Headlines Archive From November 2007

Career Evening offers students guidance

Originally posted on November 29, 2007

Wayne State University School of Medicine students will have the opportunity to gain valuable insight into medical careers and enjoy pizza as an added perk during the Wayne State University Medical Alumni Association’s annual Alumni-Student Career Evening on Jan. 9, 2008.

The program, in its 10th year, will take place on the first floor of Scott Hall, beginning with a pizza dinner from 5 to 6 p.m.

The dinner will be followed by three 30-minute sessions, beginning at 6:15 p.m., 6:50 p.m. and 7:25 p.m. Students will hear from at least six different specialists as they rotate between the three sessions.

Presenters will provide a 5- to 7-minute introduction based on the following areas students expressed interest in:

Describe your typical day
The path that a student must take to practice in the presenter’s specialty
What you now know that you wish you had known as a medical student
Your family dynamic and how you make time for a successful professional and personal life
Information on the application process
The pros and cons of practicing medicine in hospitals vs. private practice
The demand for physicians in your field

After the brief introductions, the floor will be opened to questions from students. The program is designed to be informal, so students should come prepared to ask questions.

A dessert reception will follow the information sessions from 8 to 8:30 p.m. in the cafeteria for presenters, alumni and students, providing additional opportunity for students to ask more questions.

Students received invitations in their mailboxes the week of Nov. 11, as well as e-mail reminders the week of Nov. 24. The deadline to sign up for Career Evening is Dec. 12. Students may complete a registration form and email it to Lisa Ramos, assistant director of Medical Alumni Affairs, at lramos@med.wayne.edu. Students may also print out the form and drop it off at the Student Affairs Office in Room 1369 of Scott Hall.

School of Medicine salutes Honors Recipients

Originally posted on November 16, 2007

Family members, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the lifetime and classroom achievements of Wayne State University School of Medicine instructors, researchers and students during the annual Honors Recognition program.

“The Honors Recognition Program stands side by side with Commencement as one of the school’s most joyous ceremonies, and is an occasion that embodies the intellectual vibrancy and academic rigor of this great School of Medicine,” said Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., Dean of the School of Medicine and Senior Advisor to the President for Medical Affairs of Wayne State University. “We take quite seriously the academic climate at the School of Medicine, and that’s only possible through the people we are honoring today.

The Nov. 15 event at Scott Hall recognized faculty and students who have made their mark, both in teaching and in academic achievement, during 2006.

The ceremony was highlighted by the presentation of the prestigious 2006 Lifetime Achievement Awards to Michael Nigro, D.O., and Roberta Pourcho, Ph.D.

“I am grateful for the opportunity because I love what I do, and have for 35 years,” said Dr. Pourcho.

“I’ve had fun with the students and with my research, and I love every minute of working with the department.”“It was unexpected, and I’m honored,” said Dr. Nigro. “It was the culmination of my association with the School of Medicine since 1969.

”The 2007 Staff Award for teaching was presented to Dr. Victor Ajluni, M.D., Psychiatry. Ajluni was selected for the award by staff and senior class students.
Sophomore class members selected Dr. William Crossland, Ph.D, Anatomy and Cell Biology, to receive the 2007 Lamp Award for teaching.

“These awards recognize all the hard work during the past academic year,” said Thomas Roe, M.D., assistant dean of Clinical Education, who served as master of ceremonies for the program. “These people enhance the fine reputation and stature that the Wayne State University School of Medicine enjoys, locally and nationally.”

The honorees include:

2006 Lifetime Achievement Awards
Michael Nigro, D.O., Pediatrics; and Roberta Pourcho, Ph.D, Anatomy and Cell Biology.

2007 Academic Teaching Awards
Victor Ajluni, M.D., Psychiatry, Staff Award; and William Crossland, Ph.D, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lamp Award.

