Spring/Summer 2007 - School of Medicine

Spring/Summer 2007
Illuminations
The Magazine for the University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni and Friends
Alumni Weekend
Volume 3 Number 1
Connecting With
1957
1962
University of Utah School of Medicine
2007 Medical Alumni Weekend
September 13 - 15
1967 1972
1977
1987
1992 1997
2002
1982
Members - Class of 1957
Members - Class of 2007
Message from the Dean
The Magazine for the University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni and Friends
Most physicians recall the day they learned
University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni Association
Board of Directors
Photography
University Medical Graphics
Fred F. Langeland, M.D., 1976, President
Thomas H. Caine, M.D., 1963, Past President
Richard E. Black, M.D., 1974, Vice President
Swen R. Swensen, M.D., House Staff, 1974, Secretary
Dominic Aldo, Jr., M.D., House Staff, 1968
Catherine J. Wheeler, M.D., House Staff 1991
Lewis J. Barton, M.D., 1964
Richard S. Boyer, M.D., 1973
Randall Walter Burt, M.D., 1974
C. Hilmon Castle, M.D., House Staff, 1957
Beth C. Hanlon, M.D., House Staff, 1991
Janet K. Harnsberger, M.D., House Staff, 1981
Robert O. Hoffman, M.D., 1981
Mark A. Johnston, M.D., 1990
August “Larry” Jung, M.D., 1961
Ex-Officio:
Ronald M. Larkin, M.D., 1975
Stephen Warner, Associate VP of Health Sciences
Kirk M. Neuberger, M.D., 1963
for Development and Alumni Relations
W. Curtis Peterson M.D., 1960
David Bjorkman, Dean, M.D., M.S.P.H., 1980
Richard R. Price, M.D., 1960
Mary Jo Harrell, Director
Ronald J. Ruff, M.D., 1981
Kristin Wann Gorang, Associate Director
Kent M. Samuelson, M.D., 1971
Hugh D. Voorhees, M.D., 1972
Homer R. Warner, M.D., Ph.D. 1949
Illuminations
is published by the
University of Utah
School of Medicine
Alumni Relations Office
For editorial information or
corrections, call (801) 585-3818
Send address changes to:
Illuminations
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Salt Lake City, Utah 84108-1298
[email protected]
Opt-Out of Illuminations Mailing: Please e-mail Kristin
Wann Gorang, Editor, at [email protected] if
you wish to discontinue receiving Illuminations magazine.
www.utahmedalumni.org
What’s Inside
1 Message from the Dean
2 Alumni President’s Message
3 Personalized Medicine
5Understanding the Loss
of Understanding
6The Genesis of Wilderness Medicine at the U
7A Decade of Eye Care
Missions in Africa
8Alumni Weekend 2007
10Match Day
12 News Notebook
14Alumni Notebook:
• Highlights
• News
17 In Memoriam
17We Want to
Hear from You
where they would do their specialty training. For most of us
it was on “Match Day” in the spring of our senior year. We
Dean David Bjorkman,
Editor
Kristin Wann Gorang
M.D., M.S.P.H., 1980
Illuminations
all had sweaty palms, jittery nerves and extreme anxiety.
The symptoms for this year’s fourth-year class were the
same as they hoped to match to a top residency program.
According to the Association of
American Medical Colleges, this year
more than 24,500 residency positions were available in the U.S. On
Match Day, more than 93 percent of
the 15,206 U.S. medical seniors were
matched with a first-year residency
program, about the same percentage as
in 2006. At the U, all 83 seniors who
applied successfully matched to residency programs, with most matching
to their top choice.
For the record, 28 students will
be staying at the University of Utah
to complete residency and the other
55 will complete residency programs
around the country. This year internal
medicine residencies drew the most
matches with 18 students, 10 students
matched in emergency medicine, 10 in
pediatrics, nine in anesthesiology, seven
in family medicine and the list goes on,
(for complete listing see pages 10-11).
As July 1 approaches and the
Class of 2007 prepares to enter the
next phase of their training, I encourage you to reflect back on your first
day of residency. The anxiety of the
moment and the feeling of uncertainty
about the future are defining moments
in a physician’s career. Illuminations
would love to hear stories about your
first few months of residency. Send
stories of the good, bad, and ugly to
[email protected] and
we’ll include some in a future issue
of Illuminations.
In This Issue of Illuminations
The Alumni Reunion Weekend is set
for September, and the Illuminations
cover story connects with the weekend’s Continuing Medical Education
conference topic, Genetic Research.
Joyce Mitchell, PhD., chair of the
Biomedical Informatics department,
updates us on the quickly evolving field
of Personalized Medicine and what it
means for practicing clinicians today,
and into the future. The challenge of
collecting genotype-phenotype data
and setting-up a reliable exchange
system between genetics, patients and
health conditions is one of the modern
challenges of biomedical informatics. The University of Utah has been a
leader in the field of genetics, discovering more single disease genes than any
other university in the world, and the
Biomedical Informatics Department
is integral to determining how to
integrate scientifically meaningful
biomarker discoveries into a productive
medical system.
In his piece Understanding the
Loss of Understanding, Mark Johnston,
M.D., ’90 explores current research
studies showing promising results
for stopping or significantly slowing Alzheimer’s Dementia. School of
Medicine faculty member Richard
Ingebretsen, M.D., Ph.D. ’93 shares
his career and passion, discussing the
practice of Wilderness Medicine, and
its genesis at the University of Utah.
In the Alumni News section we
are pleased and grateful to recognize
Dr. Robert H. Ballard, Class of 1944.
In three extremely generous moves Dr.
Ballard gifted $217,000 toward the
School of Medicine Scholarship program, designated four million dollars
in his will to endow two full-tuition
scholarships to be offered through the
School of Medicine, and committed
another $200,000 a year to guarantee
the scholarships yearly until the endowment goes into effect. These are the first
full-tuition scholarships for medical
school offered at the University of Utah.
This is a transformative gift for the
medical school, and will help us compete for the best and brightest students.
I wish all of you a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing and
talking with many of you at Alumni
Reunion Weekend in September.
Sincerely,
David J. Bjorkman, M.D., M.S.P.H
Dean, School of Medicine
Personalized Medicine
Alumni President’s Message
Along with our annual Medical Alumni
Awards Banquet and 50-year class
celebration on Thursday, September
13, and our class reunions on Friday,
September 14, we are excited to begin
a new tradition on Friday morning by
inviting back alumni house officers to
their respective departments. Six departments are hosting programs highlighting
some new progress in their fields as well
as updates on what the department is
doing. It will be a great time for former
medical students and residents to get
together with other specialists in their
specialty, renew old friendships, and
reconnect with their mentors.
Friday afternoon will once again
find us duffers out on the links,
this year with a scramble start at
Stonebridge Golf Course. Friday
evening, along with this year’s reunion
classes, the new Half Century Club
will be inaugurated, bringing together
all graduates from the class of 1957
and earlier. The Department of Family
and Preventive Medicine is hosting a
reunion for graduates from all of their
programs, and Biomedical Informatics
is celebrating their 35-year anniversary
of being part of the University of Utah’s
School of Medicine.
Saturday morning, September 15,
our CME conference, Unraveling the
Message Within: The Physicians’ Guide to
Genetics in the 21st Century will feature
five preeminent experts in the field of
genetics. As many of you know, Utah
is a world leader in genetic research. If
you are like me, you are aware of some
of the advancements in genetics, but
don’t know many of the details and
how this technology may impact us
in the future.
Saturday afternoon we will have a
tailgating party at the Alumni House
on lower campus prior to the Running
Utes and UCLA football game. A block
of tickets has been reserved for those
who are interested. It should be a very
exciting game.
As always, all the classes involved
in the reunion will be contacted by
a class representative, as well as our
alumni office for reservations. Detailed
information is also on our Web site,
www.utahmedalumni.org.
Fred F. Langeland,
medical alumni and friends! Summer has found the Office of Alumni
Relations and the School of Medicine’s Alumni Association Board in full
swing preparing for Alumni Weekend, scheduled for September 13-15.
(See pages 8-9 for details). The weekend is being called “Connecting with
U”, and includes not just former students, but also former house officers,
and past and present faculty. We moved the date to the fall so we can
include a U of U football game as part of the activities.
M.D., 1976
Greetings medical alumni and friends! Greetings
Finally, feedback from our last
issue of Illuminations was very positive,
and we are listening closely to your comments and suggestions. The magazine
is a work in progress and we hope to
address the concerns, accomplishments,
and activities of all of the University
of Utah School of Medicine Alumni.
Please feel free to call or email and let
me know what you think.
Fred Langeland, M.D., ‘76
President, Alumni Board
[email protected]
(801) 408-5155
Joyce A. Mitchell, PhD
Professor and Chair,
Department of Biomedical Informatics
School of Medicine, University of Utah
W
ith the completion of
the Human Genome
Project in 2003, the
world’s attention has
focused on converting this vast storehouse of information into innovative
health care solutions. The ultimate
promise, assuming we know everyone’s
genotype, is to ensure that every person
has optimum health throughout his/her
life. This promise has many parts,
including optimum nutrition, clean air
and water supplies, up-to-date immunizations and regular health screenings.
