Names and Faces
McClain Named Executive Director of Center for Community Health and Health Equity
Wanda McClain, administrative director of the Office of the President, in May was promoted to executive director of the Center for Community Health and Health Equity, which was formerly the Office for Women, Family and Community Programs.
“We need a clear vision and voice at our hospital to strengthen our collective focus and ensure we effectively address the needs of those who depend on us: our community and our neighbors,” said BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA.
McClain is working with physician, nursing and administrative leadership to develop targeted strategies for improving care and health outcomes for diverse patient populations. She collaborates with many community organizations and government agencies to identify and address barriers to access and mobilize community resources to find solutions.
McClain brings a wealth of experience to her new role. As administrative director of the Office of the President, McClain was instrumental in designing BWH’s strategy to identify disparities in health care, and she played an important role in programs such as workforce and career development. Before joining BWH, she served as director of Community Benefit Partnerships for Partners.
McClain earned her master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Towson University in Maryland.
Pathak Appointed to VP of Surgical Services and Imaging
Sanjay Pathak began as vice president of Clinical Services at BWH May 14. Pathak, who previously worked as corporate director of business planning and market development at Partners HealthCare, has been involved in numerous BWH projects, including the joint cancer center with Dana-Farber at the South Shore Hospital.
“I am confident Sanjay will bring his talent and energy to continue to build on the foundation of our successful collaborations with hospital leadership, chiefs of service, nursing, and all of our clinical teams,” said Kate Walsh, BWH chief operating officer and executive vice president.
“I look forward to working with our entire team to advance our important work and to further the important work of the departments of Surgery, Neurosurgery, Anesthesia, Orthopedics and Radiology,” said Pathak.
Pathak previously worked in consulting firms and the clinical risk management department at the New England Medical Center. He also consulted at Ernst & Young and Deloitte Consulting before joining Partners in February 2006. He received a BS in biology from the University of Vermont and an MBA and MPH from Boston University.
Kaiser Named New Chief of Endocrinology
Ursula Kaiser, MD, has been named the new chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension within the Department of Medicine, and assumed her post July 1.
Kaiser’s clinical interests focus on neuroendocrinology and reproductive endocrinology, primarily in a multidisciplinary neuroendocrine clinic together with members of the Department of Neurosurgery, and as a consultant attending physician. Her research focuses on the neuroendocrine regulation of reproductive development and function. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and is the recipient of the Ernst Oppenheimer Award of the Endocrine Society and the A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award at Harvard Medical School.
A graduate of University of Toronto Medical School, Kaiser completed her residency in internal medicine, a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, and a chief medical residency at the University of Toronto affiliated hospitals. She came to BWH as a research fellow in 1990 and is currently chief of the Neuroendocrine Section of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension at BWH and an associate professor of Medicine at HMS.
Brenner Elected to National Academy of Sciences
Michael Brenner, MD, chief of the division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy and the Theodore B. Bayles Professor of Medicine at HMS, was one of two immunologists elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in May. Brenner has discovered new pathways of innate and adaptive immunity in his research, and his studies reveal the basis for a new lipid antigen specific T cell system with far reaching significance for T cell biology in host defense of infection, tumor surveillance, immunoregulation and autoimmunity.
“Being elected is an enormous honor and I am thrilled to be joining the National Academy of Sciences,” said Brenner, one of 72 members and 18 foreign associates elected in recognition of achievements in original research to the NAS this year. Along with Brenner, Harvard Medical School researchers Jonathan Seidman, PhD, and Clifford Tabin, PhD, were also elected to NAS this year.
Carr-Locke Wins Rudolf Schindler Award
David L. Carr-Locke, MD, director of BWH Endoscopy Institute, in May received the prestigious Rudolf Schindler Award from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. This award is ASGE’s highest honor granted to a member whose accomplishments in endoscopic research, teaching and service to the profession demonstrate the standards and traditions of Rudolf Schindler, MD, founder of the American Gastroscopic Club, the predecessor of ASGE.
AACR Team Science Award Presented to Rubin, Lee, Perner and Demichelis
Mark A. Rubin, MD, Charles Lee, PhD, Sven Perner, MD, and Francesca Demichelis, PhD, were chosen from a field of 30 teams to win the American Academy of Cancer Research Team Science Award at the annual meeting in April. This award recognizes an interdisciplinary research team that has advanced our fundamental knowledge of cancer. The team, comprised of investigators from the University of Michigan and BWH, will receive a prize of $50,000. Selected for their landmark prostate cancer discovery, the team’s research revealed that a majority of prostate cancers harbor recurrent gene fusions, a profound clinical and biological implication for understanding prostate cancer.
