UAB Department of Anesthesiology

From the Archives: February 2012

2012-02-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

This month's From the Archives post features two very important events in our department’s history took place in February.

February 14, 1949

On February 14, 1949, the department's residency program was certified for the first time. On this date Dr. E.H. Leveroos, Associate Secretary of the A.M.A.'s Council on Medical Education and Hospitals, wrote a letter to Arthur L. Bailey, Administrator of Jefferson-Hillman Hospital. "Official approval of the residency program in Anesthesiology at Jefferson-Hillman Hospital is herewith extended on the basis of action taken by the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals, in concurrence with the American Board of Anesthesiology," Dr. Leveroos noted.

In the April 15, 1950, issue of JAMA listing all approved residencies and fellowships in the U.S., our residency was one of two in Alabama. The other [and older] one was based at Employees' Hospital of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company [what became Lloyd Noland Hospital] in Fairfield. This report noted 9,714 anesthetics were administered at Jefferson-Hillman Hospital annually; 8,470 of those were inhalation anesthetics.

Parliament House Motor Hotel in its heyday.
[Built in 1964 and demolished in 2008]
Courtesy BPL Archives

February 24-25, 1973

On February 24-25, 1973, the Department's first annual Review Course was held at the Parliament House Hotel. The only topics on the agenda were Ketamine and Innovar, favorites of then Chairman Guenther Corssen, M.D. Only two guest speakers appeared on the program, Dr. John Dillon, Chairman at UCLA and Dr. Brian Craythorne, Chairman at the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Fred R. Brosch
1980

The Alabama State Society of Anesthesiologists became a co-sponsor beginning with the 1978 event. The first 25 Review Course programs were developed by Dr. Frederick Brosch, Professor Emeritus, who retired from the department in 1998. His account of those 25 courses, "Thanks for the Memories--of 25 Review Courses" can be found in the ASSA Newsletter 14(2): 3, 5, February 1997, available in the department's library. The syllabuses from most years of the review course are also available in the departmental library.

More about the department's history can be found in "A Chronological History of Our Department" at:

http://www.uasom.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/Anesthesiology/Timeline.pdf

-A.J. Wright, M.L.S.

What's Happening This Week - Tuesday Report

2012-02-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

Tuesday Report

Volume 31, Number 8

http://www.uasom.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/anesthesiology/TR0221.pdf

2012 Difficult Airway Workshop

2012-02-15T13:47:00.001-08:00

The department recently held the annual difficult airway workshop on January 28, 2012. This four-hour course included case-based discussions followed by six hands-on skill workstations and simulations led by UAB Anesthesiology faculty. Difficult airways can present themselves in the form of face mask ventilation of the upper airway, difficulty with tracheal intubation, or both.

Lecture topics included difficult airway predictors, pediatric difficult airways, airway anatomy, traumatic airway neck injuries, and emergent airway and surgical techniques. Representation was seen from numerous anesthesia residents and faculty, CRNAs, pulmonary/critical care fellows, ENT faculty, and respiratory therapy students. Seven industry representatives were present to display the newest tools on the market.

Dr. Elizabeth Driscoll, assistant professor in the department and coordinator of this year’s workshop, expressed how important and beneficial this refresher/training course is to any medical personnel. “Our department takes a proactive approach towards training, and to that end, this workshop helps prepare us for the rare contingencies we may face in the OR. It provides an opportunity for residents to perfect skills that are otherwise not a routine part of our day.” If you have additional questions about this year’s workshop, please feel free to contact Dr. Driscoll at edriscoll@uab.edu.

More pictures below:

New Training Program in TEE

2012-02-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

Under the direction of faculty members, Dr. Lynn Simons, Dr. Matthew Townsley and Dr. Rhett Lyerly, the UAB Department of Anesthesiology is now offering transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) basic training in preparation for certification for interested residents and fellows.

TEE is an emerging technology used to monitor heart function during cardiac surgery, as well as in perioperative locations outside of the cardiac operating room. TEE is extremely useful in detecting masses, tumors, and blood clots located in the heart. This procedure can also gauge the severity of certain heart valve problems and help guide anesthetic management.

The training for the TEE certification includes both didactic lectures and practical exams. The lecture series covers materials and topics found on the basic exam and primarily focuses on the use of TEE as a monitor in non-cardiac surgery. Specific examples include: analysis of ventricular function, wall-motion abnormalities, volume status, valvular disorders and unexplained hemodynamic instability. In addition to the didactic program, participants must complete fifty TEE exams in the OR, which can be completed between clinical responsibilities on other rotations. Third year residents have an option to take a full month elective in TEE.

This comprehensive educational curriculum prepares residents and fellows for success in achieving a basic TEE certification before they graduate, giving them an extra skill and edge in the job marketplace when they graduate. To obtain more information on this certification, please contact Dr. Matthew Townsley at mtowns@uab.edu or Dr. Lynn Simons at lsimons@uab.edu.

2012 Resident Interviews Complete!

2012-02-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

The 2012 UAB Department of Anesthesiology resident interview season is officially complete.

After 19 days of interviews and 150 resident applicants, the department selection committee now has the tough job of selecting 21 residents to join our program in June! Fifteen residents will start at the PGY-1 level and six will start at the PGY-2 level.

A special thanks to Dr. Susan Black, vice chair for education and residency program director, members of the resident recruitment committee, as well as Linda Westendorf, Celia Keenan and Margaret Dodd, in the Office of Education, for countless hours invested in seamlessly scheduling and implementing these interviews.

Stay tuned as we will post the names of our 2012 residents on match day, March 16^th!

What's Happening This Week - Tuesday Report

2012-02-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

Tuesday Report

Volume 31, Number 6

http://www.uasom.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/anesthesiology/TR0207.pdf

ADAPT: Pain Research Initiative and Save the Date

2012-02-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

Timothy Ness, MD, PhD

The Alliance for the Development and Advancement of Pain Treatment (ADAPT) was started in 2011 as an initiative of the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center. The initiative is co-directed by anesthesiology faculty members, Dr. Timothy Ness and Dr. Meredith Robbins.

