Volunteers from the Department of Medicine Chair’s Office participated in a community service project with Christian Service Mission last week, helping organize groceries to pack more than 4,000 Thanksgiving meals for those in need in our community. Like to find a way you can give back, too? Look no further than the UAB Blazer Kitchen that provides healthy food, resources, and referrals to UAB employees, students, patients and their families.
More Good News for November 14, 2018
Drs. Jeanne Marrazzo and Ned Hook (Infectious Diseases) contributed to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine that demonstrates a single-dose oral antibiotic is effective for treating uncomplicated genital infections caused by gonorrhea. With gonorrhea rates on the rise, and the bacteria growing increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatment, having a viable treatment option for the majority of patients is a terrific breakthrough.
Vera Bittner, MD, MSPH (Professor, Cardiovascular Disease) and colleagues have reported results of a trial in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrating that the monoclonal antibody inhibitor alirocumab improves cardiovascular outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome in patients receiving high-intensity statin therapy. Congrats, Dr. Bittner!
In honor of National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, Andrew Duxbury, MD (Professor, Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care) has this advice for patients and families dealing with dementia: Follow the "Safe and Sane" rule, that is, focus your efforts on what must be done to make the patient safe and the family sane. Read the full report of his sage advice on UAB News.
Bill Curry, MD (Professor, General Internal Medicine) has demonstrated the effectiveness of the PATH Clinic for uninsured patients with diabetes. By providing care coordination via a collaborative practice model, the patients experienced a significant decrease in blood sugar levels and their length of stay was reduced when they were readmitted to the hospital.
In a report in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Nick Van Wagoner, MD, PhD (Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases) and colleagues have confirmed that a therapeutic vaccine for genital herpes simplex can safely and effectively suppress the disease symptoms for a 12-month period, potentially eliminating the need for daily oral drugs.
Gabrielle Rocque, MD (Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology) was highlighted in a recent Cancer Today feature that explains the role of clinical practice guidelines in breast cancer care. The interview focused on two of her recent publications made possible through her Frommeyer Fellowship in the Department of Medicine. Congrats, Dr. Rocque!
Marie Bakitas, DNSc (Associate Director, Center for Palliative and Supportive Care) and Nick Dionne-Odom, PhD, RN (Nursing) were invited to serve a guest editors of a special issue of Seminars in Oncology Nursing entitled “Past, Present, and Future of Oncology Palliative Care.”
NO MGR LECTURE NEXT WEEK – Happy Thanksgiving!
Once you’ve had your fill of turkey, be sure to mark your calendars for MGR on November 28. Vera Bittner, MD, MPH (Professor, Cardiovascular Disease), will present “What’s new in the 2018 Cholesterol Guidelines?”
Announcements
- The Divisions of Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Hematology & Oncology are partnering up to raise money to fight cancer. Donate now to help them reach their goals for No Shave November!
- The UAB 25th Annual Toy Drive is in full swing! To participate, bring new, unwrapped toys to any of the Toys for Tots boxes across campus now through December 6. Toys collected in the drive are donated to the Toys for Tots organization.
- Leaders in areas across the university and Health System have developed a system to improve the process for emergency weather closing at UAB. The policy assigns each employee to a color-coded group to make sure we know what to do when our campus is under emergency weather protocols. Learning your group assignments is easy. Simply click on the WEATHER GROUP tile in the UAB app or visit the Check My Group feature. Your group assignment(s) will display. If you have questions about your assignment, contact Human Resources.