55 Words from the Chair

Congratulations
Family Medicine!

From unranked to #18!

New Department Lecture Series launches 
April 20th

Excellence to Eminence in Preventive, Primary, and Palliative Care

Dr. Sandro Galea, a physician, epidemiologist, and author, is dean and Robert A. Knox Professor at Boston University School of Public Health. He previously held academic and leadership positions at Columbia
University, the University of Michigan, and the New York Academy of Medicine. He has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature and is a regular contributor to a range of public media, about the social causes of health, mental health, and the consequences of trauma. He has been listed as one of the most widely cited scholars in the social sciences. He is past chair of the board of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and past president of the Society for Epidemiologic Research and of the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science. He is
an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. Galea has received several lifetime achievement awards. Galea holds a medical degree from the University of Toronto, graduate degrees from Harvard University and Columbia University, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow.

Reception with hors d’oeuvres and drinks to follow.
Space is limited.
Please RSVP TODAY.

Best wishes to Carly!

After 5 years as an admin for the Division of Palliative Medicine and the Palliative Care Center, Carly Smith has completed a 2-year Master of Social Work program and will be starting a new position as an outpatient social worker at the Supportive Care Clinic on May 9.

Carly says "Leadership has been very supportive and encouraging! I have been and will be trained by some of the best in the business (my Palliative Social Workers!). I have greatly appreciated and benefitted from my Administrative position and am thankful for both opportunities. I’m totally jazzed about my upcoming adventure as the new MSW for Palliative Care!” 

Carly, we will miss you, but we know you'll be fantastic in your new role!

Wellness Corner

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

 The CDC estimates that 35% of Americans sleep less than 7 hours/night, which is associated with increased risk for chronic health conditions, depression, and obesity. Short sleep duration is more common in southeastern states, and sleep disturbance has gotten worse during the pandemic (for example). Want a better night’s sleep? Here are some resources that might be helpful:

• There are several commercially available apps that deliver Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), considered the gold standard behavioral treatment for insomnia. Here is a recent review of the commercially available apps: CBT-I Review. And the VA has an excellent free CBT-I coach app: cbt-i-coach
• Try the Calm (https://www.calm.com/) or Headspace apps (https://www.headspace.com/meditation/sleep) for mindfulness meditation, which has been shown to help people fall asleep more easily and experience better sleep quality (for example and here). The majority of people who use Calm report doing so to improve their sleep, and it has sleep stories in addition to meditation.
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has resources lots of resources for parents, patients, and healthcare professionals: https://sleepeducation.org/resources-for-health-care-professionals/

Transformative Research

News

Dr. Ali named Co-Director of new
Global Diabetes Center

The EGDRC will expand its multi-pronged approach to address the problem of diabetes and its associated complications through integrating innovative investigations into the causes and cures for the disease. This includes groundbreaking techniques to explore the root causes of the disease as well as precise ways to personalize medicine for diabetes, interventions to prevent the disease, applications of advanced technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) to improve care delivery, and public health and policy approaches for improving the quality of care and health equity. Read more about the EGDRC here. 

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Study by Dr. Cross Cited by NYT

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New Office of Research Administration website 

Check out the new and improved or.emory.edu! You'll find an updated design, essential resources for faculty and administrators, A communications archive, FAQ, technical support, and more!

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Recent Awards

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Dr. Megha Shah and Dr. Sara Turbow both received PeRSEVERE funding.

The Program for Retaining, Supporting, and EleVating Early-career Researchers at Emory (PeRSEVERE) funding is provided by the Emory School of Medicine thanks to a gift from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and through the Georgia CTSA NIH award (UL1-TR002378). The fund will allow SOM early-career faculty to maximize the impact of research supplements, research and grant administrative support, institutional resources to offset caregiving expenses, and enhanced access to professional development, mentorship, and sponsorship activities at this critical career stage. A full list of Emory recipients is available here.

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Recent and Upcoming Presentations

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Highlighted Opportunities:
 

Use of Race in Research Townhall

April 26: 5:30 pm -7:00 pm

This session will encourage participants to explore how is race utilized, reported, and interpreted in biomedical research. We will consider whether the use of race as a variable in clinical research is practical or problematic and how investigators can responsibly participate in health equity scholarship that leads to meaningful change? Register here

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For more information about Health Services Research Day, visit http://bit.ly/HSRDay.

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SOM Health Equity Day

Tuesday, May 17, 9 am - 2 pm, via Zoom

Keynote speaker: David R. Williams, PhD, Florence Sprague Norman and Laura Smart Norman Professor of Public Health and chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. An internationally recognized social scientist focused on social influences on health.

