West Clinic Cancer Patients Have Unparalleled Access to New Therapies in 2006 via Nationally Recognized Clinical Trial Research Program
The West Clinic announced recently that during 2006 its patients had unparalleled access to the most advanced cancer treatments through its clinical trial research program, one of the most advanced programs of its kind in the country. According to Steve Coplon, West Clinic CEO, "Our patients had access to nearly 30 of the most advanced new molecules for treating cancer in 2006. Over 75% of these were offered exclusively through our research program."

West Clinic's clinical research program has been replicated in nearly three dozen of the nation's leading community oncology clinics. "The community oncology network has a portfolio of treatment options comparable to the leading cancer centers in the world. This makes available the very latest drugs and therapies to patients in their own community," states Lee Schwartzberg, MD, West Clinic Medical Director.

Dr. Schwartzberg recently reported on the extraordinary success of the research program to The West Clinic's physicians. "We could not be more pleased with the high quality options we offer patients. Our goal is to have and sustain a robust portfolio of the best available clinical trials for all of the cancers we treat. Our local and national programs are now receiving the best treatment options from sponsors as soon as they are available. The model is working and the winner is the patient," states Schwartzberg.

March 2007

Rhodes Faculty Receive Grant Supporting Undergraduate Science Research
The Merck/AAAS Undergraduate Science Research Program has awarded Rhodes biology and chemistry faculty — Drs. Loretta Jackson-Hayes, Terry Hill, Darlene Loprete and Mary Miller — a $60,000 grant to support student research.

The award fosters interactions between chemistry and biology departments and provides stipends over the next three summers to support students who will work in these professors' laboratories. The grant also supports a visiting young investigator each year to present a seminar and meet with students interested in graduate school.

The Merck/AAAS Undergraduate Science Research Program is a national competitive awards program available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

March 2007

Barrett Haik Inducted as President of New York Ophthalmological Society

Barrett G. Haik, MD, FACS, was recently inducted as president of the New York Ophthalmological Society.Dr. Haik is the Hamilton Professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

This prestigious society is the oldest medical subspecialty association in the United States and is dedicated to fighting blinding diseases through educational research and academic discovery.

Dr. Haik is also director of the UT Hamilton Eye Institute, which is consistently ranked in the nation's top ten for clinical care. It is the only university eye center providing an advanced level of vision care within a 200-mile radius of Memphis.

March 2007

Methodist Healthcare Announces New Administrator/CEO of Methodist South Hospital
Michael Ugwueke, DHA, FACHE, has been named administrator/chief executive officer of Methodist South Hospital.

Dr. Ugwueke earned a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Planning and Administration from Emory University and a Doctor of Health Administration and Leadership degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Most recently, he served as vice president of Operations at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, a 517-bed tertiary hospital in Joliet, Illinois where he was responsible for a major upgrade of the imaging department that resulted in reduced lead-times, increased patient volumes and enhanced physician relationships. He also co-led an emergency department improvement project that reduced wait times by 50 percent and substantially improved patient satisfaction scores.

March 2007

The Memphis Medical Society Announces New Board Chairman And Board Members
The Memphis Medical Society announces the election of new officers and three new individuals to their Board of Directors. Valerie K. Arnold, M.D. with CNS Healthcare will replace Robert A. Kerlan, M.D. with Memphis Medical Specialists, as President of the Society. Dr. Arnold is only the second female physician in the Society's 130 year history to hold this office. Additional officers that were elected are Keith G. Anderson, M.D., President-Elect; Clarence Watridge, M.D., Vice-President; James K. Ensor, M.D., Secretary and Jerome Thompson, M.D., Treasurer. Incoming new board members are Claudette Shephard, M.D.; Allison M. Stiles, M.D. and Frederick Pelz, M.D. Returning board members are Dale P. Cunningham, M.D.; George S. Flinn, Jr., M.D.; Henry G. Herrod, M.D.; Charles N. Larkin, M.D.; Robert Miller, III, M.D. and Albert E. Weeks, M.D.

Arnold received her medical degree from the University of Alabama – Birmingham. She completed her internship and residency programs through the University of Tennessee – Memphis. Dr. Arnold is a psychiatrist with CNS Healthcare.

Anderson received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee-Memphis where he also completed his internship and residency. Dr. Anderson is a cardiovascular disease specialist at The Sutherland Cardiology Clinic.

Watridge received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee – Memphis. He did his internship through Baptist Hospital – Memphis and his residency in Neurological Surgery through UT- Memphis. Dr. Watridge is a neurological surgeon with Semmes-Murphey Clinic.