Meredith Robbins, PhD

The mission of ADAPT is to promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Alabama by fostering interdisciplinary pain research programs, providing a research infrastructure for scientists and clinicians interested in pain-related research, training and educating, recruitment of established scientists and clinicians, and promoting outreach.

Currently, ADAPT members are affiliated with a number of different departments including: anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychology, radiology, neurology and neurosurgery. ADAPT is in the process of developing a sophisticated website that fosters and facilitates pain-related research. The site will also include a patient education component and a bulletin board forum which will allow the website to reach a large number of individuals in the community.

You can learn more about ADAPT by attending the 2012 Pain Symposium that will take place on March 27, 2012, at Children’s Harbor in Birmingham, Alabama. This event will feature lectures by well-known pain experts from across the country, as well as eleven UAB pain researchers.

Andrew Ahn, MD, PhD (University of Florida - Gainesville)
Maria Fitzgerald, PhD (University College, London)
Kathleen Sluka, PhD, PT (Univeristy of Iowa)
Emeran Mayer, MD (UCLA)

Stay tuned for more information.

UAB Magazine Features Department Faculty, Dr. Ronald M. Roan

2012-02-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

UAB Magazine, the flagship publication of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, features Dr. Ronald M. Roan, UAB assistant professor of anesthesiology, and Randy Lucas, a UAB registered nurse, in its January story, Recipes for Renewal.

Check it out!

Cultivating Interest in Anesthesia Research Among Medical Students - FAER Fellowship Program

2012-02-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology serves as a host institution for the Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF). Developed by the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER), the MSARF was created to encourage talented medical students to consider careers in perioperative medicine and anesthesia research. MSARF recipients participate in an eight-week anesthesia-related experience and are given the opportunity to present their findings at the FAER MSARF Symposium at the American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting.

Most recently, Ben Roberts, a second-year medical student, was awarded the fellowship at UAB. Roberts, who serves as president of the UAB Student Interest Research Group in Anesthesia, found interest in a study entitled, “Sensory Processing in Subjects with Painful Bladder Syndrome.” Directed by department faculty members, Drs. Timothy Ness and Meredith Robbins, the study focused on determining the effects of stress on bladder hypersensitivity and the possibility of a therapeutic intervention, either behaviorally or pharmacologically.

Roberts was also given the opportunity to translate his research experience into the clinical setting by shadowing Dr. Ness in his clinical duties in the pain clinic and the operating room. “Having the opportunity to see the field of anesthesiology as a whole was thoroughly enjoyable and very beneficial in helping me make my next decisions,” Roberts stated. “The largest reward of this grant has been the chance for me to make invaluable connections and network with other physicians, residents, and lab personnel.” Roberts has had an interest in anesthesiology for several years, however it was through this experience that he was able to confirm that anesthesiology was the career path he would like to take.

Ben recently presented a poster with his findings at the FAER MSARF Symposium at the 2011 American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting in Chicago. To see his poster, please visit this link.

What's Happening This Week in the Department

2012-01-31T19:16:00.000-08:00

Tuesday Report

Volume 31, Number 5

http://www.uasom.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/anesthesiology/TR0131.pdf

Matalon Begins His Tenure as Editor-in-Chief of AJP-Lung

2012-01-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

Sadis Matalon, Ph.D., the Alice McNeal Professor and vice chair for research in the department, has begun his three-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.

“As a young scientist, my mentors taught me the importance of serving in editorial roles,” says Matalon. “It is a big responsibility, but it provides an incredible opportunity to impact the careers of new scientists and the future of pulmonary research.”

A key priority for Dr. Matalon in his role as editor is to reach out to young investigators in the field. To accomplish this, Dr. Matalon and his team of associate editors plan to attend a large number of scientific meetings and talk with presenters one-on-one.

“We plan to engage young scientists presenting their work, ask probing questions that will help with their research and give them a business card saying we would love to see their work sent to our journal,” Matalon says. “This doesn’t guarantee a publication, but it helps provide the encouragement that many new scientists need.”

Team Effort

Dr. Matalon is quick to acknowledge that his role as editor is - and will be - a team effort. “Achievements like becoming an editor do not happen without the support of others,” says Matalon. “Support from the community, the administration, my lab and our department chairman, Dr. Tony Jones, have all helped make this happen. Under Dr. Jones’ leadership, the research mission of the department has really grown and is becoming nationally known for its contribution to basic, translational and hypothesis driven clinical research. UAB is an exciting place to be.”

Other prominent anesthesiologists will also assist Dr. Matalon over the next three years through roles as editorial board members and assistant editors.

· Associate Editor:

o Y. S. Prakash, MD, PhD, Professor of Anesthesiology, Mayo School of Medicine

· Editorial Board Members:

o Charles Emala, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology and Vice Chairman for Research, Columbia University

o Roger Johns, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

o Sir Masao Takata, MD, PhD, Sir Ivan Magill Chair of Anesthetics and Head Section of Anesthesia, Imperial College of London, UK

o Jae Woo Lee, MD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology in Residence, University of California, San Francisco

o Michael Matthay, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Francisco

o Jeanine Wiener-Kronish, Anesthetist-in-Chief; Henry Isaiah Dorr Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Matalon, who directs the UAB Pulmonary and Injury Repair Center, has served on the faculty of the UAB Department of Anesthesiology for 24 years.

Learn more about Dr. Matalon’s vision for AJP-Lung in his editor’s note.

Meet our Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Fellows: Dr. Mike Shelton and Dr. Kasia Walosik

2012-01-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

To wrap up this week’s posts on cardiothoracic anesthesia, we introduce you to our 2011-2012 cardiothoracic anesthesia fellows, Dr. Mike Shelton and Dr. Kasia Walosik.

Dr. Mike Shelton

Dr. Mike Shelton’s grandparents teased him as a child that one day he might turn out to be a doctor. However, it wasn’t until his mother underwent bypass surgery at the age of 38 that he decided to pursue medicine. His interest in anesthesiology peaked when he got involved in the anesthesiology interest group as a fourth year medical student at the University of Florida. Through this experience, he was exposed to the OR and completed a TEE rotation.

