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Drs. Reed, Windham, Jeffcoat & Sisk with trophy |
Dr. Eby |
NIH Grant Award
Dr. John Schweinfurth was recently awarded an R01, five year research grant from the National Institutes of Health, in the total amount of $1,335,201. The project is entitled Characterization of Hearing Status in the Jackson Heart Study Cohort. Considering that grant awards by the NIH are very limited and carefully screened, this is quite an accomplishment. Not only is Dr. Schweinfurth a dedicated practicing physician, he is devoted to being a very active and successful member of our research team.
Club Excellence Inductee
Crystal Henderson, Patient Services Coordinator in Suite K, was recognized as one of the very best in customer service at the University Hospitals Clinics. Crystal received 10 outstanding compliments from customers during 2006 which earned her the prestigious honor of being a Club Excellence member. Crystal and all of our customer-oriented staff set the standard for service throughout the institution.
VA Medical Center Ranking
In this year's annual evaluation of VA hospitals across the country, the G. V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson ranked tenth overall when considering a variety of performance measures. The Center ranked fourth nationally in quality of clinical care. We are very fortunate to have such a high quality VA partner in our program. Obviously, Dr. Christine Franzese, Chief of the Division of Otolaryngology at the VA, and our residents have been strong contributors to this success.
Residency Program Accreditation
Our residency program has received a full five year accreditation from the Residency Review Committee for Otolaryngology, a division of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, effective 2/2/2007. Five years is the maximum period granted and is reserved only for the strongest programs. This accomplishment is indicative of the excellent quality of our residency program, our outstanding staff, and of course, the dedication of our program coordinators Education Administrator Mary Manasco and Associate Program Director Dr. Christine Franzese who were responsible for representing our program to the RRC.
Wear Red Day
Department employees participated in the National Wear Red Day Friday, February 2, as part of the Go Red for Women campaign sponsored by national and local groups, including the American Heart Association. The Wear Red Day is a movement that began in 2002 to promote awareness of women's heart disease. Here are some of our red-clad employees showing their support for women's heart health:
Dr. Christine Franzese Presents at the 2007 ACGME Educational Conference
Dr. Christine Franzese, Residency Associate Program Director, was selected to deliver an oral presentation of her poster abstract When to Cut? Using an Objective Structured Clinical Examination to Evaluate Surgical Decision-Making during the 2007 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Educational Conference, March 1-4, in Kissimmee, Florida. Dr. Franzese has done extensive work in developing the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) program for residents. Her abstract was one of only nine selected by a ten member panel for the 2007 Marvin R. Dunn Poster Session from 144 submitted. This is a very prestigious honor for Dr. Franzese, the department, and for UMC, and is another way that we are establishing ourselves as a national leader in educational innovation. Congratulations to Dr. Franzese for this outstanding achievement and well-deserved recognition.
2007 Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM) Presentations
An abstract submitted to the American Broncho-Esophagological Association (ABEA) by Dr. Kim Donnellan, PGY2, has been selected for poster presentation at the 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting to be held during COSM in San Diego, April 25-27, 2007. Her poster Outcomes Following Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Therapy will be presented during the combined poster session. Also, fourth year medical student Ryan Case has been selected to orally present his work entitled Efficacy of Weight Loss in the Long-Term Management of Chronic Upper Airway Obstruction during the ABEA meeting. Congratulations to both of these for their outstanding research efforts.
New Technology Available for Treatment of Salivary Gland
Disorders
For patients suffering from chronic salivary gland infections or salivary duct stones, there may be some help in sight. With the use of tiny fiberoptic telescopes, it is now possible to diagnose and treat many of these cases without major surgery. Previously, excision of the gland was the only available therapy for many patients. The new telescopes make it possible to use very small instruments to remove stones or strictures and can also be used with the holmium:yag laser to perform laser lithotripsy of larger stones. J. Randall Jordan, MD, FACS is introducing the new technology to UMC. Dr Jordan says that the ideal patient is one with a known stone in the mid to posterior portion of the submandibular duct that has not been able to be removed readily through the usual approaches. The ideal type of stone is less than 1 cm. Dr Jordan states that the long-term published success rates for cure are in excess of 90%. This technique has been popular in Europe for several years and is just now being introduced into the US. Previous studies revealed that in many cases of submandibular gland stones, the gland itself was normal on removal, and might have been functional if the stone could have been removed. Until recently, the fiberoptic telescope technology was not at the point where adequate images could be obtained with the small fibers necessary for endoscopy of the salivary gland ducts. Current technology allows very good image quality and enough room for an instrument channel as well. The technique is usually carried out under anesthesia in an operating room as an outpatient.
Chicago Marathon
Charles Bishop, AuD, Marla Moore, PA-C, and Andrea Lewis, MD, were among the 33,000 runners from all over the world who participated in the 29th annual Chicago Marathon on October 22, 2006. The trio successfully completed the 26.2 mile course through downtown Chicago. Weather conditions of 41 degrees and 20 mile per hour winds made the course even more challenging. Despite the weather, over 1,000,000 people lined the streets to cheer on the runners. Charles, Andrea, and Marla had been training since February for the marathon, working with a local group called Lifechange Marathon Makeover. Each of them was running 20-22 miles prior to the race. Congratulations to these three for attaining such a personal momentous achievement. It took a tremendous amount of dedication, determination, and perseverance to train for and finish such an event. The personal characteristics these three of our colleagues display typify the reason we have such a great department.
