Select Page ::

Medical School implements successful radiation protection program for undergraduate medical students

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Danzig

Public release date: 1-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Heather Curry PR@acr.org 703-390-9822 American College of Radiology

Reston, VA -- A medical school in Ireland has successfully implemented a radiation protection program, improving knowledge of radiation protection among medical undergraduates, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Although the increased use of diagnostic imaging has resulted in faster, more accurate diagnosis, better assessment of therapy response, and early detection of complications, there has been a great deal of scrutiny of its increasing use. As a result, there is a growing need for medical professionals to be educated in all aspects of diagnostic imaging to ensure a basic understanding of imaging technology, appropriate and efficient utilization of diagnostic imaging investigations, basic image interpretation and possible adverse effects of exposure to ionizing radiation.

An e-learning module in radiation protection was designed and presented to year four medical undergraduates at University Cork College in Cork, Ireland. All students were required to complete pre-module and post-module questionnaires.

Eighty-nine percent and 99 percent of the 127 medical students successfully completed and returned the pre-module and post-module questionnaires.

"After the e-learning module, students' post-module radiation protection knowledge had improved significantly," said Sum Leong, MB, lead author of the study.

Analysis of post-module radiation protection knowledge suggested that a favorable self-assessment of knowledge of radiation protection, perception of career prospects in radiology and completion of the e-learning module with an increased number of sessions were factor predictive of improved radiation protection knowledge.

"The undergraduate medical curriculum is undergoing constant review and modification in response to modern medical developments that are changing clinical practice. The introduction of radiation protection into undergraduate curriculum therefore requires careful planning to maximize the effectiveness of the course while avoiding overburdening undergraduates with unmanageable lecture and tutorial schedules," said Leong.

"Combining e-learning and more traditional educational programs such as a clinical radiology rotation is likely to improve student experience," he said.

Continued here:
Medical School implements successful radiation protection program for undergraduate medical students

Harvard halts research in Southborough after fourth monkey dies

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Danzig

New experiments at Harvard Medical Schools New England Primate Research Center have been suspended after a cottontop tamarin monkey died at the facility on Sunday, the fourth primate death there in 21 months.

Calling the deaths of four primates at the Southborough facility absolutely unacceptable, deeply regrettable and personally disturbing to me, Jeffrey Flier, dean of Harvard Medical School, vowed to take aggressive action to resolve systems, processes and human errors at the facility.

When I learned of the most recent incident on Sunday, I immediately halted all new research protocols and new research on existing protocols at the (New England Primate Research Center), Flier said in a statement. The goal of this action is to provide time for our personnel to create and implement a corrective action plan.

Harvard Medical School is assembling an independent review committee to assess the facilitys logistics and management and established a team led by veterinary staff and supervisors who will perform additional daily checks verifying the heath and wellness of every animal.

We will do this until we are convinced that systems are in place to ensure the well-being of the animals, said Flier.

Harvard Medical School declined to release details of the monkeys death.

United States Department of Agriculture spokesman David Sacks said he did not have details of the monkeys death because the USDA has not investigated yet. The USDA will send an inspector to Southborough soon.

Officials at the Primate Center reported the monkeys death Sunday night to the USDA, the same day the agency released an inspection revealing three incidents in which several monkeys were injured and a squirrel monkey died because of employee carelessness. The facility is facing tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

Harvard did self-report that fourth incident to us, said Sacks. We were made aware of that.

Describing the past 21 months where three other primates died in December 2011, October 2011 and June 2010 as a tough stretch, Sacks said the USDA has the Southborough facility on its radar.

Continue reading here:
Harvard halts research in Southborough after fourth monkey dies

WVU Business and Medical Schools Create New Program to Give Medical School Students Critical Business Knowledge

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Danzig

Medical school students have had an increasing appetite for business knowledge to better prepare them for their careers. In response to that, West Virginia University has created its M.D./M.B.A.

Morgantown, West Virginia (PRWEB) February 29, 2012

The two schools have collaborated to create the M.D./M.B.A. for medical school students during an optional step out year in the medical school curriculum, which occurs at the conclusion of their second year of study.

WVU President Jim Clements said the partnership between the two schools demonstrates how collaboration can help provide students with the skills needed to meet the challenges of todays world.

Interdisciplinary collaborations like this one are important for our students, Clements said. I applaud the faculty and staff at both B&E and Medicine for partnering to create this unique academic opportunity.

Provost Michele Wheatly emphasized the ways in which the new program exemplifies WVUs strategic goals. This is an example of transforming a curriculum at the highest level, she said. This program will engage students and faculty not only across disciplines but across campuses, with exciting implications for real-world impact.

This partnership represents a collaborative effort to offer a critical component of business education to WVU medical school students, Arthur J. Ross, III, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the WVU School of Medicine, said. Todays world demands that professionals be business savvy, and the medical profession is certainly no exception to that. All students need this exposure but there are some who need the intense type of exposure that can only be provided by an M.B.A. program. Those students who envision themselves in positions of significant, high level administrative leadership anywhere in the medical arena would be examples of ideal candidates for this program.

With increasing pressures due to changes in the medical industry, physicians will have to better understand the revenue streams and cost implications of their practices or organizations. An M.B.A. will increase their understanding of the business side of medical practices, and thats a huge plus, said Dr. Ross, who holds an M.B.A. in addition to his medical degree.

Wheatly agreed. Were giving our students the tools to be truly innovative practitioners of medicine, she said. These are the doctors who will become leaders in their chosen fields.

Prospective students would apply to the WVU School of Medicine and to the M.B.A. program at the same time, said Dr. Jose Sartarelli, Milan Puskar Dean, WVU College of Business and Economics. They would be admitted to both programs, which would allow them to step out to complete the M.B.A. after their second year. After they take a year to obtain the M.B.A., then they will resume their medical school curriculum.

More:
WVU Business and Medical Schools Create New Program to Give Medical School Students Critical Business Knowledge

Proposed medical school will not move to Wausau

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Danzig

WAUSAU (WAOW) -

Aspirus says plans to build a medical school in Wausau are not feasible.

But the group leading the effort says Wausau is still the top choice for establishing the medical school.

Aspirushad beenworking with the Wisconsin College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCOM), trying to decide if establishing an osteopathic medical school on the Aspirus campus in Wausau would work.

On Tuesday, Aspirus announced the model for the school was not feasible.

Aspirus officials said their decision came down to two things: money and control. They said it would have cost $75 million to build the school, but five different medical providers would have had to contribute money.

They also said there were concerns about how the school would be run.

