The Alabama/Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Physicians held its annual meeting last weekend, bringing together internists from both states, 8 residency programs, and 3 medical schools. UAB’s star shined especially bright with numerous recognitions of our faculty and trainees. Of special note is our winning Jeopardy team who will advance to the national competition in Los Angeles next year: Sean Carter, MD, Andrew Schaffer, MD, and Adam Taylor, MD, pictured left with meeting co-chairs Dr. Rob Smola (far left) and Dr. Wes Aldred from Mississippi (far right).
Other ACP highlights include:
* AL ACP Governor Bill Curry, MD, received a Chapter Excellence Award
* Planning committee members: Starr Steinhilber, MD, and Rob Smola, MD
* UASOM Student poster winners: Brian Westbrook, John Ahn
* Best Oral Vignette: Diego Fernandez, MD (PGY3)
* Resident Poster Winner: Siri Thambuluru, MD (PGY2)
Congratulations one and all!
More Good News for June 5, 2019
Tiffany Carson, PhD, MPH (Preventive Medicine) is one of only twelve individuals invited as a scholar for the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard Medical School (NORCH) Diversity Scholars Program. The program aims to foster a diverse network of scientists working in the obesity/nutrition space and to seek input from scholars about how the NORCH can support diversity in obesity research. As an invited scholar, she will take an all-expenses paid trip to Harvard this summer to connect with program leadership and other NORCH Diversity Scholars.
Nirav Patel, MD (Fellow, Cardiovascular Disease) and colleagues have published findings in JAMA Internal Medicine that demonstrate the substantial burden of new-onset atrial fibrillation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation and aortic valve replacement procedures. The researchers found that approximately 50 percent of hospitalizations for both TAVI and surgical AVR were associated with the development of new atrial fibrillation, which increases risk of stroke and mortality. Former IM Resident Rajat Kalra, MD, was first author. Pankaj Arora, MD (Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Disease) was senior author.
Rajesh Gupta, PhD (Researcher V, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism) received the first-place oral presentation award at the 12th Midwest Islet Club conference. His presentation described the role of complement 1q like-3 secreted protein in regulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. This study conducted in Dr. Sushant Bhatnagar's lab provides insights into the mechanism by which insulin secretion is reduced during type 2 diabetes. Congratulations, Dr. Gupta!
The UAB Adult Sickle Cell Clinic is a new resource for adults living with sickle cell disease in Alabama. Dr. Julie Kanter (Associate Professor, Hematology and Oncology) and her team had an Open House to announce the clinic to the public, and WBRC’s Steve Crocker came to learn more. Watch the video interview.
Suzanne Oparil, MD (Professor, Cardiovascular Disease) has been elected as a Distinguished Scientist of the American Heart Association for 2019. This honor was created in 2003 to recognize AHA/ASA members who have made extraordinary contributions to cardiovascular and stroke research. Kudos, Dr. Oparil for advancing our understanding in this area!
Laura Rogers, MD (Professor, Preventive Medicine) has received an R01 to study how exercise and gut microbiota composition impact breast cancer survivors’ overall health and vitality. She hopes to find targets for enhancing exercise benefits and to provide data for personalized exercise prescriptions. Congrats, Dr. Rogers. Read the abstract.
Hima Darapu, MD, will join the faculty in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism on July 1. She just completed her fellowship here at UAB, and her primary clinical interests include thyroid disease, adrenal disorders and endocrinopathies associated with immunotherapy. We are delighted to welcome her as a clinician in our Endocrine Clinic at TKC.
Medical Grand Rounds will take a Summer Break for the next 10 weeks! Enjoy!