The part of the promise to be fulfilled
by knowledge and information stemming from genomics, proteomics and
other “omics” is yet unfolding, but the
first cautious steps are being taken and
are called “Personalized Medicine”.
Personalized Medicine implies that optimum health goes beyond the basics of
clean air and water and takes advantage
of the “omics” knowledge to allow the
person and his/her clinicians to make
therapeutic and lifestyle choices which
take the “omics” into account.
Personalized Medicine does not
have a crisp definition, but rather reflects a broad coalition of ideas brought
to bear on the age-old notion of personalized care. The proud tradition of
health care is to focus on every patient
and to provide care that is cognizant
of the person’s individual situation and
values, but the situation rarely includes
specific genetic/genomic information.
The Personalized Medicine movement incorporates the use of molecular
analyses and methods evolving from
knowledge of genomics to better manage a patient’s disease or predisposition
toward a disease. In the Genomics and
Personalized Medicine Act of 2006 1,
personalized medicine is defined as “...
the application of genomic and molecular data to better target the delivery of
health care, facilitate the discovery and
clinical testing of new products, and
help determine a patient’s predisposition
to a particular disease or condition”. The
belief of the scientific and health-care
community is that knowledge of genomics will contribute to better health
outcomes. The specific approaches are
not yet fully developed but will include
genetic/genomic screening programs,
genetic/genomic risk analyses, and
the use of diagnostic and therapeutic
modalities that are still evolving but will
certainly involve micro-arrays and other
high-throughput analyses in addition to
standard genetic tests.
While Personalized Medicine
ultimately aims to adapt therapies to individual patients, the initial solution will
divide patients into groups by genetic
and other markers that predict disease
progression and treatment outcomes.
In this scenario, pharmacogenetics is at
the center of the research and practice. Pharmacogenetics gives a partial
explanation to the different responses
of individuals to the same drugs. For
example, the genetic variants for two
genes (CYP2C9 and VKORC1) along
with other patient data can explain a
substantial portion of the variability
seen in a person’s response to Warfarin,
a powerful and frequently prescribed
anticoagulant2. The hope in the case of
Warfarin is that the adverse drug reactions of excessive bleeding or clotting
can be minimized by genetic testing
to help predict in advance what is the
optimal dose for a specific patient.
Genomic, proteomic or functional
genomic biomarkers (features that are
associated with the course of a disease)
can help to define subtypes of diseases
such as cancers that have previously been
treated as single entities. This reclassification leads to new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that hopefully can be shown
to be cost effective and efficacious. One
success story is the targeted use of genetic
testing for mutations in the EGFR gene to
determine which group of patients will be
responsive to gefitinib as a treatment for
non-small cell lung cancer3. Obviously this
trend in health care has the potential to
shift costs because of the increased use of
expensive tests, but also has the potential
to significantly improve outcomes and
to avoid expensive treatment for those
individuals who can be shown to have a
non-responsive genotype.
Every component of the scientific
community will play a part in making
the promise of Personalized Medicine
a reality, but the field of Biomedical
Informatics is especially critical to
making the vision come alive. The
enormous quantity of complex data poses
a daunting challenge to the use of this
data in our traditional healthcare system.
Biomedical Informatics is a field that
specializes in analyses of such data and
the development of techniques to bring
focused information out of the data sets.
Almost 1000 public biological databases
are available to researchers and health
professionals with data on genomes,
proteomes, metabolomes, etc, and can be
used for basic data and as reference sets.
Almost 1400 genetic tests associated with
diseases [http://www.genetests.org] can
be ordered by any healthcare practitioner (some tests can even be ordered by
individuals over the internet without
going through their physicians); there are
over 20,000 genes and so the number of
new genetic tests will continue to grow.
This enormous quantity of information
could be brought into play for a single
individual if the cost of a full genome sequence were affordable and the scientific
and healthcare community understood
the implications of the results of such a
large battery of genetic tests. But we are
a long way from this. The cost for a full
genome analysis is prohibitive at this
time and will be for the next decade or
so, although the NIH is giving grants to
individuals who can work toward a fullgenome sequence test for $1000.
It will take quite some time to
create a synthesis of all of the genes
and proteins and regulatory elements
for any specific human, and it will take
a very long time to make this synthesis understandable to all concerned.
It is likely that the result will be a set
of probabilities and risks for specific
healthcare problems, a set of lifestyle
recommendations (for example, avoid
smoking if you have the Z allele of the
SERPINA1 gene), and an expanding
list of diagnostic tests and therapies. The
recommendations will almost certainly
include a set of medications that the
person should avoid and another set of
medications that would be more appropriate for his/her use; all of this would
be based on both personal genomics and
family history as well as the data from
other tests and healthcare experiences,
likely pulled from an analysis of data in
the Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
The brave new world of
Personalized Medicine is slowly emerging, but the complexities of the situation
mean that the full blossoming will take
years to arrive. To use this data effectively,
the worldwide community must define
semantic and logical standards that rep
resent genotype-phenotype data so they
can exchange information reliably about
genetics, patients and health conditions.
The understanding of the implications
of specific tests is moving so rapidly that
there needs to be a set of guidelines that
are updated regularly and are readily available from a trusted source. Health care
providers cannot be expected to memorize
recommendations for the permutations of
this large data set, and so it makes sense
that computer systems will be called into
play. Ultimately the genomic (and other
omics) information on a patient would
be linked to or stored as a component of
the Electronic Medical Record. Decision
support systems acting upon standard defined data items and guideline or protocol
The University of Utah
has expertise and
resources that promise
many contributions for
the journey towards
Personalized Medicine.
algorithms would process the data and dynamically send alerts or recommendations
to the health care providers. The patients
would have access to their lifetime medical data and the same recommendations
and reminders via a Personalized Health
Record. The public would have access
to systems on the Internet to explain the
implications of various diseases, risks and
tests in a language that was understandable. The Genetics Home Reference
[http://www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov] was created
by the National Library of Medicine
specifically to help consumers navigate
through the complex issues of genetic
disorders from patient questions to the
specifics of research data4.
The University of Utah has expertise and resources that promise many
contributions for the journey towards
Personalized Medicine. There are many
sources of data that will assist in defining genes associated with specific health
problems. In fact, more single disease
genes have already been discovered at
the University of Utah than at any other
university in the world, based, in part,
on the use of its rich databases like the
Utah Population Data Base (UPDB) to
assist in finding gene-disease associations. There is a long and rich history of
working with EMR’s in the Department
of Biomedical Informatics. There is a
great potential for new pharmaceuticals and therapies based on the specific
knowledge and definitions of biomarkers being developed. Most importantly,
the scientists and healthcare professionals
have a spirit of collaboration and find joy
in working in multidisciplinary teams,
an essential component for climbing this
new scientific mountain. The knowledge
of genetics, genomics, proteomics, and
other “omics” alone cannot transform
healthcare. Research on biomarkers has
signaled molecular profiling as promising, but biomarkers with adequate
specificity and sensitivity are still scarce
for most diseases. To achieve the dream
of Personalized Medicine, heterogeneous
clinical and genomic data sources must
be integrated into a scientifically meaningful and productive system. The results
must be focused specifically on individuals throughout their lives, in sickness and
in health. Then the vision of Personalized
Medicine will become a reality.
Acknowledgement: This article was adapted from
a chapter in a book that is in press. My co-authors
on the book chapter are Lewis J. Frey, PhD of the
Department of Biomedical Informatics, University
of Utah, and Victor Maojo, PhD of the Biomedical
Informatics Group at the Universidad Politecnica
de Madrid, Spain. The full reference is as follows:
Frey LJ, Maojo V, Mitchell JA. “Genome sequencing: a complex path to personalized medicine.” In
Advances in Genome Sequencing Technology and
Algorithms, ed. Mardis ER, Kim S, Tang H Artech
House Publishers, Inc. 2007, in press
References: [1] S. 3822[109th]: Genomics and
Personalized Medicine Act of 2006.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.
xpd?bill=s109-3822 [2] Sconce E, Kamali F.
Appraisal of current vitamin K dosing algorithms
for the reversal of over-anticoagulation with
warfarin: the need for a more tailored dosing
regimen. European J of Haematology. 2006
Dec;77(6):457-62. [3] Mukohara T, Engelman
JA, Hanna NH et al. Differential effects of
gefitinib and cetuximab on non-small-cell lung
cancers bearing epidermal growth factor receptor
mutations. J of the NCI. 2005 97(16):11851194. [4] Mitchell JA, Fun J, McCray AT.
Design of Genetics Home Reference: a new
NLM consumer health resource. J Am Med
Inform Assoc 2004 Nov-Dec;11(6):439-47.
