DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE NEWSLETTER May 2009

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SPOTLIGHT ON:

Department of Internal Medicine Chairman Appointment At the General Faculty Meeting on Monday, May 11, 2009, Dean Alderson announced that Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD, has been appointed Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Di Bisceglie said “I look forward to continuing to work with the division directors, their faculty, staff and trainees to further the missions of the department.” ANNOUNCEMENTS Echo Lab Accreditation Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology was recently granted accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL). This accreditation includes echocardiography laboratories at the University Club Tower and Des Peres Medical Arts Pavilion. The Nuclear Cardiology Laboratory at the University Club Tower received similar accreditation in early 2008 from the Intersociatal Commission for Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL). The ICAEL was established with the support of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography (SOPE) to provide a peer review mechanism to encourage and recognize

the provision of quality echocardiographic diagnostic evaluations by a process of voluntary accreditation. Standards and protocols developed by ICAEL promote a high level of diagnostic imaging services. Per the accreditation process, the Division of Cardiology has demonstrated to the accreditation body that it meets or exceeds the established standards. Congratulations to the physicians and staff of the Division of Cardiology for their efforts and hard work to achieve this accreditation. RECOGNITION

Ashutosh Sachdeva, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine has been invited to be a member of the faculty of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (www.pvri.info).

The PVRI was established as an international academic medical center in 2007. The Institute has assembled clinical scientists in pulmonary vascular disease in thematic research focusing on under served populations of the world. The unique strength of the PVRI is that it brings together academic leaders representing a wide array of specialties from around the world into a single focused institute, with the expertise to conduct basic, translational and clinical research at a level that no single academic institution could accomplish. Dr. Sachdeva has also been named Associate Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program Director as approved by The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE NEWSLETTER May 2009

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Distinguished Teacher Award, MD Degree Program – 2009 The School of Medicine’s Distinguished Teacher Award Program, determined by the students themselves and administered by the Office of Curricular Affairs, recognized faculty members in the Department of Internal Medicine. The recipients were honored with a cash award and by having their names displayed on a plaque outside the LRC Auditorium.

M. Louay Omran, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology received the Distinguished Teacher Award for Presentation Skills – Clinical from the medical students on April 27, 2009. The criteria for this award include speaking clearly and in an engaging style, concentrating on key/core points, providing clear linkage between core points and examples, illustrations and explanations, relevant understandable closing emphasizing key learning points, and having a well-organized presentation graphic format that are seen by all students and linked to the presentation.

Michael H. Giacaman, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology received the Distinguished Teacher Award for Small Group Facilitation – Clinical from the medical

students on April 27, 2009. The criteria for this award are to provide a strategy for students to introduce themselves and set guidelines for the activity, create an appropriate environment for the activity, serve as a guide to personally know and engage each member of the group, encourage student participation in both the format and content of the activity, incorporate personal experience to stimulate discussion, conduct an appropriate closing or debriefing to emphasize core points or learning objectives. Thomas J. Olsen, MD, Division of General Internal Medicine, is the recipient of the Father James McKelvey Tobin Award bestowed at the 2009 Senior Day Pre-Commencement Ceremony. This award is given in honor of Father Jim Tobin, a Marianist priest who served as campus minister for 14 years at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. The award exemplifies Father Tobin’s limitless capacity to serve, care for, listen to and counsel medical students whom he reverently referred to as his “flock.” The senior class yearly chooses a faculty, staff, or student member who embodies these traits. Alice J. Lewis, Education Coordinator, Division of General Internal Medicine, is the recipient of the 2009 Educational Coordinator Award for her help and encouragement during the past 2 years. Educational coordinators help medical students navigate the maze of core clerkships, electives and assorted paperwork. Each year, the graduating medical student class recognizes one of the coordinators at the Senior Day Pre-Commencement Ceremony.

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The graduation ceremony for medical students was held on May 14, 2009. Each year, at the time of graduation, the department makes awards to outstanding medical students in the graduating class as follows: American College of Physicians Coy D. Fitch Book Award – Vincent K. Woo was recognized for outstanding achievement in internal medicine and commitment to a career in general internal medicine. Gorony O. Broun, Sr., MD, Student Award – Edward D. Coverstone received $500 for outstanding achievement in clinical internal medicine. RESIDENCY PROGRAM UPDATE Residents’ Excellence Program – March Winners (Sponsor – Thomas J. Olsen, MD) Top Intern: Faud El Rassi, MD Top Resident: Bernadette Hiltner, MD Quiz Master: Faud El Rassi, MD April Winners (Sponsor – Bishnu Devkota, MD) Top Intern: Sampath Poreddy, MD Top Resident Fameedah Jamaluddin, MD Quiz Master: Sampath Poreddy, MD The overall winner every month receives a monetary award of $100 donated by a faculty member. More faculty sponsors are needed and their contributions are greatly appreciated. Runners-up are awarded an extra day off in the following service month.