Katz Awarded for Excellence in Mentoring
Jeffrey N. Katz, MD, MSc, co-director of the Brigham Spine Center and associate professor of Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery at HMS and BWH, was named as one of six recipients of the 2006 A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award. Established in 1995, students, faculty and trainees nominate members of HMS and Harvard School of Dental Medicine faculty who are commendable mentors for this award. Katz received this honor at the awards ceremony June 20.
Di Carli Wins Hermann Blumgart Award
In recognition of his outstanding achievements in nuclear cardiology, BWH’s Marcelo Di Carli, MD, chief of Nuclear Medicine/PET and co-director of Cardiovascular Imaging, in May was named the 2007 Hermann Blumgart Award winner by the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM).
“I’m very proud to receive this honor, especially knowing the recognition comes from my peers,” Di Carli said. He helped integrate all noninvasive cardiovascular imaging services across both the radiology and cardiology departments. Di Carli has also been instrumental in the expansion of the nuclear medicine program with a cyclotron and advanced radiopharmaceutical laboratories.
The award, created in 1978 by the SNM New England Chapter, is named for Blumgart, a nuclear medicine pioneer in the early 20th century who performed the first diagnostic procedure with radioactive indicators on humans and is considered the father of nuclear cardiology to many. He was also a Peter Bent Brigham Medicine resident, and later the Chairman of the Department of Medicine at BIDMC. SNM’s Cardiovascular Council presents this award annually for ‘‘outstanding achievement in the field of nuclear cardiology and service to the council.’’
Di Carli will deliver a lecture during the Hermann Blumgart Symposium during the SNM annual meeting in June.
LeBoff Elected as Councilor
Meryl S. LeBoff, MD, director of Skeletal Health and Osteoporosis Center and Bone Density Unit in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension Division and Department of Medicine, in January was elected as councilor for the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research. She will begin her term in September, and she will serve as a councilor until 2010.
LeBoff leads a clinical and research team treating osteoporosis and investigating the mechanisms that lead to osteoporosis and low bone mass and participates in many cross-disciplinary studies on bone health to analyze the role of Vitamin D and hormones on bone to elucidate the causes of secondary osteoporosis and to improve bone health in young women with low bone mass and adults with osteoporotic fractures.
The ASBMR is a professional society with a worldwide membership of 4,000 clinical and experimental scientists involved in the study of bone and mineral metabolism.
Alexander Appointed Director of Medical Student Education
Erik Alexander, MD, in July began as director of Medical Student Education in the Department of Medicine. Alexander, who served as the program’s assistant director, has assisted with the Core I and Core II clinical clerkships in the department since 2001, and was named director of the hospital-wide “Principal Clinical Experience” in 2005. The Principal Clinical Experience is a major educational reform initiative of Harvard Medical School involving coordination and integration of all third year clinical curricula at a single institution such as BWH. Alexander succeeds Kenneth Falchuck, MD, in the position.
Noss Receives Abbott Scholar Award
Erika Noss, MD, PhD, received the Abbott Scholar Award in Rheumatology. The grant provides $65,000 in the first year and $70,000 in the second, with an optional third year grant of $75,000 after review to young researchers in rheumatic diseases, including epidemiology, health services research in arthritis and related autoimmune diseases. It supports basic and translational research related to and innovative clinical research.
Hafler Honored by the National MS Society
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society honored David Hafler, MD, at the MileStones Gala May 10. As the director of the
Molecular Immunology Lab, and the Jack, Sadie, and David Breakstone Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Hafler focuses his research on MS. He is the principal investigator on the Palmer Collaborative MS Research Center Award: MS Targeted Haplotype Project, which is funded by the National MS Society and based at the Broad Institute, a collaboration between MIT and Harvard Medical School. Hafler is a founding member of the International MS Genetic Consortium, a group including scientists from University of Cambridge and University of California, San Francisco, which is funded by the Society. A member of the clinical staff at the Partners MS Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Hafler is actively involved with Central New England Chapter’s Clinical Advisory Committee.
Leaning Honored at New England Women’s Leadership Awards
BWH Emergency Medicine physician and co-director of the
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative Jennifer Leaning, MD,
received the Pioneer Award in May during the New England Women’s
Leadership Awards ceremony. The annual event is hosted by the Colonel Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club in Dorchester.
Westwood High School Senior Marylynn Bauzile presented
the prestigious award to Leaning to honor her for being a role model to girls in the club, and for her commitment to pioneering new paths for women by establishing trends and breaking down
barriers.