More information and registration can be found HERE.

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FPM Research Meeting, Friday April 15 12:30-1:30

Recent Publications

Collaborative department publications
 

Palliative Medicine faculty Dr. Kimberly Curseen, Dr. Dio Kavalieratos, Dr. Meredith Maxwell, Dr. Tammie Quest, and Dr. Ali John Zarrabi published Integrated Medical Cannabis Consultations in a Palliative Care Program: Policies, Procedures, and Progress after Six Years of Practice.  J Palliat Med. 2022 Mar 18. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2021.0577.

Palliative Medicine faculty Dr. Jane Lowers, Dr. Sarah Cross (post-doc), Dr. Tammie Quest, Dr. Ali John Zarrabi, and Dr. Dio Kavalieratos published Barriers of Acceptance to Hospice Care: a Randomized Vignette-Based Experiment. J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Mar 22. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07468-7.  

Family Medicine faculty Dr. Leslie Johnson and Dr. Mo Ali published Effect of a collaborative care model on anxiety symptoms among patients with depression and diabetes in India: The INDEPENDENT randomized clinical trial. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2022 Jan-Feb;74:39-45. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.11.003.

Faculty publications

Dr. Mo Ali:

• Interventions for Reversing Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2022 Apr;62(4):614-625. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.10.020.
• Interpreting global trends in type 2 diabetes complications and mortality. Diabetologia. 2022 Jan;65(1):3-13. doi: 10.1007/s00125-021-05585-2.
• Trends in depression by glycemic status: Serial cross-sectional analyses of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2005-2016. Prim Care Diabetes. 2022 Mar 7:S1751-9918(22)00061-4. doi: 10.1016/j.pcd.2022.03.001.
• Factors associated with adherence to guideline-recommended cardiovascular disease prevention among HIV clinicians. Transl Behav Med. 2022 Jan 18;12(1):ibab125. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibab125.
   

Dr. Jodie Guest:

• The US shouldn't settle for its current number of covid deaths or vaccination rates. BMJ. 2022 Mar 22;376:o763. doi: 10.1136/bmj.o763.
• Validation of actinic keratosis diagnosis and treatment codes among veterans living with HIV. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2022 Mar 16. doi: 10.1002/pds.5430.
   

Dr. Ted Johnson:

• Quantifying Risk for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Nursing Home Workers for the 2020-2021 Winter Surge of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Georgia, USA. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2022 Mar 1:S1525-8610(22)00197-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.02.014.
   

Dr. Ambar Kulshreshtha:

• (as part of Virtual Care and Medical Educator Group). Crossing the Virtual Chasm: Practical Considerations for Rethinking Curriculum, Competency, and Culture in the Virtual Care Era. Acad Med. 2022 Mar 8. doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000004660
• Adherence to Life's Simple 7 and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011 to 2014. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Mar 15;11(6):e022959. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.022959.

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Educational Investments for our future

Dr. Villalon-Gomez Chosen for Educational Transformation Steering Committee

Dr. Villalon-Gomez will serve as a member of the Education Transformation Steering Committee and as a leader of one of the Working Groups. The Education Transformation Steering Committee will work to develop recommendations for the redesign of our medical education curricula to be provided to the Dean and other ESOM Leaders. The charge of the Education Transformation Steering Committee will include:

• ensuring alignment between educational program missions and goals/outcomes and those of the Medical Education Excellence to Eminence strategy
• determining core learner competency domains applicable to all education programs 
• establishing guiding principles and maintaining a focus on these principles throughout the Education Transformation process 
• developing working groups and reviewing all working group recommendations through the lens of the established guiding principles to ensure they achieve the overarching goals
• ensuring recommendations align with accreditation standards (subject matter expertise will be included on the Steering Committee)
• overseeing the progress of the working groups

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Welcome to the Family Medicine
Class of 2025!

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FM Residency holds research symposium

Pictured below: Dr. Villalon Gomez and the FM resident presenters.