Understanding the Loss of Understanding
Mark A. Johnston, M.D. ’90
Adjunct Associate Professor, University
of Utah School of Medicine
A
mong the most important challenges of medical research in the
coming decade is the development of an effective, “disease modifying”
treatment for Alzheimer’s Dementia.
Alzheimer’s Dementia affects between
4.5 and 5 million Americans and exacts
a tremendous human and economic toll.
By conservative estimates, the number
of individuals affected in this country
alone could reach 10 million over the
next 25 to 30 years.
Despite these sobering statistics,
it appears that advancements in our
understanding of the pathophysiology
of Alzheimer’s Dementia may yield practical treatments for the condition within
the next several years. The characterization of the Alzheimer’s disease process
as a disorder of progressive amyloid beta
(AB) protein deposition in the brain has
clarified the etiology of the dementia
and provided targets for possible intervention. Promising research therapies
include agents that enhance AB removal
and those that reduce the creation of
amyloid protein or its aggregation. Two
major ongoing studies represent these
new therapeutic approaches.
The first study involves the creation
of a vaccine that produces antibodies
against AB. Immune agents have been
considered a possible way of clearing
up existing protein plaques, or reducing
plaque formation by decreasing the amyloid peptide burden. Animal studies of a
vaccine against amyloid protein conducted in the late 1990’s were very promising.
However, the vaccine produced brain inflammation in 15 of 360 human subjects
and death in several individuals.
A new approach to using a vaccine
is again creating interest and hope. A
vaccine using a segment of DNA coding for the AB protein rather than the
protein itself has been developed. The
hope is that the DNA vaccine will create
less prominent immune response avoiding the inflammation and brain swelling
seen in some individuals treated with
the protein vaccination. To test this vaccine, researchers used mice that develop
Alzheimer-like amyloid deposition and
accompanying cognitive impairment.
Mice treated preventatively developed
fewer AB peptides vs. untreated mice
suggesting a protective effect. When
this DNA vaccine was administered as
a treatment in mice already producing
AB peptides, the peptide burden was
reduced by approximately 50%.
A second major study, already
well into human phase 3 testing, is
evaluating a medication that appears to
decrease AB by changing the enzymatic cleaving of the amyloid precursor
protein. Amyloid Beta 42 (AB-42)
is the 42 amino acid length peptide
considered the most likely to aggregate and cause neuronal damage. The
non-steroidal medication r-flurbiprofen
binds to the enzyme responsible for
cleaving the precursor protein and alters
the cleaving location. Shorter peptides,
which are non-damaging, become more
likely products of this cleaving step. Rflurbiprofen may therefore be a selective
amyloid B-42 lowering agent.
Not all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have this enzyme modifying effect and r-flurbiprofen itself must
be given at doses substantially above the
traditional anti-inflammatory doses.
The use of the R enantimer may make
the risk of bleeding and ulcer less likely
than racemic flurbiprofen at equivalent
dosages. Interestingly, it now appears
that the possible benefit of some antiinflammatory agents for Alzheimer’s
Dementia may be primarily related
to their influence on protein cleaving
rather than by altering inflammation.
In transgenic “Alzheimer’s” mice,
flurbiprofen appeared to protect learning and memory function. Subsequent
evaluations of brain histology showed
marked reductions in amyloid deposits.
In phase 2 human testing of flurbiprofen, individuals with mild dementia
appeared to show decreased rates of
cognitive loss vs. placebo. Some individuals showed relative stabilization or
mild improvement in cognitive testing.
Individuals with the highest plasma
drug levels also seemed to have the best
response. The true efficacy and safety
of this medication must await the conclusion of the Phase 3 testing and
FDA review which is expected to
occur in about a year.
These two studies as well as others
currently in progress provide hope that
we may soon have treatments that will
slow or stop Alzheimer’s Dementia.
Although currently available medications
such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
and memantine may provide some mild
transitory benefit, they do not affect the
underlying disease process or stop the
ongoing damage to the brain. If progressive amyloid deposition can be altered,
we may also see the application of these
new agents for prevention of the disease.
The Genesis of Wilderness Medicine at the U
Richard Ingebretsen ’93, M.D, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor Wilderness Medicine
University of Utah, School of Medicine
I
n 1993, as a new medical school
graduate, Richard Ingebretsen,
MD, PhD, had two experiences
that changed his future and eventually
the future of many other physicians in
the intermountain area. While hiking
in the mountains near Salt Lake City
he witnessed a serious mountain bicycle
accident. The young rider hit his head
on the ground and was knocked unconscious. Then, a week later, while rafting
with Boy Scouts on the Colorado River,
one of the participants lacerated his leg.
Dr. Ingebretsen realized that both times
he felt unsure of himself, and of how he
could help someone injured in the back
country, away from modern medical
equipment. He knew that wilderness
medicine instruction was not offered in
most medical schools and the majority
of physicians did not receive this type
of training. As a doctor, and an active
hiker, biker, and river runner, he knew
that people would turn to him for guidance if they were injured in a remote
area and felt he needed to be prepared.
He contacted the Wilderness
Medical Society (WMS) to see what
he would need to do to be trained in
wilderness medical care. This Society was
formed in 1983 by three California physicians, Paul Auerbach, Ed Geehr, and
Ken Kizer, to institute sound principles
of medical practice in wilderness settings.
Through association with the WMS
he began to study wilderness medicine
while in residency. In 1998 as a faculty
member of the University of Utah’s
medical school, he approached the
curriculum committee about teaching
a course to Utah medical students. As
the program developed Dr. Ingebretson
worked on setting up a testing process
where students could learn standards
and protocols and achieve what became
known as Advanced Wilderness Life
Support (AWLS) certification. Today
AWLS has achieved national certification status for medical professionals
studying wilderness medicine.
Fortunately, for Dr. Ingebretson,
the University of Utah already had several exceptional physicians on its faculty
who had done extensive work in wilderness medicine. Colin Grissom, Mark
Elsted and Scott McIntosh were knowledgeable in avalanche dangers, and high
altitude diseases and medicine. DeVon
Hale was an expert on travel medicine
in third-world countries. Bill Mackie
was knowledgeable about treating chest
pain in the back country. Jane Bowman
had designed treatment protocols for
women-specific issues in the back
country, Wayne Askew had developed
the science of wilderness nutrition, and
Paul Schmutz, DDS, had done groundbreaking work in back country dentistry.
Along with these faculty members there
were numerous medical students with
broad knowledge of rescue and evacuation guidelines. Working as a team they
formulated backcountry medical protocols and wrote the AWLS textbook.
One of the earliest discoveries
in designing the wilderness medicine
course was that there were a lot of misconceptions among the general public
and medical professionals as to how
back country injuries should be treated.
For example, many people thought that
making an incision in a snake bite with
a knife and trying to extract the venom
from the wound was standard protocol.
Actually, there are no effective methods
for treating snake bites in the wilderness
and it is crucial to evacuate the patient
to a hospital as soon a possible.
Appropriate evacuation was another
issue. Evacuation is often dangerous, costly
and difficult, and if someone does not
need to be taken for definitive care, then it
should not be risked. There were no guidelines to follow. So in 2001 several enterprising medical students began a literature
search, spoke with numerous specialists
and developed the first guidelines to help
back country medical providers decide if a
patient needed to be evacuated.
Another early concern was what
to include in a first aid kit. Medical
student, now radiologist, Matthew
Thomson took on this challenge. He
developed an algorithm to help people
determine what first aid kits would be
best depending upon the number of
people, the length of the trip, as well as
the location of the adventure. It is now
the industry standard.
The course quickly became the most
popular medical school elective among
AAMC medical schools. Currently 80
University of Utah medical students and
50 students from other medical schools
attend the U’s wilderness medicine course
yearly. Utah’s School of Medicine is now
the preeminent medical school in the
country for wilderness medicine.
The program received a boost five
years ago when the US Army decided to
require all emergency medicine residents
certify with the AWLS certificate. The
army remains actively involved with the
School of Medicine in developing the
program further. Then, two years ago,
the “father” of wilderness medicine, Paul
Auerbach from Stanford University,
joined the ALWS team of doctors. Each
year over one thousand medical professionals certify with the AWLS program.
Offshoots of the program include
an active Wilderness Medicine Interest
Group (WMIG) that teaches and certifies
all back country guides in the state of
Utah. Money they make teaching these
courses gives them a salary and helps support research and educational opportunities
in wilderness medicine.
Another program, Basic
Wilderness Life Support (BWLSwww.bwls.org), trains non-medical professionals in wilderness
first aid. So now anyone interested can receive training, be tested,
and obtain certification. This
program has made a difference to
the general public, with scouting
programs, as well as with other
back country adventurers in preventing trauma, treating injured
people and helping people be
safe in the back country.
For those interested in
learning more about wilderness medicine programs at the
University of Utah School of
Medicine please visit
www.awlsmedstudents.org
Did you know these wilderness medicine facts?