Dr. Shelton completed his anesthesiology residency training at UAB in 2010 and was given the opportunity to stay on board for a cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship. Dr. Shelton’s desire to stay at UAB was prompted by his enjoyable experiences working with the faculty, the variety and volume of cases and his growing appreciation of the Birmingham area.

“It is very rewarding to work with residents, see their progress and know that I have helped along the way,” said Dr. Shelton. He stated with confidence that the education and experience he is receiving at UAB will provide him with a solid foundation for a career in cardiac anesthesiology.

Dr. Shelton will be joining the division faculty in July 2012.

Dr. Kasia Walosik

Dr. Kasia Walosik and her family immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1986. Other close family friends joined them on the move overseas, several of which included physicians. Growing up, Dr. Walosik can remember the dinner table conversations always being about medicine. This peaked her interests in medicine, and she had set out to become a physician herself.

After completing both medical school and an anesthesiology residency at the University of Florida, Dr. Walosik decided she needed a change of scenery for her fellowship year. The UAB Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Program came highly recommended by several of her professors at UF, citing the excellent teaching faculty and facilities. Dr. Walosik was looking for a fellowship program that would have a similar case load as UF, but that could expose her to a higher number of thoracic cases. After visiting Birmingham, she was confident with her decision to start her cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship position at UAB July of 2011.

Although Dr. Walosik calls herself an adrenaline junkie and thrives on being in the OR, she also thoroughly enjoys teaching the medical students and junior residents. “To get their insight, give them mine, and work together through a new case is very gratifying for me,” says Dr. Walosik.

Dr. Walosik is currently studying for the boards, but in her spare time enjoys photography, kayaking and other outdoor activities.

Training Leaders in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia

2012-01-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

Dr. Frederick A. Hensley, Jr.

Dr. Matthew M. Townsley

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology offers two cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship positions each year. Co-directed by Dr. Frederick A. Hensley, Jr., and Dr. Matthew M. Townsley, this one-year, ACGME accredited fellowship provides the experience and training necessary to become a well-rounded cardiac anesthesiologist, skillful in both independent anesthesia practice and supervision, ready to excel in any practice environment.

Fellows are exposed to a full spectrum of cardiac cases, including on- and off-pump coronary revascularization, valve repair and replacement, major aortic reconstruction, adult congenital heart disease operations, transmyocardial laser revascularization, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, ventricular assist device placement, as well as a busy heart and lung transplantation services.

Candidates selected to the fellowship program have ample opportunity for teaching and leadership development. Fellows provide resident supervision and actively participate in the didactic program, leading discussions and presentations with residents rotating on the service.

The cardiothoracic anesthesiology consists of the following rotations:

Cardiac OR at UAB Hospital or Birmingham VA Hospital	6-7 months
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)	2 months (or equivalent)
Non-Cardiac Thoracic Surgery	1 month (or equivalent)
Postoperative care of the cardiac surgical patient	1 month
Electives	1-2 months

Fellowship applications are reviewed approximately 18 months prior to the start of the fellowship year, with interview invitations typically beginning in March. Decisions to extend offers to selected candidates are made in June. If you would like additional information about this program please contact Kamara Savage at (205)996-9671. You can also visit our website at www.anes.uab.edu for more information.

Excellence in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia

2012-01-23T15:17:00.000-08:00

This week, The Scope takes a closer look at the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia.

The UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology is committed to excellence in cardiothoracic anesthesia patient care, education and research.

Each year, the division provides comprehensive anesthesia care for approximately 650 adult and 1,100 pediatric cardiac catheterizations and operations, as well as 1,500 thoracic cases. These cases include an extensive amount of thoracic surgery, pediatric congenital surgery and valve repairs. A large number of aortic surgeries use circulatory arrest or partial left heart bypass. Division faculty members also utilize transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for diagnostic purposes in the operating room. A full range of transplant services is also offered for adult and pediatric cases.

Dr. Frederick A. Hensely, Jr.
Vice Chair, Clinical Anesthesia

Scholarly activity is also a priority within the division, with faculty members nationally recognized through their presentations, workshops and publishing. Vice chair for clinical anesthesia and medical director of anesthesia for the UAB Health System, Dr. Frederick A. Hensley, Jr., is currently working on publishing his 5th edition of A Practical Approach to Cardiac Anesthesia. This textbook is required reading in anesthesia residency programs around the country. Five members of the cardiothoracic faculty are contributing chapters to this edition: Drs. Jack Crawford, Thomas Gayeski, Mike Shelton (fellow), Brad Steenwyk and Matthew Townsley.

Dr. Thomas Gayeski
Division Director

For 2012, the division will continue to work collaboratively with the divisions of cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology to develop common clinical, education and quality improvement goals and objectives. The division offices will also move to a new home in the UAB Women and Infants Center, to make room for an OR expansion in UAB Hospital’s North Pavilion.

The division is led by Dr. Thomas Gayeski and includes ten full-time faculty members. The division offers two ACGME-accredited fellowships each year.

Members of the division include:

Thomas E. J. Gayeski, MD, PhD, Division Director
Frederick A. Hensley, Jr., Vice Chair for Clinical Anesthesia
Victoria Belopolsky, MD
Quinton Gurley, MD
Colleen Henling, MD
Rhett Lyerly, MD
Meeta Sheth, MD
Marvin Simons, MD
James Sparrow, MD
Brad Steenwyk, MD

Are You Registered for 40th Annual Anesthesiology Review Course?

2012-01-18T06:13:00.000-08:00

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology will host its 40th Annual Anesthesiology Review Course on Saturday, February 18th and Sunday, February 19th at the Wynfrey Hotel, Riverchase Galleria.

This accredited course features Dr. Jerry Cohen, President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and Dr. Andy Harris, Congressman, 1st District of Maryland. Early registration closes on January 22, so don't forget to send in your registration forms.

Download the complete program and registration information here.

We hope to see you there!

From The Archives :: January 2012

2012-01-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

This month's From the Archives post features a brief history of the department's Tuesday Report.

The first issue of the Tuesday Report appeared on September 29, 1981, and has been published 50 weeks a year ever since. In January 1980 the first issue of a departmental quarterly newsletter had appeared and was primarily the work of Mary Bartlett, an employee in UAB's Office of University Relations.