"With five health care systems who are competing, potentially some with each otheras owners of the school, in the governance, involved in the decision making of the schoolit was felt that maybe the interest of the school itself and its students would become secondary," said Sid Sczygelski, Aspirus chief financial officer.

But WCOM leaders say it goes beyond that. Dr. Gregg Silberg, executive vice president and dean of WCOM, said the proposed model would not have allowed the medical school to be accredited.

Silberg also said WCOM is still working to establish the medical school in Wausau.

Read the rest here:
Proposed medical school will not move to Wausau

Southborough primate research center may face fines

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Danzig

Harvard Medical School could face tens of thousands of dollars in fines after a third monkey died at the school’s Southborough research center, a U. S. Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday.

A squirrel monkey’s death on Dec. 26, 2011 was one of three new citations Harvard’s New England Primate Research Center received in a Jan. 31 inspection. The results of that inspection were released Sunday.

“To look at this inspection report and see three direct non-compliances — that’s a big deal,” said David Sacks, a USDA spokesman.

This is the third primate death in 19 months at the facility.

The latest inspection describes three incidents where several monkeys were injured and one died because of employee carelessness.

Sacks said the latest report is especially serious because all three citations are “direct non-compliance issues,” meaning the animal’s welfare was directly affectedby each misstep.

“That’s kind of top on the list you don’t want to be on,” Sacks said.

According to the report, a malfunctioning water dispenser led two monkeys to become dehydrated. One recovered but the other was euthanized.

In addition, a squirrel monkey’s leg was fractured in a cage door. A rhesus macaque monkey injured his foot after he and others escaped from a pen.

Harvard Medical School on Sunday released a lengthy statement about its shortfalls.

“Our recent systems lapses are unacceptable and deeply troubling to us,” the statement says.

These are the latest in a string of USDA violations at the facility in two years, many of which Harvard reported itself.

Two other primates died in Southborough, one in October and one in June 2010. Another died at a different Harvard Medical School facility in February 2011 from an anesthesia overdose.

“They’re not having a good stretch right now,” Sacks said.

The Southborough facility conducts research on the cause and treatment of HIV and other diseases including colon cancer and sickle cell anemia.

The facility has 2,058 monkeys and a staff of 190 faculty, fellows and support personnel. It has been registered with the USDA since 1967 and has made many major breakthroughs including producing the first unambiguous evidence that AIDS is caused by a virus.

Sacks said the USDA has not yet determined the penalty Harvard will face. The investigation could take up to a year.

USDA investigators are combining past and recent citations to determine how many times the facility violated the Animal Welfare Act.

“It’s all going to get wrapped up into one big investigation,” Sacks said.

Each violation is punishable with a fine of up to $10,000.

“They’re looking at a penalty, no doubt,” Sacks said.

Harvard’s statement is the only communication it has issued since the report’s release on Sunday.

The document outlines steps it plans to take to address the problems, including more closely monitoring the watering system and cages and re-training staff.

Michael Budkie, executive director of Stop Animal Cruelty Now! said his animal rights organization would like a more in-depth investigation of the facility.

“There is clearly a system-wide epidemic of fatal negligence at all of these Harvard-connected facilities,” Budkie said.

Per USDA guidelines, the facility will be subject to an unannounced reinspection in the next 45 days.

(Laura Krantz can be reached at 508-626-4429 or lkrantz@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter@laurakrantzmwdn.)

View original post here:
Southborough primate research center may face fines

Second student dies from Ohio school shooting

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Danzig

Ohio student: 'We were at a loss'

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

A second victim dies, amedical examiner says Witnesses say T.J. Lane shot five people in an Ohio high school cafeteria Lane is scheduled for a juvenile court hearing Tuesday "Die, all of you," Lane wrote in Facebook in December

Chardon, Ohio (CNN) -- A second victim has died from wounds suffered in the school shooting in Chardon, Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office said Tuesday.

Russell King Jr., 17, was declared brain dead early Tuesday, according to the medical examiner's office. He was shot at Chardon High School on Monday, the agency said in a written statement.

Student Daniel Parmertor died on Monday. Three other students were wounded in the shooting.

Authorities have yet to name the teen shooter arrested in the Monday morning attack. But many students, some of whom said they were steps away from the suspect when the bullets flew, described the shooter as a withdrawn boy named T.J. Lane.

The suspect was scheduled to make an initial court appearance at 3:30 p.m. Authorities have not released the charges the 17-year-old sophomore may face.

Lawyer Bob Farinacci, speaking for Lane's family, said late Monday night that the 17-year-old was "extremely remorseful."

"Very, very scared and extremely remorseful," he told CNN affiliate WKYC.

"He is a very confused young man right now," Farinacci added. "He's very confused. He is very upset. He's very distraught ... himself. This is a very scary circumstance that I don't think he could have possibly even foreseen himself in the middle of."

There will be no school Tuesday in Chardon, where parents and children struggle to understand the inexplicable actions of a quiet teen that upended the calm of the small suburban Cleveland community.

"I want people to stay home tomorrow to reflect on their families," said Superintendent Joe Bergant, choking with emotion at a Monday afternoon news conference, "and if you haven't hugged or kissed your kid, do."

Like others in the town of 5,100, Lane's family has been left grappling for an explanation, he said.

"This is something that could never have been predicted," Farinacci said. "TJ's family has asked for some privacy while they try to understand how such a tragedy could have occurred and while they mourn this terrible loss for their community."

With little to go on, many turned to cryptic Facebook postings by the alleged shooter for a glimpse into Lane's mindset -- especially a long, dark poetic rant from December 30.

The post refers to "a quaint lonely town, (where there) sits a man with a frown (who) longed for only one thing, the world to bow at his feet."

"He was better than the rest, all those ones he detests, within their castles, so vain," he wrote.

Lane then wrote about going through "the castle ... like an ominous breeze through the trees," past guards -- all leading up to the post's dramatic conclusion.

"Feel death, not just mocking you. Not just stalking you but inside of you," he writes. "Wriggle and writhe. Feel smaller beneath my might. Seizure in the Pestilence that is my scythe."

He concluded the post with: "Die, all of you."

On Monday just before class started, witnesses say Lane silently walked up to a table of students, holding a gun.

As he opened fire, the shooter was expressionless, a student recalled.

"He was silent the entire time," said student Nate Mueller, who said his ear was grazed by a bullet. "There was no warning or anything. He just opened fire."

Danny Komertz, a freshman, said the shooter seemed to be focused on specific targets.

