August 9, 2006

Birmingham, Ala. - The UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Center for Palliative Care has established a community advisory board. The board will support the center’s efforts to provide supportive care to patients at end of life or with chronic, advanced or life-limiting illnesses.

“The community advisory board will help provide direction and focus for the Center, keeping the faculty and staff in tune with our community and in touch with the needs of our patient population,” said Christine Ritchie, M.D., director of the center.

The center provides clinical care to patients as well as conducts a program of research aimed at improving palliative and end-of-life care. The center also offers a comprehensive range of training activities in palliative and end-of-life care for medical professionals.

The community advisory board is chaired by John G. Beard, president of Alacare Home Health and Hospice. Members are Kelly A. Bownes, president, MedPlan Recruiting, Inc.; Deane Corliss, attorney, Bradley Arant Rose & White; State Rep. Paul J. DeMarco; Melanie Dickinson, publisher, Birmingham Business Journal; Sarah Sumner Duggan, senior vice president, Capmark; Michael E. Fleenor, M.D., MPH, health officer, Jefferson County Department of Health; Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss, Temple Emanu-El; Robert Hunter, general counsel, Altec, Inc.; Louis Josof, qualifying broker, Louis Josof Realty; Betty Morrison, executive director, The Thompson Foundation; Paul Romjue, director of Christian Education, Independent Presbyterian Church; Jim Towsend, president, Townsend Strategies; Jane S. Webb, community volunteer; and Lex Williamson, managing director, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.