•S
nake bites should not
be treated in the field
at all. Quick evacuation
is the key.
• The brown recluse
spider is not found in
Utah and rarely bites
humans.
• You can treat insect
bites and scorpion bites
with ice effectively, but
treating a snake bite
with ice would make it
worse.
• Most trauma that
occurs in the wilderness
is a result of high
velocity sports like
skiing and biking.
• All spider bites are
poisonous but only
three spiders really
affect humans, the
black widow, the hobo
and the brown recluse.
• Sunscreen prevents
sun burns but does not
prevent skin cancer.
The only effective
method to prevent
skin cancer is
to cover up.
A Decade of Eye Care Missions in Africa
Utah Ophthalmologists Continue Tradition of Journeys to Ghana
F
or the past ten years, ophthalmologists from the University of Utah
Department of Ophthalmology
and Visual Sciences have been traveling to
Ghana, West Africa to provide life-changing and often life-saving eye surgery. Their
journeys take them to a country that has
less than 50 ophthalmologists and a population of 22 million people.
Drs. Alan Crandall ‘73, Robert
Hoffman, ’80, Geoff Tabin, and mission
team members began their latest trip on
March 29th. They spent their days in
eye clinic from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed
by nonstop surgeries that continued
until midnight. Over the years they have
helped more than 2,000 people improve
or regain their sight.
“Most people in the United States
who develop cataracts have them
quickly removed and replaced with new
lenses,” says Dr. Crandall. “In Ghana
750,000 people are waiting for cataract
surgery and the majority of them are
blind. It’s an honor to have helped so
many people in West Africa, yet we can
only put a small dent in this problem.
We believe the future of eye care services
in developing countries lies in training
ophthalmologists and other health care
workers within the local community.”
Dr. Tabin explains the need for
establishing a sustainable eye care infrastructure in countries where medical care
is scarce: “Individuals in Ghana develop
blinding cataracts as a result of exposure
to constant ultra violet light, toxins, and
more–often at a young age. Without surgery, many lose their sight. It is common
for the blind to be shunned as non-productive members of society. Left to fend
for themselves, they commonly die an
early and tragic death as a result of starvation, disease and accidents. To people in
this region, the miracle of modern cataract surgery means not only a restoration
of sight, but also the gift
of life.”
Dr. Hoffman
describes the situation:
“My role is teaching the
local ophthalmologists
and residents what they
need to know to evaluate children’s eyes and to
treat common disorders
that affect children’s
eyes such as strabismus,
amblyopia, significant
refractive error, and
retinoblastoma. We also
deal with issues perti-
nent to their local area such as parasitic
and infectious diseases. Another area of
focus is on neonatal eye disease. We plan
to bring one of their ophthalmologists
here for a visiting international fellowship
as one more step in bringing quality eye
care to the children of Ghana.”
Team members of the Ghana mission donate their time and pay for their
own travel and expenses. Donations of
equipment and supplies are provided by
the Moran Eye Center, The Eye Institute
of Utah, Alcon, Allergan, AMO, Bausch
& Lomb, the Himalayan Cataract
Project and Becton-Dickinson.
2007Alumni Weekend
University of Utah School of Medicine
Connecting With U - September 13-15, 2007
Our weekend celebration promises to be a great gathering of the U of U SOM friends, colleagues,
and classmates. Registration material mailed in July or go online at wwwutahmedalumni.org.
Thursday
September 13
Evening Medical Alumni Awards Banquet at the Little America Hotel
Presentation of Distinguished Awards
Elizabeth Hammond, M.D.,
Distinguished Alumni Award
Professor of Pathology and Adjunct
Professor of Internal Medicine at the
University of Utah School of Medicine,
past chairman of the Department of
Pathology at LDS Hospital, and current
member of Intermountain Healthcare Board of Trustees.
Jay Jacobson,M.D.
Distinguished Service Award
Professor of Internal Medicine and
Infectious Diseases and Chief of the
Division of Medical Ethics and Humanities
at LDS Hospital and the University of Utah
School of Medicine.
Celebration of 50 Years!
Presentation of Medallions to the Class of 1957
September 14
Friday
Friday Morning, September 14
Reunion Evening
School of Medicine Department Events
Little America Hotel, downtown Salt Lake City
7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
General reception first, then individual classes and groups
will dine together in private rooms.
We welcome current or former faculty, house staff, and reunion
class members to attend one of these departments for a morning
of information, instructional lectures and gathering of colleagues.
Following the department events, gather together in Alumni Hall
for a chat with the Dean. Site and speakers are detailed in your
registration packet coming in July.
Participating Departments:
Department of Biomedical Informatics Department of Internal Medicine
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Department of Pathology
Department of Surgery
Department of Orthopaedics
Dean David J. Bjorkman, M.D. - Medical School Update
11:00 a.m.
Friday Afternoon
Alumni Open - Stonebridge Golf Course
12:30 p.m. lunch, 1:30 p.m. shotgun start
Connect with your classmates and colleagues with an
afternoon of golf. Join them at the Johnny Miller designed
Stonebridge Golf Course for lunch and 18 holes.
MD Classes of: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997
MD Class of 1977: Private home
MD Class of 2002: Family picnic
Half Century Club: MD graduates, emeritus faculty and former
house staff associated with the medical school between 1926 and
1957 will have a wonderful evening of reminiscing and reconnecting.
Family and Preventive Medicine programs: This multidisciplinary department is gathering for an evening of friendship
and connection. Come join your current or former colleagues
for a grand meal and lively conversation.
Biomedical Informatics: Celebration Time! We are celebrating 35 years as a department. Along with an evening of toasting
our achievements - we will enjoy the knowledge of our guest
speaker Don Detmer, President and CEO of the America
Medical Informatics Association.
Saturday
September 15
Continuing Medical Education - 7:30 a.m. - noon
Unraveling the Message Within: The Physicians
Guide to Genetics in the 21st Century
The mission and objective of the School of Medicine Alumni
Conference is to help the health care professional understand
the science and application of human genetics in 2007.
Attend this prestigious gathering of the best of University of
Utah researchers, professors and investigators in the field of Human
Genetics and receive 4 CME credit hours AMA Category 1.
Raymond F. Gesteland, Ph.D.,
The DNA Revolution
Distinguished Professor and Vice President
for Research.
In addition to his important administrative
contributions to the University of Utah,
he studies “recoding”, which is an essential
mechanism in controlling gene expression.
Mario R. Capecchi, Ph.D.,
Genetics and Medicine in the 21st Century
Distinguished Professor and Co-chairman.
Developed key animal models for the study
of genetic’s role in many important diseases
including cystic fibrosis, atherosclerosis,
hypertension and cancer.
Football! Football! Football!
Tailgating Party - Alumni House 1:00 p.m.
Make your plans now for an afternoon of food, fun and football!
Join us for our pre-game festivities at the Alumni House where
parking is free and the BBQ is hot! Then take the short walk
over to the Rice Eccles Stadium where your west side seat (with
a back) is waiting. Time, cost and everything else you need to
know will be in your registration packet or go to our Web site.
University of Utah vs. UCLA
Rice Eccles Stadium 3:00 p.m.
This is the premier game of the 2007 season and you will want
to be part of the hullabaloo and rumpus! The SOM Alumni
Association has a block of seats reserved but we have to order
the number of seats we want by August 1. To help us estimate
the number of tickets needed we are asking everyone who
plans to attend to send an e-mail to [email protected].
edu to get your name on the ticket list as soon as possible.
Your registration packet will be mailed to you in July.
A registration form is also available on-line at:
www.utahmedalumni.org where locations, fees and more
details are available. Questions? (801) 581-8591
L. Charles Murtaugh, Ph.D.,
The Who, What, When, Where and
How of Stem Cells
Assistant Professor. Studies the genetics and
biology of pancreatic secretory functions as
they relate to diabetes, digestion and cancer.
Erik Jorgenson, Ph.D.,
What is the Molecular Nature of Memory?
Professor. Investigates the genetics and
cellular mechanisms of neurotransmission
to better understand memory and the
diseases related to memory.
Lynn B. Jorde, Ph.D.,
DNA and Crime: Forensic
Applications of Genetics
Professor. Examines the genetics of limb
malformation syndromes and also investigates genetic variation to shed light on
the genetic diseases in populations as
well as the origin of our species.
Weekend Sponsors:
Megadyne
Myriad Genetics, Inc.
The Customer Link
Accreditation: The University of Utah School of Medicine is accredited by
the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide
continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation: The University of Utah School of Medicine designates
this educational activity for a maximum of 4.0 AMA PRA Category 1
Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the
extent of their participation in the activity.
ADA: The University of Utah complies with the Americans with Disabilities
Act by providing qualified individuals with disabilities access to the
University programs, services and activities. A request for accommodation
can be made by calling (801) 581-8591. Reasonable prior notice is required.
Degree of Doctor of Medicine 2007 - Match Day
University of Utah
students matched in
86 programs in 26 states.
