George H. Shade Jr., M.D., F.A.C.O.G., F.A.C.P.E., associate professor of the Gynecology Division in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has been installed as president of the Wayne County Medical Society of Southeast Michigan.

Dr. Shade, who also serves as specialist-in-chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology for the Detroit Medical Center, was inaugurated as president of the society May 15. He will serve for one year.

A member of the society since 1978, Dr. Shade said his goal is to have the organization focus on access to health care in the Detroit metropolitan area and disparities in health care in the region. “By addressing these two issues alone, we will be required to look at several very important issues that create the problems we have in these two areas,” he said.

“I feel extremely honored to have been selected to step into this role,” Dr. Shade said. “I am a native Detroiter and have always felt a strong commitment to the city of Detroit. The women in the Detroit metropolitan area have myriad significant health care issues unique in many respects to this region. I believe that as a collective force of dedicated and talented physicians we can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life in southeastern Michigan."

Dr. Shade, who is chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Sinai-Grace Hospital, was appointed specialist-in-chief for Obstetrics and Gynecology for the Detroit Medical Center in March. The system-wide position includes overview of services at Hutzel Women's Hospital, Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital and Sinai-Grace Hospital. The chief of each hospital’s department of obstetrics and gynecology reports to Dr. Shade. He said he views his primary role as overseeing quality, physician credentialing and patient safety as it pertains to women's health care.

The position, Dr. Shade explained, includes adherence to best practices to ensure “that every woman coming to the DMC gets the very best health care available in the United States of America.

“Over the past three decades, health care in this nation has become more and more regionalized,” Dr. Shade said. “I see it as incumbent upon me to work closely with the physicians in comparable roles as mine in other health care systems to make sure that we put an end to lack of access to health care as well as the problems of disparities in health care encountered on a daily basis across southeastern Michigan. I believe I can best influence my colleagues by demonstrating that the DMC is truly a campus of breakthroughs and innovation strengthened by its long-term relationship with the Wayne State University School of Medicine and its time-tested commitment to the city of Detroit.”

In addition, Dr. Shade is serving his second term as vice chairman of the Michigan State Board of Medicine. Re-elected in January, he will hold the position through January 2010.

Selection to the board is by gubernatorial appointment. The governor receives recommendations from the Michigan State Medical Society, elected officials, industry, and civic and community organizations.

The board is charged with protecting the public safety as it pertains to the practice of medicine. Members oversee physician licensing, investigate complaints against physicians and are responsible for enacting disciplinary measures up to and including license revocation for infractions and unprofessional conduct.

Eric Ayers, M.D., an assistant professor of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics and associate program director of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics with the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has been appointed to serve as a professional board member for the Student National Medical Association.

Dr. Ayers was initially nominated by Nakia Williams, a second-year pediatric student, who was impressed with his passion for mentorship and his students.

“For me, this is indeed an honor to serve in this capacity,” Dr. Ayers said. “For the School of Medicine and its departments, it gives us access, visibility and a vehicle to help in the recruitment of minorities in medicine.”

After he was nominated, Dr. Ayers met with the board for an interview and was asked to prepare and deliver a presentation on leadership at the Student National Medical Association’s National Leadership Institute.

Established in 1964, the Student National Medical Association consists of more than 8,000 members throughout the United States. The SNMA is the oldest and largest independent, student-run organization committed to meeting the needs of minorities and preparing them for careers in medicine.

Bhanu P. Jena, Ph.D., the George E. Palade University Professor and Distinguished Professor of the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Department of Physiology, has been invited to give the keynote address at the 33rd meeting of the Indian Cell Biology Society.

The meeting will take place Dec. 10-13 at the University of Hyderabad in India.

“I am honored to be invited to present the keynote lecture at this important international meeting,” said Dr. Jena, who will speak on "Cell Secretion and Membrane Fusion: A Billion Year History."

“We are aware of your outstanding contributions to the broad field of Cell Biology … . I am confident that your presence would provide an opportunity for thought-provoking interactions with the participants,” wrote Dr. Seyed E. Hasnain, vice chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, in his invitation to Dr. Jena.

Recently, Dr. Jena won the prestigious Ranbaxy Research Award. The annual awards are presented by the Ranbaxy Science Foundation, a non-profit organization established by Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited to encourage and honor Indian scientists working around the world in the endeavors of medical and pharmaceutical research.