Zummera Bhatti, MD and Sourin Banerji, MD, presented their clinical vignette posters at the ACP National Meeting in Philadelphia on April 24, 2009. Dr. Bhatti’s poster was titled Disseminated Kaposi Sarcoma and Lymphoplasmocytic Interstitial Pneumonitis as Initial Presentation of HIV and Dr. Banerji’s poster was titled A Diagnosis Within Arms Reach: Paget-Schroetter Syndrome. Research Poster Winners – The 3rd Annual Saint Louis University Resident Research Poster Competition was held Tuesday, April 28, 2009. The following fellows in the Department of Internal Medicine were honored: First Place Michael Ombrello, MD, Rheumatology, Investigating the Scene of a Crime: What is Cycle E2 Doing in the Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Synovial Microenvironment. Honorable Mention Dayton Dmello, MD, Pulmonary Critical Care, Single-dose Etomidate During Rapid Sequence Intubation in the Critically Ill Patient: A Retrospective Assessment. NEW GRADUATES – Several faculty and staff members have been participating in part-time educational activities. We offer congratulations to the following 2009 Saint Louis University Graduates: Masters Degree in Public Health Akwi Wasi Asombang, MD, MPH (Chief Resident, Internal Medicine)

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Bachelors Degree in Organizational Studies Wanda D. Bailey-Johnson, BA (Division of Hematology & Oncology) magna cum laude Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society Charlotte S. Robinson, BA (Internal Medicine Administration) cum laude Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society Golden Key Honor Society Undergraduate Certificate in Real Estate and Community Development Crystal Stepter (Internal Medicine Administration) PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARDS The Presidential Service Awards were celebrated Thursday, April 2, in the lower level of St. Francis Xavier College Church. The University honored 94 faculty and staff who have been with the University for 25, 30, 35, 40 and more than 45 years. Listed below are the men and women in the Department of Internal Medicine who have shown their dedication to the SLU community: 30 Years • Stewart G. Albert, MD, Endocrinology • Sheila L. Byers, IM Administration • Camille J. Goff, IM Administration • Michael O. Mueller, IM Administration 25 Years • Frank R. Burton, MD, GI & Hepatology • Bernard R. Chaitman, MD, Cardiology • Horace M. Perry, MD, Geriatric Medicine • Charlna Stanley, IM Administration • Valerie A. Tanner, Geriatric Medicine

PROMOTIONS Effective July 1, 2009, the following faculty members will receive promotions: Full Time • Joseph H. Flaherty, MD Tenured Professor Division of Geriatric Medicine • Scott W. Fosko, MD Associate Professor Secondary Division of General Internal Medicine • Dee Anna Glaser, MD Associate Professor Secondary Division of General Internal Medicine • Krista L. Lentine, MD Tenured Associate Professor SLUCOR/Division of Nephrology • Mark A. Schnitzler, PhD Tenured Professor SLUCOR Voluntary • Michael R. Borts, MD Clinical Professor Secondary Division of Immunobiology • Morey Gardner, MD Associate Clinical Professor Division of Infectious Diseases • Mowaffaq Said, MD Associate Clinical Professor Division of Nephrology • Chitra R. Uppaluri, MD Associate Clinical Professor Division of General Internal Medicine GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE NEWS From late March through mid-April 2009, Drs. H. Douglas Walden and Nora Porter, traveled to Thailand with Year 4 medical students Sara Franzen and Beth Hofbauer to provide medical care for the individuals of the Northern Hill Tribes. Drs. Walden and Porter are co-directors of the student clinical teaching

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program for the Department of Internal Medicine. The Hill Tribes are a marginalized population living in rather primitive conditions along the border of Thailand and Burma. Medical care for these individuals is sparse and poorly coordinated. The group traveled through Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rei, and Mai Hong Son working with a dentist and a group of doctors and nurses from the US, Canada and the Philippines.

Medical care was provided in make-shift

clinics at schools, shelters,

and churches in

the villages. Dr. Porter (above) may have become the first physician in the history of medicine to perform a pelvic exam within the confines of a soccer goal (covered with canvas for privacy, of course). A rather large pharmacy gathered from donated pharmaceuticals was available for use. The two students improved their care of ambulatory patients under the close supervision of the faculty and experienced first-hand the provision of medical care to disadvantaged patients in a foreign culture.

Sara Franzen Beth Hofbauer

The group explored the beauty of Thailand, rode elephants, and enjoyed some great Thai food. This is the second overseas trip with medical students for Drs. Walden and Porter. In 2004 they went to Bolivia with current GI fellow (but then Year 4 student) Sara Echelmeyer to provide care to patients in the Bolivian Andes. Sara Franzen will begin a Pediatrics residency at the University of Texas-Southwestern and Beth Hofbauer will begin a Med/Peds residency at the University of Minnesota this summer.