Dermatology
Neurology
Adam Read Taintor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Affiliated Hospitals, Dermatology
Program, Wisconsin
Juliann Wintch Allen
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Neurology Program, Utah
Brooks Albert Bahr
University of Southern California,
Dermatology Program, California
Obstetrics-Gynecology
Clark Olavi Andelin
University Hospitals, ObstetricsGynecology Program, Ohio
Erica Baiden
Dustin Cade Anderson
Medical College of Wisconsin
Affiliated Hospitals, Pediatrics
Program, Wisconsin
General Surgery
Alyson Elaine Edmunds
Virginia Commonwealth University
Health System, Pediatrics Program,
Virginia
Irene Kocolas
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Pediatrics Program, Utah
Nicole Finlinson
University of New Mexico,
Pediatrics Program, New Mexico
Melinda Sue Liddle
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Pediatrics Program, Utah
Jacob William Lonsdale
Marshfield St. Joseph’s, Pediatrics
Program, Wisconsin
Kristina McKinley
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Pediatrics Program, Utah
Nicholas Jay Lewis
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Medicine-Pediatrics
Program, Utah
John Daniel Desrochers
University of Southern FloridaTampa, Medicine-Pediatrics
Program, Florida
10
Erica Danelle Wittwer
Mayo School of Graduate Medical
Education, Anesthesiology Program,
Minnesota
Devone Nelson Burton
Integris Baptist Medical Center,
Radiology-Diagnostic Program,
Oklahoma
Pediatrics
Christopher Eugene Dandoy
Miami Children’s Hospital,
Pediatrics Program, Florida
Heather Taylor
Oregon Health and Science
University, Anesthesiology Program,
Oregon
Radiology-Diagnostic
Erica Nancy Baiden
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Obstetrics-Gynecology
Program, Utah
Marcus Kim Blackburn
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Pediatrics Program, Utah
Cole Warren Robinson
Strong Memorial, Anesthesiology
Program, New York
James Robert Ballard
Oregon Health and Science
University, General Surgery
Program, Oregon
D. Anderson Millar
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, General Surgery
Program, Utah
Josephat G. Ngatia
University of Florida-Jacksonville,
General Surgery Program, Florida
Brandon Birg Park
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, General Surgery
Preliminary Program, Utah
Kathryn Louise Everton
Duke University Medical Center,
Radiology Diagnostic Program,
North Carolina
Luke Luther Linscott
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, RadiologyDiagnostic Program, Missouri
Nicholas John Satovick
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Radiology-Diagnostic
Program, Utah
Paul David Sonntag
University of Wisconsin Hospital
and Clinics, Radiology-Diagnostic
Program, Wisconsin
Nicole S. Winkler
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Radiology-Diagnostic
Program, Utah
Brad Nelden Brian
University of Florida ProgramShands Hospital, Anesthesiology
Program, Florida
Jennifer Kiyoko Hansen
Cleveland Clinic Foundation,
Anesthesiology Program, Ohio
Amie Lee Hoefenbeck
Strong Memorial, Anesthesiology
Program, New York
Everett Mark Peterson
University of Florida ProgramShands Hospital, Anesthesiology
Program, Florida
Larry Calvin Daugherty
Drexel University, Radiation
Oncology Program, Pennsylvania
Thomas Burke Skidmore
University Hospitals-Cincinnati,
Radiation-Oncology Program, Ohio
Ophthalmology
Don Kent Davis
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Ophthalmology
Transitional Program, Utah
Bioengineering
Tyler Scott Davis
University of Utah, Ph.D.,
Bioengineering Program, Utah
Psychiatry
Melanie Annette Fillmore
University of Arizona Affiliated
Hospitals, Psychiatry Program,
Arizona
Vicki Leigh Winkel
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Psychiatry Program, Utah
Physical Medicine &
Rehabilitation
Steven Parker Fowler
Mayo School of Graduate Medical
Education, Physical Medicine &
Rehabilitation Program, Minnesota
Family Medicine
Lincoln D. Nadauld
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
Nathan Thomas Gilmore
UPMC Medical Education
Program, Emergency Medicine
Program, Pennsylvania
Trevor Wahlquist Grubbs
University of Louisville School of
Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Program, Kentucky
Cory Patrick Heidelberger
Allegheny General Hospital,
Emergency Medicine Program,
Pennsylvania
Joeann K.R. Leong
Maimonides Medical Center,
Emergency Medicine Program,
New York
Cherie Fawn McCabe
New York Hospitals-Queens,
Emergency Medicine Program,
New York
Adam L. Sharp
Indiana University, Emergency
Medicine Program, Indiana
Natalie Anne Silverton
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Emergency Medicine
Program, Utah
Logan Cole Sondrup
Ohio State University Medical
Center, Emergency Medicine
Program, Ohio
Lindsay Grace Tanner
Indiana University, Emergency
Medicine Program, Indiana
Joshua Maitreya Visitacion
SUNY Upstate Medical University,
Emergency Medicine Program,
New York
Matthew Jacob Oman
University of Colorado-Denver,
Internal Medicine Program, Colorado
The Three Muskateers: Matt Oman,
Wes Madsen, D. Millar
Internal Medicine
David Clayton Smith
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Preliminary Program, Utah
Clifton Samuel Hall
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Preliminary Program, Utah
Jonathan David Jerman
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Preliminary Program, Utah
David Gordon Liddle
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
John William Linford
University of Colorado-Denver,
Internal Medicine Program,
Colorado
Elizabeth Anne Middleton
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
Kimberly Morley
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
Marie Susan Gessel
Family Medicine Program Candidate
Anesthesiology
Megan Marie Freestone-Bernd
Hershey Medical Center,
Anesthesiology Program,
Pennsylvania
Radiology Oncology
Emergency Medicine
Kathryn Elizabeth Gibson
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Family Medicine
Program, Utah
Nick Satovich Family
Medicine
Melissa Cheng
Medicine Program Candidate
Lisa Toshiye Taniwa Ryujin
Medicine Program Candidate
Christopher John Dea
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Medicine-Preliminary
Program, Utah
David Yoshi Patten
Tulane University, Internal
Medicine Program, Louisiana
Wes Young Madsen
Strong Memorial, Orthopedic
Surgery Program, New York
Plastic Surgery
Jaron Hudson McMullin
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Plastic Surgery Program,
Utah
Pathology
Amy Plagge
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
Jared Marv Orrock
Mayo School of Graduate Medical
Education, Pathology Program,
Minnesota
Christina Louise Roalstad
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
Neurological Surgery
Matthew Howe Steenblik
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
James Muir Stewart
UC San Diego Medical Center,
Internal Medicine Program,
California
Anna Vedina
Virginia Commonwealth
University Health Systems, Internal
Medicine Program, Virginia
Crystal Brennen Wallentine
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
Zachary Rand Williams
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Program, Utah
Christina Mieko Sayama
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Neurological Surgery
Program, Utah
Urology
Jonathan Nicholas Warner
Mayo Clinic-Scottsdale, Urology
Program, Arizona
Bryant Mark Whiting
University of Florida, Urology
Program, Florida
Otolaryngology
Matthew Allen Wilson
University of Utah Affiliated
Hospitals, Otolaryngology
Program, Utah
Christopher Dandoy ’07
Receives Alumni Association Award
Brad Melvin Goates
Ball Memorial Hospital, Family
Medicine Program, Indiana
Mindy Hopfenbeck
St. Mark’s Hospital, Family
Medicine Program, Utah
Tamara Lynn Pascoe
Family Medicine Residency of Idaho,
Family Medicine Program, Idaho
Michael John Sanderson
St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center,
Family Medicine Program, Indiana
Matthew Stephen Spencer
McKay-Dee Hospital, Family
Medicine Program, Utah
Eric Joseph Palfreyman
Case Western University Hospitals,
Internal Medicine Program, Ohio
Orthopedic Surgery
Alumni Board President Fred F. Langeland,
M.D. ’75 presents Christopher Dandoy ’07
the Alumni Association Award
Christopher Dandoy, ’07 was recognized
at the Dean’s Reception, receiving a plaque
and a $500 gift. The Alumni Association
Award was established in 1990 by the
Alumni Board of the School of Medicine.
Each year the Board presents an award to
one individual who has, in the opinion of
their classmates, demonstrated academic
achievement, leadership ability, and
community concern representative of an
exemplary physician. Nominators wrote
about Chris’ out-going, positive attitude
and his expansive volunteer work. His
freshman year he organized a chapter
of the Hope Alliance, an organization
which provides medical and economical
assistance to impoverished people in the
developing world. Later he coordinated
a medical mission to Peru, and also
worked though-out medical school with
local youth organizations as a guidance
counselor and mentor. Chris is pursuing a residency in Pediatrics at Miami
Children’s Hospital.
