More Family Medicine News, Department of Family Medicine in the Medical School at the University of Minnesota

July 2008

Jennifer Warren, PhD, has been awarded the University of Minnesota Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award for 2008-09. The award recognizes contributions to research, scholarship, and/or creative activities on a national or international level.

Jamie Santilli, MD, is the new course director for year two medical students in Physician and Society. See the Med Ed Newsletter for details.

Congratulations to Jamie Feldman, MD, PhD, Gwen Halaas, MD, MBA, and David Power, MD, MPH, all promoted to associate professor in the clinical scholars track effective July 1.

May 2008

On May 16 the Harvard Street Forum featured a performance by Mark L. Nelson (right) exploring the life and work of Anton Chekhov, Russian author, playwright, and physician. The Harvard Street Forum is a collaboration of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, the Medical School Center for Arts and Medicine, the Academic Health Center, and Grace University Lutheran Church, and provides a venue in which members of the University and surrounding community can discuss issues of relevance and controversy that impact our lives.

Jim Pacala, MD, MS, was interviewed May 11 on WCCO-TV News about the aging process and lifestyle changes people can make to age in a healthy way.

April 2008

At the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians Spring Refresher (see photos on MAFP web site) on April 17, Gwen Halaas, MD, MBA, RPAP faculty, was awarded Teacher of the Year, and Therese Zink, MD, MPH, RPAP faculty, was awarded Researcher of the Year. Joanna Burns, medical student from the Duluth campus and RPAP student in Cloquet last year, received the Medical Student Award for Contributions to Family Medicine.Michael Hervey, MD, St. Joseph’s Residency Program, received Resident of the Year. James Boulger, PhD, Duluth, was awarded the President’s Award for the second time. Former RPAP student, Erik Kanten, MD, now family physician at Riverview Clinic in Crookston, MN, was awarded Physician of the Year, and the Merit Award winner was George Schoephoerster, MD.

Macaran Baird, MD, MS, faculty, and residents (left) accepted an AAFP Top Ten Award on behalf of the University of Minnesota Medical School presented at the 2008 Society of Teachers of Family Medicine annual conference in April. Medical schools are recognized for their high performance in graduating students into first-year positions in family medicine residency programs over a three year average period. The 2008 award average covers the years 2004-2005, 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. Dan Ostergaard, MD, AAFP vice president for professional activities, presented the award.

In the April 23/30 Journal of the American Medical Association, Therese Zink, MD, MPH, wrote an essay describing how her pet donkey helped her create a relationship with a dying patient’s family. 

Kathy Brooks, MD, MBA, MPA, (right) has been named to the new position of medical school associate dean for primary care effective April 17. In that role, she will direct the Rural Physician Associate Program and provide leadership for medical student educational experiences in primary care.

On April 11, Mike Miner, PhD, received the Professional Service Award from the Minnesota Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers in recognition of his leadership, influence, and initiative in the research and treatment of sexual abusers.

Medical students and family medicine faculty attended A Night Out with Family Medicine on April 15. The event was held at the McNamara Alumni Center and featured Terry Cahill, MD, shown on right with medical student Nicky Te Poel. Dr. Cahill spoke about the joys and challenges of being a rural family physician in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

On April 10, President Robert Bruininks announced that Minnesota Masonic Charities has pledged $65 million over 15 years to the University of Minnesota for cancer research, prevention, and care. Ray Christensen, MD, Duluth, is Grand Master of the Minnesota Masons.

Anne Marie Weber-Main, PhD, (right) conducted a scientific writing development series, a four-session workshop offered by the Academic Health Center Office of Clinical Research. The workshop was targeted to clinical researchers in the early stages of their careers. 

Sharon Allen, MD, PhD, presented “Women and Smoking Cessation: Do Hormones Matter?” at the Powell Center Noontime Lecture Series on April 2.

March 2008

Tai Mendenhall, PhD, William Doherty, PhD, Mac Baird, MD, MS, and Jerica Berge, PhD, authored “Citizen Health Care: Patients, Families, and Communities as Co-producers of Health” in the March Minnesota Physician. This is the first time the citizen health care model has been presented in a medical publication.

On March 25, Carole J. Bland, PhD, was awarded the Distinguished Career Award at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. This award recognizes individuals who, over a significant number of years, have been exceptionally productive scholars in educational research.

On March 24, Jim Pacala, MD, MS, presented “What Happens as We Age?” at the Mini Medical School, an Academic Health Center program for community members interested in learning about health matters and current scientific findings. Dr. Pacala demonstrated the Aging Game (right), during which medical student volunteers wore earplugs, taped-over eyeglasses, neck and leg braces, and other props designed to give them an experience similar to that of older adults impaired by chronic conditions. Bean Robinson, PhD, presented “Use It or Lose It: Sexuality and Aging” at the Mini Medical School on April 7.

Match Day on March 20 revealed medical students’ strong interest in family medicine as a specialty. 44 of our 46 positions filled. The AAFP web site shows match results and analysis for U.S. residency programs.

Jennifer Welsh, MD, was quoted in the March Association of American Medical Colleges Reporter about incorporating chronic care into residency curriculum.