The foundation honored Dr. Jena for his discovery of a new cellular structure -- the porosome -- as well as his elucidation of the general molecular mechanism underlying cell secretion and membrane fusion.

The porosome, discovered by Dr. Jena 14 years ago, is the universal secretory machinery in cells. Secretion is a fundamental cellular process that occurs in all living organisms. Cell secretion is responsible for numerous activities, including neurotransmission, and the release of hormones and digestive enzymes. Secretory defects are responsible for a number of debilitating conditions, including growth defects, diabetes and neurological disorders. Dr. Jena’s discoveries have opened a gateway for the possible development of future treatments for such disorders at the very basic level of life.

Dr. Jena seeks to expand his research and work in cross-disciplinary partnerships in his position as founder and director of the Wayne State University NanoBioScience Institute. The institute’s overall objective is to prepare U.S.-trained scientists who can assume the “next generation of leadership roles in the U.S. academic and industrial environment.”

Nano technologies, Dr. Jena explained, are powerful emerging fields that facilitate research and understanding of the smallest molecular structures. The understanding of how cells and biomolecules function will lead to the development of nanoscale devices that assist biological processes and assist in developing “smart drugs” and drug delivery systems. The merging of medical science and engineering science is crucial to the field.

Wayne State University School of Medicine employees were celebrated and honored for their years of service during the annual Service Recognition Program and luncheon.

The luncheon, held June 26 in the Scott Hall cafeteria, recognized 162 employees with a cumulative 2,955 years of service to the School of Medicine.

“This type of recognition is incredibly important,” said Valerie Parisi, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., acting dean of the school. “Just two or three weeks ago we opened the new Mazurek building, however, at the end of the day a facility doesn’t make a great workplace, it’s the people. The most important asset to the school, the university or any organization is its people. We are properly recognizing your incredible dedication of spirit and all the talents you bring to the school every day.”

Dean Parisi and Zirka Clark, manager of Human Resources for the school, called the employees forward to present them with certificates for their milestones. The employees who were recognized include:

10 Years Service
Gyula Acsadi, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatrics
Andre Alexander, Medical Software Systems
Linda Anderson, Psychiatry
Melody Andrews, Surgery
Eishi Asano, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatrics
Vivian Badalamenti, Research and Graduate Programs
Ann Bankowski, Cancer Institute
Kertia Black, M.D., Medical Academic and Student Programs
Boycho Boychev, Perinatology Research
George Brush, Ph.D., Cancer Institute
Jacob Burmeister, Ph.D., Radiation Oncology
Nedim Cakan, M.D., Pediatrics
Kimberly Campbell-Voytal, Ph.D., Family Medicine
Christina Caon, Neurology
Anita Chalasani, Pharmacology
Michele Cote, Ph.D., Cancer Institute
Valerie Davis, Cancer Institute
Deanna Dona, Research and Graduate Programs
Debra Driscoll, Obstetrics/Gynecology
Rana El-Jaroudi, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Lulu Farhana, Ph.D., Internal Medicine
Gerald Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics
Paul Finlayson, Ph.D., Otolaryngology
Shawn Fite, Orthopedic Surgery
Yubin Ge, Ph.D., Cancer Institute
Martha Hayward, Surgery
Hong-Qiang Heng, Ph.D., Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics
James Janisse, Ph.D., Family Medicine
Latonia Jointer, Anatomy
Brian Kilburn, Obstetrics/Gynecology
Richard Krugel, Ph.D., Orthopedic Surgery
Xiaohua Li, Ph.D., Pathology
LynnMarie Mango, Emergency Medicine
Saroj Mathupala, Ph.D., Neurosurgery
Brian McClatchey, Internal Medicine
Jennifer Mendez, Ph.D., Medical Academic and Student Programs
Angela Moore, Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics
Steven J. Ondersma, Ph.D., Psychiatry
Zhuo-Hua Pan, Ph.D., Anatomy
Graham Parker, Ph.D., Pediatrics
Charles Pelshaw, M.D., Pediatrics
K.M. Rahman, Ph.D., Pathology
Arun Rishi, Ph.D., Cancer Institute
Sureyya Savasan, M.D., Pediatrics
Ann Schwartz, Ph.D., Cancer Institute
Firdous Siddiqui, M.D., Internal Medicine
Ayman Soubani, M.D., Internal Medicine
Michael Tainsky, Ph.D., Cancer Institute
Thomas Theeck, Psychiatry
Dina Verbeem, Psychiatry
John Webber, M.D., Surgery
Elaine Weber, Pharmacology
Hong-Guang Wei, M.D., Pathology
Minghuan Yu, M.D., Ph.D., Surgery
Huamei Zhang, Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics

