“In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
~ Eric Hoffer
December 16, 2011
Dear Colleagues and Friends:
MCG Communications Office …
We are delighted that Ms. Toni Baker, who has worked in communications at GHSU for more than 26 years, recently joined the Dean’s Office as Communications Manager for MCG. While Toni’s primary focus has always been the medical college, we believe that truly making her a part of the college will enable our story to be told better still in a variety of different venues. Toni will also assist with production of key communications and videos for the college. She also will continue to handle media relations for MCG with a primary focus on research news and work closely with GHSU Communications and Marketing to help promote clinical and educational activities in a variety of venues as well. We encourage you to contact Toni about your research, clinical and educational activities at 1-4421 or tbaker@georgiahealth.edu.
Sustained Buzz About Town, State and Nation … MCG Applicant Pool Increases This Year
We recently told you of the 10% increase in the number of applicants applying to our medical school with the national average increase being 2.6%. Our increase is creating a lot of ‘buzz’ around the state and nation regarding training of our medical students and the Atlanta Journal Constitution http://www.ajc.com/news/more-students-apply-to-1258687.html as well as the Augusta Chronicle http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/health/2011-12-12/georgia-fares-worse-doctor-supply, Channel 6 News, Georgia Public Radio, Chattanooga TV and Health Leaders Magazine and Media and others have captured the importance of recruitment of medical students and retention of graduates into residencies and into practicing physicians in Georgia. Many thanks to Ms. Toni Baker and Ms. Jennifer Scott for their efforts in ‘getting our story out’. As we’ve said previously … recruitment is everybody’s business.
Radiothon raises nearly $157,000 for CMC …
We are proud to share the news that the 11th Annual Cares for Kids Radiothon raised $156,867 for the Children’s Medical Center. The radiothon is one of the CMC’s largest fundraisers. Funds raised from the pledges and donations help provide specialized care for children and families across the Southeast. Click on any of the links below to see more information regarding some the children treated at the CMC. http://chronicle.augusta.com/things-do/applause/2011-12-06/cher-city-hear-stories-helping-healing-radiothon, http://newstimes.augusta.com/news/2011-12-07/radiothon-features-martinez-baby, and http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/health/2011-12-10/cares-kids-radiothon-raises-nearly-157000-ghsu-childrens-medical-center?v=1323551379.
Quality Campaign Update …
This week we attended a University Hospital Consortium (UHC) administrative retreat. We appreciated the large turnout from our institution. We received an overview of UHC opportunities to drive organizational improvement in quality. This also placed our quality improvement efforts in a national context. UHC will continue to be a good resource for our quality efforts as we move forward. Our thanks to Mr. David Hefner for making this happen.
Quality Efforts Do Make A Difference … Especially When You Measure Consistently Over Time …
We want to say congratulations and thank you to Dr. Peter Rissing, GHS Health System Epidemiologist, and the many faculty, staff, residents, and students that play a part in continuing to improve our mortality averages, advancing preventable infection methods and education to our clinicians and staff. Dr. Rissing’s records show improvements over many years in areas where concentrated efforts in quality have been made.
Right in line with our quality measures, the Lighthouse Core Measure Tracking Tool, a new application in Synchronicity went live this week. The tracking tools have been designed to assist clinicians to address core measure goals on inpatients during care and to monitor whether the goals are reached in “real time”, allowing us to provide evidence based care with ‘on the spot’ documentation of care and compliance with measures. For questions, email QualityMeasures@georgiahealth.edu.
Congratulations …
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sheng Dong, cellular biologist and Director, Graduate Program in Cellular Biology and Anatomy on being named Regents’ Professor by the USG Board of Regents. Regents’ Professorships are awarded to outstanding faculty members of Georgia’s four research universities.
Our congratulations also go to Dr. Bernard L. Maria, Chair of Pediatrics on being honored by the Journal of Child Neurology for Dr. Maria’s decade-long efforts to enhance knowledge and treatment of rare neurological disease in children.
Leadership Development Collection Through MedEdPORTAL …
Our very own Dr. Christie Pallidino is Associate Editor of MedEdPORTAL, a program of the AAMC which promotes educational scholarship and collaboration by facilitating open exchange of peer-reviewed health education teaching and assessment resources online. MedEdPORTAL is gearing up to launch leadership development collection which will publish educational resources for developing organizational leaders. The initiative will encourage exchange of teaching and educational materials that support and improve leadership development and organizational performance. To learn more about this innovative and exciting new tool from the AAMC, visit www.mededportal.org/leadership.
Summer Research Student Presentation …
Little is known regarding metabolic health in relation to cognition and achievement. Ms. Jodi Parungao, with support of advisor Dr. Catherine Davis recently presented her work “Diabetes Risk and Executive Function in Overweight Children” at the American Diabetes Association Research Symposium – Diabetes and Brain. This summer research study concluded that improving children’s health might result in better academic performance.
Lunch With Our Veterans …
GHSU Leadership recently had the privilege and pleasure of serving a holiday lunch to our Veterans at Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. Many thanks to Mr. Charles Esposito, Executive Director, Ms. Carla Wooten, Assistant Director, and all the staff for their kindness and hospitality. This was such a simple gesture that meant a lot to all of us.
Upcoming Dates and Events …
December 20 – “The Bone Collectors” Bake Sale, 8-10 a.m., MOB Lobby to support the American Heart Association
January 1 – Happy New Year!
January 13 – MCG Faculty Senate – 12 Noon, Large Auditorium
January 16 – Martin Luther King Holiday
January 26 – Alumni Association Regional Reception – Atlanta
SAVE THE DATE …
April 26-29 – GHSU Homecoming
May 10 – Hooding, 2 pm, Bell Auditorium – Vice Admiral Matthew L. Nathan, Surgeon General of the Navy is our Keynote Speaker
May 11 – GHSU Graduation – 2 pm at the James Brown Arena