Mark Dransfield, MD (Professor & Interim Director, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care) and Devika Das, MD (Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology) have received a $1.3 million grant to develop a Lung Precision Oncology Program at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. The project aims to improve lung cancer screening among veterans, whose cancer often goes undetected until later stages, in an effort to connect them to clinical trials. The award is part of a regional effort to improve the state of lung cancer care in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
More Good News for March 26, 2020
The Department is delighted to report another outstanding Match Day. 38 Categorial, 4 Med/Peds, 1 Med/Genetics, and 1 ABIM Research Pathway residents will join us this summer, drawing from 25 different medical schools and 3 countries. 18 are women and 6 have backgrounds underrepresented in medicine. Meet the recruits here!
Monica Baskin, PhD (Professor, Preventive Medicine) will lead a multi-center investigation to learn what contributes to decreased clinical trial participation among African Americans in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. They will then pilot evidence-based initiatives to increase their involvement in clinical lung cancer trials.
Vibhu Parcha, MD (Fellow, Cardiovascular Disease) and his investigative team studied more than 6,000 American adults to find that those with a coronary artery calcium score greater than zero have a higher risk of cardiac events. CAC may help guide both blood pressure control and comprehensive cardiovascular care.
Alayne Markland, DO (Associate Professor, Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care) has been named Interim Director of the Integrated Center for Aging Research, effective March 10. ICAR is a university-wide interdisciplinary research center at UAB, providing support for research, education, and development of future aging researchers.
Doug Bentley (Division Administrator, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology) will serve as SOM Director of Research Administration, Shared Services, effective May 1. In this new role, Doug will lead a team to serve as a resource on matters related to grant and contract submissions and other award activities. Congrats, Doug!
Anand Iyer, MD, MSPH (Assistant Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) testified to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging on March 18, addressing disparities in access to care and COVID-19 vaccines among at-risk older, minority, and rural Americans.
Spring always ushers in beauty and hope, but the burdens of the past pandemic year still linger for many of us. My colleague Aubrey Joyner has interviewed wellness experts across campus and compiled their advice for maintaining mental and emotional well-being as we move into spring.
Nilay Shah, PhD, Professor of Health Services Research at Mayo Clinic, will present "Journey in a Learning Health System: Lessons Learned from Success and Failures" at noon on Wednesday, March 31, via Zoom.