october 2008
Dean's Comments
In welcoming new students and trainees to the University of Nevada School of Medicine, we often emphasize the resemblance of our school to a family. This analogy captures quite well, I think, the interdependence and need for mutual support that characterize our community as much as any family constellation. Concepts such as sibling rivalry and adolescent turmoil also apply at times. But these past few weeks, I have been struck by the changes we have had to deal with and how they parallel changes that families experience.
A respected and, indeed, beloved figure, Dr. Tom Scully, passed away in September and all of us who learned from him and worked by his side will go on mourning his loss. His legacy to our mission of education is suitably enshrined in the Preceptor Carissimus award we give out to distinguished faculty every year.
We also can welcome three new chairmen in our clinical departments, Drs. Michael Jakoby, Gregory Brown and Michael Daines.
We are losing a highly valued chair in one of our basic science departments, Dr. Bill Murphy, who is moving on to the University of California Davis.
It seems to me that all these transitions simply reflect the fact that we are a living organism, and that our capacity to work through internal change as an organization is critical for enabling us to manage the challenges that our environment imposes upon us.
The financial troubles of our state affect us on various fronts– state support, Medicaid reimbursement for medical services and certain grants and contracts. The sorry state of America’s health care financing system makes it a daily challenge for our practice plan managers Blain Claypool and Jennifer Holcombe to ensure continued fiscal support for school operations.
At the same time, we are preparing, under the leadership of Dr. Jennifer Kimmel, for our LCME visit in 2009. The accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education is the indispensible seal of good housekeeping that makes it possible for us to function as a medical school.
We are dealing with these demands as a cohesive group, new members putting their shoulders to the wheel with fresh vigor and motivation, and older ones providing guidance based on experience from the past. And so, despite occasional family conflicts, I am convinced we have it in us, in our enduring organizational structure, to master the challenges coming our way with the flexible resilience that has made it possible for us to do well for nearly 40 years.
Ole J.Thienhaus, M.D., MBA
Dean,
University of Nevada School of Medicine
Medical Education
Second year student a delegate to ASA meeting
James Phillips, Class of 2011, is the first School of Medicine state delegate to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). The Nevada State Society of Anesthesiologists (NSSA), the state chapter of the ASA, will fund his trip to the annual meeting in Orlando in October where he will have a voice in the medical student delegation and get ideas for residency and research initiatives.
Phillips, who has an interest in anesthesiology, just started a student section of the NSSA that will include both the School of Medicine and Touro University in Las Vegas, and is the first statewide organization for students of its kind.
Student outreach clinics for October announced
The University of Nevada School of Medicine Student Outreach Clinics for October have been announced for the following dates: a general health clinic will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. to noon; a women’s clinic is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m.; and a children’s clinic will be on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to noon. Read more
Faculty
New specialty surgeons join faculty
The University of Nevada School of Medicine announces the addition of four new specialty surgeons to the Department of Surgery in Las Vegas. The surgeons, who will teach medical students and practice with University Health System, the clinical practice of the School of Medicine, are T.J. O-Lee, M.D., assistant professor, Division of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery; Alexander Feliz, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Surgery; Jennifer De La Pena, M.D., assistant professor, Division of Oncology; and Shawn Tsuda, M.D., assistant professor, Division of Bariatric Surgery.
"These surgeons all come to the school with excellent skills in their respective areas of surgical expertise and will contribute greatly to the practice," said William A. Zamboni, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Surgery. Read more
Larson presents keynote address
Trudy Larson, M.D., professor of pediatrics in Reno, presented the keynote address at the Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center Annual Faculty Development Conference in California last month.
Larson, Zell to host, present at HIV conference
Trudy Larson, M.D., professor of pediatrics and Steve Zell, M.D., professor of internal medicine, are co-medical directors of the Nevada AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) and will be hosting and presenting at the Networking for HIV Care Ninth Annual Autumn Update on Oct. 11-12 in Crystal Bay, Nev.
This is an annual conference conducted by the AETC and the Office of Continuing Medical Education to bring together regional HIV care providers to network and discuss updates in HIV care.
Plodkowski to join editorial advisory board
Ray Plodkowski, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine, was invited to join the editorial advisory board as medical reviewer for the monthly CME/CNE journal Clinical Trials Administer. The journal's objectives are to improve the quality of research by reviewing pertinent research methods, regulatory mandates, develop practical clinical research oversight strategies and review research best practices.
Lardinois to receive award
Claude Lardinois, M.D., professor in the internal medicine department in Reno, will receive the Master of the American College of Nutrition for 2008 Award from the American College of Nutrition at its annual meeting this month in Arlington, Virginia.
Spogen serves as delegate, chair to AAFP assemblies
Daniel Spogen, M.D., chair of the family and community medicine department in Reno, was a Nevada delegate for this year’s Congress of Delegates for the annual meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) last month. In this capacity he chaired the reference committee on family practice enhancement issues.
Spogen was also selected to chair the scientific assembly for the AAFP in 2009. This assembly, made up of family physicians from across America, focuses on continuing medical education updates and trends.
