“Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” ~ Vince Lombardi
August 26, 2011
Dear Colleagues and Friends:
A Life Time of Leadership …
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Paul G. McDonough, Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiology and Pediatrics as recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. Dr. McDonough, who since 1966 has trained 34 fellows, is renowned for his work on sex determination and also previously received the President’s Distinguished Scientist Award from the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. We are very privileged to have Dr. McDonough as a faculty member, teacher, physician and mentor to all of us.
Leadership Among Our Students…
One of the founders of Selfless 4 Africa, Mr. Emeka Ezeoke, third year MCG student recently was interviewed by the Atlanta Journal Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/these-four-also-have-1107957.html) for his humanitarian efforts. Mr. Ezeoke moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2001. His decision to become an emergency room physician participating in health missions in poor countries was prompted by his volunteerism. Last year Selfless 4 Africa funded the last three years of high school for about 20 students. Mr. Ezeoke’s goal for the organization is to provide a free education from high school to college for all African students. We want to thank Mr. Ezeoke for his volunteerism and humanitarian efforts … what great leadership!!!
Resident Leadership and Awards …
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Keterah C. Robinson on receiving the William P. Kanto, Jr. Research award at the Department of Pediatrics 13th Annual Resident and Fellow Research Symposium. Dr. Robinson, mentored by Dr. Martha Tingen, presented “A Community Based Study of Tobacco Use and Exposure in Parents and Their Children in Rural and Urban Georgia” – a subject at the forefront of our state’s health. Congratulations Dr. Robinson!
The College of American Pathologists will recognize our resident physician Dr. Gitika Aggarwal and other members for outstanding original research. The award recipients will be honored at the annual meeting. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Aggarwal as the first place winner.
Leadership Lectures: Developing Our Capacity …
The President’s Lecture Series began August 23 with Dr. Azziz giving the inaugural lecture titled “Sculpting in Clay: Transformative Leadership in Shifting Times”. This was an invigorating lecture encouraging all of us to advance our potential as leaders and to meet future challenges.
Grant Awards …
Congratulations also go to Dr. Tracy MaGaha, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Graduate Studies for his recent NIH award. The funding is to study the molecular mechanisms behind metabolism-dependent immune suppression driven by cellular debris and how disruption of these mechanisms may lead to autoimmune disease development.
Georgia’s Resident Physician Workforce … Redistributed Positions Sent Elsewhere …
The size of Georgia’s Physician Workforce falls way below national levels. Recently we were notified that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) redistributed residency training positions that were not being used/optimized nationally. In total, 1,354 residency positions were distributed to 11 states. Although Georgia qualified as a state in the lowest quartile with resident-to-population ratios, our state received none of these redistributed residency positions. We were, of course, disappointed not to receive new residency positions.
Pediatric Hospitalizations … By the Numbers …
It is estimated that one in six discharges in the United States (that is 6.4 million hospital stays) are in Pediatrics (although newborns make up the majority of these). Respiratory, digestive diseases, teen pregnancy and skin infections are some of the top reasons for hospitalizations in children under 17 years old. Pediatric hospitalizations were 9% of total costs for all patients in recent years. Hospitals report ear, nose, mouth, and throat conditions increased between 2006 and 2009.
Our Goodbye to a Famed and Much Respected Alumnus …
Dr. William B. Kannel, Medical College of Georgia Class of 1949, renowned cardioepidemiologist and former director (1966-1979) of the Framingham Heart Study passed away at the age of 87. Dr. Kannel joined the study in the early 1950s and remained involved until nearly the end of his life. During his career, more than 14,000 people were studied and followed throughout their lives in this remarkable study. The study’s findings — in which more than 1,200 papers have been written — are credited with altering the way doctors and patients think about cardiovascular disease. Dr. Kannel and his innovative thinking will be missed. Please join me in sending condolences to his family … and the many patients that have benefited from his work.
Upcoming Dates and Events …
August 29, 2011 – Dr. Amy Blue, MUSC Assistant Provost – GHSU Faculty Senate
We are looking forward to seeing you at the GHSU Faculty Senate meeting where Dr. Blue will be speaking to the GHSU Faculty on guidance on introducing inter-professional education programs at health sciences universities. She will share some of MUSC’s success stories.
August 31, 2011 – Deadline for Gold Foundation Partial Scholarship Award –
The Gold Foundation is sponsoring partial scholarships for Gold Humanism Scholars at the Harvard Macy Institute 2012 program for Educators. The Gold Foundation supports medical educators working to develop and enhance educational projects focused on achieving humanistic patient care that can be replicated across a healthcare system. Please visit www.humanism-in-medicine.org for more information.
September 15, 2011 – Career Development 101 Program
Looking to jumpstart your career in medical education? Please contact Ms. Cora Harper (charper@georgiahealth.edu) for more information regarding this great program.
September 15, 2011 – New Faculty Reception
We are most grateful for the Richmond County Medical Society to be joining us as we welcome our new MCG faculty at the New Faculty Reception which will begin at 7:30 pm at the Enterprise Mill. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on September 15. For more information contact Laurie Lane (llane@georgiahealth.edu)
September 24, 2011 – GHSU Family Day and MCG White Coat Ceremony
Family Day encompasses the entire GHSU Family. The MCG White Coat Ceremony will be held at 2:30 pm at Warren Baptist Church with a reception immediately following. We are looking forward to seeing our faculty and staff at this event.
September 28, 2011 – President’s Lecture Series
We encourage you to attend the next Presidential lecture where Dr. Eli Adashi, Professor of Medical Science and Immediate Past Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences from Brown University will speak. Please place a hold on your calendar for March 7 and April 24 as well. We look forward to seeing you there.
Our thoughts and good wishes are with our family, friends, and colleagues that are experiencing the effects of Hurricane Irene.