Behrakis Cardiovascular Research Fellows

Kostas Koskinas, MD, MSc, and Michael Papafaklis, MD, PhD, with Peter Stone, MD, co-director of the Cardiac Care Unit and fellowship founder and supporter George Behrakis, who in December toured the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center. The Behrakis Cardiovascular Research Fellowship brings clinicians and scientists from Greece to conduct research, care for patients and learn at BWH.

Bunn Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

H. Franklin Bunn, MD, of the Hematology Division at BWH, received the 2009 Wallace H. Coulter Award for lifetime achievement in hematology from the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Named for Wallace H. Coulter, inventor of the Coulter Principle for counting and sizing cells or particles as they flow through an aperture, the award recognizes an individual for demonstrating a lasting commitment to the field of hematology. Bunn is recognized for his leadership in advancing the field of hematology and hematology research over the last four decades. In addition to his research, Bunn has served as past president of ASH and on many National Institutes of Health advisory groups and councils.

Gitlin Elected APM President

David Gitlin, MD, director of BWH and Faulkner Hospitals Division of Medical Psychiatry, and assistant professor of Psychiatry at HMS, was elected president of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, a national organization of about 800 psychiatrists who are dedicated to the advancement of medical science, education and health care for patients. Installed as president in November,

Quintana Receives Diversity, Community Fellowship

Francisco Quintana, PhD, assistant professor of Neurology, is one of the three 2010 Office for Diversity and Community Partnership Faculty Fellowship recipients. The other recipients are Sherri-Ann Burnett-Bowie, MD, MPH, instructor in medicine at MGH, and Ramiro Massol, PhD, instructor in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Boston.

Ashley Elected ABS Vice Chair

Stanley W. Ashley, MD, was elected vice chair of the American Board of Surgery for 2010-2011 and will serve as chair the following year. Ashley is the Frank Sawyer professor and vice chairman of the Department of Surgery at BWH and also serves as director of the general surgery residency program. Ashley was named to the American Board of Surgery in 2004 as a representative of the Association for Academic Surgery. In recent years, he has served as chair of the ABS’ General Surgery Residency Committee.

Wallace Named OMC Administrative Director

The Office for Multicultural Faculty Careers (OMC) named Jacalyn Shelton Wallace, MEd, MA, as its new administrative director in December. The OMC is one of the three offices within the Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (CFDD) which also includes the Office for Research Careers and the Office for Women’s Careers. Wallace comes to BWH with leadership experience in both private and non-profit sectors, including senior positions at the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and most recently as vice president of programs at Thompson Island Outward Bound. She holds a master of education in human resources education from Boston University and a master’s in counseling from Michigan State University.

Kupper Received Rays of Hope Award

Thomas Kupper, MD, chairman for the Department of Dermatology, was awarded the SHADE Foundation of New England’s “Rays of Hope” award for leadership and dedication to the field of dermatology. The foundation was established in 2002 by Shonda Schilling, wife of retired Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, after her battle with malignant melanoma.

HIV Medical Association Honors Sax

Paul Sax, MD, clinical director for the Division of Infectious Diseases at BWH, received the HIV Medical Association’s 2009 Clinical Education Award, recognizing his role in the dissemination of information and provider education relevant to the care of people with HIV infection. The award specifically recognizes his role as editor in-chief of Journal Watch: AIDS Clinical Care, as lead author of HIV Essentials, as HIV section editor for Medscape, as contributing editor for UpToDate HIV Medicine.

2009 Research Excellence Awards

From left: Wen Chen, PhD, Daniela Panáková, PhD, Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, Sean W Cain, PhD, Taufiek Konrad Rajab, Cynthia Morton, PhD, Andrew Sutherland, Yuexiang Wang, PhD, and Jacqueline Slavik, PhD.

Six BWH investigators received Research Excellence Awards from the BWH Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) in November during a poster session and reception featured 60 junior investigators who submitted abstracts for posters:

Yuexiang Wang, PhD, Molecular heterogeneity of kinase inhibitor resistance mechanisms in gastrointestinal stromal tumors revealed by 454 pyrosequencing.

Daniela Panáková, PhD, Wnt11 patterns a myocardial electrical gradient via regulation of the L-type Ca2+ channel.

Andrew Sutherland, Transgenic expression of IL-21 induces type 1 diabetes via enhanced CD8+ T cell mediated destruction of pancreatic islets.

Sean W Cain, PhD, Sex differences in the timing and amplitude of the circadian melatonin rhythm in healthy young adults.

Taufiek Konrad Rajab, A novel mechanism for suture-induced adhesiogenesis.

Wen Chen,PhD, Physical interaction of mitoferrin-1 with endosomal proteins is required for iron importation into the erythroid mitochondria.

Department of Medicine Education Celebration Honors Staff

The department of Medicine hosted its Tenth Annual Education Celebration last month recognizing medical residents as well as faculty mentors for outstanding contributions to the mentoring of medical students and interns.

Nearly 75 residents and faculty turned out to the event, which was held in the Bornstein Amphitheater, and heard remarks from keynote speaker Joan Reede, MD, MPH, Dean of Diversity and Community Partnership at HMS, who spoke about excellence in service and leadership.

The awards were presented by Joel Katz, MD, program director for Medicine Residency and vice chair of Medical Education; Maria Yialamas, MD, associate director of Medicine Residency, and Bruce Levy, MD, of Pulmonary Medicine.

The Department awarded the following awards:

Distinguished Resident Mentor Awards

Phuoc Le, MD, MPH; Thomas Metkus, MD; Gregg Rosner, MD; and Benjamin Sommers, MD, PhD.

Distinguished Faculty Mentor Awards

Becky Baron, MD; Sarah Grudberg, MD; and Francisco Marty, MD.

Fellowship Awards

Rebecca Breslow, MD; Nihar Desai, MD, MPH; Amy Leigh Miller, MD, PhD; Gregory Idos, MD; Molly Perencevich, MD; Mark Liszkowski, MD; Jonathan Carlson, MD, PhD; Eileen Scully, MD, PhD; Jay Balachandran, MD; Edy Kim, MD, PhD; Andrea Braun, MD; and Rumey Ishizawar, MD, PhD.

PO Names New Executive Director for Network Development

Anne Fitzgerald, who has held leadership positions at Atrius Health/Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and other health care organizations, joined the Brigham and Women’s Physicians Organization as executive director of network development. Fitzgerald, who began in January, reports directly to BWPO President Allen Smith, MD, MS.

“Anne brings an impressive background in health care management, process improvement and leadership,” said Smith.

Fitzgerald is responsible for network development, both in enhancing existing relationships and identifying opportunities for new ones. In addition, she will play a lead role in planning and implementing any new or expanding relationships and oversee operations, facilities planning and communications for them.

“It’s an evolving role, but I see myself as a facilitator for the relationships between BWPO and BWH departments and our existing network while helping to identify and implement new and expanded relationships,” Fitzgerald said.

Previously, Fitzgerald served as co-chief of operations with Atrius Health/Harvard Vanguard, where she also worked as chief of specialty and ancillary operations and chief information officer. She has held leadership positions at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Lahey Clinic as well as with the state Department of Mental Health where she served as assistant commissioner. She holds a BA in mathematics from Northeastern University and an MBA from Southeastern Massachusetts University.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Brigham. Everyone here is so talented and committed to the mission,” Fitzgerald said