Kalamangalam wins Early Career Award from American Epilepsy Society
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Dr. Giridhar Kalamangalam |
Dr. Giridhar Kalamangalam, assistant professor of neurology, was one of seven young physician-scientists recently awarded an Early Career Physician Scientist Award from the American Epilepsy Society (AES).
Funded by AES and the Milken Family Foundation, Kalamangalam will receive $50,000 for a year’s worth of support toward his research proposal, “Oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in non-lesional medically refractory focal epilepsy.”
The award, which Kalamangalam received at the national AES meeting in Philadelphia, seeks “to encourage the development of new therapies for epilepsy by providing research training for physicians early in their academic career.” Winners must be committed to a career in translational research in epilepsy.
“I am very happy to have received this award, which will provide me independent funds for clinical research,” he said.
Kalamangalam’s research will involve a novel application of MRI, which is just now being explored for stroke patients.
“It struck me that the same idea, whereby patients breathe oxygen during the MRI, could be used in epilepsy patients,” he said. “We are hopeful that this technique might help us visualize the abnormal area of the brain causing seizures.”
Mapping the problem areas would help in planning surgical intervention for epilepsy patients whose abnormalities do not show up on a regular MRI.
“Presently we must use indirect and inferential measures to find the affected brain area in such patients – some guesswork. It would be extremely helpful to have a clearer picture, even if approximate. I am hoping this new technique will provide that,” he said.
Dr. Ponnada Narayana supported Kalamangalam’s application for this award. “I am privileged to work with someone of Dr. Narayana's stature in MRI neuroradiology. I look forward to being associated with his lab,” Kalamangalam said.
Kalamangalam completed medical school at the Jawaharlal Institute, University of Madras, India, and obtained a doctorate at the University of Oxford, England. He completed his neurology residency at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland, and a fellowship in epilepsy at the Cleveland Clinic. He joined the Medical School faculty in June 2006.
-D. Brown
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New program creates McGovern Scholars
The John P. McGovern, M.D. Center for Health, Humanities, and the Human Spirit has created a formal certificate program for medical students who are interested in studying and applying humanism into their medical education.
Open to all UT medical students, the innovative four-year program is an enriched course of study, involving writing workshops, community outreach programs, directed research, electives, and a seminar series culminating in the title of McGovern Scholar.
The program was launched last February by Dr. Bryant Boutwell, the John P. McGovern, M.D., Professor of Oslerian Medicine.
“The McGovern Center and this certificate program were born out of a commitment to enrich the lives and the capacity of our future physicians who must live the calling of medicine – treating the whole patient, not just the disease. Dr. McGovern would be very proud of our students and these programs that bring the art and the science of medicine together for the benefit of medical professionals and patients alike,” said Boutwell, the certificate program’s founding director.
McGovern endowed the center, which bears his name, in 2004 with a gift of $3.5 million to further the principles of Oslerian medicine. McGovern passed away May 31.
The certificate program has generated much excitement this year -- 19 first-year students have enrolled, joining 16 second-years, 14 third-years, and six fourth-year students. All students who want to participate may, thanks to an additional $2 million underwriting from the McGovern Foundation.
“This recent $2 million endowment from the McGovern Foundation is a living testament to the memory my friend, Dr. John P. McGovern. Dr. McGovern believed so strongly in medical students and the importance of the humanities in medicine,” Boutwell said.
“This program distinguishes the Medical School, and we are grateful for our continued support from the McGovern Foundation for its generosity,” said Dr. Thomas Cole, director of the center.
Program director Dr. Cheryl Erwin., says student enthusiasm shows the need for such a program.
“These students want to be the best physicians they can be and treat the whole patient while maintaining an internal balance,” explains Erwin, who assumed the directorship when Dr. Boutwell took responsibilities as director of institutional accreditation – but he continues to teach with the McGovern Center.
David Fetzer, a fourth-year student in the program, says the certificate program allows students to create relationships between the community and their medical education as well as more personal connections.
“Each student starts medical school brimming with hope and enthusiasm and brings with them many interests outside of exams, lectures, and clinical duties,” Fetzer says. “Many are painters, singers, writers, volunteers, tutors, and so on; many students are looking for a way to connect their unique background and view to their studies and future career. The certificate program offers them that opportunity.”
-D. Brown
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Neurosurgery approved for residency program
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has given the green light for the Department of Neurosurgery to create a Neurosurgery Residency Program, effective July 1.
Dr. Dong H. Kim, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery made the annoucement, stating: “We now join the small number of medical schools that has a neurosurgery residency program. Our aim is to make this one of the best programs in the country.”
Because of the small numbers of academic neurosurgeons nationally, and the stringent requirements set specifically for neurosurgery, the many medical schools do not have a program.
Kim also announced that Dr. Dennis Vollmer will serve as the program director, stating that, “Dr. Vollmer is an experienced and highly regarded neurosurgical educator, and I am grateful that he will lead this program.”
With the addition of neurosurgery, the Medical School now offers 57 ACGME-accredited residency programs.
-D. Brown
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