It is the courage to continue that counts.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”   -Winston Churchill

 

You Always Try Harder…

There has been much discussion about the National Institutes of Health budget being essentially flat for a decade and the need for that to change. There also has been much pride in your tenacity and success in such a languishing funding environment. Here’s another remarkable example. Our Dr. Greg Harshfield is Principal Investigator on the second renewal of a $10.6 million Program Project grant that may tell us how best to treat individuals whose genetic tendency to hold on to too much sodium is setting the stage for an unhealthy life. Dr. Harshfield is a pioneer in the field of impaired sodium excretion and he and his team at the Georgia Prevention Institute are absolute winners anywhere. See: http://bit.ly/1vkHKhl.

To Function Smarter…

We are on quite a roll sharing news about incredible new clinical facilities for our super faculty and staff. Well, another one debuted this week! The newly configured West Wheeler Road practice site offers many patients so many options for great medical care very close to home – from immunizations to orthopaedics – in a terrific, family-centered environment that yet again hits on all our clinical goals. More great going.  And, we all need to support this opportunity by encouraging people to get their care here.

For Patients and Families…

We are also pleased to share that our Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation Program just got accreditation renewal from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy. We started this service in the late 1990s with an autologous program for cancer patients whose bone marrow was destroyed by aggressive chemotherapy and later expanded it to include related then unrelated donor transplants. Dr. Claude Sportès, Program Director, tells us that next week we reach another milestone with the first haploidentical transplant, a relatively new trend that dramatically expands the donor pool for many patients, particularly minorities. We applaud this amazing team and their continued progress on behalf of patients.

Our Graduates… Do the Same…

We had another awesome alumni gathering last week, this one in Charlotte, N.C. with a reception at the home of Dr. Scott McGinnis and his wife Roline. Great hosts, great fellowship, and another great opportunity to talk about our new J. Harold Harrison M.D. Education Commons. The excitement and accolades are still pouring in for our new academic home. There was also the terrific opportunity to honor our 1949 graduate Dr. Joseph E. Greene, who practiced medicine for 50 years, doing everything from delivering babies to setting broken bones. Dr. Greene is such a terrific example of the far-reaching impact of our medical school and we thank him for his commitment and contributions to his profession.

So Does Our Foundation…

Speaking of alums, he is not technically one of ours, but Dr. Jim Osborne definitely bleeds MCG blue, green, and anything else that signifies our medical school. Recently our Foundation President went to Homecoming at one of his actual alma maters, Morehead State University, where he was inducted into the university’s Alumni Hall of Fame. We would absolutely give him an honorary induction into ours (if we had one). Please join in congratulating and thanking him.

And Our Future Alums…

If you are looking for some fun for a great cause next week, check out the MCG Talent Show next Friday, Nov. 7 at the Lee Auditorium. Our student Anjali Patel tells us that the décor will be Hollywood and the entertainment will include music, dance, and maybe some standup comedy. What a great opportunity for students from all four classes to have fun and fellowship with each other and our terrific faculty. Judges include Drs. Greer Falls, Mike Brands, and Charys Martin but everyone is a winner because the event benefits the new equality clinic. Tickets are $5 at the door, which opens at 6:30 p.m. with festivities beginning at 7 p.m.

None of You… Will Simply Settle…

This is another idea we hope will find legs. Our Department of Anesthesiology wants to ensure that it’s attracting and getting the very best residents. With the help of Drs. Ralph Gillies and Gina Duncan and our GME office, the department recently held a “Red Flags in Resident Interviews” forum to learn more about recognizing signs of problematic behaviors such as substance abuse as well as good indicators like terrific communication skills. Residency coordinators from at least 10 other programs also benefited from the great gathering. Our thanks to Anesthesiology and its residency director, Dr. Mary Arthur, for seeking the opportunity and to the insightful individuals who provided it.

You Always Give Your Best…

Finally today, we told you last week of the amazing and growing lineup of folks supporting the new Ronald McDonald House that opens on our campus early next year. We are in the home stretch of the capital campaign to support this amazing facility for families that will have them just 200 yards away from the door of our children’s hospital. While it’s always a great time to be involved with this, we wanted to share that the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta is celebrating its 30th anniversary this very year. We hope you will consider giving them something else to celebrate: your support.

Upcoming Events

Now through Nov. 21 – Group exhibition, We Should Talk to Each Other, The Cloud and I, inspired by the Jorge Armenteros novel, The Book of I, about a painter struggling with schizophrenia. GRU Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art, see: http://bit.ly/1rZZZri.

Nov. 4 – Russell A. Blanchard Distinguished Lecturer in Ethics, James W. Brinkley, Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, 3 p.m. Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom, Summerville Campus, presented by the James M. Hull College of Business.

Nov. 13 – MCG Faculty Senate, 5 p.m., Lee Auditorium

Nov. 14 – Body Donation Memorial Service, 1-2 p.m., Lee Auditorium

Dec. 19 – MCG Faculty Senate, noon, Lee Auditorium

Jan. 15 – MCG Faculty Senate, 5 p.m., Lee Auditorium

Feb. 6 – MCG Faculty Senate, noon, Lee Auditorium

Feb. 24 – MCG Alumni Association Planning Committee, Nominating Committee, Board Meeting and Regional Event, starting at 2:30 p.m., Idle Hour Country Club, Macon.

March 5 – MCG Alumni Association Regional Reception, 6 p.m., Northeast History Museum, Gainesville.

March 12 – MCG Faculty Senate, 5 p.m., Lee Auditorium

March 20 – Match Day, noon, location to be determined.

April 17 – Raft Debate, sponsored by the MCG Alumni Association, 6 p.m., Lee Auditorium.

April 23-26 – Alumni Weekend.

May 1 – State of the Medical College of Georgia address, noon, Lee Auditorium, lunch provided.

May 4 – MCG Graduation Dinner, 6:30 p.m., location to be determined.

May 7 – Hooding Ceremony, 2 p.m., location to be determined.

May 8 – Graduation, 2 p.m., James Brown Arena.

 

 

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