Dr. Robert E. Stitzel, Ph. D., Professor, Department of Biochemistry passed
away on September 1, 2007. Dr. Stitzel joined the School of Medicine faculty in 1965 where he became a distinguished research scientist and an excellent teacher. During Dr. Stitzel’s 42 years of service to the School of Medicine he had received many accolades including; MacLachlan Award for Excellence in Teaching, NIH Research Career Award, J.J. Abel Research Award nominee, WVU Outstanding Teacher Award, Fogarty International Fellowship, WVU Distinguished Service Recognition Award, WVU’s Martin Luther King Award, and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service to the School.

Donations in memory of Dr. Stitzel should be made payable to the WVU Foundation, Inc., Morgantown, WV, 26506.

Last Month the Medical School Class of 2011 had their orientation and oath of integrity signing. Click on the links to see pictures from these events.

The Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and the National Brain Tumor Foundation are sponsoring a free workshop for the caregivers of brain tumor patients. The worship will be on Thursday October 4 from 9am to 4:30 pm in the John E. Johns Conference Center in the Health Sciences Center. For more information on this workshop click here.

Study on the increase of ATV deaths that was conducted by the WVU Injury Control Research Control was featured on “The Early Show” and CBS news.com. To read the article click here.

Morgantown Division:

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

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.

COMING

Jeff Lancaster, MD has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor.

Phil Ludmer, MD has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology as an Associate Professor. Dr. Ludmer specializes in Pediatric Anesthesia.

E. Barry McDonough, MD has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Orthopedics as an Assistant Professor. Dr. McDonough specializes in Sports Medicine.

Michael Frederich, MD has joined the Eastern Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine as an Associate Professor. Dr. Frederich will serve as director of Hospice.

GOING

Linda Cook, MD is leaving the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Pathology.

Ganga Prabhaker, MD is leaving the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Prabhaker specializes in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

PHYSICIAN LIASONS

Rodney Baker and David DiBartolomeo, both physician liaisons, provide a valuable service to the WVU clinical enterprise. Rodney and David visit referring physicians’ offices and answer their questions about WVU facilities and services to help make the referral process for their patients as easy as possible. Rodney and David can be reached at POC 4th Floor, PO Box 782, Morgantown, WV 26507 or by e-mail at bakerr@rcbhsc.wvu.edu or dibartolomeod@rcbhsc.wvu.edu.

Congratulations to the following members of the MD degree Class of 2008 on their election into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society; Jonathan Christy, Anna Donovan, Greg Hickey, Lindsay Kruska, Thomas Marshall, Jean Meade, and Sarah Sofka.

If you would like more information or are interested in participating in the next SAFE clinic please contact the Office of Student Services at 293-2408 or send an e-mail to MPHRSAFEClinic@gmail.com.

Check out the new calendar of events for the School of Medicine.

The Charleston Division students participated in the 15 mile Charleston Distance Run as well as working the tents at the various mile markers to help the runners. The Charleston Division class of 2009 is also working with their local Habitat for Humanity and Make-A-Wish foundations.

Josh Dower, MD, chief resident pediatrics/internal medicine recently received the American Academy of Pediatrics Resident Section Anne E. Dyson Child Advocacy Award for his project “Literacy for End-of-Life”. Dr. Dower will also be presenting his “Literacy for End-of-Life” program at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in San Fransisco, California. The AAP would like to use the “Literacy for End-of-Life” as a template for other programs to follow.

Dr. John Simpson a Mason, West Virginia native who graduated from John Hopkins in 1902, was appointed the first Dean of the School of Medicine in 1912 and served as Dean until 1935.

It was the second Dean of the School of Medicine, Dr Edward J Van Liere, who changed the WVU School of Medicine two year program into a four year program.

The Division of Occupational Therapy is pleased to announce the creation of the Occupational Therapy Outpatient Service through the WVU Therapy Group Practice. This comprehensive occupational therapy will be available to both children and adults on an outpatient basis and is located on the first floor of the Health Sciences Center. For more information or to set up an appointment, please contact Garth Graebe, OTR/L, Assistant Professor and Clinical Director at 304-293-3600.

The Community Medicine Student Association with their faculty advisor Ruth Kershner distributed “Guardian Angel” strips in August to students in the downtown area. The strips give an approximate reading of one’s blood alcohol content. This project is part of Community Medicine’s alcohol awareness program. For more information on this community outreach click here.

Medicine may have provided for you during a lifetime of practice. Perhaps your retirement funds can provide for medicine in the future while continuing your legacy in the profession.

Your IRA, 403(b), or other tax-favored retirement plan may be vital to your retirement, but it may not share the same benefit with your loved ones. Such plans usually face both estate and income taxes at your passing. But they can make a wonderful gift: neither tax applies when you name the WVU Foundation as the account beneficiary, and you can specify that these resources will provide a lasting gift to the School of Medicine for a purpose of importance to you.

The Development Office at the School can help you learn more. Please call us at 304-293-7086 to explore one more powerful retirement option you possess.

School of Medicine alumni, Dr. LeMoyne Coffield and Dr. William “Bill” Neal were honored at last month’s “Health Care Hero’s” breakfast at the Waterfront Place Hotel. Dr. Coffield graduated in 1945 and specializes in Anesthesiology. Dr. Neal graduated in 1966 and specializes in pediatric cardiology. Dr. Neal also served as chairman in the Department of Pediatrics in Morgantown from 1985-1998 and following his retirement as chair Dr. Neal started the CARDIAC Project to help study the coronary artery risks in Appalachian communities.

Janet Cyr, PhD, Associate Professor, Departments of Biochemistry and Otolaryngology was the lead course director for the prestigious Woods Hole course in Biology of the Inner Ear.

Dr. Alan Ducatman, Chair, Community Medicine has been named chair of the environmental Health Board by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To read more about this appointment click here.

Dr. Jame Abraham, section chief, hematology/oncology has been appointed to the American Cancer Society South Atlantic Division Board of Directors. To read more about this appointment click here.

Dr. Steven Alway, Chair, Exercise Physiology, is featured in an article on orlandosentinel.com about how exercise can help build strong bones. To read about this article click here.

The Eastern Division recently recognized James E. Brown, MD Associate Clinical Professor and Clerkship Director for Obstetrics and Gynecology has been selected as the “Community Preceptor of the Year” for his outstanding dedication to teaching medicine, specifically women’ s health.

The Eastern Division recently recognized Krista Hopkins, MD Clinical Instructor, Obstetrician and
Gynecologist at the Shenandoah Women’s Health Center has been named “Community Preceptor of the Year” her outstanding dedication to teaching medicine and women’s health. This is the second year in a row that Dr. Hopkins has been given this honor.

Dr. Geri Dino spoke at the Department of Community Medicine’s Grand Rounds about her nationally acclaimed program called
(N-O-T) Not on Tobacco.
N-O-T has been adopted by the American Lung Association which offers the program at schools across the nation. For more information on this lecture click here.