"I looked straight ahead and I saw a gun pointing at a group of four guys sitting a table. ... He just fired two quick shots at them. I saw one student fall, and I saw the other hiding, trying to get cover underneath the table," Komertz said.

"He was aiming right at them as he was two feet away. ... He wasn't shooting around the cafeteria at all. He was directly aiming at the four of them," he said.

In a school, which drills students on what to do in emergencies, Monday's death toll may have been much higher were it not for the actions of assistant football coach and study hall teacher Frank Hall, students said.

Hall chased the gunman out of the school, and police arrested the suspect nearby a short time later.

"Coach Hall, he always talks about how much he cares about us students, his team and everyone. And I think today he really went out and he proved how much he cared about us. He would take a bullet for us," said student Neil Thomas.

The victims were students who attended Lake Academy Alternative School, a nearby vocational school, and were waiting for a bus to take them there, witnesses said. Lane himself is a student at the school for at-risk children, said its interim director, Don Ehas.

In a statement Monday, Parmertor's family said they were "torn by the loss."

"Danny was a bright young boy who had a bright future ahead of him," the family said.

Many juvenile court hearings are closed to the public, so it may still be some time before the northeastern Ohio community gets some answers.

"By all accounts T.J. is a fairly quiet and good kid," said Farinacci, the Lane family attorney, said. "His grades are pretty impressive. He's a sophomore. He's been doubling up on his classes with the intent of graduating this May.

"He pretty much sticks to himself but does have some friends and has never been in trouble over anything that we know about."

CNN's Scott Thompson, Lateef Mungin, Martin Savidge and Lisa Sylvester contributed to this report.

See the article here:
Second student dies from Ohio school shooting

Health system nixes plan for new osteopathic medical school in Wausau

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Danzig

The main backer of a proposed osteopathic medical school in Wausau dropped the plan Tuesday, but another organizer vowed to keep pursuing the idea.

Aspirus, a Wausau-based health system, said its plan to pay for and own the $75 million Wisconsin College of Osteopathic Medicine with four other health systems "was not viable" because of competing business interests.

"There was an inconsistency between the best interests of the school and students, and the best interests of the competing health care systems," said Sid Sczygelski, chief financial officer of Aspirus.

Dr. Gregg Silberg, dean of the proposed school, said he is "working with a number of different supporters" to "aggressively move forward" on other plans for the school.

"We're looking at Wausau specifically," Silberg said. "We feel that's the right place to be."

Aspirus and the osteopathic school organization announced their plan for the school in November. In January, the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee said it was looking at putting "community-based medical school components" in one or more regions of the state.

A Wisconsin Hospital Association report in November predicted a shortage of nearly 2,200 doctors by 2030, especially in primary care.

Dr. Robert Golden, dean of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, criticized the proposed osteopathic school, saying it would cost more than expanding the two existing medical schools.

Sczygelski said Aspirus and the four other health systems, which he wouldn't name, would have paid $10 million each and borrowed $25 million to build and equip the osteopathic school.

See more here:
Health system nixes plan for new osteopathic medical school in Wausau

Demystifying the MCAT

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Danzig

The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is arguably the most feared and least understood component of the medical school admissions process. To help demystify the test, below is some information about how the test is organized, how it's used in medical school admissions, and whether or not there is a disadvantage to having multiple MCAT scores.

[Read the top three reasons M.D. applications are rejected.]

? What is the test all about? To quickly break it down, the MCAT is composed of four sections: physical sciences, verbal reasoning, and biological sciences--each scored on a scale from 1 to 15--and a writing sample, which is scored from "J" to "T." The highest score possible is a 45-T.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the mean MCAT score for all 86,181 people who took the exam in 2011 was 25.1, with a standard deviation of 6.4 and a writing sample score of "O." However, the average MCAT score of those admitted to any allopathic (M.D.) medical school in 2010 was approximately 30. And keep in mind that the average for many medical schools is significantly higher.

? Is it relevant to medicine? The honest answer is both yes and no. If you ask most practicing physicians for help with calculating the magnetic force acting on a wire, or how they would synthesize a polysubstituted aromatic compound from a 3-carbon or less alkyl halide (things they needed to know for the MCAT), they would likely look at you like you have three heads. However, the test does help to reinforce the basic science foundation needed to succeed in medical school.

[Learn whether a postbaccalaureate medical program is right for you.]

? How is it used in the admissions process? Success on the MCAT has been shown to correlate with success on the first part of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE Step 1). The USMLE Step 1 is typically taken between the second and third year of medical school, right after you complete the preclinical aspect of your medical school education, and just before you begin your clerkships in the hospital.

This is a big deal because most medical schools require passing scores on the USMLE Step 1 before graduation, and it is a critically important part of the residency "match" process. Additionally, it serves as a common, objective measure between all applicants.

? Is there a disadvantage to having multiple MCAT scores? There can be, but it is situation dependent. Many successful applicants don't score commensurate with their abilities on their first MCAT exam. If they analyze their weaknesses, recalibrate their plans, and show a marked improvement the next time, it is unlikely that their decision to take the test a second time will be seen negatively. However, repeated MCAT examinations--three or more--without significant improvement can be a red flag.

[Check out three tips for retaking the MCAT.]

The bottom line is that the admissions committee needs to feel confident that you are capable of succeeding in medical school. If you work diligently during your undergraduate career, excel in your premedical requirements, and prepare intensely for the MCAT, you are setting yourself up for success in the medical school application process and beyond.

Mark D'Agostino, M.D., M.S., M.Sc. is a Brigade Surgeon in the United States Army. As a Marshall Scholar, he earned a master's degree in Biochemistry at the University of Nottingham Medical School, and a second master's in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics (LSE) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). After graduating from Brown Medical School, he trained at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Read the original:
Demystifying the MCAT

MMIC Names Chief Medical Officer

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Danzig

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MMIC has named Laurie Drill-Mellum, MD, MPH as its first Chief Medical Officer.

In this newly created role, Dr. Drill-Mellum will work closely with MMIC’s Risk Management, Health IT, and Claim departments to develop integrated risk reduction and risk mitigation strategies. She will build a network of physician consultants that will work closely with MMIC clients to deliver risk strategies for physicians and hospitals throughout MMIC’s eight-state region. This physician-to-carrier partnership, which will lead to an integrated risk management strategy for MMIC clients across its entire region, is unique in the medical professional liability industry.

Dr. Drill-Mellum is a Board-certified emergency medicine physician. She is a current Bush Medical Fellow and recently completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. She will continue her work in emergency medicine part time, and is planning to open a clinic with an integrative medical focus.