The presentations included:

ACE-inhibitor use in reproductive-aged women - Dr. Bernadette Baker

A standardized telemedicine educational module for conducting self-administered musculoskeletal examinations - Dr. Emma Cronk

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on type II diabetes mellitus control - Dr. Rozina Merchant

The primary care providers' knowledge and approach to adult ADHD: A follow up survey - Dr. Cassandra Mooney

The impact of ultrasound curriculum on the accuracy of resident joint line palpation - Dr. David Neuberger

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health - Dr. Ify Nzenwa

A 'CURIE'ous case of fever of unknown origin (FUO) - Dr. Lonnie Russell

Examining COVID-19 vaccine access in Black and Hispanic communities in America - Dr. Altelisha Taylor

Palliative care referrals in a primary care clinic - Dr. Rabia Zia

LaHouse Scholar Presentation: Professionalism Curriculum for Family Medicine Residents - Dr. Bernadette Baker

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Family Medicine Magic! 

Dr. Mirtha Aguilar and FM residents Dr. Ify Nwenza, Dr. Rozina Merchant, and Dr. Yiam Dieppa Garay staffed the Emory Family Medicine Residency table at the GAFP "Family Medicine Magic" Student Workshop at Lake Lanier on March 12. They performed practical demonstrations of Nexplanon removal and insertion, using models and also pork skin to demonstrate the process, from indicating the site for insertion and removal, applying antiseptic, anesthetizing, and insertion and removal. The FM residency team went through all the steps and had the medical students practice on the models as well. They also talked about our FMR program and Family Medicine in general! The GAFP recently published this summary of the event in their newsletter and you can check out photos from the event below.

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Arts-based Health Education
Website Launches

Congratulations to Palliative Medicine Drs. Paul DeSandre and Ali John Zarrabi along with their partner Dr. Holly Gooding on the launch of their new website https://www.emorymedarts.org/.  This website highlights the work done at Emory on how the arts can enhance the practice of healthcare and healthcare education and provides tools for those interested in initiating or expanding on art-based educational programs.

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FMIG: Teaching Women's Health Procedures 

The Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) held a women's health workshop last month. 

Below: Dr. Angeline Ti providing instructions to students before they get to practice cervical dilation, uterine aspirations, and endometrial biopsies on papayas and tomatoes.

Below: Dr. Emily Herndon and Dr. Thien-Kim Le providing instructions on IUD insertion techniques.

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Family Medicine Mentoring Program 

The Family Medicine Mentoring Program, which pairs a medical student interested in Family Medicine with an FM resident and an FM attending, continues to have quarterly mentoring group meetings. Here is a picture of Class of 2023 student Lucky Khambouneheuang, PGY3 resident Dr. David Neuberger, and Emory Saint Joseph's attending Dr. Thara Vidyasagaran sharing a mentoring group meal.

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Dr. Sharma completes Family Medicine elective with ABC News 

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PM Resident Dr. Siri Chirumamilla
Chosen for AHRQ Rotation

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CME Opportunities

Georgia Memory Net offers Free Monthly CME Webinar

Expert Clinical Insights in Dementia Care for your Patients

For April's session, we will explore helpful management strategies for the varied but common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease including behavioral disturbances, depression and anxiety, and sleep disturbance.
Stephanie Vyverberg has served as a nurse practitioner in Emory's Cognitive Neurology Clinic for over 13 years and specializes in the care and management of patients with various forms of dementia including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and vascular dementia. She also serves as the clinical liaison for Emory's Cognitive Empowerment Program, a therapeutic and research program aimed at promoting joy, purpose, and wellness for individuals diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

GMNsights Webinar Series occurs on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at noon. Earn .5 CME credits for attending. Upcoming topics include: Neuroimaging finds, algorithms for neuropsychiatric medications, managing safety concerns, assessment tools, modifiable causes of ADRD, unusual case findings, and more. Register here. 

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5^th Annual Southeast Review and Update on the Medical Care of Older Adults

July 15-17, 2022

Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

Older adults require a different approach to care and skill set for identifying and treating medical issues and geriatric syndromes.  By the year 2030, an estimated I in 5 Americans will be over age 65 years. At the 5^th Annual SE Review and Update on Medical Care of Older Adults, physicians and other primary care providers will have an opportunity to improve and update their knowledge and skills in many critical aspects of the care of older adults. REGISTRATION. ABIM MOC Points - 12.00

• Physician: $425.00
• Allied Healthcare Professional: $325.00
• Residents/Fellows: $100.00

Being of Service

FPM Faculty Honored on Doctors' Day  

March 30 is national Doctors’ Day. This annual holiday, first celebrated in Winder, Georgia, commemorates the date Dr. Crawford W. Long administered the first ether anesthetic for surgery in Jefferson, Georgia in 1842. Today, it remains an opportunity to celebrate and thank our faculty members for your outstanding work and dedication to your field—as clinical providers, mentors, teachers and researchers.

