August 2009
Dean's Comments
It has been just about a year since I took on my current job and within a few weeks, we will welcome another new class of medical students to the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
I am glad to say that throughout a rather stormy year of economic decline in the nation and severe budget cuts in the state, the School of Medicine is delivering on its mission without compromising. We are looking forward to our new students joining an impressive community of alumni-physicians throughout Nevada and the U.S.
We are also looking forward to a very special event commemorating our history and orientation to the future by celebrating the School’s 40th anniversary on September 24. We will have a foundation dinner at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks with distinguished speaker and author Atul Gawande, M.D., followed on September 25 by an all-day continuing medical education event showcasing some of the best clinical science and practice we have to offer.
I personally look forward to meeting and honoring the School’s founding dean, Dr. George Smith, and hope that the event will send an inspiring message to our students and trainees that by entering the field of medicine through the University of Nevada, they join a large extended family of professionals. You can be very proud of your kinship!
Shortly after we have celebrated, we will welcome visitors for a site visit by our accrediting body, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The closeness of these two events – celebration and accreditation – means to me that our good feelings about what the School has accomplished are reflected in recognition of our accountability for our educational function and its relevance.
We are, indeed, a part of the very serious national mission of educating doctors who measure up to national standards.
Preparation for the LCME visit has gone on for many months, and this is the time for me to acknowledge the incredible dedication that our medical education team has shown in conducting an in-depth self-study.
The leader of this effort has been Jennifer Kimmel, M.D., our associate dean for medical education who has mobilized a large contingent of faculty and students and directed and motivated them, month after month, to give their best in pursuit of a critical and constructive self-examination.
My heartfelt thanks to her and the individuals who participated in this effort!
At the time of our anniversary celebration, we will not know yet how we will fare at accreditation time. But what the self-study has shown me, what it has said about our work and the people carrying it out, is more than reason enough to celebrate our 40 years as a medical school.
Ole J.Thienhaus, M.D., MBA
Dean,
University of Nevada School of Medicine
Medical Education
Incoming student a Herz Gold Medal recipient
Ashish Francis, a member of the incoming Class of 2013, is the second Herz Gold Medical recipient in the last three years at the School of Medicine.
Third year student writes for American Society of Anesthesiologists
James Phillips, Class of 2011, wrote an article entitled “Medical students: Come One Come All” for the July 2009 newsletter of the American Society of Anesthesiologists after attending the organization's Washington, DC legislative conference.
Faculty
Kalinowski to present paper
Coni Kalinowski, M.D., Department of Family and Community Medicine in Reno and medical director of the Mojave Adult, Child, and Family Services, will present her paper “Gambling and Problem Gambling in People Having Intellectual Disability” at the 7th European Congress of Mental Health in Intellectual Disability in Amsterdam, The Netherlands next month.
Bar-on has two papers accepted for MedEdPortal
Miriam Bar-on, M.D., associate dean for graduate medical education recently had two papers she co-authored accepted to MedEdPortal: “Faculty Development Tutorial System of the Academic Pediatric Association Educational Guidelines” and “Academic Pediatric Association Educational Guidelines for Pediatric Residency.”
New hires, promotions, recognition
Sanford H. Barsky, M.D., joins School of Medicine as pathology chair
The University of Nevada School of Medicine announces the arrival of Sanford H. Barsky, M.D., as professor and the new chair of the Department of Pathology.
Barsky is a well known, highly regarded and entrepreneurial cancer researcher who will also serve as chief of pathology of Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) in Las Vegas and an associate director of NVCI at the Reno campus.
Barsky, who has both a strong research and clinical background, will lead the effort to further develop the research and clinical missions of the Department of Pathology throughout Nevada in addition to maintaining its outstanding teaching missions.
Barsky is a pioneer in digital pathology and will initiate a virtual slide microscopy diagnostic consultative service throughout the state. His arrival indicates an evolution toward achieving the traditional triple threat of academic pathology.
“I am looking forward to both the challenges and the opportunities at the University of Nevada and NVCI, helping to lead both the pathology and cancer research efforts so crucial to the health of Nevadans and all Americans as we prepare to enter the second decade of the 21st century and I am grateful to the efforts made in my recruitment by all concerned,” said Barsky. Read more
New faculty join School of Medicine in July
The following physicians joined the School of Medicine as faculty in the internal medicine department in Reno effective July 1: Leigh Anderson, M.D. and Trevor Phan, M.D., both as assistant professors. Tatjana Delemus, M.D., and Brandi Johnson, M.D., will serve one-year appointments as instructors in that department while the microbiology department gains Leticia Cano as a post-doctorate scholar.