Dr. Bishop, Ms. Moore, and Dr. Lewis
Mississippi’s 2007 “Top 40 Under 40”
Christine Franzese, MD, Assistant Professor, has been selected as one of Mississippi’s elite “Top 40 Under 40” for 2007, sponsored by the Mississippi Business Journal. In its 14th year, this program recognizes young leaders for achievement in the business world and in their communities. Nominees are selected by an independent panel consisting of three judges. The “Top 40” will be honored at a luncheon January 17, 2007, at the Mississippi Trademart in Jackson, and will also be profiled in a special “Top 40” edition of the Mississippi Business Journal in February. Last year, more than 500 people attended the luncheon held in conjunction with the Mississippi Business & Technology Expo. Congratulations to Dr. Franzese on this very special honor!
Increase in Resident Complement Granted
We are pleased to announce that our residency program has just received approval from the ACGME for an increase in resident complement from 2 per year to 3 per year for every year increasing our total resident number from 10 to 15. We will be taking three PGY-1 residents in the 2007 NRMP match and trying to find a suitable person to start as a PGY-2 in July 2007. The other positions will be filled via future matches. This is an incredible compliment to each and every member of this department and their desire to teach.
Stringer Receives AAO-HNS Presidential Citation Award
Dr. Scott Stringer recently received the 2006 Presidential Citation Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation for “his work in training residents and his dedication to teaching, which is truly an extraordinary gift.” Dr. C. Ron Cannon, Academy/Foundation President, presented the award to Dr. Stringer during the opening ceremony of the foundation’s annual meeting and exposition in Toronto o
n September 17, 2006. Citation Award recipients are personally selected by the president for their outstanding contributions and dedication to the Academy and Foundation. Typically, three to five recipients are recognized at the annual meeting each year. The AAO-HNS Foundation is the world’s largest organization representing specialists who treat the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck with more than 10,000 members. Pictured is
Dr. Stringer (right) receiving award from
President C. Ron Cannon, M.D.
UMC Well-Represented at Academy Events in Toronto
Dr. Randy Jordan attended the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery September 14-17 in Toronto. He remained in Toronto to attend the Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation annual meeting. Additional otolaryngology faculty attending the Academy meeting September 17-20 were Dr. Scott Stringer, Dr. Tom Eby, Dr. Jeff Carron, and Dr. Christine Franzese.
Dr. Michael Goodier (PGY-1) gave an oral presentation on Monday, September 18 on “Utility of Panendoscopy for Unknown Primary and Negative PET” detailing his research done in medical school at LSU, Shreveport. Dr. Andrea Lewis (PGY-3) presented a poster, entitled "Use of the Double-Skin Paddle Fibular Flap for Oral Defects with Continuous Chin Involvement" which she worked on with Dr. Richard Wein, former UMC faculty who is currently at Tufts-New England Medical Center. Other resident representatives were Dr. Justin Garner PGY-5, Dr. Jamie Sisk PGY-5, Dr. Corbin Mullis PGY-4, and Dr. Jason Guillot PGY-3.
Physician extenders Tristen Harris PA-C, Marla Moore PA-C, Holly Armstrong NP, clinical nurse coordinators Heidi Jackson, Cindy Rogers, and Christy Tucker, and administrators Marilyn Roberts, Mary Guest and Sabrina Reilly also attended sessions at the meeting.
The Department hosted an alumni dinner in conjunction with the Academy on Tuesday, September 19th at Harbour Street Steakhouse. Brad Odom and Patrick Harmon with NeuroMaxx Surgical were corporate partners for this event.
Health Fair
Dr. Randy Jordan and Christy Waggoner, RN, of The Face Center recently participated in a health fair held at The Hilton Hotel in Jackson. Sponsored by the Mississippi Nurses Foundation, the annual event attracts many presenters, including most local hospitals. The Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at UMC is a major sponsor each year, providing various screening services and speakers for the event. The Face Center offered complimentary facial skin cancer screenings and digital imaging consultations to visitors. For more information about our facial plastic surgery and cosmetic skin care services, visit our website at www.thefacecenter.com.
Scott Stringer Selected as University Physicians President
Dr. Scott Stringer was recently elected president of University Physicians, the consolidated clinical practice plan of the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The plan includes 350 physicians in 35
divisions and specialty practices. University Physicians will work closely with the hospital and the school of medicine to develop new programs and enhance current ones. As University Physicians president, Dr. Stringer will focus on completing the practice reorganization, improving ambulatory patient access and satisfaction, enhancing the revenue cycle, and implementing an electronic health record system. Dr. Stringer holds a master’s degree in Administrative Medicine from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Jackson VA Medical Center Receives Outstanding Quality Ranking
Among 137 hospitals nationally, the G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson ranked 12th overall for the year 2005 and tied for third in quality. This ranking was determined using key indicators including access, quality, and patient satisfaction. We are very fortunate to have such an outstanding partner in support of our educational and clinical programs.
Kathy Irving and Suzanne Roark earn AuD Degrees
Audiologists Kathy Irving and Suzanne Roark have completed all requirements for their Doctor of Audiology degrees, with official conferment August 5, 2006. They received the AuD from the Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa, Arizona, a program which offers a full spectrum curriculum of basic and clinical science education in the field of audiology. As doctors of audiology, Kathy and Suzanne will specialize in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. Completion of this advanced degree is indicative of the dedication Kathy and Suzanne have for their professional growth, for their patients, and for the department. They are looking forward to incorporating this knowledge into their practice, ultimately providing a better quality of life for their patients. Congratulations to Drs. Irving and Roark on this outstanding accomplishment!