In March 1981, Chair Edward Ernst, M.D., hired her as the department's Communications Coordinator. At a departmental Research Retreat in June, Bartlett suggested a weekly publication to fill the gaps between quarterly newsletters. The publication has remained largely unchanged since that first issue. A complete bound set of issues can be found in the departmental library.

--A.J. Wright, M.L.S.

We will start posting the Tuesday Report each week to help keep you updated on what is happening in the department. Here's a link to this week's report:

http://www.uasom.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/Anesthesiology/TR0117.pdf

Experience is the Best Teacher: Medical Student Rotations in Anesthesiology

2012-01-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

Choosing a specialty is one of the most important decisions a medical student can make. With a myriad of choices, it is often difficult to decide which path to pursue. To help students learn more about the field of anesthesiology and if it is right for them, the department offers rotations for third and fourth year medical students.

Opportunities include inpatient anesthesia, anesthesiology critical care, and chronic pain/cancer pain management. Rotations are offered in 2 and 4 week blocks, during which students directly observe techniques and procedures which will be crucial to the decision making process.

The inpatient anesthesia rotation provides a total immersion experience for students, including shadowing an anesthesia resident while on overnight call. There are also opportunities for observation of invasive monitoring and regional anesthesia. The critical care elective focuses on the essentials of subsystem support with emphasis on hemodynamic and respiratory management. The chronic pain/cancer pain management elective introduces the student to common chronic and cancer pain problems and presents them with an appreciation of treatment options. Student may also opt for a rotation with the VA anesthesiology service or anesthesiology research.

Requirements include attendance at morning clinical conferences, grand rounds, core curriculum and practice management subjects, continuous quality improvement conferences, medical student lectures and meetings with the vice chair for education. For more information about the anesthesiology medical school rotation, please contact Linda Westendorf (lhw3344@uab.edu) or Margaret Dodd (mdodd@uab.edu) at (205) 934-6525. For course registration, non-UAB visiting students should contact Theresa J. Millender at (205) 934-2332. UAB students should contact Lacy Gilliland at (205) 934-7976.

Supporting Medical Student Interest in Anesthesia

2012-01-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

This week, The Scope is dedicated to taking a closer look to student-focused activities of the department. Today's post focuses on the UAB Student Interest Group in Anesthesiology.

The mission of the UAB Student Interest Group in Anesthesiology (SIGA) is to create opportunities for medical students to more thoroughly investigate a career in anesthesiology. These opportunities are for students who have already identified anesthesiology as a career path, as well as those with undecided plans. The UAB Department of Anesthesiology sponsors and supports SIGA to fulfill this mission through meetings, projects, journal clubs, dinners, and workshops.

Dr. Alethia Baldwin Sellers, an assistant professor in the department and the director of medical student education, said “the greatest benefit SIGA provides is the opportunity for students to network with those who have been in the field for years. Medical students are able to individually interact with the chair, vice-chairs, and directors of the department during SIGA meetings. Students are always impressed by the caliber of faculty and appreciate that they take time out of their day to teach them more about the profession.”

Ben Roberts, the 2011-2012 president of SIGA, spoke about the great connection this program fosters between medical students and the UAB Department of Anesthesiology. “Medical students not only learn more about perioperative medicine and anesthesia, but are encouraged to participate. Students can shadow an anesthesiologist (faculty, resident or fellow), participate in a research project or take call with a resident. This gives us the hands on experience to solidify our decisions to go into anesthesiology,” said Roberts.

If you are interested in learning more about the program or becoming a part of SIGA, please contact Ben Roberts at bbrobert@uab.edu.

Research Spotlight: Dr. Meredith Robbins

2011-12-21T04:39:00.000-08:00

Dr. Meredith Robbins, an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology, has been awarded a two-year grant from the Department of Defense to study the effectiveness of intranasal oxytocin on interstitial cystitis (IC), a painful bladder condition that affects more than four million Americans. Associated with pelvic pain, pressure, urinary frequency and urgency, IC has no known origin and has proven challenging to diagnose and treat.

Dr. Robbins’ previous studies have found that oxytocin, a hormone naturally produced during lactation and childbirth, decreased overall anxiety and pain when administered in animal models. This non-invasive treatment, if found beneficial, could potentially help relieve symptoms in patients that experience interstitial cystitis and possibly for other forms of chronic pain as well.

This study will be the first to look at the role of oxytocin and IC in humans. “Unfortunately, there is no single treatment that provides relief for all patients, and some patients do not experience any improvement after undergoing multiple treatments. It is exciting to think that we may be able to make a difference in the quality of life of people who are suffering from this debilitating disorder,” said Dr. Robbins.

Dr. Meredith Robbins graduated with a B.S. in biology from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and obtained her Ph.D. through the Behavioral Neuroscience Graduate Program in the Department of Psychology at UAB. She completed her postdoctoral training in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland. She returned to UAB to complete a second postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Anesthesiology and subsequently joined the faculty as an assistant professor in 2008.

Accelerating Discovery: Focus on Pain Research

2011-12-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

This week, The Scope is dedicated to taking a closer look at the department’s work in pain research.

Through basic, clinical and translational research, researchers in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology are dedicated to discovering new knowledge about acute and chronic pain conditions, helping to accelerate improvements in its diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Dr. Sadis Matalon, Professor and Vice Chair, Research

“Our current research projects are great examples of bench to bedside,” says Dr. Sadis Matalon, professor and vice chair for research. “We should never forget that our research is about improving the quality of life for patients. With a strong collaboration between basic and clinical researchers, the department is able to conduct truly translational research.” Some active pain research studies focus on the pain associated with interstitial cystitis, pediatric chronic pain, and sedation and its effect on pain.

Acute and chronic pain is a significant public health challenge. A recent report from the Institute of Medicine estimates that 116 million American adults suffer from chronic pain, costing the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatment and lost productivity. The report, Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education and Research, was developed by national pain experts from across the country, including department faculty member, Ursula Wesselmann, MD, PhD.

To learn more about the department’s pain research program, please visit our website http://www.anes.uab.edu/.