Since 1992, NEWLA has celebrated nearly 70 women for their leadership
in fields ranging from communications to law to health care.
Leaning was celebrated for her contributions to global health through her various contributions to the community and world.
Pathology Researchers Celebrate
The Department of Pathology last month celebrated the research of its residents, clinical fellows and postdoctoral fellows.
“There is no doubt that we all can and should take pride in the dedication in what each of us does each day, be it clinical diagnosis, teaching or research,” said Michael Gimbrone, MD, chair of Pathology. “This is what has made our department a special place to work and will continue to distinguish it in the future.”
During the event, Monideepa Roy, PhD, received the first Thomas J. Gill III, MD, Prize for Research Excellence in Pathology. This prize was made possible through the generosity of Simon Simonian, MD.
In addition, Ron Firestein, MD, PhD, Tudor Fulga, PhD, Chiara Grisanzio, MD, and Venkata Sabbisetti, PhD, earned awards for their posters from a panel of judges.
Ligon Wins Award from Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Keith L. Ligon, MD, PhD, of the Department of Pathology and Division of Neuropathology, was awarded the 2007 Peter A. Steck Young Investigator Award from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. This nationally competitive award recognizes scientific excellence by an investigator studying nervous system cancers. Ligon won the award based on his recent publication in the journal Neuron demonstrating the role of OLIG2 in glioblastoma cancer stem cells. Ligon’s work was also done in collaboration with another BWH researcher, Santosh Kesari MD, PhD, from the Department of Neurology and the DFCI Center for Neuro-oncology.
“It was Peter Steck himself who brought my attention to the unmet need for additional research into brain tumors and inspired me to study brain tumors in my own research,” said Ligon. “His presence in the field is greatly missed.” Steck has been a prominent figure in Ligon’s career as well as for his wife Azra Ligon, PhD, who was Steck’s first doctoral student.
McMahon Appointed to AMA GLBT Advisory
Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, attending endocrinologist
and assistant professor of medicine, was elected to serve
the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Advisory Committee
on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT)
Issues. In this role, Dr. McMahon will help address needs and provide advice to the AMA board and staff on
issues affecting GLBT physicians, medical students and
patients for a two-year term beginning in June.
Attaya Appointed President of Partners Home Care
Chris Attaya was named president of Partners Home Care,
a move that makes his interim appointment to the post
permanent. Attaya brings more than 25 years of experience
in health care, most of it in home care. He has been
apart of PHC since its creation, directing its traditional finance
functions and overseeing information systems and facilities.
Attaya’s leadership role in the successful execution of
PHC’s strategy has lead to progressively improved performance over the past five years.
Colchamiro Receives Founders Award
Stephen Colchamiro, DMD, Brookside’s dental director, has been selected by the Mass League of Community Health Centers to receive the 2007 Founders Award. The Founder’s Award was established in 2005 and is presented annually to honor the achievements of those who protect and promote health care access as a right for all, and for outstanding service to the community health center movement.
Seidman wins the Grand Prix Lefoulon-Delalande Institut de France
Christine Seidman, MD, in June received the 2007 Grand Prix Lefoulon-Delalande from the Institut de France, presented in Paris by the Chancellor of the Institut de France and the French Prime Minister for work with her husband Jonathan Seidman, PhD. The Seidmans are recognized for “seminal contributions to understanding inherited cardiac disorders.”
Located within the departments of Genetics and Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Cardiovascular Division at BWH, the Seidman laboratory combines clinical medicine and molecular technology to identify gene mutations and genetic variations that increase the risk for diseases, focusing on cardiovascular disease, hearing loss and lymphedema.
Gagliano Named Executive Medical Director for COMPASS
Nancy Gagliano, MD, is the new executive medical director for the COMPASS program. She will devote half of her time to working with the COMPASS leadership team to ensure that the implementation of a common administrative information system across Partners HealthCare is done efficiently and smoothly. The other half of her time will be spent in her current role as vice president for practice improvement at the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization.
The COMPASS program will enable all Partners facilities to share a common administrative information system. Eventually patient scheduling, registration, inpatient and outpatient billing, and bed management will fall under the umbrella of COMPASS.
Gagliano has served at the MGPO since 2001, overseeing the service improvement division, ambulatory operations support, longitudinal medical record implementation, and physician leadership development. For the past two years, she has been involved with the planning phase of COMPASS, working to establish a logical and comprehensive framework and timeline for implementing COMPASS. She was an executive sponsor for the PACE project at the MGH, which involved the implementation of a new ambulatory billing system and significant practice process changes. Gagliano completed her training at BWH.