C. Peter Magrath, Ph.D., has been appointed the Interim President of WVU effective August 1. Dr. Magrath has served as president of four higher education institutions before being appointed Interim President at WVU. For more information on Dr. Magrath and his appointment click here. Click here to read reactions on Dr. Magrath’s appointment.

The WVU National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health hosted the Women on Wellness retreat. More than 50 participants got their groove on with Zumba classes, took strolls around the park in walking sessions, and worked out the kinks in their shoulders on massage tables. For more information on this retreat click on the link. For more information on the National Center click here.

Students from 45 high schools across West Virginia took part in the Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) program last month at WVU. For more information on this summer’s HSTA program click here.

WVU and the Department of Community Medicine hosted the second annual Cross-Border Public Health Preparedness Conference last month. This conference brings health care providers and first responders together for a one day conference to discuss and gain knowledge on pandemic influenza. For more information on the conference click here.

The Pediatric and Adult Cystic Fibrosis Care Program at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital has been accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Foundation grants this designation for high quality of specialized care available throughout the care center network that leads to improved quality of life and longevity for people with CF. Robert Kalovsky is the director of the Program at CAMC.

Coombs Flowers of Morgantown gave patients at WVU’s Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center something to smile about last month. They delivered more than 100 mugs filled with flowers to the Cancer Center as part of Make Someone Smile Week. For more information, click here.

In September WVU will be hosting the TRILS--Tobacco Research Intensive Lecture Series with the topic: “Treating Tobacco Dependence Across Populations.” The conference will be held in the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center in the Pylons Learning Center. It is free and open to the public. For more information click here.

WVU plans to break ground later this year on a $16 million intermodal facility to be located on the Health Sciences Center Campus. This transportation hub will feature a bus depot, 500-space parking garage, and covered walkways to the Health Sciences Center and the nearby Personal Rapid Transit station. For more information click here.

Medical Students are collecting the recycling bins in the HSC on Fridays. Contact Jeff Richmond jrichmo4@mix.wvu.edu for more information.

Project MUSHROOM is looking for volunteers to help with street rounds every other Tuesday evening beginning at 6:45 pm. August’s next street rounds will take place on the 5th and 19th. To sign up, click on the link. If you cannot attend after signing up, please contact Holly Turner.

COMING

Johanna Biola, M.D., has joined the Eastern Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, as an Assistant Professor.

Janna Brown, M.D., Joshua Dower, M.D., Eric Lirio, M.D., and Muhammad Mustafa, M.D., have joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, as Assistant Professors. Harvinder Dod, M.D., and Michele Maouad, M.D., have joined the Department of Medicine as Instructors. Dr. Dod specializes in Cardiology; Dr. Maouad in Dermatology; and Dr. Mustafa in Nephrology.

Silvia Cardenas, M.D., has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Cardenas specializes in Pediatric Pulmonary.

Melinda Flanagan, M.D., and Jeffrey Vos, M.D., have joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Pathology. Dr. Flanagan is an Assistant Professor and Dr. Vos is an Associate Professor who specializes in Hematopathology.

Todd Harshbarger, M.D., has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, as an Assistant Professor.

Gary Oates, M.D., has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Oates will be at the United Hospital Center.

Shon Rowan, M.D., has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as an Assistant Professor.

Kevin Sawyer, M.D., has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, as an Assistant Professor.

Kevin Tveter, M.D., has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, as an Instructor. He specializes in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

David Watson, M.D., has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, as an Assistant Professor. He specializes in headache treatments.

GOING

Muhammad Abou-Samra, M.D., is leaving the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology.

Roberta Renzelli-Cain, M.D., is leaving the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Lauren Frost, B.S., Exercise Physiology Class of 2008, is one of 15 students selected to intern at NASA Johnson Space Center. Lauren will evaluate methods of exercise that aim to protect astronauts’ health by countering the bone and muscle-mass loss that occurs in the microgravity environment of space. For more information on this internship click here.

Raymond Leonard, M.D., Class of 2005, a pediatrician specializing in the care of patients from newborns through early adulthood, is opening a new practice in Buckhannon, WV. Dr. Leonard earned a bachelors and masters degree in Exercise Physiology before going to Medical School at WVU.

Megan Metcalfe, M.P.T., Class of 2005, is getting the chance of a lifetime when she will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China this month. Megan is a native of Edmonton, Alberta and will be representing Canada in the 5,000-meter event. For more information on Megan click here.

It was David Z. Morgan, M.D., a 1950 graduate of the WVU two-year School Program, who served WVU for 31 years. He was the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for 11 years, and was honored with the WVU award, “Most Loyal Mountaineer”.