From the Archives: December 2011

2011-12-16T11:46:00.000-08:00

Below is an excerpt from a paper written by senior resident, Dr. Luke E. Bracke. His paper is entitled, Airway Innovation and a Passion for Education: The Legacy of James Boyce, M.D., at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Bracke will be submitting his paper for review by one of the major anesthesiology journals. His full paper is available here.

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology has been fortunate to host many great leaders in the field of anesthesia. One such leader is Dr. James R. Boyce who is arguably one of the most influential and inspiring physician educators in the UAB family. In December of 2011, Dr. Boyce will retire, leaving a legacy of novel airway management and nearly three decades of anesthesiologists who credit him with much of their resident education.

Dr. Boyce, New Residents Dinner, The Club, 1987

From 1980 through 2011, Dr. Boyce has been a leader in the anesthesiology program at UAB, teaching medical students and residents the fundamentals anesthesia. His contributions to the educational program are numerous and demonstrate profound innovation and imagination. He has worn many hats at UAB including Director of Resident Medical Education, Division Chief of Anesthesia Services, and Interim Chair.

Dr. Boyce has been a passionate advocate of resident and medical student education throughout his entire career, as well as respected leader in the department and hospital system.

Dr. Boyce is consistently recognized for his passion for teaching. He is often voted among residents and medical students as a top educator within the Department of Anesthesiology. From 1984-present, he has been voted a top ten teacher annually. Dr. Boyce won the Excellence in Medical Student Teaching every year from 1999-2010. Furthermore, the UAB anesthesiology residents voted Dr. Boyce Teacher of the Year in 1984, 1985, 2007, 2009, and 2010.

Dr. Boyce has displayed unmistakable imagination and innovation with respect to airway management. These contributions, coupled with his passion for education, make him a most valuable asset to the UAB Department of Anesthesiology.

However, Dr. Boyce will be remembered most within the department as a man with integrity and certain inner calmness. Whether commanding a difficult airway or saying a prayer with a patient prior to induction of anesthesia, calmness was always palpable in his presence. This calm was contagious within the operating room and is a skill which few anesthesiologists master. Dr. Boyce has given the University of Alabama at Birmingham much to be grateful for during his most respected career. Countless attending physicians, residents, and patients have benefitted from Dr. Boyce’s superior service.

He will be greatly missed.

Meet our New Executive Administrator: Thomas P. Lynch

2011-12-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

We would like to introduce you to the department's new executive administrator, Thomas P. Lynch. Tom joined the department in October, and we are very excited to have him as part of our leadership team.

If you had three words to describe yourself, what would they be?

Grateful. Committed. Happy.

What is your personal mission statement?

My personal mission statement is to enjoy the company of the people you have in your life – personally and professionally.

How long have you worked at UAB?

I came to UAB in 1997 from Washington University in St. Louis, so I have been here for 14 years. Before joining the Department of Anesthesiology, I served as Director of Administration and Finance for the Division of Cardiovascular Disease for 14 years and the Interim Director of Administration and Finance for the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology for the past two.

Describe your role as an executive administrator?

My role is to work as a team with the chairman and departmental leadership to represent the department in its business development efforts within the health system. This includes representing anesthesia faculty in discussions that involve clinical affairs, the research enterprise, or academic/teaching missions. Along with our great staff, I will be focused on the business affairs of the department, working to ensure long-term financial stability for the Department of Anesthesiology. It is important that we continue to attract and obtain the finest faculty and staff to promote all three missions and promote the strategic goals of the health system.

What is your vision or strategic plan for the UAB Department of Anesthesiology?

My vision is to be a trusted advocate for our faculty as we negotiate new business ventures. The opportunities with the Department of Anesthesiology at UAB are significant and to the extent our department fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth for faculty and staff, we and our patients will benefit! I am grateful to Dr. Jones and his leadership team for this opportunity.

Brooks Named Assistant Editor of Headache Journal

2011-12-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology would like to congratulate Dr. Amber Keller Brooks, who has been recently named assistant editor of Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.

During her one-year pain fellowship at The Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Brooks was intrigued by her rotation through the headache clinic. “The Cleveland Clinic is one of the world’s leaders in headache research and treatment, and it was so gratifying to see people experience relief from debilitating headaches,” said Dr. Brooks. “It is my hope that one day UAB will have a similar program to help those who suffer from headaches. Until that point, staying involved and up-to-date on the research is very important to me.”

Dr. Brooks is an assistant professor of anesthesiology and a member of the department’s pain medicine division. Her other clinical interests include interventional management of facial pain and healthcare inequalities in pain medicine.

Headache has been in publication for 50 years, is the official journal of the American Headache Society and includes review articles, diagnosis and management, communications on clinical and basic research, case reports and much more. For more information on the journal you can visit their website at www.headachejournal.org.

McKeown Earns Board Certification in Palliative Medicine

2011-12-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Dr. Jason McKeown, associate professor of anesthesiology and medical director of UAB’s Inpatient Pain Service, has earned his board certification in palliative medicine.

“Palliative care is of natural interest to me,” says McKeown. “Treating pain associated with life threatening illness, such as cancer, is extremely challenging, but I find it to be very rewarding. It’s not just about treating pain—it is relieving suffering.”

After frequently collaborating with UAB’s palliative medicine physicians on their toughest pain patients and participating in a palliative care interdisciplinary team, it was ultimately the loss of a close friend that helped McKeown make the final decision to obtain his certification. Besides being a physical and mental reality check, this changed Dr. McKeown’s perception of his role as a physician. “Medicine is best when it is holistic and addresses all of a suffering patient’s needs. I don’t want to ever lose sight of that,” says McKeown.

New Director of Development and Alumni Relations

2011-12-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

The department is pleased to announce the addition of Kristen Farmer Hall, MPH, who has joined the UAB Department of Anesthesiology as Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

In her role, Kristen serves as a liaison between alumni and the department, helping build strong relationships with alumni and creating opportunities for networking, collaboration and continuing education. Kristen also works with department leadership to set strategic goals and initiatives for philanthropic support.