Graduation 2006
The Fifth Annual Lectureship and Resident Graduation in Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences was held Friday, June 23, 2006, beginning at 8:00 a.m. A dinner and awards ceremony followed that evening.
We were honored to have Donald A. Leopold, MD, as our visiting professor. He is professor and chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Leopold made presentations on “Perceived Nasal Airflow is the Key to Nasal Therapy,” “Who Gets Rhinosinusitis and How Can We Tell When They Have It?,” and “Approaches to Olfactory Disorders.” He also conducted a case conference with the residents. Residents Kimberly Elliott, MD, Melanie Petro, MD, Justin Garner, MD, and Jamie Sisk, MD made outstanding research presentations as well.
A celebration and awards dinner took place that evening at the Country Club of Jackson in honor of our two graduates, Dr. Kimberly Elliott and Dr. Melanie Petro. Dr. Elliott will be entering private practice with Premier Medical Group in Mobile, Alabama, and Dr. Petro will be entering a cosmetic surgery fellowship with Dr. Stephen Metzinger at McCollough Clinic, Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Kimberly A. Elliott, MD Melanie L. Petro, MD
Award winners from this year included:
Resident Academic Award – Jason Guillot, MD, PGY-2 (highest Otolaryngology Training Exam score)
Resident Teacher of the Year – Melanie Petro, MD, PGY-5 and Jason Guillot, MD, PGY-2 (voted on by students and residents - tied for the award)
Faculty Teacher of the Year – J. Randall Jordan, MD (voted on by residents)
Resident Research Award – Jamie Sisk, MD, PGY-4 (chosen by visiting professor at lectureship)
Mary Manasco Spirit Award – Jason Guillot, MD, PGY-2
(award created in honor of residency program coordinator; voted on by faculty for resident with outstanding attitude, collegiality, work ethic, cooperativeness, selflessness, competence and leadership)
Consultant of the Year Award – Darryl Hamilton, MD
Alumnus of the Year Award – Ron Cannon, MD
The residents also received individual gift certificates in recognition of their hard work and outstanding performance on the annual otolaryngology training examination.
Dr. Franzese presents Drs. Elliott and
Petro with their residency completion
certificates.
Dr. Stringer congratulates graduating residents
on completion of their programs.
Dr. Franzese presents Dr. Sisk with Resident
Research Award.
Dr. Jordan receives Faculty Teacher of
the Year Award.
Faculty, families, and friends visit during pre-dinner
social.
Dr. Tom Eby Joins Department
We are very pleased to announce that Thomas Lee Eby, MD, FACS, has joined us as professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences effective August 14, 2006. With his extensive experience in the field of neurotology and his outstanding international reputation, Dr. Eby completes the foundation of our department in a crowning fashion. We now have a department that provides complete otolaryngologic care that is competitive in scope and quality on a national and international scale.
Dr. Eby has been at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for almost 20 years where he most recently served as George W. Barber, Jr. Foundation Professor. Dr. Eby earned his bachelor’s degree at Stanford University and obtained his MD from the University of Wisconsin. He completed two years of residency in general surgery at the University of Minnesota Hospitals, and a residency in otolaryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Eby completed fellowships in otopathology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and neurotology at University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland under Dr. Fisch.
He is a member of numerous professional societies including the International Otopathology Society, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Fellow), American College of Surgeons (Fellow), the Triologic Society (Active Fellow), the American Otological Society, and the American Neurotology Society (Active Fellow). He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Otolaryngology, Subspecialty of Neurotology. Dr. Eby has served as an editorial reviewer for various professional publications including The Laryngoscope and Otology& Neurotology. As a testament to his outstanding teaching skills and dedication to education, he was selected as Faculty Member of the Year in the Division of Otolaryngology at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
Dr. Eby is married and has three children, Margaret, Brendan, and Conor. His spouse, Mary, is a physician as well and is actively involved in a variety of public health initiatives. His daughter is a rising junior at Barnard College where she serves as music reporter for her student newspaper and also is a disc jockey for the school radio station. Brendan will be starting college at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where he will be enrolled in the prestigious Blount Honors Program. Conor will be starting the eighth grade this fall and is a rising soccer star.
Our own Dr. Christine Franzese, Assistant Professor, participated in the Mrs. Mississippi America pageant held in Madison, Saturday, June 10th. A New York native, Dr. Franzese completed her residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and chose to remain in Mississippi to begin her career. Over the past few years, she has become an unofficial ambassador for the state.
Dr. Franzese is not new to pageant participation, and is a former Miss New York National Pre-Teen and also a former Miss Empire State.
Although she’s not been in a pageant for quite some time, she did extremely well. Of 14 contestants from across the state, Dr. Franzese was in the top five, and ultimately, was selected as second runner-up. Her platform was women’s health issues, particularly preventive care, for those individuals who typically are the caregiver and tend to neglect their own healthcare needs. She endorsed the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at UMC and its contribution to improving the health and lives of women in Mississippi. Without a doubt, of all the candidates, she gave the most impressive and thoughtful answer to her interview question “what would you tell the world about how Mississippi responded in the aftermath of Katrina?” She described the people of Mississippi as resilient, strong, courageous, and simply “outstanding”.