According to Bill McDonough, MMIC’s president and CEO, Dr. Drill-Mellum will provide leadership and management from an experienced medical perspective, as well as analysis to help reduce patient injury, the likelihood of lawsuits, and the cost of managing claims. According to McDonough, “This role will serve as a vital link to help MMIC reduce liability costs and differentiate our quality of professional medical liability service. It will also serve as a bridge of support to customers in a time of need, helping them to manage internal and external change.”

Dr. Drill-Mellum holds an undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Pomona College in California. She attended the University of Minnesota Medical School, where she also obtained a Master’s in Public Health. She is a graduate of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Dr. Drill-Mellum has practiced emergency medicine at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, Minnesota since 1991. During her tenure, she has held roles as both Chief of the Medical Staff as well as Medical Director of the Emergency Department. She is also a Comprehensive Advanced Life Support Instructor.

Dr. Drill-Mellum is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. She is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Minnesota Medical Association, the Twin Cities Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the American and Minnesota Holistic Physician Associations. She has been on the Board of Directors for MMIC since 2008.

About MMIC Group, Inc.

MMIC Group, Inc. provides professional liability insurance and health information technology services to physicians, clinics, hospitals and other health care facilities and systems, primarily in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Founded in 1980, MMIC currently insures more than 14,700 health care providers and 430 hospitals and health care facilities. In July A.M. Best Company ranked it as the 20th largest medical professional liability insurer in the United States.

Visit link:
MMIC Names Chief Medical Officer

'The Medical Entrepreneur' Educational Symposium for Physicians Draws Biggest Names in Technology, Health Records …

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Danzig

DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Medical Entrepreneur Symposium, a unique educational business meeting for physicians and executives in healthcare, has drawn some of the biggest names in healthcare, technology and wealth management as initial sponsors.

The first in a growing list of symposium sponsors include Citrix GoToMeeting, ADP AdvancedMD, Bernstein Wealth Management, Allergan Cosmetic, Obagi , Merz Aesthetics and BTL Exilis.

"This meeting is the only venue of its kind where physicians can interact with leading companies in technology, electronic health records, practice management, billing services, cosmetic medicine, entrepreneurship, insurance, finance, payroll services and even companies that enable medical practices to innovatively add additional revenue streams," says Dr. Steven Hacker, Founder & Course Director of The Medical Entrepreneur Symposium. The symposium is being held at the Delray Beach Marriott in Delray Beach, Florida, from March 29 through April 1, 2012.

"We have brought together leading experts on every aspect of practice management, healthcare technology, business, finance, cosmetic medicine and entrepreneurship solely for the purpose of teaching doctors what they never learned or had the opportunity to learn in medical school," he says.

The pioneering symposium is based on the popularity of Dr. Hacker's top-selling physician business book, The Medical Entrepreneur Pearls, Pitfalls & Practical Business Advice for Doctors (Nano 2.0 Business Press, 2010).

In two intense sessions over two and a half days, the conference covers issues physicians face in private practice. The meeting will be kicked off with a keynote speaker sponsored by Citrix GoToMeeting discussing how their technology is transforming healthcare. The meeting also includes lectures from experts on integrating leading healthcare technologies, software and hardware, as well as health records into a practice; billing and getting paid; Medicare and third-party payors; hospital privileges; payroll and human resources; and compliance with new federal regulations. Physicians will be educated on how to add incremental revenue streams and increase patient loyalty through elective and cosmetic medical services. Additionally, physicians are taught how to protect their assets and personal property with lectures on asset protection, wealth preservation, and insuring their personal exposures and understanding their corporate and malpractice risk exposures. A guest speaker from Bernstein's Wealth Management Division in New York will be flying in to share research and educate physician entrepreneurs on retirement and defined benefit plans.

The second part of the symposium is focused on a new breed of physician: the physician entrepreneur. Doctors often have little training and thus no idea how to raise capital, negotiate a term sheet, deal with institutional and angel investors, create a business plan, incorporate or protect intellectual property. "We cover all of these topics so physicians can feel more comfortable competing on an even playing field with other entrepreneurs looking to raise capital or start a new entrepreneurial venture," says Dr. Hacker.

Physicians and healthcare executives can register for the meeting online at http://www.TheMedicalEntrepreneur.com. Space is limited. Corporate sponsors may contact Karen Dennis at 877-809-7525 for more information. More information available for media and corporate sponsors through the online press kit at http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/kit/g4sx.

About The Medical Entrepreneur Symposium

The Medical Entrepreneur Symposium (March 29-April 1, 2012 at Delray Beach Marriott) was founded by Dr. Steven Hacker to help physicians become better entrepreneurs in their business and their practice. Dr. Hacker, a phi beta kappa, was barely 20 when he was one of 12 students selected to enter medical school through the prestigious Junior Honors Medical Program. For the last 14 years he has been listed as a Castle Connolly Florida "Top Doctor." He is the top-selling author of the business book, The Medical Entrepreneur (www.TheMedicalEntrepreneur.com), and is published in more than 20 peer-reviewed medical journals. While still practicing medicine in Colorado and Florida, Dr. Hacker has started and sold many well known companies including Skinstore.com and PassportMD. He currently serves as a consultant for many medical device companies.

For more information about The Medical Entrepreneur Symposium, visit http://www.TheMedicalEntrepreneur.com or call 877-809-7525.

Excerpt from:
'The Medical Entrepreneur' Educational Symposium for Physicians Draws Biggest Names in Technology, Health Records ...

Medical sensors could phone for help – The Boston Globe

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Danzig

A man struggling with drug addiction feels a craving coming on, but his next therapy appointment is not for another week. Right away, his cellphone buzzes, offering a breathing exercise, a motivational message, or even just a distracting game. And his doctor can check on him remotely and alter the messages, if his stress is not alleviated.

For now, this telemedicine scenario is in the future. But in a small pilot program, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created technologies that will ultimately enable cellphones to automatically detect and intervene when a person suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse problems needs support.

RICH FLETCHER FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

In a paper published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology, the researchers describe the first generation of the system, which includes wireless sensors that can measure stress symptoms and algorithms capable of crunching data from those sensors to detect patterns that suggest an emerging anxiety attack or drug craving.

“I’ve been doing technology all my life, but the next phase is to apply the technology to real-world problems that are hard,’’ said Rich Fletcher, an assistant professor of psychiatry at UMass Medical School and a research scientist at the MIT Media Laboratory.

Fletcher has cofounded a Cambridge company, Ashametrics, that sells wireless sensing devices, encapsulated in wrist, chest, or ankle bands, to researchers.