“The UAB Department of Anesthesiology has a rich history of excellence in patient care, research and education,” says Kristen. “I am excited to be a part of helping advance this mission and creating a strong network of UAB anesthesiology alumni.”

Kristen holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Samford University and a master’s degree in public health from UAB. Prior to her role in anesthesiology, she served as a development officer in palliative care and rehabilitation medicine. Kristen joined UAB in 2002.

Register Now for the 40th Annual Anesthesiology Review Course

2011-11-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

We look forward to seeing you at the
40th Annual Anesthesiology Review Course

February 18 & 19, 2012

Featured speakers

Jerry Cohen, MD

President, American Society of Anesthesiologists

Andy Harris, MD

Congressman, 1st District, Maryland

Full program details available at www.anes.uab.edu

or email Lisa Kimbrough at lkimbrough@uab.edu.

From the Archives :: November 2011

2011-11-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

Robert B. Karp, MD [1934-2006]

On November 27, 1981, the New York Times ran a story entitled “Boy, 12, Undergoes Heart Transplant Surgery.” The story originated with the United Press International news service and was datelined the previous day from Birmingham, Alabama. The boy was Eric Boyd of Birmingham. “Eric, who was suffering from a terminal heart disease, received a heart transplant in a three-and-a-half-hour operation Tuesday at the University of Alabama Medical Center,” the anonymous author wrote. “Doctors say the operation may eventually enable him to live a relatively normal life.” The donor was Todd Massey, a 14-year-old from Columbus, Georgia, who had died of head injuries from a motorbike accident.

William Lell, MD, early 80's

The article further noted, “Eric's mother, Dorothy Wann, said Wednesday that her son had not been told that his heart had been replaced. ‘A heart transplant is very scary for a 12-year-old,' she said as she waited to see her son for the first time since the operation. ‘For now, we just told him that his pumping chambers have been replaced. Later on, when he can deal with it, we'll tell him exactly what happened.’”

National news outlets took note of this operation because at that time few heart transplants had been attempted in infants and younger children, and those attempts had been done “without lasting success.” This operation was also the first heart transplant in Alabama and the Deep South. The surgical team was headed by renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Robert B. Karp. The anesthesia team for the recipient was Dr. William Lell and CRNA Guy R. Kruesch; for the donor, Drs. Jorge E. Rivas and Stephen R. Klein.

Drs. Jorge Rivas and Simon Gelman, Department’s
60^th anniversary celebration, June 21, 2008

More about the department’s history can be found in the extensive chronology at http://www.uasom.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/Anesthesiology/Timeline.pdf

A.J. Wright, MLS, Associate Professor and Director
Section on Anesthesia History

Recruiting the Best: It's a Team Effort

2011-11-11T06:18:00.000-08:00

This week's second post offers a glimpse into the department's resident recruitment process, and how a group of dedicated residents help provide insight to applicants and department leadership.

The Resident Recruitment Committee was formed in 2010 by former residents, Drs. Jonathan Hughes and Ross Simril. The purpose of the committee is to help continuously improve the resident recruitment process by increasing the involvement of current residents. The committee is comprised of four CA-3 residents – with two serving as co-chairs, four CA-2 residents and 1 CA-1 resident. This year’s committee is co-chaired by Drs. Michelle Downing and Fred Norris.

The committee serves as a liaison to applicants, helping answer questions about the program, the university and the greater Birmingham area. Choosing a residency program that fits both personal and professional needs is a difficult decision, so the committee is an excellent resource to applicants both during their visit and beyond.

As a result of the committee’s involvement, changes have been implemented to the interview process. This year, current residents are providing applicants with a driving tour of the city prior to dinner. The tour highlights several communities close to UAB and helps show off our beautiful Magic City. In addition, committee members developed a presentation for applicants, which is shown during breakfast. The presentation highlights key areas of interest about the residency program and the city, which encourages productive conversations throughout the day.

The committee is also involved in helping gather and review data from applicants about their interview experience. This information provides additional insight into the recruitment process and how the department can continue to recruit the best and brightest to UAB.

A Message from Residency Program Director, Dr. Susan Black

2011-11-08T05:23:00.000-08:00

This week, The Scope is dedicated the department’s anesthesiology residency program. Our first post comes from Dr. Susan Black, Professor, Vice Chair for Education and Residency Program Director.

As cooler weather arrives and the leaves begin to fall, it signals a busy time for us – resident recruitment season.

This year, as in years past, we have received a significant number of applications from outstanding students for our 21 residency slots, 15 of which begin at the clinical base year. Of the 675 applications we have received so far, we have invited 140 for interviews in November – February. We will be continuing to review applications and offer further interview invitations.

As director of the residency program, it is exciting to see new faces that bring incredible intellect, enthusiasm and a passion for learning. It is our job as faculty and mentors to create an environment that promotes clinical excellence, sparks investigative interests and helps to develop teaching and life long learning skills that will be applicable throughout an evolving career.

While our residents come from diverse backgrounds, they share many traits: the ability to function as part of a team - a skill critical to success in medicine, a successful background in medicine and other endeavors and an enthusiasm for learning. We greatly value both the diversity of our residents and their common commitment to become experts in the art and science of anesthesiology.

We look forward to introducing you to our residency class of 2016!

A Call to Service: Medical Mission to Ecuador

2011-11-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, Professor and Chief of Anesthesia Services at Callahan Eye Hospital, has been leading a very important initiative for the past three years. She has planned and implemented a medical mission trip to Baeza, Ecuador. She calls this experience, “a very meaningful trip to one of the most lovely, but poor places on our planet.”

The mission trip to Baeza takes months of preparation including, asking for donations, collecting supplies, completing important paperwork and receiving the necessary vaccinations. This year twenty people, including four anesthesiology residents, will be joining Dr. Boyd to donate their time and expertise to the Hospital Estatal de Baeza.

Baeza is located two hours southeast from Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Last year, after a winding bus drive through the tropical and lush country-side of the Andes Mountains, they settled at a hostel less than a quarter of a mile from the hospital. Advertisements were placed on local radio stations stating that the hospital would have surgeons available to do plastic surgery, orthopedic work, and nerve revisions. You were to call and arrange an appointment if you thought you or a loved one could benefit from this, all services free of charge.

