June 2009

Welcome to UNC Health Care's Awards and Honors page for June 2009. If you or your colleagues at UNC Health Care have won an award or received an honor, send your information to Tom Hughes at tahughes@unch.unc.edu.

June 29

Michael Armstrong, M.D., Daniel Clarke-Pearson, M.D., AnnaMarie Connolly, M.D., Michael Evers, M.D., David Grimes, M.D., Sina Haeri, M.D., Jennifer Ragazzo, M.D. and Robert Strauss, M.D., received the Faculty Golden Tar Heel Award at the department of obstetrics and gynecology’s annual graduation banquet on June 20. Third year medical students chose the faculty who scored at or above the 90th percentile on the end of clerkship evaluation.

Lisa Barroilhet, M.D., and Reagan Saig, M.D., received the Espirit de Corps Award at the OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. This award is voted on by other residents to determine who best represents teamwork, spirit and pride.

Carmen Beamon, M.D., received the PGY 2 Excellence in Teaching Award at the OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. The first year class gave the award to the second year resident who demonstrated excellence in teaching to the first year class.

• Dr. Beamon was also awarded the Resident Teaching Award at the graduation banquet. Third year medical students gave the award for the resident who demonstrated excellence in teaching with an emphasis on undergraduate medical education.

• Dr. Beamon also received the Resident Goldent Tar Heel Award at the banquet.

Joel Bernstien, M.D., Justin Bottsford-Miller, M.D.,  Kelly Hankins, M.D., Darci Hansen, M.D., and Erica O'Neill, M.D., also received the Resident Golden Tar Heel Award at the OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. Third year medical students chose these residents for scoring at or above the 90th percentile on the end of clerkship resident evaluation.

Michael Evers, M.D., was awarded the APGO Excellence in Teaching Award at the OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. Third year medical students chose this faculy member for demonstrating excellence in teaching with an emphasis on undergraduate medical education.

David Grimes, M.D., received the Robert C. Cefalo Award at the annual OB/GYN graduation banquet. The chief resident class chose a faculty member who had excelled in teaching and mentoring during their four years of residency.

Gail E. Henderson, Ph.D., was elected as the chair of the Department of Social Medicine, effective July 1, 2009.

Freeman Jackson, M.D., received the Outstanding Obstetrical Anesthesiology Resident Award at the OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. Residents chose a UNC anesthesiology resident who was consistently collaborative, had excellent problem-solving skills, provided excellent patient care and was team oriented with the OB/GYN residents.

Cameron Mouro, M.D., was awarded the Droegemueller-Bowes Award at the OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. Residents choose the junior faculty member, who through excellence in teaching and commitment to patient care best exemplifies the qualities of Dr. William Droegemueller and Dr. Watson Bowes.

Beth Plante, M.D., was awarded the Fellow Teaching Award at the annual OB/GYN graduation banquet. Residents chose a fellow in recognition of significant contributions to the education mission in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Robert Strauss, M.D., was also awarded the GREOG Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education at the annual OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. The residents chose Dr. Strauss as the faculty member who excelled in their teaching and mentoring.

Jodie Tolley, R.N. (Wake Med), received the Outstanding Clinical Staff Award at the OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. The chief residents gave the award to a clinical support staff member or nurse who had consistently demonstrated excellence in clinical skills as well as worked effectively with the residents throughout their four years.

Matthew Will, M.D., received the Outstanding Clinical Care Award at the OB/GYN’s annual graduation banquet. Dr. John Steege chose the graduating resident who provided the most skillful, compassionate and innovative care to women with chronic pelvic pain.


June 22

Jarrett Barnhill, M.D., received the Frank J Menolascino award for the National Association of Dual Diagnosis in November. This is their highest award for distinguished contributions in the field of mental illness and intellectual disability.

• Jarrett was also elected Vice President of the NADD.
• Jarrett was re-appointed Chairman of the NC Commission for Children with Special Needs by Governor Perdue and he is serving as the co-chair of the Drug Utilization Review Committee for NC Medicaid and Medicare.

Kevin Biese, M.D., M.A., was awarded an Emergency Medicine grant from the Geriatrics Education for Specialty Residents (GSR) Program. Jan Busby-Whitehead, M.D., Ellen Roberts, M.D., Cherri Hobgood, M.D., along with the entire Futures Group for Geriatric Care will also participate in the $40,000 grant.  Dr. Biese is the PI and Program Director, and Dr. Busby-Whitehead is the Co-PI for the two-year study to develop, initiate, and evaluate Geriatrics programs and curricula for Emergency Medicine residents. 