The first Masters in Public Heath degree was awarded in 1998; a program that is housed in the Department of Community Medicine.

Can you guess who these three faculty members are?

(Click Images to enlarge)

The answers will appear in next
month’s issue.

Last month’s faculty members were
Fred Butcher, Ph.D. and Frank Reilly, Ph.D.

The National Institutes of Health’s General Medical Sciences Institute has awarded a $1 million T-32 training grant to the School of Medicine. This T-32 training grant will help recruit and train the next generation of biomedical and behavioral science researchers at WVU. For more information on this grant click here.

Many choose medical careers because of the ability to help others. Knowing that your day's work resulted in benefit to others is rewarding in many ways.

Helping others can be accomplished through supporting the School of Medicine. It is vital to educate well our health care professionals of tomorrow. Those who have "been there, done that" know that the School of Medicine's mission is an important one.

A special way of helping involves including a gift provision in your will or revocable trust. The appropriate wording is "to the West Virginia University Foundation for the benefit of the School of Medicine." Scholarships, faculty support, program support or research funding are beneficial gift choices.

This and other support options are available, and the Development Office (304-293-3980) can assist you to make it work.

Julian Bailes, M.D., Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, has been named the 2008 Honorary Italian Man of the Year.

Frederick Blum, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine is featured in MSNBC’s article on medical care in various regions of the U.S. Dr. Blum is featured in the South section under ‘Crowded Emergency Rooms’. Click here for more information.

Warren W. Boling, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, recently went with a team of epilepsy specialists to Karachi, Pakistan, as part of Epilepsy Day at Aga Khan University (AKU). This is an effort by these specialists to educate the 100,000 people there who suffer from epilepsy. For more information on Epilepsy Day click here.

Claudette Brooks, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, has commented on a new stroke study. Dr. Brooks was not surprised by the results of the study which showed that silent strokes have very subtle symptoms, but the effects on the brain show up on an MRI scan and help doctors determine if a silent stroke occurred. For more information on this study click on the link.

Steve Davis, M.P.A., Research Coordinator, Department of Emergency Medicine, recently had an article in the journal, Stroke, titled 'Strengthening the Link: The Critical Role of Children in the Stroke Chain of Recovery'. To read this article click here.

Geri Dino, PhD., Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, is quoted in an article on a Canadian study on teens, tobacco, and the desire to quit smoking. To read about the Canadian study click here.

Gregory Juckett, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, is featured in an article on the AMA website. In the section called “Look Both Ways,” Dr. Juckett’s knowledge of international travel, specifically travel in China, is mentioned. To read the article click here.

Todd Goldberg, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Charleston Division, is one of 67 geriatricians in West Virginia and is developing a fellowship program for physicians who already have completed three-year residency programs in family practice or internal medicine. For more information on Dr. Goldberg or geriatric care in the Charleston area click here.

Chris Martin, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, has been appointed to the USMLE Step 1 Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis Test Material Development Committee for the National Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Martin will serve a two year term (2009-2011) on this committee and will be involved in writing questions for the exams that are taken by all M.D. students in the country.

William Neal, M.D., Professor, Department of Pediatrics, agrees with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ new treatment guidelines for children and cholesterol. Dr. Neal says the best way to to prevent heart disease is to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat a nutritious diet low in fat, and get plenty of physical activity. To read more about Dr. Neal’s message click here. To read about the new pediatric guidelines click here.

Greg Rosencrance, M.D., Chair, Department of Medicine, Charleston Division, has been chosen as the keynote speaker for the Arnold P. Gold Foundation White Coat Ceremony, which will be held at Marshall University on August 7th.

Marilyn Smith, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral Medicine, Charleston Division, was honored earlier this summer by Drexel University. Dr. Smith received the MSN Clinical Practice Award, which is given to an MSN who demonstrates superior academic achievement, commitment to nursing, and a particular excellence in clinical practice.

Jeri Whitten, Residency Coordinator, Department of Pediatrics, Charleston Division, has been selected to speak at the 3rd Annual Residency Program Management Workshop in Chicago next month.

MUSHROOM student volunteers are raising money to travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico in September for the International Street Medicine Symposium. MUSHROOM, a founding member of the symposium, and currently the only student organized street medicine organization, will present at this event. This is a great opportunity to allow our students to meet with physicians and other students who share their values and passions for caring not only for the homeless, but for the medically underserved worldwide. If you would like more information on this trip or would like to donate money or help raise money for this trip contact Joanna Adkins or Holly Turner.