Hospital Estatal de Baeza has 20 beds and 3 operating rooms, however they lack proper staffing. Dr. Mark Powell, a third year anesthesia resident, that attended last year’s mission trip stated, “the people from UAB worked from sun up to sun down for one week, and we were able to provide more services and perform more surgeries than the hospital typically books in a year.” Several of the notable procedures from last year’s mission trip were ear reconstructions for microaudious children (children born with no ear), de-webbing of feet, and opening contractures in a burn victims hands. Non-medical volunteers helped in numerous ways from hand rolling cotton individually into cotton balls (Baeza does not have such luxuries), to fixing an infant warmer, repairing lab machines, playing with the children, and handing out toys. Dr. Kathleen Click, a third year anesthesia resident who also attended last year, said that it was a memorable time because of the overwhelming appreciation from the patients and staff of Hospital Estatal de Baeza.

Understandably, there are certain challenges in such a large endeavor. Volunteer translators were used to address the language barrier. Lack of modern anesthesia equipment led the anesthesiologists to calculate oxygen levels with little more than prior knowledge, a blood pressure cuff, and a pulse oximiter. After deep reflection Dr. Boyd smiled, “to give a patient a quality of life that they otherwise never would have had, makes me remember why I pursued medicine in the first place”.

Meet our Chiefs: Alex Aitken, MD

2011-10-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

For our third and final installment this week, meet Chief Resident, Dr. Alex Aitken.

Describe a typical day as a resident.

When I get to the hospital I will see my patients for my first start cases. At this point I have gone over an in depth review of their past medical history and possible anesthesia implications. I will discuss my plan with the patient and answer any last minute questions they may have. I make sure the patient has the appropriate lab work and studies that give us the information to provide a safe anesthetic.

Why did you choose anesthesiology as your specialty?

I was very interested in doing anesthesia because it allowed me to interact with multiple areas within medicine such as Obstetrics, Cardiovascular, and Pain.

What are the challenges you face in residency?

My biggest challenge is maintaining a work/life balance and effectively managing my time. It is also vitally important to establish good interactions with both anesthesia and surgery colleagues.

What do you do for fun?

I do a lot of family activities with my wife and daughter. I also enjoy weight lifting, running, and hiking.

Why did you choose UAB for anesthesia residency?

The resident exposure here at UAB is top notch in regards to the case spectrum. You are exposed to a wide range of disease processes and also able to provide complex anesthesia as a CA-1 resident.

What are your plans after you complete your residency?

I will be doing a critical care fellowship and then a CV fellowship here at UAB. My hope is to stay at an academic institution where I can interact with residents and do a fair amount of teaching in the future.

What other leadership roles have you had in the past?

I am currently on the Resident Recruitment Committee to interview potential residents for our residency program here at UAB. As a chief resident, I am also on multiple OR coordinating committees.

What is the one thing that you wish someone told you in order to better prepare you to be a chief resident?

Get ready for information overload! Be prepared to address multiple issues at one time not only with staffing but any issues the residents might have.

What characteristics do you think an anesthesiologist needs to have?

You should be calm under pressure and be able to think about things differently than just the surgical aspect of the case. You need to be able to look at their medical problems and combine that with an anesthetic plan to provide safe anesthesia for the patient.

Meet our Chiefs: Benjamin Tuck, MD

2011-10-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

In our second installment this week, please meet Chief Resident, Dr. Benjamin Tuck.

Describe a typical day as a resident.

I usually arrive around 5:00 or 5:30 am. When I am on OR rotation, I set up my room and then complete my pre-op assessments for each patient that I will be taking care of that day. There is usually a morning conference right before cases start. I have clinical responsibilities until 3:00 pm and do the pre-ops for the following day and can leave around 4:00 pm….that is, if I am not on call.

Why did you choose anesthesiology as your specialty?

I started off as a general surgery resident, where I enjoyed the procedural aspect of the cases, but started to realize that the resuscitation was the more interesting part for me. I remember scrubbing into trauma cases and thinking “I wish I was at the head of the bed doing what the anesthesiologists are doing.”

What are the challenges you face in residency?

Residency was challenging for me, at first, because I was out of my comfort zone. It’s easy to become comfortable with a certain technique or method for approaching a problem. But, you will always have someone suggesting a different way. At the end of the day, it is important for me to learn many different techniques, so that I can formulate an initial plan, but have additional plans should I need them.

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I spend most of my time with my family. My wife and I have an 18 month old son and a dog, so we certainly keep busy. I love to play tennis with the other residents, despite losing every time!

Why did you choose UAB for anesthesia residency?

I went to medical school at UAB and left for a smaller academic institution in Tennessee for my general surgery residency. Once I left the UAB environment, I quickly realized the breadth of exposure you get to different cases at an institution this size. I knew that the more I was exposed to as a resident, the more comfortable I would be in different situations as a practicing anesthesiologist.

What are your plans after you complete your residency?

I will be staying on at UAB for a cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship.

What other leadership roles have you had in the past?

I was in a lot of different organizations through high school and college. I volunteered, played football, and was the president of the Baptist student group.

What is the one thing that you wish someone told you in order to better prepare you to be a chief resident?

When making decisions that affect a large group of people, accept that some people will be pleased with your decision and others will not. You can’t make everyone happy.

What characteristics do you thank an anesthesiologist needs to have?

1. Deep understanding of physiology, pharmacology and pathology

2. Strong desire to deliver quality patient care

3. Flexibility when interacting with other clinicians

4. Humility

Meet our Chiefs: Prentiss Lawson, MD

2011-10-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

We are excited to introduce you to our three chief residents for 2011-2012: Dr. Alex Aitken, Dr. Prentiss Lawson and Dr. Ben Tuck.

In our first of three stories this week, meet Dr. Prentiss Lawson.

Describe a typical day as a resident.

When I am on a clinical anesthesia rotation, I get to the hospital between 5:30-5:45 am. I will have already completed some preliminary research on my patients the night before and completed their pre-op assessment. I check the board to make sure my cases have not changed and begin to set up my room. At 6:00 am, I go in to see my patients and address any last minute questions they might have. Residents have a lecture from 6:25-6:45 am before our cases start. My day is filled with cases until around 3:00 pm, when there is the first big schedule change. If I am not on call or doing a moonlighting shift, I am finished for the day.

