The State of the School Address will be given by Dr. John Prescott, Dean on September 17 at 5pm, in the HSC Auditorium.

A reception will follow in the Pylons lobby.

WVU cancer center researchers were asked to present their research findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago. Click here to read more.

WVUH Eastern Division has completed the process of enrolling patients in four different clinical trails: breast (two), colon, and prostate cancer.

The Emergency Department has completed a study on the timeliness of medical intervention, after a patient experiences symptoms of a stroke. Timely medical intervention is critical for stroke patients
because with each passing minute brain cells are being destroyed. This study has been recognized by the American Heart Association. For more information click here.

The N-O-T on Tobacco Program has helped over 150,000 US teens. This program uses life management skills to help teens quit smoking. Click here to read an individual success story.

Morgantown Division:

Medical Students are collecting the recycling bins in the HSC on Tuesdays contact Elliot Palmer epalmer1@mix.wvu.edu for more information.

The First Annual Christian Help Pancake Breakfast is on August 11 from 7:30am-10am at Applebee’s restaurant on VanVoorhis Road in Morgantown. This event needs volunteers and people to attend. The cost of the breakfast is $5. For volunteering and ticket information please call 304-296-0221.

Eastern Division:

The Dental Health Program at the Eastern Division is working on their first ever WV MOM project which will be June 27 and 28, 2008. For more information on this community service opportunity contact Dr. Lisa Dunn at dunnli@rcbhsc.wvu.edu.

Melissa Albert, MD and Brian Quigley, MD have joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry as Assistant Professors.

Mohammed Ashraf, MD has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a Professor. Dr. Ashraf specializes in Gynecologic Oncology.

Andrew Criser, MD, Stephen Howell, MD, and Patrick Volesky, MD have joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology. Drs. Criser and Howell are Instructors and Dr. Volesky is an Assistant Professor.

Rodney Dayo, DO and Yeshvant Navalgund, DO have joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Neurosurgery as Assistant Professors. Drs. Dayo and Navalgund specialize in Pain Medicine.

Maurice Grant, MD has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor.

Asad Kahn, MD and Anthony Parravani, MD have joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Kahn is an Adjunct Assistant Professor and Dr. Parravani as an Assistant Professor. Drs. Kahn and Parravani specialize in Nephrology.

Mary Mebane, MD and Chris Que, MD have joined the Eastern Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine as Clinical Instructors.

Ronald Mudury, MD has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Medicine as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Mudury specializes in Pulmonary and Critical Care.

Matrina Schmidt, MD has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Schmidt will serve as Autopsy Service Chief.

Hanan Tosson, MD has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Tosson specialized in Endocrinology.

The National Institutes of Health have awarded West Virginia University cellular and integrative physiology student Leor Zellner a pre-doctoral fellowship. The grant is for three years and provides a
total of $ 69,000 to fund the research fellowship through 2009. To read more about the grant click here.

During the 2006-2007 academic year for the Medical School Class of 2008 there were more than 38,000 procedures logged into the E-value system across all three campuses. There were also 307 different procedures performed across the seven clerkships between inpatient and outpatient settings.

If you are interested in participating in the next SAFE clinic please contact the Office of Student Services at 293-2408 or e-mail Matt Thomas at mthomas7@mix.wvu.edu.

The 2007 Family Medicine Banquet Awards were held last month.

The winners are:

Family Medicine Outstanding Faculty of the Year Christine M. Bruno, M.D.

Off-Service Outstanding Faculty of the Year
Wanda Hembree, M.D.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Student Teaching George T. Fredrick, M.D.

Resident of the Year
Holly J. Freed, M.D.

Intern of the Year
Wade V. Harvey, M.D.

Resident Teaching Award
Wade V. Harvey, M.D.

John W. Traubert Award
Barbara Jean Meade

Employee of the Year
Samantha Plummer

Rookie of the Year
Kelly McBee

Outstanding Contributions
Cindie Harper
Debbie Lynn
Jennifer Michael
LydiaWeeder
Carrie Kennedy

Congratulations to the Department of Neurosurgery, and program director Julian Balies, MD on a 5 year re-accreditation.