Not only is Dr. Franzese a highly skilled medical professional and a dedicated wife and mother, she exemplifies beauty, poise, and a community-minded spirit. As second runner-up, she received a trophy, roses, jewelry, and a tremendous amount of respect from the judges, contestants, and audience.
New Clinical Nurse Coordinator
Heidi Jackson, RN, has joined the department as a rhinology clinical
nurse coordinator in Suite K at the Pavilion. Heidi has many years of nursing
experience, including several years as an ear, nose and throat surgical nurse.
Most recently, she worked as an operating room nurse at a local outpatient
surgical clinic. Heidi earned her nursing degree from Copiah-Lincoln
Community College.
COSM
Three residents in this program participated in the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings, May 19-22, in Chicago. Attending were PGY-4 Dr. Jamie Sisk and PGY-2’s Dr. Jason Guillot and Dr. Andrea Lewis. Dr. Sisk’s abstract entitled “Endoscopic Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in a Porcine Model" was selected as a poster presentation.
Faculty members Dr. Scott Stringer, Dr. Jeff Carron, Dr. Christine Franzese, and Dr. Mark Reed also participated in the meetings.
Residents Produce Another Outstanding Performance on Annual Otolaryngology Examination
Our residents achieved outstanding success on the Annual Otolaryngology Examination achieving in 2006 a program scaled score surpassed by only 7 of 122 programs participating as illustrated below. For the second year in a row five of our residents scored above the 80 th percentile within their resident group. Also, five of them scored above the 80 th percentile of all residents taking the examination.
Charles Bishop, Audiologist, Earns AuD Degree
Charles Bishop has completed all requirements for his Doctor of Audiology
degree awarded by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, School of Audiology, and will be receiving the degree in May. For Charles, this accomplishment is the culmination of many years of coursework, research, and clinical experience. It is indicative of his commitment to personal educational achievement, to the department, and to providing the highest level of care for his patients. Our congratulations to Dr. Bishop on this success!
Mississippi's First Ever Bilateral Cochlear Implantation
On April 14, 2006, the Cochlear Implant Team marked another first by performing the first ever bilateral cochlear implantation at UMC on a 12 month-old boy with profound deafness. We are pleased to be offering cutting edge implantable hearing technology to the residents of Mississippi. When compared to unilateral implantation, bilateral implantation has shown superior performance in selected patient groups, such as children with congenital, profound deafness and patients deafened by meningitis. As his parents summed it up, "it was truly a Good Friday."
Otolaryngology Honors Award
Jess Clifton Roberts was presented the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences Award at Honors Day on May 5. This book award and certificated are awarded to a senior medical student for excellence in the field of otolaryngology. Jess plans a career in otolaryngology; he will begin his residency at Baylor Medical College in July.
MSO Annual Meeting
The Mississippi Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery held its Annual Spring Meeting and Scientific Assembly March 31 – April 2 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Two residents gave presentations. Dr. Justin Garner, PGY-4, was the recipient of the Resident Paper Award, for his paper Adult Outpatient Tracheostomy Care: Practices and Perspectives. Dr. Jamie Sisk, also a PGY-4, presented Presence of HPV in Tonsillectomy Specimens.
Several faculty members also gave presentations. In addition to giving the welcome and introductions, Dr. J. Randall Jordan presented Current Technology for Skin Rejuvenation. A talk entitled Antimicrobial Washes and Chronic Rhinosinusitis was given by Dr. Scott P. Stringer. Dr. Christine Franzese presented No Time for Journals? Evidence Based Medicine for Otolaryngologists and Dr. Karen Pitman gave a talk on Parathyroid Surgery Update 2006.
AOA Faculty of the Year Award
Dr. Scott Stringer, Professor and Chairman, was presented the Alpha Omega Alpha Faculty of the Year Award by the UMC chapter during an initiation banquet held Monday, March 6, in the Norman C. Nelson Student Union. Alpha Omega Alpha is the only national honor medical society in the world, established to recognize and perpetuate excellence in the medical profession. Society members are the top academically in their respective classes and include sixteen in the UMC School of Medicine, Class of 2006, and six in the Class of 2007. Members of the society nominate and select gifted teachers who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in medical education. Shown presenting the award to Dr. Stringer is Jess Roberts, Chapter Treasurer.
Research Grant Awarded as Result of Multi-Discipline Effort
Dr John Schweinfurth, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, Angie Brunson, Instructor, Speech-Language Pathology, and Kathy Wentland, Supervisor, Speech-Language Pathology have been awarded a two year $150,000 research grant from the Dennis W. Jahnigen Career Development Scholars Awards. Dr. Schweinfurth, Ms. Brunson, Ms. Wentland and consultant Dr. Tom Mosley, department of geriatrics, are part of a multi-disciplinary team assembled to study the effectiveness of new techniques to treat swallowing disorders in elderly victims of stroke. The study will begin July 1, 2006.
The award is sponsored by the American Geriatrics Society and is a tribute to the late Dr. Dennis Jahnigen, a leading educator, geriatrician, and director of the Center on Aging at the University of Colorado Health Center at the time of his death in 1998. The award was created to improve the knowledge base and increase understanding of geriatric facets of medical specialties, while encouraging physicians and surgeons to become interested in the geriatric aspects of their careers.