Each year, the SOM Recognitions Committee asks for nominations of doctors who are exceptionally dedicated to serving others. The nomination letters noted your commitment to providing excellent patient care, your willingness to lend a helping hand to colleagues, your ability to translate new investigational ideas to the bedside, and your dedication to training residents. Your colleagues witness the compassion you give to patients, and also notice those of you who extend compassion to yourselves and prioritize your own wellness--a critically important practice, perhaps now more than ever. View the full list of SOM faculty nominees and excerpts from the nomination letters.

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PM Resident Dr. Alex Molinari
Named Top Reviewer

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Emory Farmworker Project:
Volunteers Needed!

The Emory Farmworker Project has been providing free health care for more than 25 years to farmworkers and their families in south Georgia who lack access to basic medical care. Unfortunately, COVID-19 impacted our ability to provide this important service to those communities last summer.

We plan to resume our outreach this summer and invite you to participate with us. Bainbridge clinic is scheduled for June 4^th-10th, followed by Valdosta clinic June 11th-17^th.

We need:

• Preceptors (MD, PA, DPT, DMD, NP, PharmD)
• Dental preceptors and volunteers for a dental van which will be set up at both sites
• Spanish and Haitian Creole Interpreters

 
Hotel costs, breakfast, and dinner are covered by the Emory PA program. If you would like to volunteer, please use this registration link.

You can also support the program by donating hats and clothing or sponsoring meals to feed students, preceptors, and volunteers. Contact Khaliala Ward, Sr. Business Manager of the PA Program, at khaliala.ward@emory.edu for further information about donating or volunteering.

News from the DEI Council

Dr. Tina-Ann Thompson Spotlighted
by Emory Healthcare

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A Reflection on Ramadan 

Dr. Monica Khan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine has given permission for her thoughts to be shared with her colleagues at the Emory School of Medicine.

"The crescent moon was spotted in Saudi Arabia last night, which means the month of Ramadan has officially begun.  Ramadan Mubarak!

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, a spiritual and auspicious time for Muslims all over the world.  Allah (God) has designated this month for Muslims to focus more on our faith and good works.  This year, Ramadan will span from sunset on April 1 to sunset on May 1, ending with a holiday called Eid al-Fitr.  I'll send info about Eid in a month 🙂

Why do Muslims observe Ramadan?

Historically, Ramadan is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad (peace be upon him), the final prophet in Islam, received the revelations that comprise the Quran.  The Quran is the holy book and ultimate doctrine for Muslims and is believed to be the exact word of Allah.  During Ramadan, evil and the devil are "locked up," and it is easier for Muslims to be pure and perform good deeds.  Ramadan is an opportunity for us to become closer to Allah and our faith as worldly distractions are minimized.  

How is Ramadan observed?

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset each day.  Fasting mandates no food or water intake, no chewing gum, no medications, no smoking - total NPO status. People with chronic illnesses, pregnant or breastfeeding women, acutely ill people, and children are exempt from fasting. It is recommended that those who can't fast should feed the poor and perform additional charity for each day of fasting that is missed.  Fasting isn't as hard as it may sound. Most Muslims wake up early for "suhoor," which is a meal before dawn to prepare for the day of fasting. At sunset, we have "iftar," which is our break-fast meal. We break our fasts with a date and then eat traditional snacks and a large meal with friends and family. Many professional athletes, such as NFL players, who observe Ramadan by fasting say it improves their focus and performance.  I find that I have a lot of extra time when I'm not thinking about my next snack or meal... 😆

Muslims also try to abstain from other types of temptation, immoral behavior, and sins during Ramadan.  We even try to minimize smaller transgressions such as gossiping, complaining, and petty behaviors.  We engage in additional prayers every evening as well.  Communities come together as often as possible.  Many Muslim-majority countries give a holiday break during Ramadan, much like Christmas break here in the U.S. 

Ramadan is special to me.  

It's my favorite time of year.  I make more time to focus on my spirituality, charity, and self-discipline.  I have fond childhood memories of feasting with my family at iftar, counting down the minutes and seconds until biting into a juicy date to break my fast. Group prayers in the evenings gave me a sense of belonging that wasn't always easy to find as a kid growing up in the U.S. as a religious minority. Knowing that over 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide are observing with me is comforting and inspiring. In more recent years, I recall that water never tasted as good as at sunset after a long day of talking with patients and consultants as an intern on inpatient wards. Regardless of thirst and hunger, I always try to remember that Ramadan is more about celebration than deprivation.  I hope you'll feel some of the joy I feel during Ramadan in the next 30 days!"