As technology has matured, professionals in two different worlds became interested in its potential to offer novel approaches to health care: engineers more used to tinkering with electronics and software and doctors looking for new ways to approach medical problems.

In 2005, Rosalind Picard, a professor at the MIT Media Laboratory, wrote about a future scenario in which evolving technologies, including wireless devices and sensors that can automatically track physical attributes, could be applied to real-world situations, such as helping support people fighting addiction. Those tantalizing possibilities also triggered the interest of Dr. Edward Boyer, a professor of emergency medicine at UMass. The researchers began to work together, focusing on the needs of veterans grappling with substance abuse or post-traumatic stress disorder

RICH FLETCHER FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

The cellphones and sensors can be used to collect and track data on a patient and help doctors intervene.

Fletcher, who has long been involved in designing and engineering wireless sensors, said that while the dream has been around for many years, recent technological improvements now make such a system viable.

Sensors in a wrist or ankle band and a smartphone would not supplant the critical role of a psychiatrist or therapist, Fletcher said, but augment their ability to deliver care and even give doctors a wider window into their patients’ suffering and progress. It could also increase the patient’s engagement in their treatment program.

In the initial study, male veterans with a history of substance abuse problems and post-traumatic stress disorder were recruited to test an early version of the device.

When the phone detected signs of stress from sensors embedded in ankle bands, it prompted the men with a message, asking them if they were OK. If the men said things were not going well, they would be asked if they were experiencing a craving, and what they were doing. People experiencing a craving would receive a supportive message.

Fletcher pinpoints two important areas of future research: studying which intervention messages are most effective in helping patients manage stress and improving the software’s ability to use sensor data to detect what users are feeling or experiencing.

Dr. John Halamka, chief information officer for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said the technology is part of a wave of innovation in “m-health,’’ or the use of mobile devices in health care.

Such technology will be increasingly important because of the potential to provide continuous monitoring that could prevent serious health problems from developing instead of waiting until people know they need to see a doctor, Halamka said.

“The notion of health care reform is we’re going to be paid for keeping people well, as opposed to treating them while they’re sick,’’ Halamka said.

Try BostonGlobe.com today and get two weeks FREE. Carolyn Y. Johnson can be reached at cjohnson@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @carolynyjohnson.

Read the rest here:
Medical sensors could phone for help - The Boston Globe

In Clinic (In Paris medical school parody) – Video

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Danzig

11-02-2012 13:26 Love to all our med school brothers and sisters! DJ Vapor, Sound Engineer: soundcloud.com/dj-vapor Miles Mueller, Director of Photography: Vimeo.com/milesmueller Med students so hard, can't nothing deter us Rotations don't scurr us Finished two years of classes finally we're in the hospital like now it's surrus (Med students so hard) All day rounding Hours we work are astounding Wanna diagnose every patient on the census but we're new to this game and differentials are confounding (Med students so hard) Check the anion gap I'm like a ninja when I do a pap (Med students so hard) Rocking Tdap Everybody wishes they could tap Medicine is happenin', but surgeons get the best toys Bovies, bone saws, babcocks, Ortho boys (Med students so hard) We treat em, where the charts at, we need em Spend all morning writing notes like a boss, but nobody's gonna read em (Med students so hard) Meds immerse us, wash our hands and microbes curse us Our greatest care is patient care Hearts in the right place, no situs inversus (Med students so hard) catching babies, vaccinate against rabies Med mobster, treat zoster, helpin' all of my shingle ladies (Med students so hard) Chug caffeine, titrate Lantus like a machine, They say do a DRE, blushin' like Parvo B-19 Med students so hard, acronyms never end RCA, CVA, DKA Med students so hard, don't know em but we'll pretend tPA, PSA, AMA Patients ask me questions and I spike my cortisol Tachycardic, give us all metoprolol Feelin like C. diff, med ...

View post:
In Clinic (In Paris medical school parody) - Video

US cites Harvard medical research facility

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Danzig

By msnbc.com staff and news services

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- A dehydrated squirrel monkey died at a Harvard Medical School research facility in December, the third monkey to die at the New England Primate Research Center in 19 months.

The Boston Globe reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited Harvard for failures to comply with federal animal welfare regulations, including injuries to monkeys.

William Chin, executive dean for research at Harvard Medical School, told the newspaper that the incidents are unacceptable. He said problems with management systems and implementing basic procedures were found in a review in 2010.

Chin says new leaders are addressing the issues.

Harvard and agriculture officials say the Dec. 27 death and non-fatal dehydration of a second monkey was caused by employees' failure to check a malfunctioning water dispensing system.

The hardest medical school interview question

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Danzig

Last year, while I was interviewing to get into medical school, one of my interviewers asked me: “What was the most difficult situation you ever faced, and how did you deal with it?”

I started talking. It was not the first time I shared this particular story – or even the first time it had come up during an interview – but as I became immersed in telling it, I felt tears coming to my eyes. Oh no, I thought. I stopped talking and looked at my interviewer. Embarrassed and unsure what to say, I went with, “um… I’m sorry.”

She didn’t miss a beat. “It’s OK,” she said gently, reaching for a tissue. “We can talk about something else.”

And we did.

Later, I called my sister. I was feeling something worse than embarrassment: guilt.

“I feel like I used [my situation],” I said. “And – I think my interviewer liked me more because of it. What if that helps me get in?”

It felt exploitative. I felt exploitative.

I had not gotten teary intentionally, of course. I had answered my interviewer’s question honestly. It seemed a natural reaction to the topic at hand.

I also cannot imagine I was the first to feel unease in response to that question. Not long after that experience, a fellow medical school applicant and friend of mine expressed a similar sentiment to me as I had to my sister. My friend had lost her father at a young age, and many schools asked her about it. She felt extremely uncomfortable discussing it at all, for fear she “use” an intimately painful situation for practical career gain. Losing her father had nothing to do with her decision to go into medicine, nor, she thought, her potential as a future physician.

Medical schools are looking for many things these days. They want to see that you are compassionate. They want to see empathy. They want to see that you can deal with challenges and stress – that you are experienced, emotionally mature, and will not splinter under pressure.

I fully support this ideal. Medicine is a field that requires two categories of attributes. You need to know how to solve problems and reason through information. And, you need to know how to relate to people.

But is there a way to find those qualities without making applicants feel exploitative?