As the only laryngologist in the state, Dr. Schweinfurth is responsible for treating a large number of patients with complicated swallowing disorders, many of whom are elderly patients devastated by the effects of stroke. Mississippi has the highest incidence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the United States and dysphagia is a common long-term result. Many dysphagic patients do not respond to traditional rehabilitation and must rely on tube feeding for sustenance. They also suffer from pneumonia due to aspiration. The study will consist of two parts: 1) to evaluate the efficacy of a 
new swallowing therapy (electrical stimulation of neuromuscular structures of the tongue, neck, and larynx) and 2) to establish an interprofessional training program in the area of geriatric swallowing disorders. Angie Brunson and Kathy Wentland have undergone formal training and are highly proficient in providing electrical stimulation therapy. The team will monitor the effectiveness of this treatment in dysphagic patients, and will evaluate the results at the end of the two year trial period.
Brunson working with dysphagic patient.
Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat Services
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Mark Reed and Dr. Jeffrey Carron are merging their skills to form a children’s services team, dedicated to the special care and needs of pediatric patients. In addition to having extensive and specialized training, both Dr. Reed and Dr. Carron have many years’ experience providing otolaryngologic care to pediatric patients.
Dr. Reed recently joined the department as an associate professor and chief of the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology. Dr. Reed is the first pediatric otolaryngologist in Mississippi and has an outstanding reputation in the community where he has practiced for over 10 years. He enjoys helping all children with problems in the head and neck area, particularly those with airway problems, sinus disease, head and neck masses, speech disorders, and routine pediatric ear, nose, and throat disorders such as tonsils, adenoids, and otitis media.
Dr. Carron originally joined the Medical Center in July, 2002, and was with the department until August, 2005, when he accepted a faculty position at Washington University in St. Louis. He is now returning to Jackson and the department as an associate professor. Dr. Carron was instrumental in establishing the first cochlear implant program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and has successfully implanted over 50 of these devices. In addition to routine ear, nose, and throat disorders, Dr. Carron has special interests in the areas of hearing loss, speech disorders, cleft palate, head and neck masses.
Both Dr. Reed and Dr. Carron are committed to providing the highest quality care with the utmost degree of professionalism and compassion. The skills and expertise of these two physicians will allow the department to provide comprehensive ear, nose, and throat services for the children of Mississippi and surrounding states in state-of-the-art facilities at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.
Drs. Carron and Reed are both members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. For more information on the backgrounds and training of Dr. Reed and Dr. Carron, please refer to their bios under “Faculty/Staff.”
Clinical Associate Professor Elected President of
National AAO-HNS Foundation
Dr. Ron Cannon, Clinical Associate Professor, was elected to serve as president of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation for 2005-2006. Selected during the 2004 annual meeting in New York, Dr. Cannon has the task of representing the academy in political, economic, and research arenas in addition to presiding over the annual meeting to be held in Toronto, September, 2006. The academy membership consists of over 12,000 specialists who treat the ear, nose, and throat, and related structures of the head and neck. Its mission is to provide educational resources, services, and information to benefit otolaryngologists and their patients.
A University of Mississippi School of Medicine graduate, Dr. Cannon completed an internal medicine internship at the City of Memphis Hospital. He was a surgical and otolaryngology resident at the Medical Center and later transferred to the University of Virginia Medical Center where he was chief resident. Serving on various boards and committees, Dr. Cannon is not only extremely active in the medical community, but also active in many civic organizations. He has been the recipient of many professional awards throughout his career, including recognition by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America.” He is also an avid supporter of education, publishing numerous peer-reviewed articles as well as conducting continuing education seminars. Dr. Cannon practices full-time in Jackson.
VNS Therapy
The department now offers VNS Therapy™ through referring physicians for treatment of patients with seizure disorders or chronic depression resistant to medical management. .
VNS or Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy has been used for several years in treating seizure disorders, and has been proven an effective long-term strategy for the treatment of chronic, severe depression. Significant, sustained improvements have been indicated through clinical trials, with only mild side effects. VNS consists of an implanted pulse generator and electrode that delivers impulses to the patient’s left vagus nerve. The vagus nerve moderates the release of serotonin and norephinephrine neurotransmitters thought to be critical in mood regulation.
Dr. Richard Wein recently performed the first VNS implant in the Jackson area for a patient with treatment-resistant depression, and several additional procedures are scheduled. Dr. Wein,
Dr. Karen Pitman, and Dr. Christine Franzese have received extensive training in implanting these devices. Once the implant has been placed, the patient is monitored by the referring physician.
The department continues to be a leader in offering the most contemporary and innovative treatment options for ear, nose, and throat disorders.
The department was very well represented at the Southern Section meeting of the Triological Society January 12 -14th in Naples, Florida. Faculty members, Dr. John Schweinfurth and Dr. Christine Franzese, and residents Dr. Jason Guillot (PGY-2), Dr. Kim Donnellan (PGY-1), Dr. Justin Garner (PGY-4), and Dr. Jamie Sisk (PGY-4) combined for five poster presentations and one oral presentation making us one of the best represented departments in the Southern Section. Also, we made a very strong showing in the golf tournament , placing third.
Scott P. Stringer, M.D., M.S., Professor and Chair, Karen T. Pitman, M.D., Associate Professor, and James R. House, III, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, were recently selected for inclusion in the “Best Doctors in America 2005-2006” database, a highly acclaimed resource for matching patients around the world with the best medical care available. This elite database contains the names and professional profiles of the top 4% of physicians within the United States and has recently received national media attention. Selection as a “Best Doctor” is a particularly distinctive honor since it is peer-based, from nomination to the actual selection process. For more information about the “Best Doctors” program, visit their website at www.bestdoctors.com.