On March 11 the first annual Fisch Art of Medicine Colloquium, named in honor of Robert Fisch, MD, was held at the Weisman Art Museum. Presenters included Dr. Fisch; Jon Hallberg, MD, creative director of the Center for Arts and Medicine; fourth-year medical students Justin Finch (photographer) and Brian Muthyala (audio documentarian), the inaugural Fisch Art of Medicine Student Award winners; and keynote speaker John Moses, MD, Duke University, pediatrician and photographer.

(L-R) John Moses, MD, Brian Muthyala, Robert Fisch, MD, Justin Finch, and Jon Hallberg, MD.

Therese Zink, MD, MPH, is the winner of the 2007 Pilgrimage Writing Award, writing about an experience in Chechnya as a Doctors Without Borders volunteer.

Jon Hallberg, MD, was featured in the March 9 StarTribune for his role as an on-call physician for local arts organizations. On March 11, Dr. Hallberg spoke with Kerri Miller on MPR’s “Midmorning” about doctors and doubt.

ClearWay Minnesota has awarded Kola Okuyemi, MD, MPH, $493,922 to study motivating smokers in primary care settings to utilize Minnesota Helpline; Michele Allen, MD, MS, $89,774 to study a parenting intervention to prevent tobacco and other substance use in Latino youth; and Jennifer Warren, PhD, $126,863 to study mobilizing African American parents to address the harms of secondhand smoke.

In the March Minnesota Monthly Wasira Bokore, MD, North Memorial resident, is one of seven young physicians discussing their challenges and concerns in an article called “The Future of Medicine.”

“Doctors on Call,” a live television call-in program in Duluth, completed its 26th season on February 21. Faculty participating as hosts or panelists were Ray Christensen, MD, Alan Johns, MD, Jeff Adams, MD, and Ruth Westra, DO, MPH.

In the February Minnesota Medicine, Therese Zink, MD, MPH, describes caregivers attempting to help a family that distrusts the medical system.

Colonel Basil LeBlanc, MD, (left) spoke February 15 at the Harvard Street Forum on the problems veterans face when they come home from war. Dr. LeBlanc, a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard for 19 years, is currently the Guard’s state surgeon and has been deployed for tours in Iraq and Kosovo. An article in The Minnesota Daily reviewed the talk and quoted Nancy Baker, MD.

On February 12, the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) sponsored a medical student workshop to teach the basics of suturing, stapling, and knot tying for wound repair. Department faculty and resident instructors included Kris Christiansen, MD, FMIG advisor, Mark Bixby, MD, Bonagh Dalton, MD, Heather Hamernick, MD, Adam Hoverman, DO, Bruce Kuhlman, DO, Shaun Kwosek, MD, Keiichiro Narumoto, MD, Carolyn Sparks, MD, Jeremy Springer, MD, and Christopher Wenner, MD.

The Deborah E. Powell Center for Women’s Health announced that the National Institutes of Health has approved naming Jerica Berge, PhD, (left) a Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) scholar beginning June 1. The BIRCWH program fosters career development of junior faculty members and supports their research in women’s health. Dr. Berge will focus her research on family predictors of adolescent obesity.

In the February Family Medicine, University of Minnesota medical student Emily Kroening (right) and Therese Zink, MD, MPH, describe participating in a birth in an Amish family when Emily was an RPAP student.

January 2008

Medical School Dean and Assistant Vice President for Clinical Sciences Deborah Powell, MD, (center) joined Mac Baird, MD, MS, (left) in a reception January 29 to launch the Center of Excellence in Primary Care. Kevin Peterson, MD, MPH, (right) acting director, outlined the center’s scope and purpose. Medical School faculty were joined by community physicians, representatives from the MN Department of Health, health plans, and the Indian Health Board for the celebration. With the creation of the center, the Medical School Department of Family Medicine and Community Health in collaboration with the Department of Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics has taken a significant step toward improving health care delivery. The center is a partnership between researchers and primary care clinicians to improve communication and dissemination of medical information to primary care clinics. The initial research focus will include diabetes and obesity, cancer screening and prevention, and mental health concerns, especially depression.

On January 22, “All Things Considered” host Tom Crann and Jon Hallberg, MD, discussed promotional materials doctors and clinics receive from pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Hallberg shows some of the items on a video.

In the January Family Medicine, Ruth Westra, DO, MPH, Jeff Adams, MD, Bonnie Peterson, and Jennifer Pearson, MD, co-authored a review of a new obstetrics curriculum they developed for Duluth medical students.

Jon Hallberg, MD, and Grant Morrison, MD, were named “Top Doctors” in the 12th annual poll of Twin Cities doctors featured in the January Mpls. St. Paul magazine.

Nancy Baker, MD, is featured on a series of podcasts on poetry and medicine that are distributed to HealthPartners medical providers for their enjoyment and inspiration.

Greg Gepner, MD, and Pat Fontaine, MD, MS, co-authored an article in the January issue of Minnesota Health Care News about the various arguments for and against circumcising male newborns.

Tai Mendenhall, PhD, and the Family Education and Diabetes Program were featured in the January Accelerate describing the program’s work with urban-dwelling American Indians with diabetes.

Mac Baird, MD, MS, was quoted in the January Mpls. St. Paul magazine in an article on the shortage of primary care doctors and in a Dec. 16 Pioneer Press story about a Rochester man who assists Somali children to come to the U.S. for medical help.