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December 18, 2023
What you will learn in this week's RYSE edition of the Bulletin:
URiM Faculty Program graduation
Spotlight on DEI Council member: Valeria Cantos Lucio
Meet our 2024 Health Equity Day speakers
Upcoming RYSE and DEI events
- Terry Jacobson recognized among world's most influential researchers
- Transitional Year Program leadership update
- Upcoming Medicine Grand Rounds speakers
Scroll down to read more!
EMORY HOLIDAY CLOSURE
Emory University will be closed for Winter Recess from Friday, December 22 through Monday, January 1, and will reopen Tuesday, January 2. However you celebrate, the Department of Medicine wishes you and your loved ones a safe and joyous holiday season. Please use this time to relax and recharge, and we will see you in the new year.
Please note that this will be our last Bulletin newsletter in 2023. We will resume a weekly schedule starting Monday, January 8.
RYSE ANNOUNCEMENTS
URiM Faculty Program Graduation
The URiM Professional Development Program, held its graduation program on Tuesday, December 5. This program is sponsored by the Department of Medicine RYSE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council in collaboration with the School of Medicine with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Kimberly Manning, MD, delivered the keynote address to current and prior participants, coaches, and leaders. We believe that this program, along with other interventions, has contributed to increasing promotion trends for URiM across the School of Medicine.
Spotlight on DEI Council member
Valeria Cantos Lucio, MD
Chair of the SOM Latina/o/x Faculty Affinity Group and Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine
In what ways has being part of the Latinx community influenced your professional life as it relates to your current role/responsibilities?
My Latina ethnic identity impacts all aspects of my professional life. In research, I am committed to increase PrEP uptake Latina/o/x groups, using culturally competent innovative strategies, and partnering with trusted local community-based organizations. At our clinical site, I strive to increase representation of Latina/o/x research participants, as well as optimizing our site’s capacity to provide culturally concordant services. When caring for Latina/o/x patients living with HIV at the Ponce de Leon Center, I connect with them through multiple common shared experiences and values, despite coming from different countries and backgrounds. We speak the same language, literally and figuratively. We talk about family, the constant pain of being separated from our loved ones, the struggle of HIV-related and gay-related stigma in our community, our love of soccer, all in that small
exam room. I frequently tell my patients that, although it feels lonely out here, they can count on me to advocate for them, to guide them through the often-confusing healthcare system, and to be their teammate in achieving good physical and mental health. As the chair of the Latinx Faculty Affinity Group, my goal is to elevate the voices of all Latinx faculty members at the Emory School of Medicine so we can all achieve our optimal professional potential.
Tell us something about your Latinx culture and traditions you would want all DOM stakeholders to know.
In Ecuador, during Easter (“Semana Santa”) we celebrate it by eating a special type of soup called “fanesca”. It is made with 12 grains, each representing important Catholic characters, dried and salted cod, and a type of pumpkin. Making fanesca is not easy, as every grain needs to be peeled and cooked separately before adding it to the soup. Family members of all ages come together to peel the grains a day before the celebration. My favorite thing to do as a kid was to sit with my cousins at the kitchen table and make little empanadas, which are served with the soup.
How do you engage with the Latinx community outside of your professional life?
My entire family is from Ecuador, and most of them still live there. As such, I maintain very strong connections to Ecuador through them. I have many different Whatsapp groups through which I am constantly updated on the latest “chime”. In Atlanta, I have been able to create great connections with other Latinx people, most of which started through my work with local community-based organizations related to HIV prevention and COVID-19. Lately, I’ve been more intentional in trying to actively reach out to other Latinx families in my neighborhood, as we often share similar values and struggles (being away from family with small kids, for example). Latinx music is something that helps me feel closer to my culture, no matter where I am.
Are you interested in joining the RYSE DEI Council? Contact Dr. Kymberly Manning.
Black History Month: School of Medicine call
for faculty and staff nominations
To acknowledge the diversity of our community, the Office of Equity and Inclusion launched a celebratory initiative to promote sharing, awareness, and learning. Here, we recognize and celebrate our faculty and staff by hearing their stories and experiences. Submit a nomination by Thursday, February 1 to be considered.
RYSE 2 Medicine Partnership with Tuskegee University
Earlier this fall, the Department of Medicine began its inaugural RYSE 2 Medicine initiative, a mentoring program for undergraduate students who are aspiring physicians. This program, held in collaboration with Tuskegee University, a historically black university in Tuskegee, Alabama, is led by Dr. Kimberly Manning, MD, FACP, FAAP, and Lauren Jenkins, M3, both alumni of Tuskegee.