2007 College Teaching Awards
William Crossland, Ph.D, Anatomy and Cell Biology; Mark Ireland, Ph.D, Anatomy and Cell Biology; Paul Walker, Ph.D, Anatomy and Cell Biology; David Evans, Ph.D, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; George Brush, Ph.D, Cancer Institute and Pathology; Rebecca Cline, Ph.D, Cancer Institute and Family Medicine; David Womble, Ph.D, Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Juliann Binienda, Ph.D, Family Medicine; Nejla Israel, M.D., Family Medicine; Frederick Rosin, M.D., Family Medicine; Melody Neely, Ph.D, Immunology/Microbiology; T.R. Reddy, Ph.D, Immunology/Microbiology; Nandalal Bagchi, Ph.D, Internal Medicine; Patricia Brown, M.D., Internal Medicine; Robert Burack, M.D., Internal Medicine; Pravit Cadnapaphornchai, M.D., Internal Medicine; John Ebright, M.D., Internal Medicine; Elisabeth Heath, M.D., Internal Medicine; Willane Krell, M.D., Internal Medicine; Tiziano Scarabelli, M.D., Internal Medicine and Pharmacology; Gail Bentley, M.D., Pathology; Janet Poulik, M.D., Pathology; Husain Saleh, M.D., Pathology; Ibrahim Abdulhamid, M.D., Pediatrics; Ahdi Amer, M.D., Pediatrics; Kavitha Chintala, M.D., Pediatrics; Deborah Ellis, Ph.D, Pediatrics; Teresa Holtrop, M.D., Pediatrics; Deepak Kamat, M.D., Pediatrics; Sujatha Kannan, M.B., Pediatrics; Otto Muzik, Ph.D, Pediatrics; Madhvi Rajpurkar, M.D., Pediatrics; Raymond Mattingly, Ph.D, Pharmacology; Sharada Sarnaik, M.B., Pediatrics; Joseph Dunbar, Ph.D, Physiology; Daniel Walz, Ph.D, Physiology; and Douglas Yingst, Ph.D, Physiology.

2006 Research Excellence Awards
Nicholas Davis, Ph.D, Pharmacology; Yubin Ge, Ph.D, Cancer Institute and Pharmacology; Renu Kowluru, Ph.D, Ophthalmology; Lawrence Lash, Ph.D, Pharmacology; Adhip Majumdar, Ph.D, Internal Medicine; and Rita Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D, Biochemistry.

2007 Graduate Alumni Laureate Award
Kan-Jen Tsai, Ph.D, professor of Medical Laboratory and Technology; dean, College of Medical Sciences and Technology, Chung Shan Medical University

Academic Achievement Awards
Class of 2008: Jessica Janus, Elizabeth Jones, Nicholas Trakul, Lisa Pappas and Gwendolyn Zirngibl.
Class of 2009: Zachariah Hicks
Class of 2010: Emily McLaren

Honors in Year 1 Class of 2010
Sayf Al-katib, Grant Bailey, Jane Beimer, Jaida Bourke, Britton Carter, Christopher Cendrowski, Jeanie Cote, Kunal Dalal, Stephanie Dean, Timothy Ferng, Elizabeth Frayer, Pooja Gupta, Aaron Heindl, Levi Hilton, Joanna Hooten, Marian Ibrahim, Cerine Jeanty, Aaron Kang, Christopher Lam, Thomas LaRoche, Remy Lobo, Emily McLaren, Brett Mollard, Kristin Moore, Kristin Ophaug, Dominic Pelle, Courtney Rowling, Johanna Scheer, Eirwen Scott, Caitlin Shapiro, Adam Skrzynski, Matthew Stemer, Justin Stenz, Joshua Tibbe, Shezad Tejani, Erica VanderKooy, Timothy VanderKooy, Amber Warnat and Nathan Zwagerman.