In addition, Kate Martin, M.D., is now with the family and community medicine department in Las Vegas. Martin is former chief resident in the department and a School of Medicine alumna.
Aditi Singh, M.D. joined the faculty as associate program director for the internal medicine residency in Las Vegas. She is a 2005 graduate of the School of Medicine and former chief resident of the Las Vegas internal medicine residency program.
Julian Almeyda-Perez, M.D., joined the Department of Internal Medicine in Las Vegas while Alison Netski, M.D.’01, joined the Las Vegas Department of Psychiatry as assistant professor and associate residency director.
Former School of Medicine resident Jeremy Matuszak, M.D., joined the Department of Psychiatry in Reno as an assistant professor, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry.
Four join Las Vegas clinics
Maria Esparza joins the Las Vegas billing department of the practice plan as an account representative, Anesha McGill joins the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a medical records specialist, Terrena Jones joins surgery as a medical records specialist and Kelly O’Shaughnessy joins family medicine as a grants project manager.
School Notes
Surgical research space consolidates in Las Vegas
William A. Zamboni, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery, announces the culmination of a 15-year effort to consolidate surgical basic science research space on the Shadow Lane campus with the opening of the University of Nevada School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery Research Laboratories.
“This is a tremendous step forward for School of Medicine research efforts in Las Vegas,” said Zamboni who spearheaded the effort.
Previously, basic science research had been carried out in rented lab space on the University of Nevada Las Vegas campus. With the opening of the 3,500 square-foot space in the biotechnology center on the Shadow Lane campus, basic science research for the surgery department is now consolidated into three connected and open labs to facilitate teaching and professional discourse among collaborators.
Basic science research related to tissue ischemia, microsurgery, trauma resuscitation and pediatric surgery will be taught by eight surgeon clinician scientists to surgical residents and as a fourth year elective for medical students. The new spaces also house supporting staff.
White Coat ceremony will take place on August 14
The 2009 White Coat ceremony to welcome the incoming Class of 2013 will take place Friday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. at Lawlor Events Center in Reno.
Faculty and staff are welcome to attend.
Incoming medical students will participate in the cloaking ceremony which symbolically welcomes them into the health care profession and helps establish a psychological contract for the practice of medicine.
The ceremony concludes the students’ orientation week and is part of the School of Medicine’s Family Day celebration.
Lev selected for prestigious fellowship
Ryan Ley, M.D.’05, was selected as a 2009 Child PRITE, or Psychiatry Resident In-service Training Examination fellow. Ryan was a general psychiatry resident prior to joining the School’s child fellowship for subspecialty training.
He was awarded the prestigious fellowship sponsored by the American College of Psychiatry. As a fellow, Ryan will attend the college’s annual meetings and will participate as a member of the PRITE editorial board.
Psychiatry begins outpatient service in Las Vegas
The Department of Psychiatry in Las Vegas has started an outpatient psychiatric service in conjunction with the Lied Clinic at University Medical Center, according to Greg Brown, M.D., co-chair of the department.
With this new collaboration, psychiatric residents will provide care for the undeserved population in Las Vegas.
Professional development opportunities at the School of Medicine
The Office of Continuing Medical Education announces several opportunities this fall. The 2009 Annual Diabetes Conference will be held Friday Oct. 2 at the Peppermill Hotel convention center in Reno.
“Networking for HIV Care: 10th Annual Autumn Update” is planned for Oct. 17 and 18 at Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee, Calif. and the Nevada Public Health Association’s annual conference is scheduled for Sept. 21-22 in Reno.
To register or for additional information go online or call (775)784-4782.
CME offerings at Nevada Cancer Institute
Kenneth A. Foon, M.D., chief of Hematological Malignancies and acting director of Phase I Clinical Trials Program at Nevada Cancer Institute in Las Vegas, will be giving a community lecture on “Understanding Leukemia and Lymphoma” at noon on Friday, August 21.
To register, email Lisa Emrich or call 702-821-0071.
Status of LCME accreditation visit
Visit the School of Medicine Web site for an update on the progress of the LCME accreditation visitthis fall.
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
Incoming student a Herz Gold Medal recipient
Third year student writes for American Society of Anesthesiologists
Faculty
Bar-on has two papers accepted for MedEdPortal
New hires, promotions, recognitions
Sanford Barsky, M.D. joins School of Medicine as pathology chair
More faculty join School of Medicine in July
School Notes
Surgical research space consolidates in Las Vegas
White Coat ceremony planned for August 14
Lev selected for prestigious fellowship
Psychiatry begins outpaitent service in Las Vegas
Professional development opportunities at the School of Medicine
CME offerings at Nevada Cancer Institute
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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 2009 University of Nevada School of Medicine.