11
News Notebook
News Notebook
U of U Public Health Program & Hispanic Business Leadership
Foundation Collaborate to Enhance Endowment for Hispanics
George White, Jr. PhD, MSPH, PA-C Named
“Best of State College/University Teacher”
The University of Utah, School of
Medicine, Department of Family and
Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Program, and the Utah Hispanic Business
Leadership Foundation (UHBLF), announced a partnership to provide ongoing funding for the Senator Pete Suazo
Memorial Endowed Hispanic Scholarship
in Public Health. The UHBLF will contribute $5,000 per year for the next three
George White, Jr., Director of the
University of Utah’s Public Health
Program was named “Best College/
University Teacher at the 2007 Best of
State Competition held on May 19.
The Best of State Awards recognizes outstanding individuals, organizations and
businesses in Utah. Dr. White received
the award in recognition of his academic
excellence, selfless community service,
student advocacy, scholarly productivity,
and classroom instruction.
Dr. White has an extensive 29-year
academic background, the past twenty
at the University of Utah. Over the last
eight years he has been instrumental
in graduating over 350 Public Health
students as well as helping them secure
employment. He has established ten
endowed student scholarships in Public
years to the endowment.
The scholarship was originally
launched in January 2002 with a five
thousand dollar gift from the Hispanic
Festival Committee, with matching
funds provided by Dr. G. Marsden
Blanch, President of Megadyne Medical
Products, Inc., Dr. Carl Kjeldsberg,
President and CEO of Associated
Regional University of Pathology
(ARUP), Lucy Cardenas, owner, Red
Iguana Restaurant, and Dr. & Mrs.
Stephen D. Wood. Other donors
include the Clark and Christine Ivory
Foundation and Regence BlueCross
Blue Shield of Utah. The Public Health
Program hopes the endowment will
eventually fund two full-ride scholarships for Hispanic graduate students
in public health.
Moran Ophthalmologist, David J. Apple, M.D.,
Inducted Into Prestigious Ophthalmology Hall of Fame
David J.
Apple, M.D.,
Professor of
Ophthalmology
and Pathology
and Director
of the David J.
Apple Center for
Ocular Biodevices at the John A. Moran
Eye Center, has been chosen by his
peers out of more than 30,000 ophthalmologists in the U.S. and abroad
to be inducted into the prestigious
Ophthalmology Hall of Fame.
Originally created by the
American Society of Cataract and
Refractive Surgery, (ASCRS) in 1999
to honor pioneers with an ongoing celebration of their distinguished careers
and contributions in the subspecialties
of cataract-IOL-refractive surgery, it
has been expanded to include luminaries in all fields of ophthalmology
and vision care. Dr. Apple, to date the
youngest inductee to be so honored,
is a world-renowned expert in the
fields of clinical ophthalmology, ocular
pathology, cataract surgery/intraocular
lens (IOL) implantation and refractive
surgery, including corneal and IOL
types of refractive surgery, Excimer,
PRK and LASIK research.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Awarded $5.8 million Grant to Study the Effects of
Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction (EAGeR)
The University of Utah is one of two national sites awarded a $5.8 million fiveyear grant from the National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development,
National Institutes of Health to conduct
a prospective, blinded, placebo controlled randomized trial to assess the effect of low dose aspirin on reproduction.
A unifying feature in some cases of infertility, implantation failure, miscarriage,
fetal death and pregnancy complications is a decrease in uterine, ovarian
and placental blood flow. The study will
help determine if low dose aspirin has
12
the potential to favorably impact several
of these characteristics.
Robert M. Silver, M.D., Division
Chief in the Division of Maternal-Fetal
Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology is principal investigator. Coinvestigators include Harry H. Hatasaka,
M.D., Associate Clinical Professor,
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology
and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics
and Gynecology and Joseph B.
Stanford, M.D., M.S.P.H., Associate
Professor, Department of Family and
Preventive Medicine.
Dr. Apple’s career as an ophthalmologist and researcher is uniquely
distinguished by the fact that with this
award he is now the only ophthalmologist
to have received 1) the Binkhorst Lecture
and Medal in 1988, 2) the Innovator’s
(Kelman) Award, 2005 and 3) induction
into the Ophthalmology Hall of Fame.
He is also the only American to have
ever been selected to give the European
Guest lecture at the highly respected
Oxford Ophthalmological Congress,
Oxford, U.K., 1998. Dr. Apple was
named one of the 50 most influential
doctors in his field by a poll of his peers
in the U.S. in 2005.
Physician Assistant
Program Ranked
Fourth in Nation
For the seventh year in a row the
University of Utah’s Physician Assistant
program ranked in the top five graduate
programs in the nation in U.S. News &
World Report’s rankings of Physician
Assistant programs. This year the program, which was ranked fourth in the
nation, will graduate 36 individuals with
a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies.
Health and seven research and service-learning endowments. Under his
guidance the Public Health Program
has reached national recognition as
one of the top 10 Community-based
Public Health Programs listed in the
U.S. News and World Report, America’s
Best Graduate Schools.
Dr. White is a graduate of the
prestigious National Public Health
Leadership Institute and is the second holder of the T.F.H. Morton
MD Endowed Chair in Family and
Preventive Medicine. He has served
for five years as the Chair of the Utah
Health Advisory Council, advising
the Director of the Utah Department
of Health and the Governor regarding
issues affecting the health and safety
of Utah citizens.
Spotlight
Dr. George White and family.
Dinner Kicks-off Society to Support
Leadership in Internal Medicine
In response to a generous gift of
Medicine continues to thrive. The
SSLIM’s Executive Committee,
one million dollars from Charles
money raised will support recruiting
consisting of Drs. Hilmon Castle
Nugent, M.D., the Department of
and training future leaders in Internal
(chairman), Jack Athens, Hip Kuida,
Internal Medicine formed the Society
Medicine, will bridge the gap between
DuWayne Schmidt, Gerald Rothstein,
Supporting Leadership in Internal
funding cycles for teaching and research,
and Basil Williams, plan to engage
Medicine (SSLIM). The original gift
and will provide scholarship support for
over 100 founding members and adhonors Maxwell M. Wintrobe, M.D.,
outstanding students and trainees.
ditional sustaining members of SSLIM
Ph.D., the first chairover the next two years.
man of the Department
Founding Members’
of Internal Medicine, for
names will be promihis legacy of excellence
nently displayed on a
in education, research,
donor ‘Wall of Honor’
patient care, and mentorin the Department
ing of leaders.
of Internal Medicine.
SSLIM’s mission of
Additionally, members
investing in tomorrow’s
will receive the benefits
leaders today, provides
that accrue to members
an opportunity for those
of the University of
who have been inspired by
Utah Presidential Club.
previous leaders in Internal
Annual meetings will
Medicine to insure that
be held at the time
the University of Utah’s
of medical alumni
Dr. Charlie and Peggy Nugent at SSLIM dinner with Loris Betz, M.D., Sr. Vice President for
Health Sciences and John Hoidal, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine
Department of Internal
reunions.
13
Alumni Highlights
Alumni Notebook
Alumni Notebook
Doing the Right Thing
Connecting With U-The Mentor Program
The Robert H. Ballard and Dorothy Cannon Endowed Scholarship
Thanks to our great volunteer physicians,
128 first and second year medical students
were matched to physicians this year.
During the year the students and physicians spend five to fifteen hours together,
on the phone, during clinic or surgery
visits, over meals, and during other
medical related activities. The goal of the
mentor program is for students to see
the practice of medicine first hand, while
learning more about a specific field of
medicine from a practicing physician. The
following testimonials from our students
show the great success of this program:
“My mentor was awesome. He is a
great teacher, educator and mentor. I felt
he added to my learning on how to interact
with patients as well as eye health and
disease.” Krista Kinard
“I had a phenomenal mentor who was
willing to answer any questions and allowed
me to come to his clinics and surgery at any
time. I really appreciate this program and
Endowed Scholarship
In his 40-year career as an orthopaedic
surgeon Dr. Robert H. Ballard, Class of
1944 helped thousands of patients as a
pioneer in joint replacement surgery in
the Inland Empire region of Southern
California. Even though he retired from
active practice in 1992, Dr. Ballard
has continued to give. This fall two
exceptional University of Utah School of
Medicine students will become recipients of his generosity, becoming “Ballard
Scholars.” These scholarships are the
first four-year, full-ride medical school
scholarships awarded by the school.
“I have always had a commitment
to medicine and education,” says Dr.
Ballard. “I am grateful for the training
I received at the University of Utah
and feel extremely fortunate to have
practiced Orthopaedic Medicine when
I did. I want current students to have
the same types of opportunities I had
to start and grow a practice and excel
in their field of choice.” In 2006 he
established the Dr. Robert H. Ballard
and Dorothy Cannon Ballard Endowed
Scholarship with a gift of $20,000.