SOM's Diwali Celebration
School of Medicine colleagues joined together for a Diwali celebration at Cafe Bombay. This time was filled with fellowship, laughter, and trivia. New friendships were fostered and new memories were made, thank you to all who were able to attend!
DEI Events
Upcoming Churchwell Diversity and Inclusion Collective (CDIC) Service Opportunity
The CDIC is a resident-run organization born out of the desire to cultivate a safe and welcoming environment for Emory Internal Medicine Residency Program's house staff from diverse backgrounds. They aim to foster a culture of camaraderie, championing efforts within advocacy, recruitment/retention, and professional development, with the goal of building an inclusive resident body to better serve the greater Atlanta community.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service Project
Saturday, January 27 | 8:30–11:30 a.m.
Atlanta Community Food Bank
3400 North Desert Drive,
Atlanta, GA 30344
All DOM faculty, staff, and trainees are invited to participate. Join us for a day of serving the community at the Hunger Action Center. For more information, contact Kathryn Thompson.
Save the Date: Health Equity Day 2024! Tuesday, May 21, 2024
The Department of Medicine’s RYSE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council will host the 4th annual Health Equity Day on May 21, 2024. This annual half-day conference aims to raise awareness and encourage action around the systemic inequities that exist across racial, ethnic, cultural, and social groups. The event is also a major part of Emory’s Diversity and Inclusion Week and recognizes interventions and research centered on health equity across the entire school of medicine.
The 2024 DOM Health Equity Day noon plenary session will EMPOWER EMERGING VOICES! The session features a student, a trainee, and an early faculty who have already made significant national contributions in health equity. At an early career stage, our speakers have received recognition from Forbes, published in the NEJM, and been featured in prestigious conferences like the National Academy of Medicine. These passionate leaders have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share.
- Lashyra Nolan is a MD/MPP Candidate ‘24, at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Kennedy School. She was on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, served as Harvard's Student Council President ’23, and is the founder of We Got Us.
- Jennifer Tsai, MD, MEd, is an Emergency Medicine Resident and is internally known as a health equity advocate. She was named 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health by the National Minority Quality Forum.
- Darshali Vyas, MD, is a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is also currently completing a Chief Resident year in Internal Medicine. Her research has focused on challenging the inappropriate use of race in clinical prediction models.
Mark Your Calendars for a Special MLK Week
Medicine Grand Rounds, Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Mark your calendars for the Medicine Grand Rounds on the Tuesday after Martin Luther King Day, January 16, 2024.
We are thrilled to welcome André Churchwell, MD, the first black IM Chief Resident at Emory, as the speaker of this special Medicine Grand Rounds.
Save the Date: 2024 GME DEI Virtual Open House
January 31 | 6–7:30 p.m. | Zoom
Join GME for their Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Virtual Open House for Residency and Fellowship Applicants sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in partnership with the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME).
The open house will include:
- A high-level overview of DEI efforts at GME, departmental, and SOM levels
- Presentations from DEI leadership and Under-Represented in Medicine (URiM) trainees
- Open discussion with residents and faculty about living in Atlanta and training at Emory SOM
DOM ANNOUNCEMENTS
2023 DOM Annual Alumni Newsletter: A Look Back at the Year
The Department of Medicine is nearing the end of another successful year. There is much to be proud of, and we are very grateful for your efforts and ongoing dedication. Our 2023 Annual Alumni Newsletter is a culmination of the extraordinary accomplishments of the faculty, staff, and trainees that make up the department!
In this newsletter, you will meet many of our new leaders, learn about important efforts to increase diversity, and see inside the innovative new research space for the Division of Cardiology in HSRB II, the largest facility of its kind in Georgia.
You will read about this past year’s highlights, including exceptional faculty awards and recognitions, funding for innovative research, national and global rankings, clinical updates from our divisions, and recaps from our mission areas of education, faculty development, research, and RYSE. Click the below to check it out!
Stay Connected: DOM News and Updates Webpage
Visit our new webpage "DOM News and Updates" for information on how to stay up-to-date on the department. This new page will serve as an archive for our Weekly Bulletin newsletters, What's Up in Research newsletters, and our Annual Alumni newsletters. If you ever miss an issue or want to find a previous one, you can always check here! This page also includes links to follow our DOM social media platforms, visit our Emory Daily Pulse blog, and listen to our DOM Research Ride Podcast.
We want to hear from you! If you have a story or an idea for a future Bulletin newsletter, you can submit here or email the DOM Communications team. We look forward to hearing from you!
Terry Jacobson, MD, recognized among world's most
influential researchers
We're thrilled to share that Terry Jacobson, MD (General Internal Medicine), was recently recognized as part of an elite group of the world’s most influential scientists by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), a scientific analysis service. The nine Emory researchers are part of a group of Highly Cited Researchers from more than 1,300 institutions in 67 nations and regions. Selections were made by ISI’s bibliometrics experts, chosen through a process that includes the number of times their work is cited in the Science Citation Index and the Social Sciences Citation Index.