15 Years Service
Kathleen Abramczyk, Pediatrics
Gary Abrams, M.D., Ophthalmology
George Alangaden, M.D., Internal Medicine
Eric Ayers, M.D., Internal Medicine
Lisa Blackwell, Family Medicine
Diane Chugani, Ph.D., Pediatrics
Nicholas Davis, Ph.D., Pharmacology
Lorraine Demchak, Anatomy
Elaine Douglas, Psychiatry
Wei Du, Ph.D., Pediatrics
Juanita Fanto, Internal Medicine
Yvonne Friday, M.D., Pediatrics
Randall Gill, Ph.D., Immunology & Microbiology
Bernard Gonik, M.D., Obstetrics/Gynecology
John A. Kamholz, M.D., Ph.D., Neurology
Donald Kuhn, Ph.D., Psychiatry
Gloria Kuhn, D.O., Ph.D., Emergency Medicine
Jawana Lawhorn-Crews, Cancer Institute
Mei-Li Lee, Pediatrics
Tovonne Lucas, Pediatrics
Kenneth Maiese, M.D., Neurology
Bharati Mitra, Ph.D., Biochemistry
Silas Norman, M.D., Medical Academic and Student Programs
Karoline Suzanne Puder, M.D., Obstetrics/Gynecology
Graciela Rojas, M.D., Internal Medicine
Amy Roth, Pharmacology
Ann Santiago, Pharmacology
Tadeusz Scislo, M.D., Ph.D., Physiology
Michael Shy, M.D., Neurology
Rosemary Shy, M.D., Pediatrics
Dusanka Skundric, M.D., Ph.D., Neurology
Susan Smolinske, Pediatrics
Diane Snell, Internal Medicine
Jasloveleen Sohi, Neurology
Manuel Tancer, M.D., Psychiatry
Jeffrey Taub, M.D., Pediatrics
Alex Tselis, M.D., Ph.D., Neurology
James Tyburski, M.D., Surgery
Mary Vigelius-Slagh, Internal Medicine
Craig Watson, M.D., Ph.D., Neurology
Zhengxian Zhu, M.D., Psychiatry

20 Years Service
David Armant, Ph.D., Obstetrics/Gynecology
James Blessman, M.D., Family Medicine
Audrey Brown, Otolaryngology
Brenda Cannon, Research and Graduate Programs
Josephine Crawford, Pediatrics
Craig Giroux, Ph.D., Cancer Institute
Eti Gursel, M.D., Surgery
Matthew Jackson, Ph.D., Medical Academic and Student Programs
Chaesik Kim, Ophthalmology
Stephen Krawetz, Ph.D., Obstetrics/Gynecology
Patricia Lorusso, D.O., Internal Medicine
Mark McDermott, M.D., Ophthalmology
Kathleen Meert, M.D., Pediatrics
Lori Monia-Allen, Emergency Medicine
Donal O’Leary, Ph.D., Physiology
James Puklin, M.D., Ophthalmology
Dwanja Ray, Medicine Human Resources
Loretta Robichaud, Medical Academic and Student Programs
Michael Simon, M.D., Internal Medicine
Larry Stephenson, M.D., Surgery
Kerry Vistisen, Anatomy
Rona Wang, Perinatology Research
Robert Welch, M.D., Emergency Medicine
Rasheeda Zafar, Ph.D., Physiology

25 Years Service
Elizabeth Arnold, M.D., Internal Medicine
Ronald Barrett, Anatomy
Kathleen Borlas, Medical Software Systems
Pranatharthi Chandrasekar, M.D., Internal Medicine
Ben Chen, Ph.D., Internal Medicine
Zirka Clark, Medicine Human Resources
Gunter Deppe, M.D., Obstetrics/Gynecology
John Gordon, Medical Academic and Student Programs
Thomas Holland, Ph.D., Immunology & Microbiology
Mark Marunick, D.D.S., Otolaryngology
Milton Mutchnick, M.D., Internal Medicine
Anne Neale, Ph.D., Family Medicine
Karen Pilarski, Pediatrics
James Sondheimer, M.D., Internal Medicine
Frank Stasa, Medical Software Systems
Janet Watycha, Pathology

