McPherson named chair of Internal Medicine

Following a national search, Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo has announced Dr. David McPherson as the new chair of the Department of Internal Medicine.

“Dr. McPherson will provide the leadership to take this department to the next level, although it is not a one-person job. He will have to rely upon his chiefs and recruit and engage strong leaders. I believe he has the qualities to bring people together – he is driven, a team player, and effective at recruitment. I am certain he will continue to contribute to the growth of internal medicine,” Dean Colasurdo said.

McPherson, director of the Division of Cardiology, also is the primary investigator of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences and the division director of cardiology at the Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center Heart and Vascular Institute. He joined the Medical School in July 2006 from Northwestern University.

“For the Department of Internal Medicine at the Medical School, I want nothing but the best. I would like to see us become a top-tier nationally ranked department by the Association of American Medical Colleges. A few short- and long-term goals include: aggressively growing our clinical practices, obtaining further NIH funding, and strengthening our partnerships with the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and the Harris County Hospital District,” McPherson said.

McPherson has identified strategic areas of growth for the department: oncology, pulmonary critical care, translational research, and educational programs. “The plan includes recruiting a vice chair and five associate chairs in internal medicine,” he said.

McPherson is an established clinical researcher in cardiovascular imaging and vascular biology who has received continual funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Canadian Heart Foundation and private foundations for nearly 25 years.

"Dr. McPherson is a proven physician leader in patient care, research, and education. I look forward to building upon the momentum he has established in cardiology and leveraging that expertise in his new leadership role as chairman of internal medicine," said Juanita Romans, chief executive officer of the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center Campus.

Dr. Philip Orlander served as interim chair of the Department of Internal Medicine for more than a year.

“We appreciate the foundation Dr. Orlander has built in his role as interim chair of internal medicine and sincerely thank him for his contributions. Dr. Orlander is an established clinician and a phenomenal educator, and we are grateful for his bridging of this massive department,” said Romans and Dean Colasurdo.

McPherson received his medical degree from the University of Alberta in Canada and completed his internship, residency, and fellowship at Dalhousie University in Canada. He conducted an additional fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease, internal medicine, and echocardiography.

Dean approves Academy of Educators

The University of Texas Medical School at Houston Academy of Educators has received approval from Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo and plans are under way to establish its guidelines and criteria for membership.

The academy seeks to create a teaching and learning “commons” for faculty at the Medical School committed to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate student education. It will serve to promote faculty development and to undertake educational projects that advance the educational mission of the Medical School.

The academy’s charter members, appointed by Dean Colasurdo, are Dr. Eugene Boisaubin, Dr. John Ribble, Dr. Margaret Uthman, Dr. Philip Orlander, Dr. John McMahon, and Dr. Gary Rosenfeld. Dr. Allison Ownby, Dr. Maximilian Buja, and Dr. Patricia Butler will serve as advisers to the group as it develops its evaluation process for new members, and a budget.

“Strengthening our educators and encouraging them to lead this field will strengthen our educational program and better prepare our students for their future careers,” Dean Colasurdo said.

-D. Brown

 

Edward T. Smith Lectureship set for Nov. 7-8

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will be holding its Annual Edward T. Smith Lectureship Nov. 7 and 8 at The Houstonian Hotel. This year the topic is "Controversies in the Management of Patients with Spinal Disorders" and the course chairman is Dr. Rex Marco, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery.

The international faculty for this conference will discuss topics of interest to physicians, residents, nurses, researchers, and allied health professionals in the subspecialty areas of orthopaedics, neurosurgery, neurology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Registrations online can be performed through the following website: http://www.utcme.net/Events/Calendar.aspx

SECC continues through Oct. 30

A reminder that the Medical School’s annual State Employee Charitable Campaign lasts through Oct. 30. More than 500 charities are available to donate to through the campaign – either by payroll deduction or a one-time check.

The easiest way to support the SECC is through payroll deduction. For as little as $2 a pay period, you can provide two days of food and shelter for a homeless person, underwrite two days of mentoring for at-risk youth, provide meals for a homebound senior citizen for four weeks, cover the cost of planting 200 tree saplings, or hundreds of other worthwhile activities. Think about what a difference a small amount can make. Because your pledge is spread out over a year, such a generous donation is almost painless.

For more information, see http://www.secchouston.org/.

Neuroscience poster session scheduled Dec. 6

The Neuroscience Research Center (NRC) will host its 15th annual neuroscience poster session 10 a.m. – noon Dec. 6, in the Leather Lounge of the Medical School Building.

This year’s poster session will highlight current neuroscience research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, providing an opportunity for participants from various departments to become better acquainted with each other and current neuroscience research. Posters from the UTHSC-Houston Research Day, 2008 meetings of the Society for Neuroscience, or any other meeting since December 2007 are welcome. Please submit abstracts by Monday, Nov. 3.

The event includes drawings for door prizes and judging for the best poster presentation by a graduate student and by a postdoctoral fellow. Posters will be judged by faculty from UTHSC-Houston and other area universities. The best graduate student poster will be awarded the Dee S. and Patricia Osborne Endowed Scholarship in the Neurosciences ($1,000 prize). The Outstanding Postdoctoral Research in the Neurosciences Award ($1,000 prize) will be awarded to the best postdoctoral fellow poster. Attendance is open to anyone interested in neuroscience research at UT-Houston.

Registration form available (PDF format) http://nba.uth.tmc.edu/nrc/
For additional information, contact Margaret Clarke at 713.500.5538 or Amanda Concha at 713.500.5633.

Early voting commences

A friendly election reminder from the Texas Medical Association/American Medical Association’s UT chapter:

Early voting has started and runs through the end of October. To make sure you are registered to vote and to find your polling station go to: https://voterinfo.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/

Give 5 campaign to help Galveston middle school

The University Classified Staff Council (USCS) is assisting Galveston’s Central Middle School obtain supplies for students and teachers through their Please Give $Five$ for CMS Supplies.

The school is a seventh-and eighth-grade campus with 550 students who have returned since Hurricane Ike. The school is sharing space with Weis Middle School until its facilities can be restored.

“The first floor of our school is being gutted, which includes three computer labs, classrooms, offices, library, band hall, choir room, art room, and weight room facilities,” said Cathy Lewis, a teacher at the school. “Teachers are not allowed back into the building to retrieve any supplies they may have had.”

Since there is only one set of textbooks per classroom, materials must be copied to distribute to students.

The UCSC will collect checks, cash, and supplies by Monday, Oct. 27 to purchase school supplies for delivery to CMS. For more details, contact Jeannice Theriot, 713.500.9878, or Jeannice.Theriot@uth.tmc.edu.

Send in the books

Because of Hurricane Ike, many children in the Galveston area have lost all of their belongings and even their homes. In an effort to bring some joy back into their lives, Half Price Books donated books worth $65,000 to the Children’s Learning Institute (CLI) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Pictured from left to right are: Half Price Books District Manager Lane Garrison; Reach Out and Read Director Kim Anderson; Junior League of Galveston County Member Jill Kaale; and Junior League of Galveston County President Marjorie Kovacevich.