Eric Wallace, MD (Nephrology) has conducted the first comprehensive, face-to-face visit for a home dialysis patient in the United States. The groundbreaking appointment was part of a pilot program funded by Baxter Healthcare which enabled UAB and the Alabama Department of Public Health to work in concert to bring subspecialty nephrology care to rural patients. Read the UAB News feature article here.

Ashita Tolwani, MD (Nephrology) recently attended the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) Conference in Asiago, Italy. Several novel clinical and research tools in nephrology have been developed through ADQI, and as an international expert on continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), Tolwani contributed to a select team convened to address solute control, dialysis dose, and monitoring of CRRT therapy. 

Fernando Ovalle, MD (Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism) presented "Starting SGLT2 Inhibitors before Incretin Therapies—Is Empagliflozin a Game Changer?” at the 2016 Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. His remarks focused on recent studies of the SGLT-2 inhibitor empagliflozin and the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide which suggest that these drugs have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes.

Gabrielle Rocque, MD (Hematology & Oncology) is first author of “The Patient Care-Connect Program: Transforming Health Care Through Lay Navigation” which has been published in the Journal of Oncology Practice.

Mona Fouad, MD, MPH (Director, Preventive Medicine) has been selected as a 2016 President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Community Leadership Award recipient for her exemplary service and dedication to improving the lives of others by promoting and fostering opportunities for participation in fitness, sports or nutrition programs.

Nathan Gundacker, MD (Fellow, Infectious Diseases) was recently invited to give a plenary lecture “Punta Toro Virus Mimics the Clinical Symptomatology of Dengue Virus” at the Pan American Dengue Research Network Meeting in Panama.

The Department of Medicine is thrilled to win the “Outstanding Campaign” Award from the UAB Benevolent Fund. As a Department, we increased employee contributions by 7% and recruited 43 new continuous donors, helping the Benevolent Fund reach their ambitious $2 million campaign goal. Thanks to our Division Champions, who led special events that helped the DOM earn this honor: Susan Driggers, Alicia Farley, Mia Heard, Lisa Jinright, Amy Dean, Peggy O’Neal, Kelly Adamson, Nanette Stein, Norma Stewart, Michelle LeBlanc, Laura Gallitz, and Rick Coleman. 

UAB observed World Sickle Cell Day on June 19. New resources are now online, and Sickle Cell Disease has been added to the CDC’s Disease of the Week tablet application.

Stefan Kertesz, MD (Preventive Medicine) was featured as a “guest voice” on AL.com “Corruption in homeless healthcare: A personal story with national implications.”

There will be NO MEDICAL GRAND ROUNDS until July 13. Enjoy a summer break.