Honors in Year 2 Class of 2009
Peter Adams, Andrea Barbieri, Matthew Bernbeck, William Braaksma, Johanna Coughlin, Danielle Djoumbi, Jason Domina, Laura Douglass, Robert Falconer, Adrian Gasperut, Aaron Glaeser, Nathan Gonik, Joshua Grant, Bianca Gruber, Anna Hehl, Zachariah Hicks, Steven Kammann, Paul Kim, Michael Kopec, Rachel Laarman, Angela Liang, John Lillvis, Victor Mangona, Andrew Moriarity, Brian Mott, Patricia Myers-Gurevitch, Daniel Osborn, Mihailo Popovic, Meredith Price, Nathan Rimmke, Crystal Ritsema, Ishai Ross, Richard Schildhouse, John Schwartz, Nicole Seleno, Saloni Shah, Clint Simpson, Kelly Smith, Christopher Sutter, Mary Tanski-Arbogast, Senja Tomovic, Itishree Trivedi and Stephen VanHaerents.

Honors in Year 3 Class of 2008
Ashley Abramson, Abigail Balger, Kurt Bernacki, Kathy Borovicka, Adam Brinkman, Steven Daveluy, David Demos, Stephanie Diamond, Heather Evanson, Tarek Fakhouri, Gary Gallagher, Paul Gillard, Elizabeth Gwinn, Erin Hendriks, Ronald Huang, Mark Jacobsen, Jessica Janus, Elizabeth Jones, Lewis Joseph, Anastasia Ketko, Darren King, Emily Kingsley, Jonathon Kivela, Nicholas Kujala, Timothy Liao, Chi Lim, Sean Logan, Adam Lubert, Nicole Marijanovich, Erin McNicholas, Ankur Mehta, Drew Moore, Kaitlin Murphy, Stephanie Niec, Laura Owczarek, Mark Pankonin, Lisa Pappas, Ryan Pollina, Andrew Powers, Tammy Provatas, Katie Reed, Isaac Reeve, Jonathan Rhee, Phillip Rosen, Lauren Sheill, Wagdy Sidrak, Harmony Sierens, Christopher Smith, Matthew Sniegowski, Tyler Southwell, Valerie Tackabury, Nicholas Trakul, Paul Trowbridge, Angela Yue and Gwendowlyn Zirngibl.

Alpha Omega Alpha Class of 2008
Ashley Abramson, Kurt Bernacki, Kathy Borovicka, Steven Daveluy, David Demos, Stephanie Diamond, David Ellenberg, Tarek Fakhouri, Michelle Figuereroa, Gary Gallagher, Elizabeth Gwinn, Erin Hendricks, Ronald Huang, Elizabeth Jones, Louis Joseph, Anastasia Ketko, Darren King, Jonathan Kivela, Nicholas Kujala, Adam Lubert, Ankur Mehta, Drew Moore, Stephanie Niec, Laura Owczarek, Lisa Pappas, Manish Patel, Andrew Powers, Stephen Rancour, Katie Reed, Isaac Reeve, Lauren Sheill, Christopher Smith, Matt Sniegowski, Melissa Sundberg, Amandip Sunerh, Nicholas Trakul, Paul Trowbridge, and Gwendolyn Zingibl.

Alpha Omega Alpha Class of 2009
Andrea Barbieri, Matthew Bernbeck, Jason Domina, Adrian Gasperut, Bianca Gruber, Zacharia Hicks, Paul Kim, Michael Kopec, Angela Liang, Andrew Moriarity, Brian Mott, Crystal Ritsema, John Schwartz, Saloni Shah, Kelly Smith and Itishree Trivedi.

2007 Graduate Students Academic and Research Awards
Alan Arnold, Cancer Biology; M. Katie Conley, Cancer Biology; Sijana Dzinic, Physiology; Philip Jessmon, Anatomy and Cell Biology; Srinivasu Kallakuri, Anatomy and Cell Biology; Taba Kheradmand (Amouzegar), Immunology/Microbiology; Kalyan Kondapalli, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Guy Lenk, Molecular Biology and Genetics; Vesna Milacic, Cancer Biology; Shalini Pandya, Medical Physics; Olga Radkevich-Brown, Cancer Biology; Omid Tehrani, Cancer Biology; and Zimei Zhou, Anatomy and Cell Biology.