I think there is an important distinction between probing for a relevant emotional history – and a contrived attempt to solicit depth. That is, sometimes an applicant’s answer to the “most difficult situation” question is directly related to her interest in medicine. There are many cases in which obstacles shaped someone’s choice to pursue a life of caring for patients or helped him develop the skills to do so. There, I can see the appeal of the question. It contributes to painting the complete picture of the applicant’s motivations and aspirations in medicine.

For others, the question is less relevant. This was the case for my friend and me. Enduring our difficult situations had nothing to do with our subsequent decisions to go into medicine. Our situations were simply incidents that happened to punctuate the narratives that are our lives.

That is why talking about them in the explicit context of trying to gain acceptance into graduate school felt sleazy.

I had another interviewer, who, after asking the same question, handled our conversation with less sensitivity. She wrote down my answers without once looking up. As though she was checking off criteria I was supposed to have to become a competent doctor. Check: there was hardship. Check: I dealt with it in a healthy way.

“And… how do you think that will impact your ability to take care of patients?” she asked next, as though reading off a template. I don’t know. Maybe it won’t. There are other things in my life, things I chose to do, that I think will impact my ability to take care of patients. Can’t you ask me something else?

To medical school interviewers: it is perfectly acceptable to pursue emotional depth. I do not think the “most difficult situation” question should be tossed completely. But if you choose to use it, please do so cautiously. Stay within the bounds of what is relevant and what the applicant wants to discuss. And, if that emotional line is crossed, please be aware that the tone of the interview has fundamentally changed. Please handle the interaction with the same sensitivity you are asking for from applicants who will very soon be on the other side, asking similar types of delicate questions to vulnerable patients.

“It’s OK. We can talk about something else.”

I wish she knew how much I appreciated that.

View original post here:
The hardest medical school interview question

Medical sensors could phone for help

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Danzig

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have built technologies that enable cellphones to detect and intervene when a person battling post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse needs support. In a paper published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology, the researchers describe the system, which includes wireless sensors that can measure stress symptoms and algorithms capable of crunching data from those sensors to detect patterns that suggest an emerging anxiety attack or drug craving.

For more from BostonGlobe.com, sign up or log in below

To continue, please sign up or log in to BostonGlobe.com

Access the full articles and quality reporting of The Boston Globe at BostonGlobe.com

Unlimited Access to BostonGlobe.com for 4 weeks for only 99¢.

Are you a Boston Globe home delivery subscriber?

Get FREE access as part of your print subscription.

BostonGlobe.com subscriber

View post:
Medical sensors could phone for help

Harvard Medical School Adviser: Eating disorders affect older people, too

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Danzig

QUESTION: I am a 55-year-old woman who struggled with an eating disorder (anorexia) when I was a teen. As I get older, it's becoming harder to keep excess weight off, and I'm afraid I am slipping back into unhealthy behaviors. Are eating disorders common in older women? What can I do?

ANSWER: In a sense, it's good that you still take pride in your appearance. In fact, many baby boomers are experiencing a disconnect between how old they feel and their chronological age. In a 2009 Pew Research Center survey, half of people in their late 60s and early 70s said they felt at least 10 to 20 years younger than their actual age.

Feeling youthful inside is great, but a glance in the mirror may bring you up short. No matter how young you feel, you're likely to see wrinkles, sags, tummy fat and less firm muscles because of weakening elastic tissue and the muscle loss that comes with aging.

At the same time, we're surrounded by unrealistic images aimed squarely at mature women. You know that when you see a model or celebrity touted as looking "good for her age," it's the work of plastic surgeons, colorists, stylists and airbrushers, but your unretouched body image can't help but suffer by comparison.

If you feel you should look as good as celebrities your own age, even though their public images may be artificial, your self-esteem can suffer. And this can, in turn, lead to extreme eating habits aimed at weight loss, without regard for your own well-being. Because you have a past history of eating disorders, you're more susceptible than most.

Here are some questions to help you assess whether body image and food concerns are crowding out other important parts of your life:

• Do you worry about your body and your age more than your friends do? What efforts do you make to hide the effects of aging?

• If you had the choice between living an extra five years and attaining your perfect weight, would you pick attaining your perfect weight?

• Do you and your friends spend a lot of time discussing diets, weight, your looks, gym routines, etc.?

• Does the number on the scale determine your mood for the day?

• Do you spend an inordinate amount of time planning what to eat and not to eat and how to get enough exercise?

• Do you gravitate toward health regimens that involve purging or restricting food, going gluten- or yeast-free, becoming a vegan, fasting, or doing colonics or cleanses, for example?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, try to shift your conversations and mental energy away from food and body awareness. If this proves difficult, consider consulting a mental health professional.

Eating disorders are usually regarded as a problem of adolescents and young women; their prevalence among older women is less clear. Secrecy and shame often accompany these disorders, and women may not seek help -- particularly if they fear being forced to gain unwanted weight or stigmatized as having a "teenager's disease."

In a 2010 study at the Oregon Health & Science University, women ages 65 to 80 were just as likely as young adult women to feel fat or concerned about their body shape.

First, you need a thorough medical examination. Certain medical conditions that cause rapid weight loss, interfere with appetite, or make eating difficult can be confused with an eating disorder.

Tell your doctor about any experiences with weight loss or gain, eating disorder behaviors or use of drugs to control weight. Your doctor also needs to know about any emotional problems you're confronting, including depression and anxiety.

After taking a history and performing a physical, she or he may order certain tests, such as an electrocardiogram to check for arrhythmia, laboratory tests for metabolic imbalances, or a bone density scan. And if your doctor feels you could benefit from an expert in eating concerns, ask for a referral to a specialist.

A balanced diet is important for good health. With planning and perhaps some help, you can eat right and look good, too.

Have a question? Send it to harvard_adviser@hms.harvard.edu

Continued here:
Harvard Medical School Adviser: Eating disorders affect older people, too

A third monkey death reported at Harvard’s New England Primate Research Center

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Danzig

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe Staff

A squirrel monkey died of dehydration at a Harvard Medical School research facility in December -- the third monkey to die at the New England Primate Research Center in 19 months -- and animals there also suffered a fracture and other injuries over the past three months, according to a federal inspection report released today.

The US Department of Agriculture cited Harvard for three serious incidents, which occurred after the medical school had responded to a series of other problems by replacing the center’s leadership. Harvard could face fines or receive a warning because of the failures to comply with federal animal welfare regulations.

Harvard officials and the Agriculture Department report, posted on the agency’s website, attributed the December 27 death and the non-fatal dehydration of a second monkey to employees’ failure to check a water dispensing system that had malfunctioned sometime after both monkeys arrived at the center Dec. 7.

