Department of Medicine Chair Seth Landefeld, MD, has been appointed to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The Task Force is an independent, volunteer panel appointed by the director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more here.

Every month, The New York Times Magazine challenges readers to “Think Like a Doctor” with physician-journalist Lisa Sanders, MD, as she explores a real-life medical case. On February 4, 2016, the diagnostic mystery featured a retired Air Force officer who shows up in an emergency room with chest pain so severe he could barely breathe. The case was submitted by Robert Centor, MD, Dean of the UAB Huntsville Regional Medical Campus. Read the column here.

The UAB Health System has recorded two new videos for the MD Learning Channel. Step Inside the UAB Hybrid OR features Oluseun Alli, MD (Cardiovascular Disease) and James Davies Jr., MD, performing a TAVR procedure in UAB Medicine's hybrid operating room. Care of the Adult with Congenital Heart Disease features Marc G. Cribbs, MD (Cardiovascular Disease) and James K. Kirklin, MD, explain how to recognize and educate these vulnerable patients. More than 20,000 adults enter the Adult Congenital Heart Disease population every year, but 60% are lost to follow-up care. 

Two Endocrinology faculty, Amy Warriner, MD, and Ivania Rizo, MD, recently passed the Certification Examination for Obesity Medicine Physicians. They join Monica Agarwal, MD, who was certified in 2012. 

Maria Danila, MD, MSc, MPH (Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology) has been named Ambulatory Clinical Director for the Division.

Navin Nanda, MD (Cardiovascular Disease) is senior editor of the newly published Manual of Echocardiography. Dr. Nanda was also memorialized with a bust at the dedication ceremony of The Emergency Medicine and Paramedics and Echocardiography Training Institute in Rajasthan, India.

The Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency Program held its 14th Annual Chili Cook-off last Sunday at Avondale Brewing. The winner of the Golden Spoon Award for best overall chili was PGY-1 Allison Rogers, MD. The judges also recognized PGY-1 Jeremey Walker (and his wife Kristen) for Most Creative Chili; CMR Joshua Stripling, MD, for Best Overall Dessert; and PGY-2 Steven Young (and his wife Caroline) for Best Dessert Presentation.

Eighteen local artists will create masterpieces in 90 minutes during the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 2016 ArtBLINK Gala and silent auction on Saturday, February 20. Funds from the gala support high-priority research efforts for specific projects, including launching young investigators in cancer research or recruiting new faculty. 

Next week, we will shake things up with an MGR brought to you “Family Feud” style. Ryan Kraemer, MD, UAB Associate Professor of General Internal Medicine will host.

View this week's slides.

Do you have Good News to share? If so, please email the Department of Medicine's Director of Communications, Carolyn Walsh.