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DEI Library

In this new monthly column, members of the DEI Council will recommend articles that might be of general interest. 

Calling Out Aversive Racism in Academic Medicine

First Impressions — Should We Include Race or Ethnicity at the Beginning of Clinical Case Presentations? 

Can Family Medicine’s Counterculture History Help Shape an Anti-Racist Future? 

Digital Inclusion as Health Care — Supporting Health Care Equity with Digital-Infrastructure Initiatives

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Opportunities from SOM Diversity Council
 

Arab-American Heritage Month

The School of Medicine is seeking self-nominations and/or peer nominations of faculty members and staff members who are willing to share their stories for Arab-American Heritage Month. Nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please submit Nominations by April 11.

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Authentically Autistic:
A celebration of diverse experiences

April 8-20, Emory School of Medicine is proud to be a co-sponsor of the Authentically Autistic Celebration. We invite you to join us in celebrating Autism Awareness Month with the Emory University community! There will be exciting and empowering in-person and virtual events. View agenda, research symposium, student panel details, and more.

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In Case You Missed the SOM DEI
Update Forum

Did you miss the March 24 Update Forum on Community Engagement, Equity, and Inclusion hosted by Sheryl Heron, MD, MPH? This forum discussed updates on SOM diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and strategic priorities. Click below to watch the recording of the Forum.

News from the
Faculty Development
Committee

Our department deadlines can be found here.

• If you are going up for Associate Professor (non-tenure) in the service or teaching area of distinction, talk to your division or program director by April 4.
• If you are going up for Associate Professor or Full Professor in the scholarship area of distinction, talk to your division or program director by May 16.
• If you are going up for Full Professor in the service or teaching area of distinction, talk to your division or program director by July 15.

We also highly recommend that you view the following video: Understanding Promotion in the School of Medicine before meeting with your division or program director.

Please note that our department deadlines are different from the School of Medicine deadlines. You should follow our department deadlines.

Don't Miss Opportunities

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FAALI Lecture Series:
Crucial conversations, virtually speaking

Wednesday, April 13 ǀ noon – 1 p.m. ǀ Zoom
Having a crucial conversation is challenging when it is in person. To have a difficult discussion with a colleague, learner, or leader on a virtual platform is even more complex. With remote and hybrid work here to stay, we will all need to gain mastery in engaging in challenging conversations in a virtual space. This seminar will offer guiding principles and concrete tips for navigating through difficult conversations virtually to optimize the likelihood that they are effective and successful.

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Fund for Innovative Teaching (FIT)
Grant program 
to support faculty teaching in 2022-23

FIT Grants are seed grants for longer-term pedagogical transformations in the classroom. The key criterion is that proposals promise long-term educational effects within the Emory community. Grants range from $500 to $5000. FIT Grants are open to all full-time faculty (including tenured, non-tenure track, teaching track, clinical track, and other faculty with long-term appointments) and are available for both individual faculty members and faculty working as teams. Only one proposal per project will be considered. 

Funds support a variety of new approaches:

• Courses that support recent discoveries in research and take that research into the classroom
• New interdisciplinary courses that move across departments or across schools
• Courses that use creative pedagogical approaches (some examples: developing a student exhibit using materials in special collections, development of virtual "rounds" in a hospital, or flipping a classroom)

For more information about application materials, judging criteria, and guidelines, please visit the CFDE website. Applications must be submitted via email to cfde@emory.edu by Thursday, April 14, 2022.

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Save the Date: Juneteenth Celebration

 June 16 noon-1:30 pm

The School of Medicine's annual Juneteenth Program will feature a panel discussion on the documentary, Power to Heal. The online program will be moderated by Dr. Sheryl Heron and include panelists: Tyrese Hinkins-Jones, Nate Spell, Nanette Wenger, and Yolanda Wimberly. This should be an engaging discussion on the historic struggle to secure equal and adequate access to healthcare for all Americans. Please contact cevan31@emory.edu if you would like your perspective shared during the panelist discussion. Film and registration details TBA.

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Save the Date: DOM Research Day

15th annual Research Day
Thursday, October 27 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Emory Student Center

This year's event will include both oral and poster presentations, as well as a keynote address from E. Dale Abel, MD, PhD, William S. Adams Distinguished Professor of Medicine, and chair and executive medical director of the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Health.

Abstract submission and event registration will open shortly. For questions about Research Day, please contact Sarah McClellan.

Got news? Please send your announcements and photos to leigh.partington@emory.edu.
The DFPM newsletter is published monthly.