Grand Rounds March

Memphis Bioworks® Foundation Announces the Launch of TECworks, an Entrepreneurship Development Organization

Memphis Bioworks® Foundation today announced the creation of TECworks, an Entrepreneurship Development Organization. Memphis Bioworks also announced the naming of Jan Bouten as the Executive Director of TECworks.

The mission of TECworks is to enable aspiring entrepreneurs and emerging companies in technology and bioscience through experience-based education and business services. The focus is on Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization. Specifically, TECworks will offer education and mentoring for entrepreneurs and facilitating the development of their products for the commercial space; education for investors so that individuals and organizations can better evaluate opportunities and the processes of investment; and the creation of an Angel Network in which qualified individuals can invest in the business opportunities being developed through the organization.

According to Dr. Steven J. Bares, president and executive director of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, TECworks will round out the portfolio of entrepreneurism-focused organizations and programs in the Memphis area including EmergeMemphis and its Technology Institute; LaunchMemphis; the Memphis Minority Business Council and its entrepreneur programs; and the many technology transfer, entrepreneur, and school of business programs at the University of Memphis and its FedEx Institute.

A key development area for TECworks will be the establishment of a Grants Institute focused on teaching businesses how to successfully identify, track, and apply and qualify for grants.

Vanessa Ngakeng, MD has joined Southern Eye Associates

Vanessa Ngakeng, MD has joined Southern Eye Associates with a focus on cornea and anterior segment surgery. Dr. Ngakeng received her medical degree from The Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA/Charles R. Dres University and completed her residency in Ophthalmology at the Howard University Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Ngakeng completed a cornea/refractive fellowship at the prestigious Corneal Consultants of Indiana/Price Vision Group.

Dr. Ngakeng performs glaucoma surgeries such as Ex-Press and refractive surgeries. She furthered her training in corneal and refractive procedures with an emphasis on transplants such as DSEAK and artificial cornea.

New Surgeon Joins Methodist University Hospital Transplant Team

Kian Modanlou, M.D., F.A.C.S., has joined the surgical staff of Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute. Dr. Modanlou will also serve as assistant professor in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Department of Surgery.

Dr. Modanlou comes from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was a member of the transplant program's surgical staff specializing in abdominal transplants. While at St. Louis University, Dr. Modanlou was also an associate professor in the division of abdominal transplant in the department of surgery.

St. Jude Conference

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and co-hosts Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center present Challenges in Children's Health, combined with the Etteldorf Symposium, March 27 and 28 on the St. Jude campus.

The annual conference is designed for regional and affiliate pediatricians, hematologists/oncologists, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals interested in advances nuclear imaging, legal issues or the treatment of children with cancer, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis or obesity. The emphasis is to provide practical clinical and non-clinical information relating to current issues in the areas of general pediatrics and pediatric oncology in an interactive atmosphere.

Topics include diagnostic dilemmas in pediatrics, care of long-term cancer survivors, all-terrain vehicle—related injuries in children, liver disease in the obese, how parents can communicate with pre-teens and increases in pediatric deep vein thrombosis.

Scheduled speakers from St. Jude are: Russell Ware, M.D., Ph.D.; Ulrike Reiss, M.D.; Mihaela Onciu, M.D.; Sheila Shurtleff, Ph.D.; Lisa McGregor, M.D., Ph.D.; Joseph Mirro, M.D.; Joseph Laver, M.D.; Melissa Hudson, M.D.; Javier Kane, M.D.; from University of Tennessee Health Science Center: Colleen Hastings, M.D.; Steve Buckingham, M.D.; Russell Chesney, M.D.; Sabrina Kuster, M.D.; John Eshun, M.D.; Jeffrey Sawyer, M.D.; from University of Illinois College of Medicine: Pedro deAlarcon, M.D.; Stephen Smith, M.D.; from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Joan Massagué, Ph.D.; from University of Alabama at Birmingham: Sergio Stagno, M.D.; from East Tennessee State University College of Medicine: David Kalwinsky, M.D.; Kathy Klopfenstein, M.D.

The conference has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of St. Jude, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center. St. Jude is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and designates this educational activity for a maximum of 9.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). To register, go to www.stjude.org/seminars.

Claude Watts of The Regional Medical Center is Honorary Chair of March for Babies

Claude Watts, President and CEO of The Med will serve as honorary chair for March for Babies, the March of Dimes biggest fundraiser.

Bill Appling, President of Watkins Uiberall Healthcare Consulting Group LLC will serve as the Revenue chair for the march. On behalf of Watkins Uiberall Bill has committed to raise funds to support March of Dimes research and community programs to help moms have full-term pregnancies and for babies to begin healthy lives. In Memphis, March for Babies will take place on April 25, 2009 at Shelby Farms Park and this year's goal is to raise $600,000!

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Restructures College of Graduate Health Sciences

Chancellor Hershel P. Wall, MD, announced that the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has restructured its College of Graduate Health Sciences (CGHS). Founded in 1928, the college offers seven highly sought advanced degree programs and has graduated nearly 1,200 Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, and Master of Dental Science degrees.

Ed Schneider, PhD, interim dean for the CGHS, has stepped down. Dr. Schneider, former associate dean in the CGHS and professor of Physiology, came out of retirement 18 months ago to serve as the interim dean. Cheryl Scheid, PhD, vice chancellor of Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs, who serves as the UTHSC provost, has been named interim dean for CGHS until a permanent dean is hired.