Why did you choose anesthesiology as your specialty?

I have always enjoyed the environment of the operating room. When we started to discuss pharmacology and physiology during the first two years of medical school, I quickly realized that I enjoyed both of these subject areas. This prompted me to take a deeper look into anesthesiology. When I began my anesthesia rotation in medical school, I received confirmation that this is in fact where I wanted to be.

What are the challenges you face in residency?

My biggest challenge was my life as an intern. It was difficult to adjust to those 30 hour call shifts!

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I recently got married in March, so I enjoy a nice meal or watching a good movie with my wife. I enjoy attending Alabama football and Braves games as often as I am able. I love to golf, fish and visit my parents, who live on the gulf.

Why did you choose UAB for anesthesia residency?

For me, the first determinate in choosing a residency program was an institution with the clinical exposure that I needed. I knew UAB had the caliber of teaching and the volume of patients that I would need to succeed. I ultimately chose UAB over other schools for the people who work here and the strong team- work environment.

What are your plans after you complete your residency?

I will be doing a pain fellowship at the University of Virginia for a year. I hope to return and practice in Alabama after my fellowship.

What other leadership roles have you had in the past?

I am the chairman of the resident/fellow section for the Alabama State Medical Society. I was also a class representative for the student interest group in anesthesiology in medical school.

What is the one thing that you wish someone told you in order to better prepare you to be a chief resident?

Being a chief resident is very demanding of your time with all of the scheduling and meetings in which you must participate. While the job is very rewarding, and it is an honor to help lead my fellow residents, I certainly hope that I improve every day in how I balance all of these demands. These tasks often leave you making tough decisions that affect your fellow residents. It is important to communicate to them that you have their best interests and the betterment of the residency program in mind as you make decisions each day.

What characteristics do you think an anesthesiologist needs to have?

I believe that an anesthesiologist must be caring and vigilant. They must pride themselves in providing quality, efficient, and safe care, always putting the patient first for any competing interests in the peri-operative period. Also, an anesthesiologist must be a continuing learner and educator as new understanding, evidence, and techniques are developed throughout their career.

From the Archives :: October 2011

2011-10-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology is dedicated to preserving and highlighting the historical progression of anesthesia as a specialty and its contributions to modern medicine. In June 2002, the Department established the first ever academic section on anesthesia history.

We look forward to sharing with you pieces of history through regular From the Archives posts..

The campaign to raise money for the department’s first endowed chair, to be named after local anesthesiologist Alfred Habeeb, M.D., began in December 1987. The idea originated with Ronald E. Henderson, M.D., an obstetrician/gynecologist at St. Vincent’s Hospital. The chair, one of ten endowed anesthesia chairs in the United States and one of 24 chairs funded at UAB at that time, was dedicated on October 7, 1992. The chair is currently held by our Department Chair, Dr. Tony Jones.

Dr. Alfred “Freddy” Habeeb was born in the village of Bishmizzin, Lebanon. His family immigrated to the United States in 1920 and settled in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he and his six siblings worked in the family's grocery store while attending school. He graduated from Mississippi College in 1934, and attended the University of Mississippi's Medical School for two years before graduating in 1938 from the University of Tennessee's Medical School.

After completing his medical studies in Tennessee, Dr. Habeeb moved to Birmingham for an internship at TCI Hospital under Chief of Surgery and Medical Director Dr. Lloyd Noland. Dr. Noland urged him to take up anesthesia, and Dr. Habeeb travelled to study the techniques of Dr. John Lundy at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Ralph Waters at the University of Wisconsin and Dr. John Adriani at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Habeeb was certified by the ABA in 1947. Along with our department’s first Chair, Alice McNeal, M.D., and others, he was one of the founding members of the state society of anesthesiologists the following year. Dr. Habeeb and his partners, Drs. E. Bryce Robinson and Hiram Elliott, founded the first private anesthesiology practice in Alabama, later known as Anesthesia Services of Birmingham.

Over a long and distinguished professional career, Dr. Habeeb served as Director of Anesthesia at St. Vincent's Hospital and Children's Hospital; Chief of Staff of St. Vincent's Hospital; President of the Alabama Society of Anesthesiologists; President of the Birmingham Surgical Society; Member of the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association; and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the Medical College of Alabama. He also served as President of the Birmingham Rotary Club.

Dr. Habeeb passed away on August 22, 2009. More about him can be found in McDonald WH. A long way from Bishmizzin. J Med Assoc State Ala. 1983 Mar;52(9):8-15 and the chapter “A Room for Freddy” in Anita Smith’s biography, Lloyd Noland, M.D., The Boss [1986, pp 373-382].

A.J. Wright, M.L.S., Associate Professor and Director
History of Anesthesia Section

[Some of this material was taken from the Birmingham News obituary 24 August 2009.]

Annual Alabama Reunion - ASA Meeting 2011

2011-10-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

Annual Alabama Reunion

Sunday, October 16^th
6:00pm – 7:30pm

Chicago Marriott Downtown
Northwestern/Ohio State Room

We look forward to seeing all of you at the ASA meeting in Chicago this week!

Don’t forget to stop by the Annual Alabama Reunion, hosted by the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and the Alabama State Society of Anesthesiologists.

A Welcome Message from Chair, Dr. Tony Jones

2011-09-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

As a UAB School of Medicine alumnus and Chair of the UAB Department of Anesthesiology, I am excited about the many innovations and advancements that we as a department, school and institution are developing.

Our three-core mission of excellence in patient care, research and education creates an exciting environment to work and to train. Each day, we work together to advance the discovery of new knowledge - with the goal of improving care for those in our city, state and nation.

To keep you updated on what the Department is doing, we have launched this blog, The Scope. It is a place for us to let you know what is going on with our faculty, staff, trainees and alumni, update you on new programs and initiatives and keep you posted on our research activities.

We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Keith A. (Tony) Jones, MD
Chair, UAB Department of Anesthesiology