30 Years Service
Josephine Beaudette, Medicine Human Resources
Robert Burack, M.D., Internal Medicine
Lavoisier Cardozo, M.D., Internal Medicine
Marian Drescher, Ph.D., Otolaryngology
Jeri Gleichauf, Emergency Medicine
Linda McCraw, Physiology

35 Years Service
Pravit Cadnapaphornchai, M.D., Internal Medicine
Melvin Clay, Immunology & Microbiology
Lawrence Crane, M.D., Internal Medicine
David Evans, Ph.D., Biochemistry
Kenneth Honn, Ph.D., Pathology
Ja Esta Jones, Medical Academic & Student Programs
David Kessel, Ph.D., Pharmacology
Jeanne Lusher, M.D., Pediatrics
David Neumann, Medical Communications
John Rainey, M.D., Ph.D., Psychiatry
Anthony Sacco, Ph.D., Obstetrics/Gynecology
David Schneider, Ph.D., Pharmacology
Eugene Schoener, Ph.D., Pharmacology
Marappa Subramanian, Ph.D., D.V.M. Obstetrics/Gynecology
Roy Sundick, Ph.D., Immunology & Microbiology

40 Years Service
Richard E. Gallagher, Ph.D., Family Medicine
Margarita Palutke, M.D., Pathology
Jose Rafols, Ph.D., Anatomy
Choichi Sugawa, M.D., Surgery

45 Years Service
Rosemarie Kalajian, Anatomy

A group of Wayne State University School of Medicine students are striving to meet some of the many medical needs of homeless people in the Detroit area. By partnering with Cass Community Social Services, the students provided valuable medical supplies for several homeless shelters.

The student group, known as Medical and Political Action in the Community, is seeking donations in the form of medical supplies from local pharmacies. Specifically, the students are asking for glucose testing strips used to monitor diabetes.

MPAC is part of the co-curricular program at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. The co-curricular credit program was created in 1998 to provide medical students with service opportunities to help them develop their skills and garner valuable and meaningful work experience.The group decided to provide medical supplies to homeless shelters after attending a seminar on Detroit health perspectives.

“A resident of the MOM’s homeless shelter spoke and cited a need for glucose testing equipment. We then saw a need and created a project,” said Gary Rajah, a first-year medical student and MPAC member.

While the students are working for a great cause, the process is not without complications.

“It is difficult to convince people to donate because most pharmacies have regulations and it takes time to figure out how to do it. A lot of the times, I have to talk to the distributing headquarters to work out arrangements,” Rajah said.

Upon receiving the glucose strips, Rajah and other students delivered them to Dr. Heather Dickson, a physician and medical director at the MOM’s homeless shelter.

Thanks to MPAC, the partnership between local homeless shelters and pharmacies will continue to develop and meet the needs of those less fortunate in the Detroit area.

“The best thing about the partnership is its ability to grow. We have started small, but in time we will have more pharmacies on board, and hopefully monthly contributions,” said Rajah.

Robert J. Sokol, M.D., director of the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has been certified by the recently formed American Board of Addiction Medicine.

The American Board of Addiction Medicine is a new and independent medical specialty board that trains physicians to properly determine and diagnose when a patient may be suffering from an addiction.

Created in 2007 with the help of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the ABAM certification program requires an extensive certifying examination as well as a re-examination to ensure maintained expertise. The board has created a governing body consisting of 15 physicians from a wide range of medical specialties.

In addition to his certification from ABAM, Dr. Sokol is also a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He serves as a specialty director on the American Board of Addiction Medicine Board of Directors and is the head of its Finance Committee.

Dr. Sokol was recruited to join ABAM because of his extensive research involving alcohol and various other drugs and their effects on pregnancy.

ABAM is in the process of obtaining recognition from the American Board of Medical Specialties, and Dr. Sokol is working with the board to secure such formal certification.

“Addiction is a major issue within health care,” he said. “Lots of new problems are starting to be labeled as addictions, and we don’t have enough people who are trained to spot these types of problems. Our goal is to show people how to spot those issues and treat them accordingly.”