Dean Mentzer introduces new leadership for SOM

Originally posted on November 13, 2007

Dr. Robert M. Mentzer Jr., dean of the Wayne State University School of Medicine, welcomed seven new leaders who joined the “cadre that is committed” to Vision 2011, the school’s strategic mission.

Mentzer, at the Nov. 13 School of Medicine Faculty Fall Harvest Reception, recognized Dr. Theodore Jones, interim chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. David Lawson, interim chair, Physiology; Kenneth Lee, associate dean of Finance and Administration; Dr. Lawrence Morawa, chair, Orthopedic Surgery; Dr. Kenneth Palmer, interim chair, Pathology; Dr. Herbert Smitherman Jr., assistant dean, Community and Urban Health; and Dr. Maria Vlachaki, interim chair, Radiation Oncology.

Nearly 100 faculty members took part in the School of Medicine’s strategic planning process, Mentzer noted. Recently completed, the process will roll out to all departments by early January.

“Our strategic plan lays the groundwork for an ambitious and exciting time ahead for the School of Medicine Physician Group,” Mentzer said.

“We could not have reached this important milestone without the intellectual contributions of the workgroup members, and of those of you who guided us throughout the process.”

Dr. Jones’ special interest focuses on treating pregnant women with conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. He is an active clinical researcher and an investigator for the NICHD International Pediatric and Perinatal HIV Studies Network.

A professor emeritus of physiology in the School of Medicine, Lawson’s research focuses on integrative responses of experimental rodents to common experimental manipulations and housing conditions. He served 21 years as a member of the WSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, including chairing the organization.

Lee joined the School of Medicine leadership team in 2006 and, since June, has served as interim chief operating and financial officer for the WSU Physician Group. He most recently served as chief administrative officer and director of clinical business affairs for the University of Kentucky School of Medicine.

Dr. Morawa has served on the faculty of the School of Medicine’s Department of Orthopedics since 1974. His research and publications have made him a much sought after speaker nationally and internationally.

Dr. Palmer was the first director of the M.D./Ph.D. program at Wayne State University. He was recruited from Boston University School of Medicine and the Mallory Institute of Pathology.

Dr. Smitherman’s research focuses primarily on health issues related to underrepresented populations of color and access to care. He has invested the last 21 years in working with diverse communities in Detroit to develop urban-based primary-care delivery systems.

Dr. Vlachaki, who could not be present at reception, organized the radiation oncology quality assurance program at New York University’s department, which led to its accreditation by the American College of Radiology. She has been active in research and teaching, presenting her work at national and international conferences, and has been published in well-respected journals in the field.

Kenneth Lee to head SOM Finance and University Physician Group

Originally posted on November 9, 2007

Kenneth P. Lee, C.P.A., has been appointed Associate Dean of Finance and Administration at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Mr. Lee will serve concurrently as Interim Executive Director of the Wayne State University Physician Group.

Mr. Kenneth Lee joined the School of Medicine leadership team in July 2006 and, since June of this year, has served as Interim Chief Operating and Financial Officer for the Wayne State University Physician Group. Prior to joining the School of Medicine community, Mr. Lee’s distinguished career included 30 years of executive and consulting experience in many noteworthy academic and clinical practice organizations; most recently, he served as Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Clinical Business Affairs for the University of Kentucky School of Medicine and its academic multispecialty practice group. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of many prestigious professional societies and associations.

“Mr. Lee is an accomplished and seasoned executive with a track record of balancing the academic mission with the rigorous business and customer service demands of a large multispecialty practice group,” said Wayne State University School of Medicine Dean Robert Mentzer, MD. “Over the six years that I have worked with Mr. Lee, I have observed and admired not only his professional expertise, but also his personal values, which include commitments to excellence, service, and teamwork.”

Family Medicine Residency Program receives new home

Originally posted on November 8, 2007

Wayne State University School of Medicine’s newest training partner Crittenton Hospital, broke ground November 8 for a Medical Center Office Building on its Rochester Hills campus. The first tenant for the building, which is scheduled to open in July 2008, will be the School of Medicine’s Family Medicine Residency Program.