Dr. Walden Beth Sara Dr. Porter Go St. Louis Marathon Running 26.2 miles is an extraordinary achievement but to do so in pouring rain is even more of an accomplishment. Just ask Bishnu Devkota, MD, Division of General Internal Medicine. On April 19, 2009, Dr. Devkota completed the Go St. Louis Marathon. Other members of the division enjoyed a more leisurely stroll of 13.1 miles in the rain. Drs. Erin Bakanas, Thomas Olsen, Govind Nagaldinne, Nora Porter, Doug Walden and Ms. Marcella Petzchen have finally dried out. Join us next April!

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GERIATRIC MEDICINE NEWS This year, three 4th year medical students, Randall Morse, Tod Mattis and Daniel Johnson, did an elective entitled "Geriatrics in China." Their elective included inpatient rounds and outpatient clinics in the Geriatrics Department at West China Hospital associated with Sichuan University in Chengdu China. The hospital has over 4,000 beds and does over 2 million outpatient visits per year. They also visited a nearby centenarian population in Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain with Dr. Joseph Flaherty, who is doing collaborative research in this area with the West China Geriatrics Department. Miguel Arturo Paniagua, MD, FACP received his Fellowship in The American College of Physicians in April. Four geriatric medicine subspecialty residents (1st year fellows) received AMDA Future's Program Awards which included a trip to the AMDA meeting: Saad Basheer, MD, Bhanu Sandesara, MD, Monica Tegeler, MD, and John A. Campbell, MD. The Division of Geriatric Medicine will be celebrating its 20 year anniversary during the 20th Annual Saint Louis University Summer Geriatric Institute being held June 2-3, 2009 entitled "The Building Blocks of Geriatrics: Celebrating 20 Years of Geriatric Education." NEW RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED Suzanne Mahon, Hematology & Oncology, $38,026 from The St. Louis Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for “Educating Women About Hereditary Risk for Breast Cancer.”

Fasiha Kanwal, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, $34,643 from the American College of Gastroenterology, for “Quality of Care in Patients with Cirrhosis.” Alex Befeler, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, $78,000 from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, to support the 2009 NP/PA Clinical Hepatology Fellowship. GRANT PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR ARRA DEADLINES (As of May 21, 2009) In response to research funding opportunities provided through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), 19 faculty members in the department have submitted grant applications so far (see below). Division Principal Investigator Endocrinology Albert, Stewart Endocrinology Shah, Gul Geriatric Medicine Banks, William Geriatric Medicine Banks, William Geriatric Medicine Banks, William Geriatric Medicine Flaherty, Joseph Gastroenterology Kanwal, Fasiha Gastroenterology Prather, Charlene Gastroenterology Tetri, Brent Gastroenterology Tetri, Brent Infectious Diseases Belshe, Robert Infectious Diseases Duane, Carol Infectious Diseases Ray, Ranjit Infectious Diseases Ray, Ranjit Immunobiology Dixit, Anupma Immunobiology Hoft, Daniel Immunobiology Liu, J., MD Immunobiology Peng, G. Nephrology/SLUCOR Lentine, Krista Nephrology Rauchman, Michael Pulmonary Salvemini, Daniela Rheumatology Chauhan, Anil Rheumatology Moore, Terry

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DATES OF NOTE June 2-3, 2009 – 20th Annual Saint Louis University Summer Geriatric Institute “A Celebration of 20 Years of Geriatric Education with Friends, Partners and Affiliates.” Saint Louis University School of Medicine Learning Resources Center. Contact Nina Tumosa, PhD, 894-6560. June 6, 2009– 26th Annual Department of Internal Medicine Graduation Celebration, 6:30-10 pm, Busch Student Center Ballroom. This celebration is open to all faculty, residents and subspecialty residents who are completing their training this year. Faculty are encouraged to join the celebration. Invitations were recently sent out by Ms. Charlotte Robinson. June 19, 2009 – Department of Internal Medicine Semi-Annual Faculty Meeting, 7:30-8:30 am, LRC Auditorium. The annual faculty photograph will be taken immediately following this meeting.

CLINICAL TICKER PRACTICE LOCATION

FY 08 YTD

BILLED AMB ENCs

FY 09 YTD

BILLED AMB ENCs

CANCER CENTER 7,698 7,863 CARDINAL GLENNON 611 618 DES PERES 2,107 2,885 DOB 41,433 42,494 MIDWEST ENDOSCOPY 280 0 OP CATH LAB 264 200 SLEEP DISORDERS CENTER 295 1,181 SLUH 11,554 11,101 SNF/NF/CC/HOSPICE 5,427 5,999 UNIVERSITY CLUB TOWER 8,460 8,582 OTHER 5,200 6,462 GRAND TOTAL 83,329 87,385 FY 09 / FY 08 YTD AMB ENCs 104.9% WEBSITE Access the Department of Internal Medicine website at http://internalmed.slu.edu. INFORMATION FOR NEXT NEWSLETTER If you have any news, grants, notices, achievements that you would like to be included in the next newsletter or if you think something important was missed, please let Camille Goff know at goffcj@slu.edu .

Editor Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD, FACP

Professor of Internal Medicine Chairman