Special Care Unit Reports Encouraging Outcomes
Since October 2016, the UAB Special Care Unit has employed a high touch and early mobilization strategy to wean patients from ventilators. Thanks to their hard work, led by Medical Director Tracy Luckhardt, MD (Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care), the ventilator wean rates now exceed the national average by 21%, and hospital readmissions have dropped significantly among these very complex patients. Kudos to the entire team for outstanding patient care efforts.
Multiple Myeloma Clinic Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
Two assistant professors in the Division of Hematology and Oncology Racquel Innis-Shelton, MD, and Kelly Godby, MD, co-direct the Multiple Myeloma Clinic at UAB which celebrated its fifth anniversary this month. Over the past 5 years, they have seen a three-fold increase in Multiple Myeloma patients receiving treatment at UAB, and they are currently running 8 different clinical trials. Congratulations to all the hard-working faculty, staff, and investigators who are making life-changing treatments possible—like the stem cell transplant that helped one of our own UAB employees send her Multiple Myeloma into remission.
DOM Takes Advantage of UAB Wellscreens
Did you know that you could get $50 for just 15 minutes and a finger stick? Well, you can, thanks to the UAB Employee Health Wellscreens campaign. John Kennedy, MD (Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care) is encouraging everyone in the DOM to adopt a wellness mindset and take advantage of this opportunity. It’s fast and easy! Just ask Jonathan Ingram (DOM-IT). Jonathan was able to do a walk-in wellscreen in North Pavilion this week, and he reports that the process is painless, and the results are informative. In fact, he may be swearing off pizza and cheese sticks for dinner! Get your own snapshot of your vital health statistics, and a $50 bonus in your paycheck this May. Find locations and program details online.
DOM Celebrates 2018 TRS Winners
The Department was thrilled to celebrate the next generation of innovative scientists at the 34th Annual Department of Medicine Trainee Research Symposium last week. 96 posters were entered in the abstract competition, and we extend our sincere thanks to everyone who mentors and supports the outstanding graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, residents, and fellows across our department. We also heartily congratulate our first-place finalists!
• Qing Zhao, PhD (Postdoctoral Scholar, Gastroenterology and Hepatology) “Metabolic inhibition of microbiota-reactive CD4 T cells for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases”
• Nirav Patel, MD (Fellow, Cardiovascular Disease) “Trends and Cost of Orthotopic Heart Transplantation and Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Impact of Medicare and Medicaid Cuts on End-Stage Heart Failure Landscape”
• Courtney Fernandez Petty (Graduate Student) “PAAG Improves Mucus Transport in CF Rats”
• James Hollier, MD (Resident) “Identifying predictors for colorectal cancer in patients with incomplete colonoscopy screening”
Clinicians Promote New Colorectal Cancer Clinic
Did you see the giant inflatable colon in front of TKC on Friday!? It was there to highlight our newest multi-disciplinary clinic focusing on colon cancer treatment! The clinic opened last week, just in time for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The lead physicians—including DOM’s Grant Williams, MD (Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology) and Nipun Reddy, MD (Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology)—all participated in a Facebook Live event discussing prevention and treatment, and how patients now have access to colorectal cancer care in a “one-stop shop.” Catch up on their social media interview.