This spring he made arrangements in
his will for a four million dollar gift
to permanently endow two full-ride
scholarships. Knowing the need to
attract top-notch scholars immediately,
he gifted another $217,000 to finance
this fall’s Ballard Scholars, plus committed an additional $200,000 yearly until
the will goes into effect to maintain
the scholarships. “I hope my gifts will
inspire other medical alumni to step-up
and give to medical scholarships,” said
Dr. Ballard. “The costs of college and
medical school have far outpaced family
income increases over the past thirty
years. We alumni who have the financial
ability need to help aspiring young
people attend a quality medical school
like the University of Utah’s and not be
burdened with huge amounts of debt
when they graduate.”
Dr. Ballard is no stranger to
medical philanthropy and activism in
14
the community. In 1983, the Robert
H. Ballard Center for Rehabilitation at
San Bernardino Community Hospital
opened in appreciation of his “outstanding and dedicated service… and
in recognition of his commitment to
orthopaedic and restorative medicine and
quality health care…” Shortly thereafter,
he and his brother Ross Ballard M.D.,
Class of 1942, donated property to Saint
Dr. Robert H. and Dorothy Cannon Ballard,
September 1942
Bernadine’s Hospital in San Bernardino
to open the Ballard Center Intensive
Care Unit. He served as the California
State Co-Chairman for the Orthopaedic
Research and Education Foundation
and in many state and national orthopaedic specialty organizations in various
capacities. He also enjoyed teaching
as an Assistant Clinical Professor of
Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Surgery
at Loma Linda University School of
Medicine and serving as the Medical
Director of the Robert H. Ballard Center
for Rehabilitation. He received numerous
awards for his contributions including
the San Bernardino County Medical
Society’s Outstanding Contribution
to Community Award in 1988 and
the Outstanding Contribution to
Medicine Award in 1991.
Born and raised in Utah, Dr.
Ballard completed medical school
at the University in 1944. After an
internship at Waterbury Hospital in
Connecticut, his specialty training
was one year of surgery at Holy Cross
Hospital in Salt Lake City followed
by three more years as the second
orthopaedic resident trained at the
University of Utah. Five years of his
training were in connection with
military service. The first three with
the Army Reserve while in school and
then from 1945-1947 on active duty.
“My contact with many excellent
surgeons at Bushnell General Hospital
in Brigham City and overseas in the
orthopaedic section of the Station
Hospital in Regensburg, Germany
helped me decide to become an orthopaedic surgeon, and I’ve never regretted
it!” says Dr. Ballard. “I have been fortunate my entire life, and now I want
to give back to the School of Medicine
for the training I received there which
enabled me to pursue a career I loved.”
Paul Larsen ’78 Receives
Outstanding Teaching and
Instructional Creativity Award
Dr. Paul Larsen ’78, Professor of
Pediatrics and Neurological Sciences,
Division Chief of Pediatric Neurology
in the Department of Pediatrics at
the University of Nebraska College of
Medicine was recently honored with an
Outstanding Teaching and Instructional
Creativity Award from the school. He
was honored for his work as an outstanding physician and neurologist, clinician,
researcher, and an exceptional teacher.
Along with inspiring and engaging students he lectures internationally and has
produced a series of Pediatric Neurology
video lectures. Recently he developed a
world renowned Web site for neurology
students and practicing physicians.
1958
John E. Meyers, M.D.
Retired Brigadier General John E.
Meyers, M.D. retired for a second time,
from NASA at the end of 2006. He is
continuing working for the free medical
clinic in San Mateo, CA. He commented
that “Continuing to work is my retirement, and being a doctor is my vacation!”
1971
Dennis L. Stevens, M.D.
Dr. Stevens practices as an infectious
disease specialist at the Veterans Affairs
Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. He
has received numerous awards in the
area of infectious disease, including the
Would you like to become a Mentor?
If you are interested in finding out more
about this program please phone 801-5818591, or apply on our Web site, www.
utahmedalumni.org/pages/volunteer.htm
Barry M. Stults, M.D., (House
Staff, ’78) Receives 2007
Distinguished Teaching Award
Barry Stults, M.D. (H.S. ’78), Clinical
Professor in the Department of
Internal Medicine received the 2007
Distinguished Teaching Award at main
campus graduation on May 12. The
award honors faculty with eight or more
years of service at the U for outstanding
teaching, innovative pedagogy, concern
for students, and exemplary contributions to the educational process outside
the classroom.
Alumni News
1946
Alma (Kelly) Kelsch Hanson, M.D.
After completing his degree in March
of 1946 Dr. Hansen interned at
Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago
and then was stationed at Hamilton
Air Force Base from 1947-1949. He
returned to Utah from 1949 to 1952,
practicing general medicine in Lewiston
until returning to complete an ophthalmology residency at the University
of Iowa. From 1956 until 1983 he
practiced ophthalmology in Tucson,
AZ. He is in good health and has two
daughters living in Salt Lake City.
the work that goes into it.” Isaac Elam
“My experience with the mentor
program has provided me with more than
I had ever expected. My mentor made a
tremendous effort in assisting me with my
future career decisions and helped me find
a research mentor for the summer.”
Rita Sharshiner
“My first year of medical school I
spent two weeks working with him in
clinic and the OR while I was on break
and stayed in contact with him during my
second year. I have worked on two different
research projects with him. I could not have
chosen a better mentor for me.”
Chad Turner
“He is not only an excellent role
model for my medical school education,
but also one of my best friends! I can’t
wait to work with him during my Family
Medicine rotation this winter, I know there
is much more I can learn from him about
the practice of medicine.” Andrew Cole
Infectious Disease Society of America’s
Society Citation in 2001 and the Surgical
Infections Society’s William Altemeir
Award. He served as the president of
the Anaerobe Society of the Americas
in 2006.
1978
Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D.
Dr. Schwenk recently celebrated
twenty years of service as Chair of the
Department of Family Practice at the
University of Michigan. In June of
2007 he will be installed as the first
recipient of the George A. Dean, M.D.
endowed Chair of Family Medicine. He
was elected to the Institute of Medicine
of the National Academies in 2002.
1981
Lowry H. Bushnell, M.D.
Dr. Bushnell is the chair of the
Utah State Drug Utilization Review
Board and president of the professional staff at the University of Utah
Neuropsychiatric Institute. He has 5
daughters and 3 grandchildren. He
reports that he has lived in Utah for 56
years and is still an unrepentant liberal.
Stephen E. Lamb,
M.D.
Dr. Lamb practices Obstetrics
and Gynecology
at the Millcreek
Women’s Center in Salt Lake City. He
has been married to Margie for over thirty
years and is a father to six children and
a grandfather to one. He has authored a
book titled Between Husband and Wife.
Richard H. Moore, M.D.
Dr. Moore was hired by the Arizona
Health Department as a physician
trainer in the Bureau of Emergency
Preparedness and Response in January
2006. Prior to this appointment, he
was a public health emergency officer in
Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He retired
from the US Army in December 2005.
Lee W. Vance,
M.D. F.C.C.P.,
F.A.C.P.
Dr. Vance is the
director of the
pulmonary clinic
at the National Naval Medical Center
in Bethesda, MD. He was the assistant
professor of medicine at the Uniformed
Services University of Health Sciences.
He is currently a fellow of the American
College of Physicians. He joined the
Navy in 2004 after 23 years in a civilian
medical practice. He married his wife
Brenda in 2002 and they have a blended
family of 9 children and step-children.
Arden L. Weintraub, M.D.
Dr. Weintraub is a child and adolescent
psychiatrist at Valley Mental Health
and Gateway Academy. In 2002, he received the outstanding teaching award
for child psychiatry.
1983
D. Bradley Welling, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Welling lives in Columbus Ohio,
and is the Chair of the Department
of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck
Surgery at Ohio State University.
1985
Jeffrey G. Wong, M.D.
Dr. Wong has served as the Associate
Dean for Medical Education at the
Medical University of South Carolina
since 2004. Prior to that, he served in
leadership positions in primary care
residency programs at Yale University,
Washington University in St. Louis,
and Duke University in Durham,
North Carolina.
15
We Want to Hear from You
Alumni Notebook
1986
Michael D.
Adams, M.D.
Dr. Adams lives
in Wyoming
where he has a
private practice
in Family Medicine. He has received
several awards from the Boy Scouts of
American and was the president of the
Uintah County Medical Society. He
has 2 sons and 2 grandchildren.
Michael Marushack, M.D.
Dr. Marushack is currently practicing
orthopedic surgery and sports medicine
at Orthopedic Specialists in Pennsylvania.
He and wife Mary have 2 children.
Steven K. Miller,
M.D.
Dr. Miller is the
director of the
Ear Nose and
Throat Surgery
Center in Salt Lake City and a delegate
to the American Medical Association.
He is the father of 4 children and
enjoys swimming, traveling and skiing
with his children.
1990
John W. Robinson, M.D.
Dr. Robinson founded the St. Mark’s
Family Residency program in 1994,
and served as the Program Director
from 1994 to 2004. He was President
of the Utah Healthcare Institute from
1999 to 2004.
Richard J. Olsen, M.D.
Dr. Olsen is a pediatric ophthalmologist at the University of Iowa Hospitals
and Clinics.
