Surgical Notes
From the Chair
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Colleagues,
It's hard to believe that we are already nearing the end of 2018. This year has proven to be outstanding as we as a department have seen incredible accomplishments, welcomed new team members, and solidified plans for a successful future.
As we move into the season of thanks, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your many efforts in making 2018 what it has been.
May each of you enjoy a restful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.
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In 2013, the federal
HIV Organ Policy Equity
(HOPE) Act was signed into law which opened up avenues of research looking at organ transplant options for HIV-positive patients. VCU Health was approved to participate in that research, with the
Hume-Lee Transplant Center
serving as one of 25 transplant centers in the United States participating in clinical research for HIV-positive patients with end-stage renal disease. This research aims to determine if kidney transplants from deceased HIV-positive donors are as safe and effective for HIV-positive recipients as those from HIV-negative donors.
Dr.
Gaurav Gupta
, Associate Professor and program director of the transplant nephrology fellowship program states, "
The ability to perform this new type of transplant gives patients more options and an expanded donor pool. Patients also benefit from the shorter transplant wait times at the Hume-Lee Transplant Center, where the average wait time is nearly half that of nearby health systems."
More than 80 HIV-positive patients have received kidney transplants across the country. This includes VCU Health's first in June 2018.
To read more of this incredible story,
click here
.
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More than 50 faculty members from across the institution who were recently awarded endowed professorship and chair positions were formally honored with medallions during the 2018 Investiture Dinner at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia.
School of Business Dean Ed Grier and School of Medicine Dean Peter Buckley, M.D., presided over the ceremony, which also recognized the donors whose contributions created the professorships and chairs. VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., and VCU Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Jay Davenport, CFRE, gave opening remarks.
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BRA Day was initially started in 2011 with the goal of spreading awareness about breast reconstruction.
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Dr. Lawrence's presentation, titled, "Personal Observations on Surgery - Past, Present, and Future," hi-lighted the many changes and improvements that the field of surgery has seen over the last few decades.
The evening prior, faculty, residents, and members of Humera gathered at Sine's Irish Pub to celebrate Dr. Lawrence and enjoy an evening together over fabulous Irish nachos.
To see pictures from both events,
click here
. Miss the presentation?
Click here
to watch it online.
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Urology Goes to South Korea
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Dr. Hampton's presentation was titled, "
Novel Intraoperative Imaging Modalities during Robotic Surgery." Dr. Autorino presented "Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: How to Optimize Renal Function Preservation."
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Resident Presentations at the American Thyroid Association
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Two General Surgery residents recently attended the American Thyroid Association meeting where they both presented their research.
Dr. Daniel Galvez Lima (PGY4) presented "Case Report: Unusual Cause of a Rapidly Growing Thyroid Mass Compressing the Airway."
Dr. Julia Selfridge (PGY3) presented "Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma with Extensive Locoregional Metastases: A Personalized Approach."
Well done!
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American Medical Association Grant
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Congratulations are due to Dr.
Stephanie Goldberg
, Associate Professor with the Division of Acute Care Surgical Services for receiving funding from the American Medical Association to study student experience.
Dr. Goldberg's project will focus on the effects of wellness coaching for fourth-year medical students who plan to apply for surgical residencies. The study will include
Oregon Health & Science University, University of Connecticut and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“Physician wellness and resiliency is necessary to alleviate burnout and promote career satisfaction,” Goldberg says. “Surgeons have some of the highest burnout rates among physicians, and so this pilot project will focus on fourth-year medical students who are preparing to transition into surgery residencies. If we can show its usefulness, the program will be applicable to all medical students regardless of specialty.”
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General Surgery Resident, Dr. Ashley Rosenberg recently received notice that her paper, titled, "Ectopic Pelvic Kidney with Anomalous Vascular Supply during Deceased Organ Procurement - Case Report," has been published in OBM Transplantation.
Pictured left is Rosenberg during the transplant procurement by the jet. This particular procurement would later lead to this publication.
Congratulations, Dr. Rosenberg!
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Dr.
Brian Kaplan
. Professor with the Division of Surgical Oncology will be running the NYC Marathon on November 4th. This year, he has decided to run in hopes of raising money for
Project Purple
.
The mission of Project Purple is to "find a cure for pancreatic cancer and to improve the lives of patients through support, hope, and compassion." Funding received will help support critical pancreatic cancer research as well support existing patients through their Patient Financial Aid program.
If you'd like to support Dr. Kaplan, whose own father passed from pancreatic cancer,
click here
.
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Eric D. Nelson, MD
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Urology
Dr. Nelson
joins us from Farmington, Connecticut where he practiced with Pediatric Urology Associates. He received his medical degree from Tufts University. He went on to complete his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and later his fellowship at the Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Nelson specializes in pediatric urology to include undescended testicles, hernias, hypospadias, recurrent urinary tract infections, and much more.