Anne H. Calhoun, M.D., Department of Neurology, is presenting 7 abstracts this season at national meetings.  She has an article in next month's "Current Pain and Headache Reports" and will be invited faculty at the International Headache Congress in September.

Leigh Cantrell, M.D., et al won 3rd place in Translational Science Division at the Annual Scientific Retreat of Lineberger Cancer Center for the poster entitled: Metformin is a Potent Inhibitor of Endometrial Cancer Cell Proliferation - Implications for a Novel Treatment Strategy.

2009 Bowes Cefalo Young Researcher Awardees.  On behalf of the Watson Bowes and Robert Cefalo families, the Center for Maternal and Infant Health announced this year's recepients:

• Arthur Baker, M.D., was awarded $5,000 to support his work on the Association of Paraoxonase 1 Activity in Preeclampsia.

• Sina Haeri, M.D., was awarded $5,000 to support his work, which seeks to demonstrate that Epstein-Barr Virus reactivation is associated with maternal psychosocial stress in pregnancy.
• William Goodnight, M.D., was awarded $7,500 to support his proposal to establish a centralized maternal specimen/serum bank for research.

• Lisa Barroilhet, M.D., was a recipient of the 2009 Robert C. Cefalo House Officer Award.

Samantha Meltzer-Brody, M.D.,  received notification that her NIH K23 Mentored Career Development Award entitled "HPA Stress Reactivity and Genetic Influences in Postpartum Depression" was funded for five years beginning on July 1.

Philip Brubaker, STEP Gallery artist, has been nominated for the 2009 Voice Award for his film documentary, "Brushes With Life,"  The Voice Awards are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a national public service campaign to promote understanding and support for those with mental illnesses.  Philip has other artwork on display throughout the Department.

Rob Christian, M.D., FAAP, has been appointed a new position at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD).  Dr. Christian’s primary focus at the CIDD will be launching a new statewide effort for augmenting medical care for individuals with autism. The specific aim will be to improve management of medical problems and pharmacologic treatment of problem behaviors and psychiatric symptoms in individuals with autism.

William L. Coleman, M.D., won a "Recognition of Service" award in May 2009 from the American Academy of Pediatrics for his 8 years of service, including being chair of the AAP committee on psychosocial aspects of child and family health, which develops policy statements and technical-clinical reports for the AAP, as well as many family practitioners  on issues that impact child and family development and well being.

Mohanish Deshmukh, Ph.D., accepted an invitation to serve on Editorial Board of Oncogene

Chris Dibble, currently a third-year M.D./Ph.D. student, won the Wins Bean Student Research award for his proposal entitled "Osler and Trudeau: The North American Campaign Against Tuberculosis." Dibble is the third UNC medical student to receive this award in the last four years. Last year Chris also won the inaugural McLendon-Thomas Award in the History of Medicine

Douglas R. Dirschl, M.D., Frank C. Wilson Distinguished Professor and Chairman of the UNC Department of Orthopaedics, was elected into the presidential line of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) on June 12, at the 2009 annual meeting of the AOA. This commitment, which begins immediately, will culminate with Dr. Dirschl serving as the 124th president of the American Orthopaedic Association from June 2011 to June 2012.

Jenny Edwards,L.C.S.W., Paul Morea, L.C.S.W., and Bebe Smith, L.C.S.W.,accepted a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the Department of Psychiatry at the School of Social Work Field Instructors Appreciation Conference for the department's role in the clinical training of graduate students from the School of Social Work. Elisabeth Scott, L.C.S.W., Julie McIntyre,L.C.S.W., Nancy Berson, L.C.S.W., and others are long-time field instructors in the Department who have a deep commitment to clinical training of new social workers.  

Matthew G. Ewend, M.D., received the the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery Honored Alumnus Award.  He was recognized for his accomplishments in academic neurosurgery since he graduated from John Hopkins.

Jeffrey A. Frelinger, Ph.D., was elected vice president of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI).

John H. Grose, Ph.D., was invited to give a talk at the Auditory Research Meeting at Doshishi University in Japan, May 29-30. The meeting was organized by the Psychological and Physiological Acoustics Technical Committee of the Acoustical Society of Japan. Dr. Grose’s talk was entitled “Processing of temporal envelopes and fine structure as a function of age.” Following the conference, Dr. Grose toured the impressive laboratory facilities of Prof. Hiroshi Riquimaroux, the primary organizer of the meeting, and meet with his students.

Bob Hamer, Ph.D., completed his fifth consecutive year serving as faculty in the American Psychiatric Association APIRE Research Colloquium for Junior Investigators in San Francisco, May 17, 2009.

