Department of Medicine at the
University of
Colorado Denver
First Quarter 2007 News
MOVE OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE TO THE NEW FITZSIMONS / ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS
The move of the inpatient medical services of University Hospital from the current Ninth and Colorado Boulevard campus to the Fitzsimons campus will occur on 15-17 June 2007. Substantial planning for the move is underway.
Occupancy of the new Administrative Office Building West for the Department of Medicine’s Administrative and Educational Offices as well as administrative space for the Divisions of Cardiology, Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Geriatrics, General Internal Medicine, and Infectious Diseases will occur in August, 2007. Occupancy of the second Research Tower for Departmental research space is anticipated in the late summer of 2008 and this will complete/finalize the move of the Department to Fitzsimons. Completion of the ongoing construction of 15 educational and support buildings at Fitzsimons will occur during or before the late summer of 2008, completing the move of the School of Medicine and the entire University of Colorado Denver campus to the Fitzsimons site.
RECENT DEPARTMENTAL FACULTY PUBLICATIONS IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
The New England Journal of Medicine is widely read and quoted. Four articles by Departmental faculty members have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine over the past three months:
Ingrid Binswanger, M.D. is a recently appointed Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Ingrid’s research interests are in health services and outcomes, especially as they relate to underserved and disadvantaged populations. Ingrid’s January article examines the outcome of inmates released from prison and found a high risk for death in the first two weeks after prison release (Binswanger IA, Stern MF, Deyo RA et al. Release from Prison-A High Risk of Death for Former Inmates. NEJM 2007;356:157-165). Ingrid’s article was featured on the front page of the 01/11/2007 Denver Post.
Joel Levine, M.D. and Dennis Ahnen, M.D. are two senior members of our Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Joel has substantial clinical experience with regard to diagnosis and management of colonic polyps and Dennis has long been a leading researcher into the pathophysiology and screening for colonic polyps. Dennis and Joel co-authored an authoritative review of colonic polyps in a December edition (Levine JS, Ahnen DJ. Adenomatous Polyps of the Colon. NEJM 2006;355:2551-2557).
Tomas Berl, M.D. and Robert Schrier, M.D are internationally known members of our Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension with expertise in water metabolism. These individuals are among the authors of a multi-center trial on a selective oral vasopressin antagonist for treatment of hyponatremia due to heart failure, cirrhosis or SIADH in a November edition (Schrier RW, Gross P, Gheorghiade M, Berl T et al. Tolvaptan, A Selective Oral Vasopressin V2-Receptor Antagonist, for Hyponatremia. NEJM 2006;355:2099-2112).
William R. Hiatt, M.D. is an endowed Professor of Medicine, Head of the Colorado Prevention Center and campus leader with regard to the GCRC, peripheral vascular disease and clinical trials. Bill is also the current Chair of the Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA. Bill wrote a single author perspective article about the need for full disclosure and a transparent process in evaluating drug safety with special emphasis on aprotinin (Hiatt WR; Observational Studies of Drug Safety-Aprotinin and the Absence of Transparency. NEJM 2006:355:2171-2173).
DIVISION OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY UPDATE-In the 18 months that Hugo Rosen has headed the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, there has been a tremendous influx of very talented faculty members into the Division. Also, Hugo, working in collaboration with Joel Levine, Greg Everson and the CU Foundation, has obtained a 1 $M hepatitis C research grant from the Hewitt Family Foundation and Hugo’s efforts have resulted in the UCD being named as the nation’s fifth NIH Hepatitis C Center. New members of the GI/Hepatology Division Include:
Jay Burton, M.D.-from the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, is a Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist that has been a great addition to our Hepatology Group (Drs. Everson, Trotter, Foreman and Rosen)
Sean Colgan, PhD-formerly a Professor at Harvard/the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, is a well-funded and productive investigator who has been a terrific addition to the basic research programs of the Division. Sean has established effective collaborations with several Departments and individuals throughout the School of Medicine as well as a first rate GI Mucosal Biology Program.
Lucy Golden, PhD-from Trinity College, Ireland via the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, is a well-published, cellular immunologist with substantial expertise in the area of the role of lymphocytes and cytokines in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. Lucy contributes significantly to the hepatitis research efforts and fellowship training within the Division.
Norio Fukami, M.D.-from MD Anderson in Houston is an outstanding gastroenterologist with expertise in advanced endoscopic procedures including endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic ultrasound. Norio joins a superb group of gastroenterologists with exceptional procedural skills (Drs.Yang Chen, Raj Shah, Steve Freeman and Joel Levine).
Greg Austin, M.D., MPH-from the University of North Carolina is trained in Gastroenterology as well as health outcomes research with a focus on irritable bowel syndrome, nutrition and obesity. Greg will be developing the health services and outcomes aspects of the Division as well as synergizing with the investigators already on campus with regard to nutrition and obesity.
Jesus Rivera Nieves, M.D.-from the University of Virginia is a productive investigator with special expertise in inflammatory bowel diseases and in the study of the mechanisms of inflammation and immunology in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease. Drs. Nieves and Colgan will serve as the core of an inflammatory bowel diseases basic and clinical research program.
Aliya Hasan, M.D.- Aliya will join the faculty after completing her GI fellowship at UCD and will develop a women’s health program within the GI Division. Aliya brings great skill, energy and enthusiasm in patient care and education and will also contribute significantly to the GI clinical care and educational missions of the Division in collaboration with GI faculty including Bill Murchison, Walter “Pete” Peterson and others.
UCH AWARDS TO DEPARTMENTAL FACULTY-three members of the Department were cited for outstanding efforts at the January 23, 2007 Medical Staff Awards Dinner:
JoAnn Lindenfeld, M.D. (Cardiology)-received the 2006-07 Outstanding Full-Time Physician of the Year Award, one of UCH’s highest awards.
John Messenger, M.D. (Cardiology)-was recognized with a Performance and Safety Award for his excellent efforts to increase implementation of patient safety and quality standards.
Michelle Barron, M.D. (Infectious Diseases)-was recognized with a Performance and Safety Award for her superb efforts as Head of the UCH Infection Control Program.
INNOVATIVE GRANT AWARD-nanotechnology and inter-departmental/inter-institutional collaboration are two important elements for advances in science. A unique collaboration between Lynne Bemis, PhD, other investigators in the William Robinson Laboratory (members of our Medical Oncology faculty and the Cancer Center), electrical and computer engineers at UC Boulder (Won Park) and mechanical engineers at the University of Texas (Jeong-Bong Lee) has resulted in a 1.1 $M National Science Foundation grant. This grant was awarded for the development of a watch-sized mechanical system to detect genomic signals from blood to screen patients for melanoma.
SPECIAL NATIONAL RECOGNITION-Eric Coleman, M.D. of the Department’s Divisions of Health Care Policy and Research and Geriatrics has been awarded the American Geriatrics Society 2007 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award. Eric is one of the nation’s leading experts on transitions of care.