Dr. Scott P. Stringer Dr. Karen T. Pitman Dr. James R. House, III
Hearing aid sales/service The Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences is pleased to announce the inception of hearing aid sales and service in Suite K of the Pavilion. A full range of audiological services, such as advanced hearing assessment, auditory electrophysiology, and in-depth hearing aid analysis, is now offered. The staff includes audiologist Charles Bishop, MA, CCC-A, ASHA certified, whose services are available to patients in Suite K. Charles has an extensive background, specializing in all aspects of audiology and the dispensation of hearing aids and other assistive listening devices. At Suite K, otolaryngologists are always close at hand for any necessary consultations or medical clearance. Patients will appreciate the convenience of “one-stop shopping” in a courteous, customer-oriented environment. Appointments may be made by calling 601-984-5160 or via UMC GroupWise, “ENT - Appointment.” |
Tristen Harris, Physician Assistant, recently attained faculty status as Instructor. Tristen joined the otolaryngology staff in July 2003, and has made a valuable contribution to the success of the department and clinic services. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida International University and completed her master’s of physician assistant studies from the University of Florida. Tristen is NCCPA certified and an active member of several professional organizations.
Marla Moore, Physician Assistant, joined the department effective October 31, 2005. Marla obtained her bachelor’s in physician assistant studies at the LSU Medical Center School of Allied Health Professions. She pursued her master’s of physician assistant studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, specializing in otolaryngology, and was certified in 2000. She is also a doctor of pharmacy, and has been a registered pharmacist since 1995. Marla has several years of experience as a PA in otolaryngology in Louisiana and Mississippi. She is an active member of several professional organizations.
Dr. Kimberly Donnellan recently received a travel grant to attend the 2005 Conference on Research Education in Training in Otolaryngology in Washington, DC November 2-4. She plans to extend her stay in Washington and attend part of the Society of University Otolaryngologists meeting held November 4-6.
Dr. Stringer has recently been elected by his peers to serve as a member of the Auditing Committee for the Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Official results will be announced at the annual meeting and OTO expo in Los Angeles September 25-28.
Dr. Randy Jordan presented a poster at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery September 22-24 in Los Angeles. The title of his presentation was "An Unusual Complication of Malar Augmentation." He remained in Los Angeles and attended the Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation annual meeting.
Other otolaryngology faculty attending the Academy meeting September 25-28 in Los Angeles were Dr. Scott Stringer, Dr. Karen Pitman, and Dr. Richard Wein. Representing the residency program were Dr. Kimberly Elliott PGY-5, Dr. Justin Garner PGY-3, Dr. Corbin Mullis PGY-2 and Dr. Pearson Windham PGY-2. Tristen Harris PA-C, clinical nurse coordinators Cindy Rogers, Christy Tucker, and Christy Waggoner, and administrators Mary Guest and Sabrina Reilly also attended sessions at the meeting.
The Department hosted an alumni dinner in conjunction with the Academy meeting on Tuesday, September 27th at McCormick and Schmick’s restaurant. Brad Odom and Patrick Harmon with NeuroMaxx Surgical were corporate partners for this event.
The Fourth Annual Lectureship in Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences and Graduation Day was held June 24, 2005. We were honored and privileged this year to have Dr. Randal S. Weber as our visiting professor. Dr. Weber is currently professor and chairman of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He lectured on Neck Dissection for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Clinical Care Pathways in Head and Neck Surgery. The senior residents also gave presentations showcasing some of their research. The residents and their talks were Cost Minimization Trial for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening by Jim Connolly, MD, The Effect of Topical Dexamethasone on the Rate of Early Post-Tympanostomy Tube Otorrhea in Patients with a Mucoid Middle Ear Effusion - Preliminary Results by Robert Moore, MD, Evidence Based Recommendations for Antimicrobial Nasal Washes in Chronic Rhinosinusitis by Kimberly Elliott, MD, and Monitoring the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Surgery by Melanie Petro, MD.
The Graduation Dinner and Awards Banquet was held that evening at the Capital Club. Jim Connolly, MD and Robert Moore, MD were the two graduating residents. Dr. Connolly’s parents, Dr. Edward and Elise Connolly, and Dr. Moore’s wife Ruby were there to join in the celebration. To the delight of all those in attendance, Dr. Connolly showed a video parody of the otolaryngology faculty as he best remembered them. Dr. Stringer presented awards to faculty and residents. Dr. Robert Moore once again was awarded the Resident Academic Award. The winner of the Resident Research Award went to Dr. Jim Connolly. Dr. Melanie Petro received the Resident Teacher of the Year award and Dr. Richard Wein received the Faculty Teacher of the Year. Dr. Stringer also introduced a new award: the Mary B. Manasco Spirit Award. It is to be given annually to a resident in recognition of outstanding attitude, collegiality, work ethic, cooperativeness, selflessness, competence and leadership. This year’s recipient was Dr. Kimberly Elliott. The award is named for Mary Manasco, currently the otolaryngology residency coordinator. Mary is a long-term UMC employee who has worked in many capacities with residents and medical students through the years.
