Grand Rounds June


Barbara Trautman To Receive American Medical Assoc. Belle Chenault Award

The Memphis Medical Society (MMS) announces that Mrs. Barbara Trautman, wife of Robert J. Trautman, Jr, M.D. a dermatologist at Dermatology Clinics, will be the 2007 recipient of the American Medical Association's (AMA) prestigious Belle Chenault Award for national political participation. The American Medical Political Action Committee (AMPAC) will award Mrs. Trautman the honor at the AMA National Convention taking place in Chicago on June 23-27.

Mrs. Trautman is a staunch advocate for statewide medical liability reform (MLR). She has worked extensively to support local, state and national candidates who advocate comprehensive passage of MLR legislation in the State of Tennessee. Through various primary, run-off and general elections she has done extensive fundraising, grassroots organizing, phone banks and general campaigning for numerous candidates friendly to the causes of organized medicine.


UTHSC to Confer Its First Honorary Degree on Howard Baker

The Honorable Howard H. Baker, Jr., former U.S. senator, will receive the first honorary degree ever conferred by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). Baker will be granted the Doctorate of Healthcare Leadership at the UTHSC graduation, which is set for 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 25 at the FedEx Forum.

One of four generations of University of Tennessee alumni, Baker will also give the commencement address to the 508 members of the UTHSC Class of 2007. These students will help fill an acknowledged gap in the health care workforce — in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, social work and a variety of allied health professions.

The UTHSC doctorate marks the fourth major recognition by the UT system of its distinguished alumnus. In 2005, Baker received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville . In 2003, the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy began operations on the UT Knoxville campus. The rotunda at the UT College of Law on the Knoxville campus, where he received his law degree in 1949, is named for him.


St. Jude Appoints New Director of Bone Marrow Transplant Division

Wing Leung, MD, PhD, has been appointed director of the Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy in the Department of Oncology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Leung, a St. Jude faculty member since 1999, was the unanimous choice for the position after an international search interviewing pediatric and adult bone marrow transplantation leaders.

Leung earned his medical degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1988 and his doctorate from the Johns Hopkins University in 1998. As a board-certified pediatric hematologist/oncologist and a physician scientist, Leung's research career has been marked by a strong focus on critical issues in bone marrow transplantation and cellular immunotherapy.

Leung pioneered the use of natural killer (NK) cells to treat refractory leukemia. His ground-breaking NK cell therapy is supported by several external grants and has been adopted by the Children's Oncology Group. His is the only reference lab for the national program in NK cell donor selection. He has been published extensively in medical literature and serves on numerous hospital clinical and patient care committees.

Methodist Neurosurgeon Named President of National Neurological Organization

Jon H. Robertson, MD, a neurosurgeon at Methodist Healthcare and Semmes Murphey Neurological and Spine Institute and a professor and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, was named president of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) at the AANS Annual Meeting in April.

An active member of the AANS since 1983, Dr. Robertson has served on the AANS board of directors since 1999, most recently finishing a one-year term as president-elect and three-year term as secretary. He is chair of the development, executive, finance and long-range planning committees as well as a member of the Neuro-Knowledge* Advisory Task Force and the NeurosurgeryPAC board of directors.

The American Association of Tennessee Neurological Surgeons is a scientific and educational association with more than 6,800 members worldwide which is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery.


Memphis Heart Clinic Welcomes Arsalan Shirwany

Memphis Heart Clinic is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Arsalan Shirwany, MD, FACC, to its acclaimed cardiovascular practice. Board certified in Cardiology, Echocardiography and Internal Medicine, Dr. Shirwany completed his post graduate training in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis. Additionally, he served as Chief Fellow during his Cardiology Fellowship at University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis.

Prior to joining Memphis Heart Clinic, Shirwany served as staff physician with the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis, and was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis for over five years.

Dr. Shirwany specializes is clinical cardiology, notably the management of cardiac disease processes such as coronary artery disease and diastolic heart failure. He is further recognized for his expertise in interpreting echocardiograms. Currently, he will practice at the clinic's East Memphis location.


Desoto Imaging & Diagnostics Receives Approval For Digital Subtraction Angiography

SOUTHHAVEN, MISS. — DeSoto Imaging & Diagnostics, LLC dba Diagnostic Imaging Specialists (DIS) is pleased to announce that Administrative Hearing Officer Cassandra Walter has recommended the State Health Department approve a Certificate of Need (CON) application by DeSoto Imaging & Diagnostics for the acquisition and provision of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) equipment and services.