Thomas Ivester, M.D., traveled to Ghana in June as part of a multi-year interdisciplinary project as a member of Kybele Worldwide.  This organization's goal is to establish a model for optimizing perinatal care in low resource settings, reducing maternal and perinatal mortality.

• He was also named to the Board of Directors for Kyble Worldwide. 

• Dr. Ivester was named to the Steering Committee for the new UNC Office of International Activities.

David Janowsky, M.D., will be chairing a symposium at the 9th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry ( WFSBP) entitled "Antipsychotic Treatment of Aggression in the Intellectually Disabled-A Growing Controversy" and presenting a paper entitled "Antipsychotic Treatment of Aggression in the Intellectually Disabled."

• Dr. Janowsky will also be serving as the Co-Chair of a Free Communication Session on Psychopharmacology at the same meeting and presenting a paper in that session entitled "Effects of Chronic Lithium Administration on Renal Function in the Intellectually Disabled."
• Dr. Janowsky authored a paper in the June 2009 issue of the  Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology entitled "Effects of Lithium on Renal Glomerular Function in Individuals with Intellectual Disability."

Hank Levine, M.D., is an alumnus of the residency program, finishing up at the end of 1978. He recently received his first copy of the Department Update. He is a private practitioner in Bellingham, WA and Clinical Assistant Prof. at the Univ. of Washington.

• Hank was recently named chairman of the Psychopharmacology Committee of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL).

Erin Mallohy, M.D., was recently named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Robert McClure, M.D., presented an imaging-genetics abstract at the Society for Biological Psychiatry meeting May 15, presenting the results of an exploratory analysis of the association between genetic variation in NRG1 with two putative intermediate phenotypes (lifetime history of psychotic symptoms and anterior cingulate gyrus grey matter volume).  The abstract was entitled "Association of NRG1 snp rs3924999 with Lifetime History of Psychosis and Decreased Anterior Cingulate Grey Matter Volume in Bipolar Disorder".

• Dr. McClure gave grand rounds at New Hanover Regional Medical Center on June 4 with his presentation entitled "Electroconvulsive Therapy:  Review and Update"

A. Leslie Morrow, Ph.D., was recently named Secretary of the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Herbert Peterson, M.D., has been named a Kenan Distinguished Professor of maternal and child health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Ben Philpot, Ph.D., published his article "Ube3a is required for experience-dependent maturation of the neocortex on Nature Neuroscience in May."

Joseph S Pagano, M.D., Lineberger Professor of Cancer Research and director emeritus of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been appointed to a four-year term on the Science Board of the Food and Drug Administration.

Aziz Sancar,Ph.D., M.D., Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from UT-Dallas.

Rick Segal, Ph.D., professor and director of the Division of Physical Therapy in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, has been elected as a 2009 Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association, the most prestigious recognition granted by the organization.

Jean Sellers, R.N., M.S.N., O.C.N., has been invited to serve on a national task force that will make recommendations on best practices for patient navigators. The task force has been charged with identifying key areas where the Oncology Nursing Society can serve as a source of best practices, define professional models of patient navigation and clarify the knowledge base needed by oncology nurses serving in this role. 

Brian Strahl, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics, received  the 2009 Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prize for outstanding Artistic and Scholarly Achievement by a junior faculty member.

Patrick Sullivan, M.D., is a central part of the International Schizophrenia Consortium and had a paper on common genetic variation accepted into Nature.

The UNC Division of Advanced Laparoscopy & Pelvic Pain was the recipient of a foundation grant to develop and implement the first-ever Vulvodynia Treatment Registry, a multi-site registry. 

• The Division is also the recipient of a National Vulvodynia Association seed grant award to investigate the nature of bio-molecular abnormality in Vulvodynia and Temporomandibular disorders.  This study is in collaboration with Center for Neurosensory Disorders at UNC.

The UNC Horizons Program received an annual grant of $441,352 from the NC Division of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Disabilities to add 6 additional apartments to their residential program.  These apartments are for pregnant substance abusing women and their children. Horizons now has a total of 22 residential apartments.

The UNC Neuroscience Center received an Institutional Development Grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center

Steven Young, M.D., Ph.D., received a promotion to tenured associate professor.  He also received NC TraC$10K Pilot Grant: Progesterone Resistance in Endometriosis: A Pilot Study.

Yi Zhang, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysic, was named the Kenan Distinguished Professor effective July 1, 2009.

Denniz Zolnoun, M.D., M.P.H., was one of two presenters at the 2009 NIH PAIN Consortium to receive a $700 award for presentation merits for her poster and presentation.  Dr. Zolnoun is the first gynecologist to receive this award.

 

May 2009 Honors and Awards

April 2009 Honors and Awards

March 2009 Honors and Awards

February 2009 Honors and Awards