Congratulations to the Department of Surgery's General Surgery Program, and program director Cynthia Graves, MD on a 4 year re-accreditation.

Several members of the School of Medicine Faculty are being recognized as Health Care Hero’s on August 10 at the WaterFront Place Hotel. They include Dr. David Deci, Associate Professor, Family Medicine, Faculty Advisor, Project MUSHROOM, Dr. William Neal, Professor, Pediatrics, Founder & Director, CARDIAC Project, and Dr. Bob D'Alessandri, former Dean of the School of Medicine. Dr. Deci is being recognized for his volunteerism, Dr. Neal is being recognized for professional service, and Dr. D'Alessandri is being recognized for his distinguished service. Congratulations to these outstanding physicians.

The West Virginia University Physicians of Charleston Cystic Fibrosis Care Center has received accreditation the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and will join a network of more than 115 CF Care Centers in the United States.

WVU is one of two schools that hostedthe West Virginia IDEA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) summer internship program. This program allows college students from colleges in the state of West Virginia to learn about research in various fields. Click here to learn more about the summer program.

To see video of Dr. Scot Remick, MBRCC Director, DeLynn Lecture presentation click here (Intranet Link).

“As long as you have your health,” so the saying goes. You can help make that a fact.

The resources you need during your life can be of equal value afterward to the work of the School of Medicine. A gift provision in your will can be used to provide scholarships, improve our libraries or labs, advance research, or support our faculty – whatever you prize most.

And it isn’t difficult to arrange. A gift provision in your will or a codicil is all it takes, with the wording of “to the West Virginia University Foundation for the benefit of the School of Medicine.” We’ll be glad to help with this or other gift options of interest to you. A call to the Development Office at 304-293-7086 is all that’s needed to leave a lasting legacy.

Clay Marsh, MD Class of 1985 has been named chair of the board of directors of the Stanly Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation, effective July 1, 2007. Dr. Marsh is also the director of the Center for Critical Care at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

Several of the former School of Medicine Deans have also been the Vice President for Health Sciences. Including Dr. John E. Jones and Dr. Robert D’Alessandri.

WVU School of Medicine became its own distinct division of WVU in 1912 as a two-year medical school.

Laura Gibson, PhD,
Professor in the Department of Pediatrics recently received a Robert C. Byrd Professorship award. This program recognized faculty for their achievements in research and other scholarly activities. To read more about this award and Dr. Gibson’s accomplishments click here.

Earlier this month Dr. Julian Bailes, chair of Neurosurgery, was featured in a Boston Globe article about his studies with athletes and concussions. Click here to read article.

David Deci, MD, Vice Chair of Family Medicine has been accepted to present at the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Symposium on “How are we teaching humanism in medicine and what is working?” in September. For more information on the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Symposium click here.

Dr. Ramadan and Dr Jeremy Tiu in the Department of Otolaryngology wrote an article entitled “Failures of Adenoidectomy for Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children: For Whom and When Do They Fail?” This article was the most read article on the Otolaryngology page of MDLinx site last month. Click here to read the article.

Sally K. Richardson, Executive Director of West Virginia University Institute for Health Policy Research in Charleston, West Virginia, was awarded the Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Health Care at the a ceremony at the National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) 30th Annual Conference held in Anchorage Alaska. Click here to read more.

Josh Dower, MD and the other Internal Medicine/Pediatric residents have recently received a $1,000 grant for their “Literacy for End-of-Life” project from the NMPRA (National Med-Peds Resident Association). The “Literacy for End-of-Life” program will attempt to provide resources for individuals coping with end-of-life issues by including a library of books and resources at age-appropriate levels. The NMPRA gives grants to Med-Peds residents who want to serve adults and children in their community.

Congratulations to Charleston Division resident Fahd Zarrou, this year’s recipient of the first annual BHBI Young Investigator Research Award, presented by Peter Katona, ScD at the Heart Brain Summit held in June at the Cleveland Clinic. Click here to read more about this award.