In response to the NIH focus on training for rigor, reproducibility & transparency, scientists at UAB developed a gamified solution using the Kaizen platform which has been engaging roughly 50 people every quarter for the past two years. Now, James Willig, MD, MSPH (Professor, Infectious Diseases) and collaborators in the CCTS have shared this learning tool with the national CTSA partner network through Edge for Scholars. This expansion means that this "painless, fun, and potentially rewarding path to score R2T training" will help a nationwide audience meet their NIH training requirements. Kudos to the entire team—especially content creator Professor Dave Redden, PhD (SOPH)— for their collaborative learning innovation!

More Good News for January 29, 2020

Professor Brigitta Brott, MD, has been appointed Vice Director for Entrepreneurship in the Division of Cardiovascular Disease. In this role she will work with scientists and clinicians to identify promising new ideas, liaise with external corporate partners, and champion the process of bringing innovations from idea to reality. Kudos, Dr. Brott.

The Department is delighted to announce that Doug Bentley, MPH, now serves as the Division Administrator for the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology. Doug joined us in December 2019, having previously worked at the VA Center for Clinical Management Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he held various roles in research administration and served in leadership roles on the Center’s Quantitative Methods Core and Predictive Modeling Unit. Doug is originally from Georgia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Georgia Southern University and a master’s in public health from the Medical College of Georgia. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Doug in this new role.

Robert Rich, MD (Professor and Dean Emeritus) was recently honored with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for lasting contributions to society. Dr. Rich's research focused on cellular and molecular interactions between antigen presenting cells and T lymphocytes, including the definition of interactions of superantigens with T cell receptors for antigen and discovery of the molecular basis of peptide binding and functional specialization of a major histocompatibility class Ib molecule. Congratulations on this prestigious recognition of your work, Dr. Rich!

The editorial team of Hypertension has selected Tanja Dudenbostel, MD (Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Disease) to serve on the journal's social media team. In this role, she will encourage discussion on the latest developments in hypertension science and facilitate conversations on important Hypertension publications. Follow her on Twitter under the handle @DrDudenbostel.

Navin Nanda, MD (Distinguished Professor, Cardiovascular Disease) has published the second edition of the "Comprehensive Textbook of Echocardiography (Volumes 1 and 2)." He was also one of the Editors-in-Chief of "Advances & Innovations in Heart Failure, A Textbook of Cardiology." Congratulations on this continued scholarly work, Dr. Nanda!

The Department of Medicine Research Development Group is pleased to request nominations for the Max Cooper Award for Career Excellence in Research. This award recognizes senior researchers who have gained national recognition for important research discoveries over their scientific careers. Applications should be submitted online by 5 pm February 28, 2020. Nominate Someone!

The Walter B. Frommeyer, Jr., Fellowship in Investigative Medicine is designed to foster the development of outstanding physician-scientists by supporting a two-year intensive, mentored research experience in the Department of Medicine. Applications for this fellowship are now open. Candidates must have a clinical doctoral degree, be enrolled in clinical training programs in the DOM, or a junior faculty member two years or less in rank at the time of award. Application deadline is March 6, 2020. Learn more here.

Susan Bal, MBBS, joins UAB as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Bal’s clinical practice will be focused on the care of patients with plasma cell disorders including Multiple Myeloma and AL Amyloidosis.

Dr. Bal's training includes a fellowship in Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center preceded by a Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where she was also chief fellow. She completed a residency at Kettering Medical Center/Wright State University after earning her medical degree at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College in India.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Bal to UAB and the Department of Medicine.

Leah Leisch, MD, Assistant Professor in the UAB Division of General Internal Medicine, will present "Breaking Badness: The Internists Role in the Opioid Epidemic" at noon on Wednesday, February 5, in Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium.

No slides this week!