The Mississippi Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery held its Annual Spring Meeting and Scientific Assembly June 16-19th in Point Clear, Alabama. Several residents and faculty from our department gave presentations. PGY-3 Dr. Jamie Sisk was the Resident Paper Contest winner, for his paper Primary Brachytherapy for Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Oral Cavity. Other residents and their papers were: Metastatic Insular Thyroid Carcinoma Mimicking Miliary Tuberculosis in a 4 yr old Female, Robert Moore MD, and Mucormycosis of the Temporal Bone in a Child, Jim Connolly MD. In addition to giving the welcome and introductions, Dr. Randy Jordan presented Minimally Invasive Rejuvenation of the Aging Brow. Health Economics and Their Effect on Your Practice and Economic Analysis of Treatment Guidelines in the Management of Peritonsillar Abscess talks were given by Dr. Scott P. Stringer. Dr. Richard Wein presented three talks on Options in Pharyngoesophageal Reconstruction, Historical Considerations in Oral Cavity Reconstruction, and Oncology Group Studies Available at UMC. Talks on Management of Advanced Cervical Metastases and Update on Sentinel Node Biopsy in Head and Neck Cancer were both presented by Dr.Karen Pitman.
COSM
Five residents in this program participated in the Combined Otolaryngological Spring Meetings, May 13-16, in Boca Raton, Florida. Abstracts by Dr. Andrea Furr and Dr. James Connolly were selected as poster presentations. The posters were titled The Utility of Routine Radiography in Postoperative Care Following Repair of Mandibular Fractures and Chronic Laryngitis Secondary to Inhaled Cocaine Use.
Triological Society
Resident Dr. Melanie Petro, with her faculty sponsor Dr. John Schweinfurth, won 1st Place in the poster presentation portion of the Southern Section of the Triological Society meeting held in January in Miami; the presentation was titled Trans-cricothyroid, Intra-operative Monitoring of the Vagus Nerve. This section is the most competitive representing 15 southern states from Texas to Maryland with extensive participation from outside the region due to its southern location in the winter. There were 58 posters in the competition representing approximately 35 residency programs, including several international entries. Dr. Petro and Dr. Andrea Furr, another resident in our program, both received competitive travel grants based on the quality of the work they submitted. Since only ten travel grants were awarded, having two of the recipients from our program was quite impressive. Dr. Furr’s presentation, also with faculty sponsor Dr. 
Schweinfurth, was titled Factors Associated with Long-term Complications following Repair of Mandibular Fractures. Residents Dr. Justin M. Garner and Dr. Jamie D. Sisk also had posters selected for presentation. Their presentations, respectively, were The Use of a Palatal Island Flap for Closure of an Oroantral Fistula and Presentation of an Aneurysmal Bone Cyst in the Mandible of a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type I.
Residents Produce Outstanding Performance on Annual Otolaryngology Examination
Our residents achieved outstanding success on the 2004 Annual Otolaryngology Examination achieving a program scaled score surpassed by only 8 of 131 programs participating as illustrated below. Five of our residents scored above the 80 th percentile within their resident group. One of these residents scored in the top percentile of all residents taking the examination, and another scored in the top percentile for his resident group.
On January 13, the Association of Academic Department of Otolaryngology Matching Program notified our department that we had matched two outstanding students, Kimberly Ann Donnellan and Benjamin Thomas Jeffcoat.
Kimberly Ann Donnellan is from Biloxi and attended the University of South Alabama where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She then got a Master of Communication Disorders at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Kim currently attends medical school at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. She has received numerous awards including the American Society of Hematology 2003 Medical Student Research Award and the American Federation of Medical Research/Southern Section 2004 Student Research Award.
Benjamin Thomas Jeffcoat is a native of Dallas, Texas but grew up in McComb, Mississippi. He graduated from Millsaps College cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. While at Millsaps he received All-SCAC Baseball honors three years. Ben became actively involved in otolaryngology research with our department while attending the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and has continued to pursue these research interests the past year. The Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences is very excited to have matched two outstanding candidates, and we are looking forward to working with them!
On Friday, April 25th 2004, the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences hosted a Head and Neck Cancer screening clinic in coordination with the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation. Sixty-three patients were seen and appointments were arranged for another 80 individuals. Another screening clinic is currently being arranged at the UMMC Cancer Institute with the help of the American Cancer Society for June 29th, 2004.
The ACOSOG Nursing / CRA Committee recently awarded a $2,500 research grant to Jesus Monico, MPH. Jesus is Instructor in Research in the Department of Otolaryngology, and is coordinator of research in the department. The grant award was announced in Florida earlier this year.
Monico's study proposal is a prospective study in the management of pain, and will be directed specifically to those patients undergoing head and neck surgical procedures for cancer treatment. He will be assessing pain intensity using visual analog scaling procedures and will compare the benefits for patients receiving various pain management delivery protocols using morphene sulphate. Other objectives are to assess the need for adjuvant analgesic medications and incidence of side effects.
Congratulations to Jesus Monico.
The Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences is pleased
to announce the arrival of an outstanding new faculty member who will join
us in July, 2004. With this recruitments, the department will have clinical
expertise in all but one major subspecialty areas.
Christine Franzese, M.D. is a native of upstate New York and graduated from the
SUNY Upstate School of Medicine. She will be completing her residency with us
at the University of Mississippi in June. Dr. Franzese will be Chief of Otolaryngology
at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. Her clinical and research focus will
be in rhinology. Dr. Franzese brings a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to
our department and will be instrumental in creating oustanding VA clinical and
educational programs. Dr. Franzese is married to Michael Shoemaker-Moyle, M.D.,
an attending faculty member in the Department of Medicine at UMMC.