Going forward, the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) will remain part of the College of Graduate Health Sciences but will be overseen by the College of Medicine.With the restructuring, IPBS will now be administered by an associate dean in the UTHSC College of Medicine. The associate dean will oversee all of the graduate programs under the College of Medicine — epidemiology, biomedical engineering and imaging, MD/PhD and IPBS. Those programs in the other colleges of the Health Science Center will remain in place; i.e., students who enroll at UTHSC to earn advanced degrees in Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy will continue to enroll through the CGHS.

Trezevant Elects New Board Members

Trezevant recently elected three new members to its Board of Directors. They include William Long, M.D., a retired radiologist who previously served on the Trezevant Board from 1998-2003; Diana Bailey , who previously served on the Trezevant Board from 1995 – 2000; and Bruce Hopkins, an Executive Vice President and Market Manager for First Tennessee Bank.

Located in the heart of Memphis (177 North Highland), Trezevant is undergoing an 80 million dollar expansion. This expansion is an effort to consistently provide world-class service to current and future residents while continuing to be an anchor in the community. Trezevant is a fair housing community, and the only retirement community in the Memphis area that is fully accredited by CARF-CCAC (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities-Continuing Care Accreditation Commission).

First Use Of New Subcutaneous Heart Monitor

MINNEAPOLIS — Medtronic, Inc. recently announced the commercial availability of its Reveal XT™ Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) in the United States, along with the nation's first implant of the new device. The procedure was conducted by Blair Grubb, M.D., professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Toledo Medical Center, a renowned heart specialist. The Reveal XT device joins the Reveal® DX ICM as the industry's first insertable cardiac monitors that offer comprehensive remote monitoring capabilities, via the Medtronic CareLink® Network, and which allow physicians to confirm or rule out an abnormal heart rhythm.

Physicians may choose the Reveal XT insertable cardiac monitor for their patients with suspected arrhythmias, and in difficult‐to‐diagnose patients for whom long‐term cardiac rhythm trending data may aid in a more informed diagnosis. The Reveal XT device is also an option for physicians seeking to detect the presence of atrial arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms in the upper chambers), including asymptomatic episodes, or to monitor the amount of time a patient is in atrial fibrillation (AF) to assess whether medical treatment is necessary or should be adjusted.

Placed just under the skin of the chest area in a short outpatient procedure, the Reveal XT and DX devices capture an electrocardiogram (ECG) during the actual episode; to store an ECG, a patient places a hand‐held, pager‐sized assistant over the device, and presses a button. Later, a physician analyzes the stored information, transmitted via the Medtronic CareLink Network or during an in‐office patient visit, and determines whether the episode was caused by an abnormal heart rhythm.

MBI Promotions Named

George McCaughan has been named President of MBI. Prior to this role, McCaughan served as Chief Operating Officer for MBI. In his new leadership role, McCaughan will concentrate on growing MBI through leading its sales force to provide clients with superior project management, effective design solutions, valuable ancillary services and the introduction of new, innovative products into the marketplace.

As part of MBI's new market team approach, Corey Oselies has been named Healthcare Team Leader for MBI. Prior to this role, Oselies served MBI as Account Manager. In his new role, Oselies will focus on serving the local healthcare market through providing design, furniture, technology, accessories and more to healthcare-related facilities of all sizes.

As part of MBI's new market team approach, Michelle Bingham has been named Corporate Team Leader for MBI. Prior to this role, Bingham served MBI as Corporate Account Manager. In this role, Bingham will continue to focus on serving corporate entities through design, consulting, furniture, technology, accessories and more.

As part of MBI's new market team approach, Sonja Redding has been named Business Development Team Leader for MBI. Prior to this role, Redding served MBI as Account Manager. Before MBI, Sonja worked for RGO Office Products, a dedicated Steelcase dealer in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada. There, she served as Major Account Representative, handling duties ranging from sales and customer service to design and project management.

"Beach Babies" is the Theme of Babyfest in March

All new and expectant parents are invited for some fun in the sun at BabyFest 2009 on March 7 from 9a.m. until 1p.m. at the Jackson Fairgrounds Park.

This day at the beach is sponsored by the Women and Children's Center at Jackson-Madison county General Hospital and co-sponsored by momslikeme.com.

Admission is only $2 per person and 12 and under enter free. For more information about BabyFest call the Women and Children's Center at 731-541-6448.

VA Opens New Outpatient Clinic In Jackson, Tennessee

On Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, held a grand opening ceremony for its new Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) located at 180 Old Hickory Boulevard in Jackson, Tennessee. This clinic will serve to enhance health care services for veterans residing in Madison and its surrounding counties by offering primary, preventative and mental health care services, as well as nutrition and pharmacy counseling. The clinic officially opened and providers began seeing patients the day following the ceremony.

Regional Hospital of Jackson HAI Below National Rate

Recently published data from Regional Hospital of Jackson indicates that the hospital continues to improve on an excellent track record with respect to hospital acquired infections. CEO of Regional Hospital, Steve Grubbs, would like to recognize the physicians and hospital staff for their outstanding efforts in improving upon the already low 2007 hospital acquired infections rates, which are consistently below the national average.

Hospital Acquired Infections can lead to increased mortality rates, increased length of hospital stay, and increased healthcare costs. Surgical Site Infections and Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections are two of the more serious and costly types of these infections. Many states now have laws requiring mandatory reporting of certain hospital acquired infections. Tennessee State Law mandated that, in 2008, Hospitals begin to report Surgical Site Infections following CABG surgeries and Central Line Associated Blood Steam infections in Intensive Care Units to the state of Tennessee.