Dr. Jacobson studies elevated lipid levels in the blood (hyperlipidemia), nutrition and drug management of high cholesterol, coronary heart disease risk reduction, and translating cardiovascular prevention into practice. His career is focused on improving patient outcomes through behavioral counseling and implementing risk reduction strategies for clinicians.
Kyle Pate, MD, joins Transitional Year Program Leadership Team
Kyle Pate, MD, was named the Associate Program Director for the Transitional Year Program. He will work alongside Program Director, Manpreet Malik, MD, on providing a well-balanced clinical base year for a diverse group of trainees who match into advanced residency programs at Emory and elsewhere.
Dr. Kyle Pate is an interventional radiologist in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences. His clinical interest includes the application of minimally invasive image-guided techniques for the treatment of cancer, trauma, venous thromboembolic disease, and palliative pain management.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Pate to the team!
Celebrating Dr. Jeff Sands' Career and Legacy at Emory
Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated Jeff Sands, MD, Renal Medicine's Division Director, at his Farewell Toast earlier this month. With special remarks from DOM Chair, David Stephens, MD, and Renal Medicine faculty, Janice Lea, MD, Jeanie Park, MD, MS, and W. Charles O’Neill, MD, it was a great way to celebrate his remarkable 35-year career at Emory University and Emory Healthcare. Congratulations again to Dr. Sands on his upcoming retirement!
Emory FIRST Updates & Resources
On Thursday, December 7, the School of Medicine performed a routine update of Emory FIRST, the faculty information system that supports our faculty web profiles and tracks publications and publication metrics. This update will improve the site's performance. Now that the update is complete, you can resume any updates to your profiles using the instructions below.
If you have questions about Emory FIRST, contact Kimberly Powell.
MEDICINE GRAND ROUNDS
Weekly Medicine Grand Rounds, Every Tuesday at noon
Tomorrow's Medical Grand Rounds:
How Academic Medical Centers Can Serve Public Health
Tuesday, December 19 | noon–1 p.m., Zoom
Zoom Link - Meeting ID: 941 8304 9108,
Passcode: MGR
Speaker:
Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH
Director of Health
City of St. Louis Department of Health
All upcoming sessions will be hosted on Zoom, and recordings will be available on the DOM YouTube channel for CME credits.
Please note that tomorrow is the final Medicine Grand Rounds of 2023. Medicine Grand Rounds will resume in the new year on January 9, 2024, with Victor Dzau, MD, President of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Mark your calendars!
Tuesday, January 9 | noon–1 p.m., Zoom
Zoom Link - Meeting ID: 941 8304 9108,
Passcode: MGR
STAFF NEWS
Check out the latest list of open staff jobs within the DOM. See a job you are interested in or know someone who would be a good fit? Click the job title below to read the full description and apply. Be sure to follow the DOM LinkedIn page to stay up-to-date on the latest job openings!
DOM EVENTS
Learning to Be Better Teachers
January 8 | 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | James B. Williams Medical Education Building
Professional Development Lecture Series: Promotions in the School of Medicine
January 19 | noon–1 p.m. | Zoom
2024 GME DEI Virtual Open House *New*
January 31 | 6–7:30 p.m. | Zoom
DOM Faculty Development's Mentoring Workshop
February 9 | 8–10 a.m. | WMB Room 1109
CV Review Session
February 28 | 8–10 a.m. | Zoom
IN THE NEWS
Recent Department of Medicine News
Emory News Center: Emory faculty recognized among world's most influential researchers (Terry Jacobson featured)
Infectious Disease Special Edition: No need to write the obituary for the ID specialty (Wendy Armstrong quoted)
Men's Health: Why Are All of These Young, Fit Athletes Suddenly Coding (Jonathan Kim interviewed)
The Guardian: Despite decades of promises, health research still overlooks women (Nanette Wenger quoted)
GIVE TO US
The Department of Medicine includes more than 800 faculty members across our ten divisions. Your support for our work can make a difference to health care locally and globally. Click the button below to learn more about making an impact through your support for the DOM. For general department giving inquiries, please contact Ashley Michaud, Senior Director of Development, at 404-778-1250.
STAY CONNECTED
Please send photos and news from your division to deptofmed@emory.edu and visit the Department of Medicine's blog, EmoryDailyPulse.com.
The Emory University Department of Medicine is a component of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University, which includes the Emory Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health; Yerkes National Primate Research Center; Winship Cancer Institute; and Emory Healthcare.