Another squirrel monkey’s leg was fractured in January, when it was caught under a door. And a group of rhesus macaques escaped from their pen in December, resulting in an injury to one monkey’s foot.

The Agriculture Department considers all three incidents “direct noncompliance” issues, meaning there is a direct, adverse impact on the welfare of animals, or the high potential of such an effect. In fiscal year 2011, there were 25 direct noncompliance issues at research facilities nationwide.

“They’ve had a tough stretch, and it’s certainly something that’s gotten our attention and we look forward to them correcting the situation,” said David Sacks, a USDA spokesman.

William W. Chin, executive dean for research at Harvard Medical School, acknowledged in an interview that “there have been deficiencies in what we’ve been doing, leading to a number of incidents. These are regrettable. ... I would say they’re frankly unacceptable.”

Chin discussed the new issues and broader problems at the primate center during a 45-minute interview earlier this month, on the condition that the Globe would not report his comments until the Agriculture Department posted the latest findings. It was the first time a medical school official had agreed to discuss the situation at the Southborough research center in depth.

He said problems with management systems and the implementation of basic procedures were discovered through a review launched in the summer of 2010, after the first monkey died. Those issues are being addressed, Chin said, through the change in the leadership team last September, disciplinary actions, new policies and procedures, and the formation of a six-member team that will perform continual reviews, training, and testing of staff, and conduct random audits. Harvard Medical School released a lengthy statement, describing some of the problems at the center, and its response.

“We, as part of this public trust, even though we’re doing great science, we have to be sure that the animals are treated in the best way possible. And we just haven’t done it, and now we are working so hard to continue to do better in this,” Chin said. He added that the recent incidents occurred because it will take time for the ongoing improvements in training, procedures, and oversight “to take hold.”

Sacks said that the agency was still investigating the October death of a monkey. A common marmoset escaped while it was being transferred for an imaging procedure, was caught with a net, and was found dead after undergoing imaging. Sacks said that investigation could expand to include new problems. If an investigation finds a violation of the Animal Welfare Act, consequences could include an official warning letter or a fine -- a maximum of $10,000 per violation.

The New England Primate Research Center houses 2,058 monkeys and has a staff of 231, including veterinarians, technicians, and scientists. It receives about $25 million annually in federal funding to support its research activities, which include developing a vaccine for HIV.

Chin said Harvard officials first became aware of problems at the center in June 2010, after a cage went through a washer with a monkey in it. The cotton-top tamarin was found dead on the floor of the cage. An autopsy determined the animal died of natural causes prior to the cleaning, but the Agriculture Department issued a warning letter to Harvard.

Harvard initiated a comprehensive review, involving outside veterinary experts and consultants, which revealed a lack of oversight and disturbing series of breaks in following procedures that govern the research.

The review found that in more than one case, procedures were being done on animals without the required approval of an institutional committee. Chin said the lapses “almost certainly” did not affect the scientific integrity of the experiments, but were not acceptable.

That led the investigators to examine animals’ medical records and to discover troubling omissions, including incomplete records of tuberculosis tests, which are supposed to be performed regularly to ensure the health of the large monkey colony.

“It was kind of a messy situation in terms of being able to know exactly what happened to each of the animals,” Chin said.

New experiments were suspended in summer 2011 while the health of the colony was tested. There were no cases of tuberculosis. But it had become clear that the problems were deeper than initially thought, Chin said.

Senior medical school officials decided to replace the key leaders at the center last September, including the director, associate director for administration, and veterinary leadership. Dr. Fred Wang, the interim director, was not made available for an interview. Disciplinary actions were also taken, Chin said, but he could not be specific about what actions were taken or how many individuals were involved, citing employee privacy reasons.

In addition to the three deaths since 2010 at the primate center, a monkey died at a separate Harvard Medical School facility in Feburary 2011, due to an anesthesia error.

Carolyn Y. Johnson can be reached at cjohnson@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @carolynyjohnson.

View original post here:
A third monkey death reported at Harvard’s New England Primate Research Center

Health chiefs gag medical students

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Danzig

DIARY OF SHORTCOMINGS: Margaret O'Connell has applied for a transfer. Source: The Courier-Mail

IN AN affront to free speech, Queensland Health has demanded all medical students sign a gag order or be turfed out of their courses.

Students are furious that the University of Queensland medical school has gone along with the ridiculous ban they fear will prevent them from speaking out against wrongdoing or mistreatment of patients.

The students fear they are being coerced into signing the seven-page student deed poll agreeing not to reveal anything.

The medical school's online forum has run hot with complaints.

"Of primary concern is the contents of the document which seems to provide disproportionately harsh penalties for students in relation to extremely vaguely worded 'breaches', most of which seem designed to protect Queensland Health, not patients," said one student.

"Also of concern is the manner in which students are being forced to sign these documents as a 'requirement' of their placement.

"If students choose not to sign this deed - a document which the students have had no role in writing or drafting and have not even been informed about - then Queensland Health will disallow the student to continue on a placement, effectively meaning their medical studies are over.

"This penalty is by virtue of paragraph 17 (which says): 'This Deed Poll will continue for the duration of the placement, subject to the student's right to withdraw this consent. The student acknowledges that they may withdraw this consent by providing written notice to Queensland Health and the education provider. A withdrawal of consent will affect the student's ability to continue with the placement'."

The unsigned deed warns that "Queensland Health may seek and obtain an ex parte interlocutory or final injunction to prohibit or restrain the student, from any breach or threatened breach of this Deed Poll".

The deed contains a direct threat of legal action. It says: "In the event of a breach or threatened breach of the terms of this Deed Poll, Queensland Health shall be entitled to seek the issue of an injunction restraining the student from committing any breach of this Deed Poll without the necessity of proving that any actual damage has been sustained or is likely to be sustained by Queensland Health."

Another student said there were already adequate privacy regulations.

She added: "It strikes me that this is Queensland Health out of control. With an election imminent, they are inappropriately trying to control all aspects of information about their organisation and inappropriately entitle themselves to take harsh punitive action against students.

"The document seems to have more to do with protection from comment or criticism about Queensland Health than patient privacy."

Matthew Ramsay, a student from the US, said the document appeared to be an attempt to shut down media scrutiny of Queensland Health and the university medical school.

"It's very disconcerting," he said. "It appears to be a cover-up. The medical profession is dangerously close to allowing the Hippocratic Oath to degenerate into the Hypocritical Oath."

He said the medical school was racked with discontent following the nepotism scandal that claimed the scalps of vice-chancellor Paul Greenfield and his deputy Michael Keniger.

