiahealth.edu/aaffairs/idi/diversitymonth/Welcome_Page.html

Alumni Reception in Athens … Celebrating New Partnerships and Outreach …

Our thanks to Dr. Mark and Mrs. Betty Ellison for hosting the recent Alumni Reception in Athens. We had a wonderful turnout of Alumni and faculty. Our thanks also to Ms. Susan Barcus, Mr. Scott Henson, and their team in coordinating the event. We also had a luncheon event with Athens’ senior, retired physicians – a wonderful group.

Homecoming … Fast Approaching … We Welcome Your Participation …

Homecoming is fast approaching. We look forward to seeing our Alumni at the many events during homecoming weekend (http://giving.gru.edu//homecoming). We hope to see you at one of the events. It is wonderful to connect with new friends, reconnect with those you’ve made in the past, reflect on our accomplishments, on the gift of our ‘GHSU family’, and to hear about our future plans.

Woodruff Foundation Gift to Support GHSU Expansion Plans …

We are extremely grateful and proud of the $8 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation to support GHSU’s expansion plans. The donation will go towards a new simulation center in the Education Commons building which will house dental and medical school classrooms and labs.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2012/04/13/state-medical-college-gets-8m.html

Farewell … A Remarkable Alumnus and Example for All of Us …

We recently said good-bye to Dr. Leila Denmark, MCG Alum, legendary pediatrician and one of the world’s oldest people. She practiced medicine in Atlanta for 73 years and when she retired, at 103, was the oldest practicing physician in America. Dr. Denmark was the only female graduate in the class of 1928 (3rd female to receive an MD degree from MCG) and first female pediatrician in Georgia as well as MCG’s oldest alum and a shining example … a pioneer in her field, a caring and kind caretaker, and a consummate professional. Her legacy will live on in the lives of her family, friends, colleagues, patients, and the medical community for years to come.

Upcoming Dates and Events …

April 17th – Arts Council Noon Music Program, Large Auditorium

April 20th – Earth Day Fair, 10 am – 2 pm, Student Center Courtyard

April 20th – Raft Debate, 6 p.m. MCG Wellness Center – Calling all MCG Students, Sponsored by MCG Alumni Association with Dr. Peter Buckley, Moderator; Dr. William D. Hill, II, Devil’s Advocate; Dr. Paul Weinberger, Surgery Rep; Dr. Adam Berman, Medicine Rep; and Dr. Christopher Edwards, Pediatrics Rep.

April 24th – President’s Lecture Series Continues – Guest Speaker – Dr. Linda Burns Bolton

April 24th – Richmond County Medical Society Meeting, 7 pm, Old Medical College

April 26-29th – GHSU Homecoming, Various campus and community locations http://www.georgiahealth.edu/alumni/homecoming/

SAVE THE DATE …

May 3rd – UFS Spring Faculty Assembly and GHSURI Research Awards Ceremony, 4 pm

May 4th – MCG Dean’s State of the College Address, 12 Noon, Large Auditorium – Great opportunity for faculty, staff, residents, students, alumni, community colleagues, local administrative and civic leaders to learn of the exciting “state” of MCG … where we’ve been and where we’re going.

May 10th – Hooding, 2 pm, Bell Auditorium – Keynote Speaker – Vice Admiral Matthew L. Nathan, Navy Surgeon General

May 11th – GHSU Graduation, 2 pm – James Brown Arena

May 14th – National Peace Officers Day

May 15th – MCG Town Hall, 5 pm, Large Auditorium – Question and Answer forum with Dr. Buckley

May 18th – GME Leadership Retreat, 8 am – 4 pm, Alumni Center – Agenda to include ACGME changes in the accreditation process