David L. Tanner, M.D.
Dr. Tanner is a pediatric anesthesiologist
at Primary Children’s Medical Center.
He and his wife, Stephanie, were married in 2003 and have a daughter.
Kandice Knigge, M.D.
Dr. Knigge currently lives in Portland,
Oregon where she is the Gastroenterology
Fellowship Director at the Oregon
Health and Science University (OHSU).
She is also the American College of
Gastroenterology Governor for the
Oregon Region, and the Assistant
Medical Director, Inflammatory Bowel
Disease Clinic at OHSU.
1996
David Affleck, M.D.
Dr. Affleck is a cardiothoracic surgeon
at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City,
Utah. He is married and has 4 children.
Matthew Fronk Harris, M.D.
Dr. Harris is board certified in
Emergency Medicine and a member
of the American College of Emergency
Physicians. He is happily married with
6 children, 3 of whom are triplets.
Brett Heath, M.D.
Dr. Heath practices family medicine
in Hamilton, Montana. He has 4
children. He is an avid fly fisherman,
hunter and skier.
Van G. Christiansen, M.D.
Dr. Christiansen has a family practice
at the Canyon View Ogden Clinic. He
and his wife, Dawn, have 5 children.
Liz Jensen, M.D.
Dr. Jensen is the chief of pathology at
the Veterans Administration Medical
Center. She lives in Salt Lake City with
her husband and children.
Russell Meldrum, M.D.
Dr. Meldrum has a practice at Indiana
University. He was recently promoted
to associate professor with tenure. Also,
he recently received the Orthopedic
and Education Foundation Career
Development Award.
Buddy Ray Nielson, M.D.
Dr. Nielson practices anesthesiology at
the Citizens Medical Center in Texas
and serves on the credentials committee
at Deltar Health Care System. He and
his wife, Parivesh, have 3 children.
16
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jason Todd Ipson, M.D.
Dr. Lamb lives in the Los Angeles area
and recently put together 150 million
dollars of funds to do a slate of films over
the next three years. He also directed the
feature film, “Unrest” at the Veteran’s
Affairs Hospital in Salt Lake City.
David Hughes, M.D.
Dr. Hughes practices emergency
medicine at Mercy Medical Center
in Durango, Colorado. He received
the Salt Lake County Service Award
for avalanche victim rescue in 2003.
He sits on the faculty for Advanced
Wilderness Medicine for the Upper
San Juan Health District Emergency
Medical Service.
2001
1992
1991
1998
Brian Jackson,
M.D.
Dr. Jackson is a
clinical pathologist at ARUP
Laboratories in
Heather Major, M.D.
Dr. Major is married to her medical
school classmate, Scott Major, who
practices otolaryngology in Ogden,
Utah. Dr. Heather Major practices
medicine at the Ogden Women’s Center,
and just won the James Scott Award,
for being the community’s outstanding
OB/GYN. They have 3 children.
Holly Casey
Wall, M.D.
Dr. Wall practices
plastic surgery for
the Wall Center
in Louisiana with
her husband and father-in-law. She and
her husband have 2 children.
Julia Castillo, M.D.
Dr. Castillo practices pediatrics at
Kaiser Permanente in Orange County,
California. She lives in Rancho Palos
Verdes, California.
Todd Daynes, M.D.
Dr. Daynes practices ophthalmology
in Utah.
Peter C. Fisher, M.D.
Dr. Fisher has accepted a position at
Western Urological Clinic in Salt Lake
City, Utah. He and his wife Nicole
have 4 children.
Marion
Folkener, M.D.
Dr. Folkener
completed her
residency at the
University of
Washington and has spent 1.5 years
working on the Navajo Reservation for
Indian Health Services. She married
Lester Keel in 2004.
Michael W. Foutz, M.D.
Dr. Foutz is practicing family medicine
in Kuna, Idaho. He and his wife Katy
have 3 children.
Katy Gesteland, M.D.
Dr. Gesteland practices maternal-fetal
medicine at Oregon Health and Sciences
University. She has settled in Oregon.
Jeffrey Hancock,
M.D.
Dr. Hancock
will be starting a
fellowship with
the University of
Utah Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Department in 2007.
Marta Heilbrun, M.D.
Dr. Heilbrum finished her residency at
Wake Forest and returned to Salt Lake
City in July 2006 to start an abdominal
imaging fellowship at the University of
Utah. She has 2 daughters.
John Hemmersmeier, M.D.
Dr. Hemmersmeier is practicing family
medicine in Ogden, Utah.
Margaret Hope
Solomon, M.D.
Dr. Solomon
completed her
internal medicine
and pediatrics
residency at the Harvard University
combined program in Boston. She is
currently practicing at the University
of Utah Redwood Health Center. She
and her husband Chris are the proud
parents of 1 daughter.
Mary D. Tipton,
M.D.
Dr. Tipton
is practicing
internal medicine
and pediatrics
at Copperview Medical Center and
Jordan Valley Hospital. She has 1 son,
Joshua. She trained her dog to be a service and therapy animal while she was
in a wheelchair with a broken leg.
Tim Tollestrup, M.D.
Dr. Tollestrup completed a general
surgery residency in 2006 at St. Louis
University Hospital. He is currently
working as a trauma/general surgeon
at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in
St. Louis.
Please send updates of your activities
to the Alumni Relations Web site,
http://www.utahmedalumni.org,
via the Alumni Network icon, or fill
out and mail the form in the back of
Illuminations to University of Utah,
School of Medicine Alumni Relations,
540 S. Arapeen Drive, Suite 125, Salt
Lake City, Utah 84108.
Please send us information about your honors received,
appointments, career advancements, publications, volunteer
work, and other activities of interest. Please include names,
dates, and locations. Photographs are encouraged.
Biomedical Pioneer
Homer Warner Honored
Dr. Homer Warner, medical class of
1949 graduate, founder of the
University of Utah’s department of
biomedical informatics, and board
member of the School of Medicine
Alumni Association was honored
in April for his contributions to the
medical field. The Pathfinder Award
recognized Dr. Warner as an innovator for the field of biomedical informatics and one of the first to develop
computers and computer programs for medical use.
Dr. Warner received the award during a luncheon at the
Edison Showcase at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake
City. The Showcase gives inventors and researchers a chance
to demonstrate products ranging from lightweight composite materials to unmanned flying sensors. Throughout his
professional life Dr. Warner has been engaged in research,
including the development of a monitoring system for
intensive care units. He believes there are many opportunities in the biomedical technology field and encourages young
researchers and inventors to look at medical technology.
Name
Year
Home Address
City
State
Zip
E-mail Address
Medical Specialty
Recent Activities
In Memoriam
Joseph T. Edmunds, M.D.
MD 1935
11
Aug
06
Garner B. Meads, M.D.
MD 1936
5
Aug
06
Ray E. Spendlove, M.D.
MD 1940
14
Nov
06
William A. McMain, M.D.
MD 1941
25
Feb
06
Contact Information
Bryce Betteridge, M.D.
MD 1946
10
Sept
06
There is a number of ways to submit information:
Carlos N. Madsen, M.D.
MD 1946
10
Jun
07
Robert S. Warner, M.D.
MD 1949
13
Jan
07
Jack D. Boggess, M.D.
MD 1949
31
Jan
07
Calvin R. Brown, M.D.
MD 1951
23
Feb
07
Donald E. Julian, M.D.
MD 1952
8
Feb
07
Lavere D. Poulsen, M.D.
MD 1952
10
William C. Brown, M.D.
MD 1954
4
Jan
Lamont Ericson, M.D.
MD 1992
6
May 07
•
E-mail: [email protected]
•
.S. Mail: Send this completed form to University of Utah
U
School of Medicine Alumni Relations, 540 S. Arapeen
Drive, Suite 125, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108-1298
•
Telephone: 801-585-3818
•
Website: www.utahmedalumni.org
April 07
07
17
Celebrate The Tradition-Connecting Through the Generations!
Graduates and their father/grandfathers pose at May 19 graduation: from left: Jack D. Stringham, M.D. ’48, Anesthesiology; grandson Johathan Jerman,
M.D. ’07, Anesthesiology; Thomas Skidmore M.D. ’07, Radiation Oncology; father, Thomas C. Skidmore, M.D. ’72 (deceased) Obstetrics/Gynecology;
Gordon S. Park, M.D. ’75, Obstetrics/Gynecology; son Brandon Park, M.D. ’07, Radiology; Ace Madsen, M.D., ’81, Internal Medicine; Wes Madsen, M.D.
’07, Orthopaedics; D. Millar, M.D., ’07, General Surgery; Roger C. Millar, M.D., ’69 General and Cardiothoracic Surgery. Not pictured: Nicholas J. Satovich,
M.D., ’07, Radiology; Robert M. Satovick, M.D., ’62, Internal Medicine; Paul Sonntag, M.D., 07, Radiology; Paul L. Sonntag, M.D. ’74, Radiology.
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