Usatine, student-run clinics honored by class of 2011
A gift of $11,000 from Alumni of the Long School of Medicine class of 2011, along with other generous donors, has established the School of Medicine Class of 2011 Student Service Learning Endowment in honor of Richard Usatine, M.D. Kyle Kalkwarf, M.D., a 2011 graduate, said the class chose to pay tribute to Dr. Usatine for his spirit of humanism and example of ethics through mentorship of students in the Student-Run Free Clinics. "Dr. Usatine is a perfect representative of the values our class wanted to honor through this endowment. He was instrumental in establishing the clinics and vital to ensuring their success," Dr. Kalkwarf said. "We believe it is fitting to show our appreciation for these programs by establishing an endowment that will ensure similar opportunities for future students. We also hope to emulate Dr. Usatine’s selfless service and dedication to our community and his patients as we begin our careers as physicians." Dr. Kalkwarf also recognized Fred G. Corley, M.D., of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, for helping the class create the endowment. Offered through the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics at the Health Science Center, the clinics allow students to care for underserved populations. "The clinics inspire our students to provide compassionate health care to people with the greatest need. It brings out the best in students as they learn to give openly with their hearts and minds," Dr. Usatine said.
Dr. Usatine who has been a faculty member at the UT Health Science Center for nine years is assistant director of humanities education in the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics.
Endowment named for Winakur
A gift of $30,000 from an anonymous donor has established the Jerald Winakur, M.D. Endowment for Humanities & Ethics in honor of Jerald Winakur, M.D., who is a clinical professor of medicine in the Long School of Medicine and an associate faculty member in the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics at the Health Science Center. Dr. Winakur has practiced internal and geriatric medicine for more than 30 years. After listening to patients’ concerns about the deteriorating health of loved ones in old age, he found himself in the same situation when his father experienced a long decline and death from Alzheimer’s disease. In 2009 he wrote "Memory Lessons: A Doctor’s Story," which led to a syndicated newspaper column, as well as numerous television and radio talk show interviews. The endowment honors Dr. Winakur’s compassion for his patients, as well as his selfless dedication to students. For more information about the endowment, contact Sonia Vasquez at 210-567-0028 or e-mail Vasquezsg@uthscsa.edu.
Briscoe creates legacy for future of education
Anne Briscoe, M.S., RN, a 1987 graduate of the School of Nursing, and former employee in the UT Health Science Center’s Division of Cardiology, has established the Anne Fishburne Briscoe, M.S., RN, B.S.N., B.S., ADN, AA, CCRN/Anne Pickens Fishburne, RN, Endowed Scholarship in Nursing Education. The endowment will honor her and her grandmother’s service to the nursing profession. Briscoe’s grandmother was a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 1918. "I decided to help those students going back to school at the UT Health Science Center to get a second degree in nursing and to encourage the non-traditional, second-degree program that is now in place in the School of Nursing," Briscoe said. This year, Briscoe decided to add to the endowment through an estate gift. "I hope others reflect on the health services they’ve benefited from over years and consider creating their own legacy of support," she said. "It will have an important impact."
New Ph.D. in translational science offered
The UT Health Science Center, UT San Antonio (UTSA), UT Austin College of Pharmacy and UT School of Public Health (San Antonio Regional Campus), announced the establishment of a Ph.D. degree program in translational science. Michael Lichtenstein, M.D., M.Sc., said the program is propelled by a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA). "The goal of the CTSA is to transform academic health centers so they will accelerate the pace and application of discovery, resulting in improved health for the public," he said. Dr. Lichtenstein is professor of medicine and director of research education, training and career development for the Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science. Coursework will begin in the fall. For more information, visit IIMS.
Department of Physical Therapy reaccredited for 10 years
The Department of Physical Therapy has been reaccredited for 10 years - the maximum number of years possible - by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education. Reaccreditation reviewers noted strong community support for the department’s programs and the quality of its graduates, as well as a commitment by faculty and students to community service, which often is continued by students after graduation. The report also mentioned that the department has had an increasing number of Hispanic students, and that the graduates are staying in Central and South Texas, which includes the Health Science Center’s 38-county service area of South Texas.
New Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy offered
For more information about the program, visit uthscsa.edu/shp/pt, or call Dr. Ortega, at 210-567-8750.
UT Health San Antonio physicians among Best Doctors in America®
More than 150 physicians of UT Health San Antonio are 2012-13 selections for Best Doctors in America®, a database of the nation’s top physicians. UT Medicine is the clinical practice of the Long School of Medicine.
"Congratulations to each physician on this list for attaining excellence in academic clinical practice," said Francisco González-Scarano, M.D., dean of the Long School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at the UT Health Science Center. "These Best Doctors honorees, and all of our physicians, exemplify the commitment of UT Health San Antonio to our patients and communities."
New Implant Clinic opens in Dental School
The Dental School recently opened The Implant Clinic offering state-of-the-art affordable dental and implant therapies with an emphasis on the expeditious completion of patient care. The clinic, under the direction of Ilser Turkyilmaz, D.D.S., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, augments dental implant services in the Dental School and provides additional dental services such as dentures and crowns. The new clinic will also be an important training facility for post-graduate residents and fellows.
To make an appointment for an evaluation, call 210-567-5433.
Pediatricians design child abuse identification tool
A computer program developed by child abuse experts Nancy Kellogg, M.D., chief of the Division of Child Abuse Pediatrics and medical director of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital Center for Miracles, and James Anderst, M.D., of Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., is bridging the gap between the professionals on the scene of a child injury case and child abuse pediatricians. "What happens is we get a child in a medical setting and are left with trying to find out what happened when the injury occurred," Dr. Kellogg said. "Often the best information comes from law enforcement and CPS investigators, but because they aren’t physicians and don’t know the mechanisms of injury, they often don’t know what information is important to us to make a determination of abuse or neglect." The program is available via smart phone and uses animation sequences, text, radiographs, CT scans and MRI scans to assist workers in the field.
Researchers co-author book on nanoparticle imaging
Researchers in the Long School of Medicine co-authored a new book on the imaging of nanoparticles - tiny particles that in the future may prove to be eminently useful for drug delivery in humans. "Although there has been a lot of hype about nanoparticle technology, and some things don’t work or are clearly impractical, I predict this technology will be a major force in clinical care," said nuclear medicine physician William T. Phillips, M.D., co-author and co-editor of "Nanoimaging," published by Pan Stanford Publishing. "Some practical ways will include delivering increased amounts of therapeutic agents to infections, lymph nodes, bone marrow and tumors." Dr. Phillips and biochemist Beth A. Goins, Ph.D., both in the Department of Radiology, lead a team that is pioneering research of nanoparticle technology, particularly the imaging of these tiny particles. "We have some promising ideas for projects and products utilizing nanoparticles, but those require investment and company generation," said Dr. Goins, co-author and co-editor of the book.