We all welcome Christine to our faculty and look forward to many years of association
with her as our department continues its phenomenal growth.
We are pleased to announce the arrival of Kong T. Chong ("KT") as a joint appointment to the departments of Otolaryngology and Microbiology. Dr. Chong was born in Malaysia. After earning his degree with joint honors in Microbiology and Biochemistry from London Polytechnic, Dr. Chong received his Ph.D. in 1980 from the Imperial College of Science and Technology in England. Upon completing his post-doctoral training at King's College of the University of London, Dr. Chong sailed West, working in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently at the Pharmacia Corporation (Pfizer Inc.) where he served as group leader and principal scientist. Dr. Chong has been awarded seven patents and has applied for six more. He has over 45 publications spanning the disciplines of microbiology, immunology, virology, oncology, and therapeutics. Dr. Chong brings extensive experience in drug discovery on chemotherapeutics, immunomodulatory agents and monoclonal antibodies to his role at the medical center where he will support the research efforts of faculty, residents, and graduate students as well as continuing his own endeavors.
Andrea Furr Jason Guillot
On January 16, the Association of Academic Department of Otolaryngology Matching Program notified our department that we had matched two outstanding students, Andrea Marie Furr and Jason Morgan Guillot.
Andrea Marie Furr is from Houstoi and attended The University of Mississippi where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Andrea presently attends the University of Mississippi School of Medicine where she was elected as a junior to Alpha Omega Alpha. She has received numerous awards, including the Bradley Baker Memorial Scholarship, Raymond Alford Memorial Award, Culley Memorial Scholarship, Lippincott Book Award in Neurobiology and Anatomy. Andrea's stellar performance has given her a very high rank in the class, which is well deserved as shown by her extremely high scores on the USMLE Steps 1 and 2.
Jason Morgan Guillot is a native of Louisiana coming from Baton Rouge to attend Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi on an academic and baseball scholarship, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Jason is an avid rugby player and plays for the Jackson Rugby Team. Jason has been actively involved in otolaryngology research with our department while attending the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. He was also elected as a junior to Alpha Omega Alpha. Jason's high rank in his medical school class and his outstanding scores on the USMLE Steps 1 and 2 reveal his dedication to great accomplishments in medicine.
The Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences is very excited to have matched two outstanding candidates, and we are looking forward to working with them!
November 19, 2003
Scott P. Stringer, M.D.
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences
2500 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39216-4505
Dear Dr. Stringer:
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected by your peers to be included in Best Doctors in America 2003-2004.
The Best Doctors in America database contains the names and professional profiles of approximately 31,000 doctors in the United States, all chosen through an exhaustive peer-review survey in which thousands of doctors participated. Only those physicians who earn the concensus support of their peers are included. Listings cannot be bought. For this reason, inclusion in Best Doctors is considered a singular honor.
Since 1992, Best Doctors' listings have served as a vital resource to thousands of patients throughout the United States and across the world. The Best Doctors in America database represents the top 5% of doctors in over 400 subspecialties of medicine.
The Best Doctors in America database is the the preeminent listing of its kind. It has been featured on CBS "60 Minutes," NBC "The Today Show," and CNN "HEadline News," as well as in major print media including USA Today, The New york TImes, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and in scores of major metropolitan magazines, as well as in major media outlets in Canada, Europe and Asia.
In an effort to help patients' make better use of our listings, Best Doctors, Inc. provides a variety of services to connect patients to the best medical care. These include referrals to doctors highly skilled in the patients' medical conditions, and the coordination of medical second opinions. Our Services touch the livels of thousands of patients each year.
In order for us to provide patients with better guidance, we ask prominent doctors such as yourselfg who have been included in the database for assistance in providing us with some additional information about themselves and their practices. Please complete the enclosed form and return it to our Polling and research Division at your earliest convenience.
Again, our congratulations.
Sincerely,
(Signed)
DickD. Briggs, Jr. M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
(Signed)
Kenneth Falchuk, M.D.
Board Member
Medical Consultant
(Signed)
Jose Halperin, M.D.
Board Member
Medical Consultant
Congratulations to Dr. Jordan who recently won 1st prize in the 2003 annual chili cookoff for the main OR at UMC.
According to Dr. Jordan, "you need to watch for flames when eating this dish...". Perhaps that is the reason why Dr. Jordan was photographed in proximity to the UMC-approved red fire extinguisher... to put out the flames of this epicurian delight.
Karen Pittman, M.D. has been nomed a recipient of the prestigous Honor Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
Dr. Pitman is a faculty member of the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She graduated medical School from Uniformed Services, Completed a residency at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, and a fellowship in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery at the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine.
Wu Zhou, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
BIO: Graduate School: School of Medicine and Dentistry Research, University of Rochester (Neuroscience Program, 1996); Director Vestibular Research Laboratory; Faculty since 1999; Interests: vestibular physiology.
Hong Zhu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
BIO: Beijung Union University - Traditional Medicine College, Beijing Peoples republic of China 1992. M.D.: UMC 1994- current; Ph.D. Pharmachology; Postdoctorate fellowship at UMC 2002; assistant Professor since March 2002.
has been in student government and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for several years. He also has tutored underprivileged children. Henry has been involved in several different research projects in plastic surgery which have resulted in publications and presentations. He was selected by the Department of Surgery as a medical student to attend the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress. Currently, Henry is a general surgery resident at Wake Forest University.