In August 2006, the Mississippi Department of Health's Division of Health Planning and Resource Development rendered its Staff Analysis recommending approval of DeSoto Imaging's Application for a CON to provide DSA services at its facility located in the DeSoto Medical Plaza on Guthrie Drive North. The Department's staff determined the project substantially complied with the criteria and standards for the establishment of DSA services as contained in Mississippi's 2006 State Health Plan, the Mississippi Certificate of Need Review Manual, 2000 Revision, and all the adopted rules, procedures and plans of the Department of Health.

Baptist Memorial Hospital – DeSoto, who is currently the sole provider of DSA services in DeSoto County opposed the application stating they were meeting the needs of DeSoto County and there was no need for an additional DSA provider. The matter was set for hearing on February 15-16, 2007 where both parties were afforded the opportunity to present evidence and testimony to support their position.

Mrs. Walter stated in her Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law "Based on the testimony and exhibits presented at the hearing, I find that the record contains substantial evidence that the project proposed by DeSoto Imaging is in compliance with the requirements of the 2006 State Health Plan, the Mississippi Certificate of Need Review Manual, 2000 Revision, and all the adopted, rules procedures and plans of the Department. I therefore concur with the Staff Analysis and respectfully recommend that the Certificate of Need Application of DeSoto Imaging & Diagnostics, LLC for the acquisition and provision of digital subtraction angiography equipment and services be approved." The State Health Officer will now decide whether to issue the CON.


St. Jude Staff Member Tapped For International Award

Fran Greeson, director of Social Work at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, has been named "Social Worker of the Year" by the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers (APOSW).

The award recognizes Greeson's more than 20 years in the field, working with children and families affected by life-threatening illnesses. An accomplished therapist, supervisor and administrator, she has written for industry publications, developed multiple presentations, educated numerous students, mentored peers and volunteered her time on a local and national level.


Methodist University Hospital Names Director of Emergency Services

Kathy Crist has been named director of Emergency Services at Methodist University Hospital.

Crist has 20 years of experience in emergency services leadership and has served as director of Emergency Services at Methodist South since 2005.

During her tenure in the emergency department at South, patient satisfaction scores increased by 26 percent and patient wait times decreased by 30 percent. Prior to joining Methodist, Crist served as the administrative director of emergency, trauma and Med Flight Services for Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tenn.


Saint Francis Hospital - Bartlett Recognized by J.D. Power and Associates

BARTLETT — Saint Francis Hospital - Bartlett has been recognized for service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program. This distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by Saint Francis Hospital - Bartlett to provide an "Outstanding Inpatient Experience."

The service excellence distinction was determined by surveying recently discharged patients from Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett on their perceptions of their hospital stay and comparing the results to the national benchmark established by the annual J.D. Power and Associates National Hospital Service Performance Study.

Based on the rigorous standards of the national hospital service performance research, only 20 percent of the hospitals in the nation are expected to qualify for this distinction. This puts Saint Francis Hospital - Bartlett among an elite class of hospitals.


Kylathu Joins Team of Neonatologists

Dr. Ranjit Kylathu recently joined Le Bonheur Childrenís Medical Centerís Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Kylathu is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Sub-board of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. He is employed by University of Tennessee Medical Group, Inc.

Kylathu received medical training in India, before moving to the United Kingdom to complete his pediatric and neonatology training. He then completed a fellowship in neonatology in Toronto, Canada, before moving back to England to serve as a staff neonatologist at Kingís College Hospital. He is also certified in pediatrics by the United Kingdomís Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Pediatrics. Kylathu completed a pediatric residency at Louisiana State University Health Science Center before joining the faculty at Duke University Health System and Raleigh.


Lindsey Tapped As Neurosciences Clinical Director

Connie Lindsey, RN, MSN, CNA, BC, has been named clinical director of Neurosciences at Le Bonheur Childrenís Medical Center. Lindsey, who will lead the neuroscience patient floor and the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, assumed the role after serving as interim director for the past several months while a national search was conducted.

Lindsey, a certified nursing administrator, has also served as clinical director of another patient floor, the Outpatient Hematology Unit, and the Clinical Research Center. She started at Le Bonheur in 1986 as a nurse intern.


Jackson- Madison County General Hospital adds third Hyperbaric Chamber

JACKSON, TENN. — General Hospital recently added a third Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber (HBOC) to its Wound Management Center. With this addition, General Hospital becomes the only facility in West Tennessee to utilize three units. The need for a third chamber was due to patient demand for Hyperbaric oxygen therapy utilized in the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds caused by a variety of conditions such as diabetes, infections, injuries, or radiation treatments.



June 2007