“Crittenton has provided a wonderful new home for our Family Medicine physicians, residents, and students” said Dr. Robert R. Frank, Executive Vice Dean, “we have been welcomed with open arms.”

The Family Medicine program was housed at the Detroit Medical Center until last year. At that time, the DMC chose not to renew the contract forcing the SOM to seek a new program partner.

This partnership with Crittenton will support the residency program with a 55,340 square-foot clinic. It will serve as the main training site for the WSU SOM Family Medicine program. The original clinic located in downtown Detroit will remain open for training as well.

The Chair of the Family Medicine program is Dr. Maryjean Schenk and the Residency Program Director is Dr. Tsveti Markova.

SOM Professor elected President of International College of Surgeons

Originally posted on November 6, 2007

Vijay Mittal, MD, Chair of the Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education (SEMCME) Surgery Committee, member of the SEMCME Board of Directors, and clinical associate professor of surgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine was recently elected President of the International College of Surgeons (U.S. Section).

The International College of Surgeons (ICS) is a global organization dedicated to bringing together surgeons and surgical specialists of all nations, races, and creeds to promote surgical excellence for the benefit of all of mankind and to foster fellowship worldwide.

New Director of Cardiovascular Research Institute named for the School of Medicine

Originally posted on November 5, 2007

Karin Przyklenk, PhD has been named Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute for the School of Medicine, and she will start the position on February 1, 2008. Her acceptance of this leadership position follows a comprehensive 18-month search process that considered eleven candidates with national and international reputations of excellence. She comes to the School of Medicine from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where she served as a professor of Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology, as well as member of the Center for Platelet Function Studies.

Dr. Przyklenk obtained her PhD in Biophysics from the University of Western Ontario, pursued post-doctoral training at Harvard, and held her first junior faculty appointment at Wayne State University. After serving for 14 years as the Assistant Director of the Heart Institute, Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles and holding a faculty position at the University of Southern California, she was recruited to the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 2002.

Dr. Przyklenk’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), by foundations and by industry. She has authored more than 170 peer-reviewed papers, invited reviews, editorials and book chapters the field of myocardial ischemia and infarction, is on the editorial board of multiple journals, and been a grant reviewer for the NIH, the American Heart Association, as well as the Biomedical Research Council of Singapore and the Welcome Trust.

She has achieved national and international recognition for her translational, bench-to-bedside research focusing on the pathophysiology of acute coronary ischemic syndromes, the identification of cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways that increase the tolerance of the myocardium to ischemia, and the development of novel strategies to limit damage caused to the heart by ischemia-reperfusion.

“The appointment of Dr. Przyklenk as director is an important milestone in the School of Medicine’s “Vision 2011” and in Wayne State University’s plan to achieve a Clinical Translational Science Award,” said Wayne State University School of Medicine Dean, Robert M.Mentzer, Jr. MD. “She is a distinguished translational scientist of international renown. She is extremely well-qualified to partner with cardiovascular physicians, to recruit outstanding researchers, and to coordinate and foster interdisciplinary and collaborative research in cardiovascular disease that crosses departments, centers, institutes, colleges; and also incorporates the intellectual and patient resources of our hospital partners in Detroit and its surrounding communities.”

Shiffman Medical Library Workshops-All Welcome-Register Today for Upcoming Workshops

Originally posted on November 5, 2007

Shiffman Medical Library provides workshops on health sciences information resources for the Wayne State University community.

Select "Learning Opportunities" on the library's Web site www.lib.wayne.edu/shiffman for a complete list of library workshops. There is no charge to attend workshops however registration is required. To register please send an email to askmed@wayne.edu indicating workshop title and date.

Faculty and staff members can request customized workshops for students and departments by contacting La Ventra E. Danquah, Education Coordinator, Shiffman Medical Library, 577-9083 or by sending an e-mail to askmed@wayne.edu.

Upcoming Workshops

November

Monday, November 5

12pm-1pm

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