Ensor received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee – Memphis and completed his residency and internship at the VA Medical Hospital in Memphis. Dr. Ensor is an internist with Memphis Internal Medicine.

Thompson received his medical degree from the University of California – Los Angeles. He completed his internship and residency at UCLA School of Medicine. He did a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at Los Angeles Children's Hospital. Dr. Thompson is a professor and Department Chair of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at UT Health Science Center. Memphis Medical Society currently has 1,338 members.

March 2007

Esteemed Healthcare Attorney Joins St. Judes

Clinton Hermes joins St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as member of the senior management team to serve as senior vice president and general counsel.

Hermes comes to St. Jude with extensive experience in healthcare law, specializing in basic and clinical research regulation, patient care issues, federal grants, medical privacy, academic medical center models and transactions and compliance program design. Prior to joining St. Jude, in private practice with Ropes & Gray, in New York, he represented some of the nation's top hospitals, research institutions and academic medical centers.

Hermes graduated magna cum laude from both Yale University and Harvard Law School.

March 2007

Mary McMillin Named Society President

The West Clinic is pleased to announce that Mary McMillin, RN, BSN, OCN was recently named President, Memphis Chapter of the Nursing Oncology Society. Mrs. McMillan has been an oncology nurse with The West Clinic for the past three years.

March 2007

UTHSC Appoints Steve Rowland Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business

Steve Rowland, a 31-year veteran of the UT Health Science Center staff, was appointed assistant vice chancellor for Business recently.

Prior to his appointment, Rowland held various positions with increasing levels of responsibility within the Health Science Center. He was director of Purchasing Services for more than 11 years, purchasing manager for 15 years, and a buyer in the Purchasing area for more than five years. Before joining UTHSC, he worked for the City of Memphis for two years.

Rowland was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force for three years and also served in the Air Force Reserve for eight years. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Memphis State University. Rowland also holds the Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) designation from the Institute for Supply Management.

March 2007

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Named Among Nation's Top

Methodist Le Boneheur Healthcare has been named among the Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks in the country, according to Verispan, the nation's premier rating system. Currently in the United States there are 570 non-specialty, local and regional healthcare networks.

Hospitals making the Top 100 list had to meet critical success factors and have the ability to operate as a unified organization in eight categories. The categories are functional integration, integrated technology, contractual capabilities, outpatient utilization, financial stability, services and access, hospital utilization and physicians.

March 2007

TLC Family Care Healthplan Earn Accreditation

Memphis Managed Care Corporation (MMCC), doing business as TLC Family Care Healthplan, earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 'Excellent' accreditation status recently. The 'Excellent' accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation. It is awarded to those plans that meet or exceed NCQA's rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement.
TLC Family Care Healthplan Earn Accreditation

Memphis Managed Care Corporation (MMCC), doing business as TLC Family Care Healthplan, earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 'Excellent' accreditation status recently. The 'Excellent' accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation. It is awarded to those plans that meet or exceed NCQA's rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement.

March 2007

West Tennessee Healthcare Welcomes Back Marty Fordham As Vice President Hospital Services

JACKSON, TENN. - West Tennessee Healthcare has announced that Martin L. Fordham, BSN is returning as Vice President Hospital Services at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

Fordham joined the healthcare system in 1998 as administrative director of surgical services at General Hospital. He left in 2004 to become the vice president of perioperative services at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Fordham received his BSN from Northern Illinois University and will receive his MBA from Columbia Southern University in 2007. He is a member of the Association of periOperative Nurses (AORN) and is a Nurse Corps Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Prior to joining General Hospital in 1998, he was the patient care director of surgical services at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1992 to 1995 and the director of surgical services at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Florida from 1995 to 1998.

March 2007

Desoto Sleep Diagnostics in Southaven Receives Program Accreditation
SOUTHAVEN, MISS. - Desoto Sleep Diagnostics in Southaven recently received program accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

To receive a five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. The accreditation process involves detailed inspection of a center's facility and staff, including an evaluation of testing procedures, patient contacts, and physician training.

March 2007

Saint Francis Healthcare Launches In Memphis

Saint Francis Healthcare is the new, locally-based umbrella identity for a broad range of trusted healthcare services throughout metropolitan Memphis, it was announced recently. The umbrella identity includes Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis, Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett, the Surgery Center at Saint Francis, five Saint Francis Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Centers, Saint Francis Nursing Home and the Saint Francis Senior Healthcare Center.

David L. Archer will lead Saint Francis Healthcare and also continue as chief executive officer of Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis.

March 2007