Senator Jay Rockefeller's office recently announced the approval of an award from the FCC's newly-established Rural Health Pilot Project for the West Virginia Telehealth Alliance to improve health care for rural residents. This award will provide $8.4 Million over a three year period to rural health communities for advancements in telehealth. Patients will be able to access critically-needed medical specialists in a variety of practices - including cardiology, pediatrics and radiology - without leaving their homes or communities. Click here for more information on this grant.

WBOY’s Amanda McCall recently visited the Health Sciences Center to learn more about the simulation center that is under construction. To read the story click here.

Click here to see photo’s from the December 2007 Graduation weekend.

Please click on the link to nominate faculty, residents, students, or support staff for the Dean's Excellence Awards. Directions and criteria are listed at the top of the survey. This is one way for the School of Medicine to recognize our best asset, which is obviously the people who work at the School of Medicine. The link will be active until February 29th and the awards ceremony is scheduled for April 22nd at 5:00 PM in the HSC auditorium (PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR).

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

COMING

John King, M.D. has joined the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry as an Associate Professor.

Kurt Rodney, M.D., Gregory Allen, M.D., James Walker, M.D., and Joseph Jordan, M.D. have joined the Eastern Division of the School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, as Assistant Professors.

GOING

Ronald Cleavenger, M.D., is leaving the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine.

Yusoff Dawood, M.D., is leaving the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Eric Jones, M.D., is leaving the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Orthopaedics.

Steven McNatt, M.D., Marissa Howard-McNatt, M.D., Hesam Mohseni, M.D., and Christopher McCullough, M.D., are leaving the Morgantown Division of the School of Medicine in the Department of Surgery.

Alan Ducatman, M.D., Chair, Department of Community Medicine, is featured in an article on the dangers associated with lead in older homes and in toys. Dr. Ducatman describes various household items that can contain lead, how a child can have higher lead levels, and the warning signs that indicate some lead poisoning. Click here to read this article.

Turner Goins, Ph.D., Associate
Professor, Department of Community Medicine, is starting a ‘Fit and Strong’ class in Hampshire County for those 60 years and older. This class is part of an effort to help senior members of the community fight osteoarthritis, lower body stiffness, and adopt a more active lifestyle. Click here for more information on this program.

James Helmkamp, Ph.D., Director of the West Virginia University Injury Control Research Center, has released his year long study on 2007 ATV deaths. Click here to read the article.

Kimberly Horn, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, recently Co-Authored an article in the December issue of the ‘American Medical Association Journal of Ethics’ titled “Smoking and Medicaid Benefits”. Click here to read this article.

In October, Martha J. Lake, Ed.D., Professor and Assistant Chair, Professional Programs, Department of Pathology, began a one-year term as Chair of the Review Committee for Accredited Programs of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. This committee reviews all accredited Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Technician, Histotechnician and Histotechnologist, Cytogenetic, and Pathologists' Assistant programs.

Carl R. Sullivan, M.D., Professor and Vice-chair, Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry recently wrote an articled titled “Opioid Dependence” and is featured on the Health in 30 website. Click here to read this article.

WVU is partnering with the State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Department of Health and Human Resources, to help with forensic autopsies in the northern region of West Virginia. This second state forensic autopsy center began operating out of the Health Sciences Center in November. More information is available here.

David Myerberg, M.D., J.D., Member, School of Medicine Board of Advisors, has authored a chapter called "Malpractice Considerations In Practice" in the book "Coding for Chest Medicine: Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, 2008" published by the American College of Chest Physicians. Click here for more information on Dr. Myerberg’s chapter.

The CARDIAC Project was selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a National Innovation in Prevention Award winner. The award, accepted recently by William Neal, M.D., Professor, Department of Pediatrics, is given to organizations that create and implement effective ways to address chronic diseases and promote healthier lifestyles. Click here for more information on this award.

Project MUSHROOM has been helping the homeless of Monongalia County for several years and is asking for donations of basic care items including, but not limited to socks, sleeping bags, warm clothing, and non perishable food items. Donations may be dropped off at the Clark K. Sleeth Family Medicine Center front desk. For more information on project MUSHROOM or items that can be donated click here.

Young or old, we know the value of our medical system. It’s one of the best in the world. Utilizing a way to continue that excellence is rewarding.

When you are ready to prepare your Last Will and Testament, an option that is truly satisfying is to include the School of Medicine. A gift provision that includes the wording: “to the West Virginia University Foundation for the benefit of the School of Medicine” is a good start. Specific gift choices may be for: scholarships, faculty support, program support or research funding.

Various support options are available. For more information, contact the Development Office (304-293-3980) for assistance.

Shawn Bastin, MPT Class of 1997, has been named the Director of Rehabilitation Services for Cabell Huntington Hospital. Prior to accepting this position, Bastin was the director of Rehabilitation at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston.

Daniel Rossi, D.O., fourth
year general surgery
resident, has been selected to participate in the poster session of the ACGME
Annual Education
Conference in early 2008 for his poster titled “It Is Not About Being Nice, It Is About Being A Better Doctor: The Investigation Into Problematic Communication and Delays in Trauma Patient Transfer”.

Congratulations to the M.D. Degree Class of 2011 on their 100% pass rate on the Biochemistry NBME subject examination.

That in 1892 “The Hick House” was built and was the location where anatomy students performed dissections.

That “The Hick House” received its name from a misunderstanding of the Latin word “Hic” from the burial phrase “Hic Jacet” meaning hear lies. The cadavers became known locally as ‘hicks’ instead of the more widely used term ‘stiffs.’