Welcome, Dr. Nelson!
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2018 Commercialization Fund
Innovation Gateway will award up to $50,000 per project and up to $150,000 in total as part of the Fall 2018 Commercialization Fund. The awards are intended to de-risk and advance VCU inventions to a more mature stage and thus improve their chances of being out-licensed and brought to market.
OVPRI is excited to announce the opening of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the
Fall 2018 Commercialization Fund
. The Commercialization Fund has been established to support translational research and inventions created at VCU that have the potential to be commercialized and benefit society.
A total of $150,000 in funding is available for awards up to $50,000 per project.
Application opens on September 10, 2018 and closes on October 10, 2018.
Pauley Heart Center:
The program strives to provide as many pilot grants (up to $40,000 each) as possible to proposals that meet three criteria – an innovative idea to improve cardiovascular health, a project that is feasible in 12-18 months, and that leads to an extramural grant submission within 18 months.
Instructors, Assistant Professors and Associate Professors are invited to apply for grants to improve cardiovascular health. Faculty members that have an appointment at the Veterans Administration or other institutions affiliated with VCU are eligible if they also have an appointment with the VCU campus Multidisciplinary applications involving collaboration of different departments and/or schools will be viewed favorably. The synergy between different areas within or outside the Center should be highlighted in the proposal.
Letters of Intent are due by September 26
th
, full applications due October 17
th
.
The letters of intent should include the project title, list of
all
investigators, and 2-3
sentences regarding the hypothesis to be tested. The purpose of the letters of intent are to identify reviewers with expertise in the topics included within the submitted applications.
Virginia Catalyst translation research:
The Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation (VBHRC), now known as Virginia Catalyst, is now accepting applications for the ninth round of its grant program. Virginia Catalyst funds help fund the development and commercialization of life science projects that address major unmet needs for improving human health, along with creating jobs and economic activity. Virginia Catalyst awards these funds to help accelerate translational research in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The awards, which range from $200,000 to $800,000, help fund collaborative efforts between industry and Virginia research universities with the goal of:
- Funding innovative, collaborative, translational research projects that elevate the level of sponsored research at Virginia’s universities and have the potential to significantly improve human health and create high value jobs in the Commonwealth
- Accelerating commercialization of Virginia research university inventions and discoveries and to achieve competitive critical mass through robust collaborations of Virginia research universities and industry
Letters of intent (LOI) must be received by November 15, 2018 at 5:00 PM EST.
Projects that meet funding criteria will be invited to submit a full application. Awards will be announced in March 2019.
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November is a time of thanks as we celebrate all the people that brighten our lives.
We want to encourage that sense of gratitude with a
Department of Surgery gratitude wall.
Here's how it works:
- On West 16, you will find a white board with post-its and pens. During the month of November add a note of thanks or recognition for one of your colleagues. Each note should be specific to one person (though you are welcome to add additional notes for as many colleagues as you'd like!) and detail why you are grateful to have them as a colleague. Did they do something awesome to help you? Do they just make your days brighter? Anything!
- The drawing will be held on Friday November 30th so be sure to get those gratitude notes in!
Shout-outs can be added via the post-its on West 16 or emailed to
Jessica Carey
(who will write and add them for you).
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Meet Antonio Crew, Manager of Surgery's IT Support Services! Antonio joined the Department of Surgery just shy of 3 years ago and has turned our IT world upside down. In his role, he facilitates the technology needs of the department across VCU and VCU Health domains. This includes procuring technology, managing technology projects, and managing the incredible CSIS team.
When asked about the most exciting part of his job, Antonio writes, "The most exciting part of my job is being able to work with such an amazing group of individuals! The Department of Surgery is all about educating, innovating, and caring, and we have some of the best physicians/faculty and staff on our team. It is truly... an honor to have even a small part in helping them do what they do."
When not at work, you will find Antonio playing UNO and enjoying "long walks in [his] yard while pushing a lawnmower."
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If you're like a large portion of the world's population, falling asleep and sleeping well can often be quite a challenge.
When the events of the day whirl through your mind, it's often hard to slow things down enough to drift off. Throw in stress and anxiety and sleep becomes even harder to get.
The National Sleep Foundation suggests trying guided imagery in those moments to slow your mind and more easily drift off to sleep.
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Upcoming DOS Fitness Class
Guided Meditation with Yoga
November 15, 2018
12:00 PM
Main 2-125
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November 30 - December 1, 2018
McGlothlin Medical Education Center
1200 E. Marshall Street
Richmond, VA 23298
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Research Open Forum
Monthly, 2nd Mondays
4:00 - 5:00 PM
West 16 Conference Room (16-103)
All are encouraged to attend!
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Department of Surgery | Virginia Commonwealth University | (804)828-7874 | surgweb@vcu.edu
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