What's Up in DOM Faculty Development? 
Wednesday, November 2, 2022

COMING SOON!

The Department of Medicine's Office of Faculty Development and Mentoring Subcommittee is offering a Mentee Training Workshop early next year. Join us for the chance to learn more about mentorship including benefits, strategies, and how to maintain effective relationships. More information and event details are coming soon. Please contact Lenore Meeks with any questions.

Case of the Month

Monthly Case from the Department of Medicine
"Young Healthy Male with Paresthesia, Ataxia, and Pancytopenia"

Story and Case:

A 39-year-old man with no significant past medical history presented with four days of a constant “pins and needles” sensation located from fingertips through elbows bilaterally, as well as progressive shortness of breath and fatigue. He also reported feeling unbalanced and light-headed. Additionally, for the past seven months, he had been experiencing worsening confusion, including word finding difficulties. Review of systems was positive for weight loss, night sweats, vision changes, and darkening of patient’s urine. Further history revealed a strict vegan diet for 20 years. He denied any tobacco or drug use and drank alcohol occasionally. 

Vital signs were notable for blood pressure of 85/48 mmHg, heart rate of 60 bpm, and normal oxygen saturation. Physical exam showed sublingual pallor and slow conversational speech but was otherwise normal. Laboratory results revealed pancytopenia with white blood cell count of 1,700 microliter (mcL), hemoglobin of 4.5 gm/dL, mean corpuscular volume of 103 fl, and platelets of 111,000 microliter. Indirect bilirubin was elevated at 1.74 mg/dL with a low reticulocyte index of 0.1, elevated lactate dehydrogenase greater than 3600 unit/L, and low haptoglobin of less than 3 mg/dL, but a negative direct anticoagulant test. Blood smear revealed hypersegmented neutrophils as well as marked macrocytosis. Vitamin B12 level was undetectable at less than 50 pg/mL but folic acid was normal at 16.2 ng/mL. Anti-intrinsic factor and parietal cell antibodies were negative. Thorough workup included syphilis, HIV, viral hepatitis panel, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Parvovirus, and Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), all of which were unremarkable.  Thyroid stimulating hormone was slightly increased to 8.27 uIU/mL with mildly low triiodothyronine 71 ng/dL and normal free thyroxine. Computerized tomography (CT) head without contrast was unrevealing with no acute abnormalities noted. Abdominal and pelvis CT with IV contrast was also unrevealing, with only a small hypodensity in the right hepatic lobe, making malignancy less likely.

Have an interesting case that you want to share with the DOM faculty?
Contact Lenore Meeks for template, sample cases, and how to submit. 

New Release: Mentoring Moment

Recently, Pam Vohra-Khullar, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, spoke with J. Sonya Haw, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology, and Modele Ogunniyi MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Division of Cardiology about equity and inclusion as a mentor. Click here to view their informative discussion.

Let's Talk Promotions

Tip #1. "Start early. Stay organized in a manner that works for you. I created a OneDrive folder with my CV, the promotion guidelines, the service and teaching templates, and my feedback forms. Every time I attended a promotion readiness session—quick plug for those, they're excellent—or had a formal planning or feedback session, I made documentation of it there. Any time something popped up for my CV, I logged into the OneDrive no matter where I was and wrote a note on it, going through periodically to convert notes into the proper format."

Tip #2. "Find a friend or mentor who's gone through it before. They can be invaluable sharing their examples, insights, and thoughts on the process. Support is important, because it's a lot of work, and there are places you can get discouraged. Having friends and mentors pick you up and help show you that there is a way and people get through this—that's really helpful."

Tip #3. "Have a senior mentor help you through the process, particularly to help identify arms length external reviewers."

Tip #4. "Attend all of the promotion workshops, as they are very helpful. Also, download the CV, teaching, and service portfolio templates now, and start filling them up." (Click on the button below.)

Thank you to everyone who shared their advice and good luck on your promotion. 

Research 

Research Day was a success!
The 15th Annual Department of Medicine Research Day was held at the Emory Student Center on Thursday, October 27. For the first time since 2019, the event was held in-person, with more than 200 faculty, staff, and trainees in attendance. Presenters from across the department’s ten divisions shared their exciting basic, translational, and clinical research. The event included Featured Research talks, oral presentations, poster presentations, a keynote, and a presentation of awards. The keynote presentation: "Novel mitochondrial mechanisms for cardiometabolic disease", was delivered by E. Dale Abel, MD, PhD, Chair and Executive Medical Director, Department of Medicine, UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. And attendees also had the opportunity to hear from many other DOM researchers throughout the day. Click the button to get a full recap of the day.

Grab your free 10 hours!
Data Analytics and Biostatistics (DAB) Core seeks to provide high-quality biostatistics and IT Data management services to the Department of Medicine by leveraging existing services in the Rollins School of Public Health and the Information Technology Department. DAB Core offers 10 hours at no charge for Department of Medicine faculty; however, the requestee is responsible for time exceeding 10 hours.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Recently, Dr. Tracey L. Henry, Associate Professor, gave a Grand Rounds talk at the University of Louisville. Listen to her talk here.

It's not too late to sign up for the Health Equity Advocacy Community Forum, which is taking place on Tuesday November 15th. This event is part of the larger Emory at Grady Faculty Health Equity Advocacy training course.

Quick Notes

• Emory Daily Pulse. Have you explored the Emory Daily Pulse Blog? Click here for news and views from the Department of Medicine.
• Stay tuned! A new DOM Research Ride episode is coming later this month. Check out the previous episode with guest, Jessica Alvarez, PhD, RD, Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology. Listen here.
• Update your Emory FIRST profile. If you have any questions, please contact Aneesh Mehta.

Wellness 

Connect and Chat Sessions. Did you know the Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) offers a weekly "Connect & Chat" session to help you process the emotional impact of ongoing societal stressors and traumatic events with others? These sessions will provide a safe space to unpack, share and discuss healthy strategies for coping while navigating life’s daily pressures. The sessions are offered on Tuesdays via Zoom. Register here.

Refresh and Mindfulness Meditation. Every first and third Wednesday from 4:30–4:45 p.m., you can join the FSAP group for a 15-minute virtual self-care experience to support your resilience. Visit the FSAP Events and Workshop page to register.

On the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m., you can join Mindfulness Meditation. Learn strategies for staying centered and reducing your stress level. Join at 1 p.m. to learn the basics of mindfulness, or join at 1:15 p.m. for a guided practice and opportunities for discussion. Register here.

Well-being Check-ins. The FSAP is offering individual well-being check-ins for staff and faculty to gauge emotional health/coping and identify strategies for enhancing resilience, especially pertaining to transition. Call to schedule your check-in today: 404-727-WELL (9355). Want more information about other services offered through the FSAP? View the website.

Work Life Integration

Your Work Life: Children and Family. Did you know Emory has a list of resources available for you, including emergency back-up care and events taking place around Atlanta for parents of infants to teenagers? Whether you're just starting a family or getting ready to send your child off to college, Emory has many resources to help you through every stage of parenting. Learn more here.

Check it out: Upcoming Webinars on Healthy Boundaries and Work-Life Balance. These workshops are offered by the Benefits and Worklife Department and Vendor Partners. Click here to register for a webinar. Links will be sent to your email prior to the event. If you have any questions about the webinars or family-centered benefits at Emory, please contact worklife@emory.edu.

Stay Connected  

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Looking for research specific information within the DOM? Be sure to subscribe to our sister publication, 'What's Up in DOM Research?' Email domresearch@emory.edu to be added to the monthly newsletter. To subscribe to 'What's Up in DOM Faculty Development?' email somfdev@emory.edu.