Hogan paper accepted for publication
Mary Beth Hogan, M.D., professor of pediatrics in Reno, had a paper entitled "Asthma progression to airway remodeling and bone marrow eosinophil responses differ in genetically distinct strains of mice"; accepted for publication in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Grantwriting workshop planned for Oct. 8
An advanced grantwriting workshop will be held Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Reno. This course is designed for those who have some knowledge and experience writing grants and will focus on three components for grantwriting: needs assessment, measureable objectives and steps to a long-term fund development program.
To register, call the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development at 775-784-4062 or email. Cost is $195.
New faculty orientation workshop on Oct. 9
The Office of Faculty Affairs and Development is holding a brown bag orientation workshop for new faculty members on Oct. 9 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the dean’s conference room in Reno with pictel to the dean’s conference room in Las Vegas. Information on annual evaluations, academic activities plans, promotion and tenure and other tools for success will be presented.
RSVP by email or phone at 775-784-6777.
New hires, promotions and recognitions
Dwyer promoted to multisite clinical manager
University Health System announces the promotion of Liz Dwyer to multisite clinical manager in Reno. Dwyer will manage the internal medicine offices of Goring, Lorenzen and Kulick; the primary internal medicine clinic in the professional building at Renown Medical Center; the Women’s Health and Wellness Center in Sparks; and the psychiatry staff.
Hired as medical assistant lead for the Internal Medicine Clinic at the Plaza in May 2005, Dwyer has been promoted several times, increasing her responsibility along the way.
Shpargel joins Office of Admissions and Student Affairs
Jodi Shpargel joins the School of Medicine as assistant to Peggy Dupey, Ph.D. on Oct. 1. She previously worked at the University of Nevada, Reno in the Student Advocacy Services Department and comes to the school with a wealth of university knowledge, resources and skills.
Her new duties include oversight of the administrative functions of student programs, including scholarship, wellness and career development programs; Family Day/White Coat and Clinician’s Ceremonies; the student health committee and the office's travel coordinator.
School Notes
Ready, set, go! The Race for the Cure is this Sunday, Oct. 5
More than 75 family, friends, associates, students, staff and faculty members have signed up for the combined School of Medicine/University Health System team for the Tenth Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this Sunday, Oct. 5 on the quad at the University of Nevada, Reno.
A School of Medicine/University Health System booth will be on the quad from 8 a.m. through the end of the race and will serve as a gathering point for the team.
For more information, or for those interested in volunteering or participating, contact Anne McMillin, APR in health science communication at 775-682-9254 or Liana McGill, race team co-captain, at 775-784-1223 extension 305.
Lili Claire Foundation fundraiser to benefit children with neurogenetic disorders
The Lili Claire Foundation, a partner with the School of Medicine, will hold its annual benefit dinner and concert on Nov. 8 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Silver Legacy in Reno. Musical entertainment will feature John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting and special guest Stephen Bishop.
The dinner and concert will raise funds to help find a cure for neurogenetic disorders in children such as autism.
Dinner and concert tickets are available by calling 702-862-8141. Individual concert tickets are available at Ticketmaster or the Silver Legacy box office by calling 775-329-4777.
Medical student preview days in Reno, Las Vegas
The University of Nevada School of Medicine is offering two preview sessions for undergraduate college students considering applying to medical school. Las Vegas and Reno undergraduates considering a career in medicine should plan to attend one of these free informational sessions. Families are welcome.
The first orientation is planned for Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Reno at the Pennington Medical Education Building, Room 16.
The second session will be held Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the UNLV Student Union, Room 208B, in Las Vegas.
Elder care training scheduled in Eureka
Join the Sanford Center for Aging, Nevada Cooperative Extension and the Nevada Geriatric Education Center (a joint program between the Sanford Center for Aging and the University of Nevada School of Medicine) for a free workshop on caring for older adults on Thursday Oct. 23 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Eureka Senior Center, 20 West Gold Street in Eureka, Nev. Read more
State job openings at the School of Medicine
Visit the University of Nevada, Reno Web site for a current list of state jobs at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
In This Edition
Medical Education
Second year student a delegate to ASA meeting
Student outreach clinics for October announced
Faculty
New specialty surgeons join faculty
Larson presents keynote address
Larson, Zell to host, present at HIV conference
Plodkowski to join editorial advisory board
Spogen serves as delegate, chair to AAFP assemblies
Hogan paper accepted for publication
New faculty orientation workshop Oct. 9
New hires, promotions and recognitions
Dwyer promoted to multi-site clinical manager
Shpargel joins Office of Admissions and Student Affairs
School Notes
Race for the Cure is this Sunday, Oct. 5
Lili Claire Foundation fundraiser to benefit children with neurogenetic disorders
Medical student preview days in Reno, Las Vegas
Elder care training scheduled in Eureka
Past Editions 2008
March, April, May/June, July, August, September
Inside Nevada Medicine is a service of the Office of Health Science Communications, University of Nevada School of Medicine and is published monthly. Faculty, staff, residents and students are encouraged to submit items of school-wide interest to Editor Anne McMillin for publication. Deadline is the 20th of the month prior to publication. Copyright 2008 University of Nevada School of Medicine.