Ramsay said he wondered whether it was linked to the controversy surrounding medical student Margaret O'Connell, who kept a diary of shortcomings at the school.

O'Connell said students were not properly supervised during a seven-week "rotation" at a Queensland private hospital catering chiefly for the mentally ill. She said doctors made fun of suicidal patients, including one who had threatened to jump into the Brisbane River.

O'Connell complained doctors would not let students attend consultations with them. And doctors made it clear to students they didn't care whether they turned up. The doctors didn't even know the students' names and didn't want to know.

"I suspect this gag order is directly or indirectly related to the case of Meg," said Ramsay.

O'Connell said she was asked to see a psychiatrist and failed on a rotation to far north Queensland.

But her case was strengthened when she won a glowing report card from Dr Peter Chilcott,

director of medical services at Gove District Hospital in the Northern Territory.

Chilcott went further, accusing the university of a witch-hunt.

In evidence tendered to the university, he said: "I applaud your courage in taking on the Queensland medical establishment. As you are aware, your time in Gove was cut short by similar slurs and innuendos concerning your mental state. I had no concerns about your time at Gove.

"I was contacted by the medical school to provide reports.

"There was no doubt in my mind that the medical school simply wanted me to falsify reports and would have been quite happy for the whole mess up here to simply go away. I told the medical school that I had many concerns about how your case was handled.

"If someone had concerns about your mental state at that time then who better to look into the matter than myself with 38 years of GP experience. I also had at that time a GP trainee who is very experienced in mental health because she was originally on a psychiatric training pathway before switching to general practice.

"From my perspective your case had all the signs of a witch-hunt."

Chilcott saw no signs of mental illness, adding: "I did see someone who is 'eccentric'. However, do not take offence at this because I am considered 'eccentric' as well."

He said he was happy to support O'Connell's complaints to the CMC and the Ombudsman.

O'Connell has applied for a transfer to other universities. Her complaint is being considered internally.

CONTACT DES HOUGHTON

DES HOUGHTON ON FACEBOOK

UConn Appoints New Health Center Leader

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Danzig

Dr. Frank M. Torti, who on Friday was named vice president for health affairs at the University of Connecticut Health Center, said he was drawn to UConn partly by the potential for Connecticut to become a bioscience leader.

"There's an excitement in focusing around this bioscience initiative, and it's the sort of challenge that we'll be a part of at the UConn Health Center," Torti said. He specifically cited Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's plan to boost bioscience and the university's partnership with Jackson Labs, a Maine-based mammalian genetic research lab.

Torti's appointment takes effect May 1.

"Frank Torti is a brilliant researcher, physician and teacher — a transformational leader who will make UConn one of the premier institutions of health care in the world," UConn President Susan Herbst said in a statement released by the university.

Torti currently works at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he is vice president for strategic programs, director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and chairman of the Department of Cancer Biology. He has also served as a chief scientist and acting commissioner of theU.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Torti's base salary will be $780,000 with a possible $150,000 performance incentive at the end of his first year at UConn. His predecessor, Dr. Cato Laurencin, received similar compensation.

After Laurencin stepped down as vice president of health affairs and dean of the medical school, the university began a national search for his replacement in July.

If there was anything on his resume that helped him edge any other candidates for the position, Torti said, it might have been experience with the FDA. Many academics and scientists are good with the creation of new drugs, he said, but negotiating the often convoluted maze toward approval is another matter.

"A lot of people don't realize that many drugs fail not because they aren't good drugs, but because people don't understand the regulatory path," said Tort. "I can bring that to the table."

In the next few years, Torti said, the medical community will increasingly understand that "we ought not be satisfied with the same drugs and treatments of the 20th century." Instead, he said, as genetics technology advances, it will focus more on personalized medicine.

"I think [UConn] will be the national leaders in this area," he said.

Among the medical organizations that Torti serves on, or has served on, include the Cancer Biology Training Consortium, North Carolina's Drug Discovery Center of Innovation's Scientific Advisory Board, the Association of American Cancer Institutes and of the National Coalition for Cancer Research, the National Institutes of Health Council for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the National Cancer Institute's Clinical Trial Advisory Committee and the Board of Scientific Advisors

Torti received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University in 1979, his doctor of medicine from Harvard Medical School in 1974, and his masters in public health in 1973 from the Harvard School of Public Health. In the mid-1970s, he was an intern and resident at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.

Torti's wife, Suzy V. Torti, is a cancer researcher and has been hired as a professor in the UConn School of Medicine. She currently teaches at the Department of Biochemistry at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

UConn hires new medical school dean

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Danzig

A day after the UConn Health Center got its first researcher for a new genomic center, UConn President Susan Herbst announced that the school had hired a new leader for the health center and the UConn medical school.

Dr. Frank Torti, a vice president at Wake Forest University who runs the school's cancer biology center, will come to UConn as the eighth dean of the UConn medical school, and the school's vice president for health affairs.

The move comes two weeks after Herbst hired Warde Manuel to run the school's athletic department, and a day after a Maine genetics lab announced it had hired Yijun Ruan as the first researcher for the new genomic center.

Torti, who will also hold a Board of Trustees professorship in the Department of Medicine, will join the health center May 1, UConn announced in a press release.

"Frank Torti is a brilliant researcher, physician, and teacher -- a transformational leader who will make UConn one of the premier institutions of health care in the world," Herbst said in a statement. "It is a new day at UConn. As I have said since my appointment, we have the highest ambitions for excellence, so that we may take our place among the international pantheon of great institutions. Dr. Torti is a superb leader, and I want every citizen of this state to know that their Health Center simply could not be in better hands. With Dr. Torti's guidance, we will find new cures for disease, map the future political economy of health care, and most of all, ensure that every single patient we see receives the best possible care known to contemporary science."

Torti, a New Jersey native who has worked at Wake Forest since 1993, said in a statement that he's "honored to have the opportuinity to lead the UConn Health Center and the School of Medicine."

"Governor Malloy's Bioscience Connecticut program and the state's partnership with Jackson Laboratory are nothing less than transformational. Working together, Connecticut and the University will change the bioscience landscape and grow the region's economy. I look forward to working with everyone to ensure that this outstanding academic medical center reaches its full potential."

It's the second time this month that Herbst has hired a new campus leader.

On. Feb. 13, the school announced it had hired Manuel, the athletic director at the University at Buffalo, to be its new athletic director. He's the first African-American to hold the position, and will lead the athletic department at a time of transition and great uncertainty.

Follow this link:
UConn hires new medical school dean

Select Page ::