Greetings from the Chairman
Seth Landefeld, M.D., MACP, Professor and Chair, UAB Department of Medicine
As we step into our fall season of recruitment for the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency program, I am thrilled with our prospects. Our residency program is gearing up to identify 35 brilliant new doctors to join us at UAB. This season is one of tremendous inspiration for me, as we create the future of our profession together in selecting our next class of residents as colleagues.
The very best of our department will be on display at our annual recognition day celebration on November 1. We will recognize our stellar doctors, investigators, teachers, and staff at this annual awards ceremony. One of my favorite honors to bestow is to name each division’s “Unsung Hero” — a dozen people across the Department who exemplify what we are about in the Department and at UAB. I expect there to be lots of applause and wonderful models of our mission excellence.
A New Year Brings a Fresh Start
2023-2024 CMRs from L to R: Drs. Julie England, Brian Westbrook, Mark Cromer, and Christina Cheng
As we begin our new roles as Chief Medical Residents, we have so many new changes to look forward to as the year progresses. A year ago, we were in the midst of yet another COVID surge, and what a difference a year makes! It has been an amazing change over the past year to see maskless residents and interns, with their smiling faces and infectious optimism.
The Legacy of the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency Program
Tinsley R. Harrison, M.D.“Wisdom takes time to accumulate, and it’s worth something.” Dr. George Karam referenced John James in a day that captured the past, present, and future of the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency program. Dr. Tinsley R. Harrison was the second dean of what is now UAB Heersink School of Medicine, and he utilized his role to foster a culture of compassionate and enthusiastic students and physicians.
Spotlight on Ms. Lois Davison
Ms. Lois Davison and Dr. Sydney Blakenshipby Dr. Sydney Blakenship, PGY-2
For many UAB Internal Medicine residents, the 9th floor of Spain-Wallace starts to feel like home, and the staff becomes like family. There, the saying, “it takes a village,” proves true. One employee in particular, Ms. Lois, has been the heart and soul of the S9 unit for the past 44 years. Through the HIV epidemic in the 1980s, and through the COVID pandemic in 2020, she has kept the unit running; and she always does it with a smile. I had the pleasure to sit down and talk with her as she reflected back on her years as Unit Secretary.
When Breath Becomes a Privilege by Dr. Lauren Anderson
by Dr. Lauren Anderson, PGY-2
Drowning, suffocating, an elephant sitting on my chest. These are some of the descriptors that patients use when referring to the debilitating manifestations of respiratory diseases. Shortness of breath can be terrifying, and patients report they feel like they're dying. From the Bible describing the breath of life to the pronouncement of death with cessation of respiration to the colloquial description of a blissful moment as a “breath of fresh air", culturally breath is deeply intertwined with life.
Adapting to Residency from a Foreign Perspective: When Our Mind Plays Against Us
by Dr. Ricardo Marin, PGY-2
The journey to residency in the United States is probably one of the hardest tasks for medical students. For Non-US Medical Graduates (or IMGs), it is well known that this is a highly competitive process, with a consistently lower proportion of IMGs matching to PGY-1 positions compared to US Medical graduates, especially in competitive programs or specialties. IMGs face many obstacles, including being of older age compared to US graduates, the need for good USMLE Step scores, differing medical school evaluation systems,
I Remember You
by Dr. Joven Tristeza, PGY-2
I remember you. You were my first patient. On my first day, I showed up to the workroom at 4:00 a.m. I had read your chart the night before. I was nervous about meeting you. Would you know this was my first day? I knew you were going to be the first patient I would meet since your door was right next to the workroom. The first patient in my career as Dr. Tristeza. I looked over your labs for the morning and re-reviewed the email I got about you. And re-re-reviewed. I really wanted to make sure I got things right since you were scheduled to discharge today.
Attenuating Perfectionism: An Approach to Patient Care When Resources Are Scarce
by Dr. Alex D'Amico, PGY-3
Preserving quality of life is something we are called to do as physicians. During my time in the ICU, I gained a deeper appreciation for this important aspect in medicine and have attempted to understand my patients’ goals when evaluating and treating their maladies. Reducing hospitalization is vital to this, and those with heart failure (HF) are at high risk of having frequent hospital admissions. As a resident physician interested in a career in cardiology, I have found that low income and poor access to healthy food options have been large barriers to me
The Impact of Affordable Care
by Dr. Dan Spell, PGY-3
After the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, more than 40 million patients are now insured under the act. The rate of uninsured non-elderly (age above 65) patients has dropped nationwide by close to 20 million.Consequently, approximately 20 million Americans now enjoy the ability to afford routine medical examinations, reduce their pharmaceutical expenses, and free themselves from the apprehension of emergency room fees. Although this marks a significant triumph for the American populace, it is crucial to recognize that our work remains incomplete. This is where Mr. Bartlow (name changed for privacy) enters the picture.