Mark Dransfield, MD (Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) and colleagues have published their findings on the potential of beta blockers to prevent exacerbations of COPD. The results of their prospective, randomized trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that beta-blockers do not prevent COPD exacerbations. Further, their research provokes a re-examination of the overall risk-benefit of beta-blockers for patients with both COPD and cardiac indications.
More Good News for October 23, 2019
The Department is delighted to welcome KeAndrea Titer, MD, to the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Titer is a former UAB Chief Medical Resident, and is practicing as an attending physician and hospitalist. She is also Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusion for the residency program, Co-Director of the Enhanced Clinical Skills Track, and an investigator for the Reimagining Residency Grant. Welcome, Dr. Titer!
Over 300 investigators from across the country attended the “Chromosomes to Communities” aging symposium which presented updates on disparities, cell senescence, resilience, and systematic sources of inflammation. Director of the National Institute on Aging Dr. Richard Hodes delivered the keynote address at the conference, which was supported by a partnership between the Integrative Center for Aging Research (formerly the Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging), the Alzheimers Disease Center, the Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging and the McKnight Brain Institute.
The University-Wide Interdisciplinary Research Center (UWIRC) program promotes outstanding interdisciplinary research across the spectrum of science and scholarship at UAB, and the Department is delighted that the Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center (CCVC) has been funded at full UWIRC status for the next five years. Congratulations to CCVC Director Sumanth Prabhu, MD (Professor and Director, Cardiovascular Disease) and to all the investigators who are a part of this endeavor.
Two of our internal medicine residents just presented their research at CHEST Conference. Rachel Naramore, MD (PGY-3) was a semi-finalist for her poster on mortality causes in COPD lung transplants. Kevin Schwalbach, MD (PGY-3) shared an interesting case of pulmonary hypertension resulting from cervical cancer tumor emboli syndrome. Hats off to both scholars!
DOM celebrated homecoming in style last week at the UAB parade. Our honorees were 2019 Employee of the Year Sylvia Peral, Nephrology Professor Vineeta Kumar, MD; and IM Resident Aditi Jani, MD. We were delighted to show our team spirit, and to bring home a 38-14 win against Old Dominion! #UAB50 #BlazersUnited
Hind Lal, PhD (Assoc. Professor, Cardiovascular Disease) has published the results of his study on the kinase regulation of cardiac function in the journal Circulation. Furthermore, his ongoing investigation in this area will be funded by a $1.8 million RO1 grant from the NHLBI. Kudos for this outstanding science, Dr. Lal!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced nearly $1.2 million in new funding to help seven more states develop systems collect data on the issues faced by people living with sickle cell disease. The Department is thrilled that Julie Kanter, MD (Assoc. Professor, Hematology and Oncology) is leading the charge in Alabama. Our UAB site will spend the next year developing and implementing strategies to collect this vital information. Kudos!
James Cimino, MD (Professor, General Internal Medicine; Director, UAB Informatics Institute) has received the 2019 Morris F. Collen Award of Excellence by the American College of Medical Informatics. This recognition is presented to an individual whose personal commitment and dedication to medical informatics have made a lasting impression on the field. Congratulations, Dr. Cimino!
HSF Medical Compliance Officer Stephen Stair, MD, and UAB Medicine Chief Compliance Officer Brian Bates, CPA, will present "Compliance 2019: You Have One Job!" at Medical Grand Rounds at noon on Wednesday, October 30, in Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium.