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David Graham, M.D., a third-year Internal Medicine resident, recently returned from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he was a participant in the Mission to the World’s HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment (ACT) Project. Graham cared for 25 to 35 patients a day, many with HIV and several other conditions. “I saw babies with the most severe form of malnutrition, people who had previously suffered from leprosy and patients who had goiters so big that they caused life-threatening stridor,” Graham recalls. Graham says the poverty was beyond anything he had ever seen. “For two days I served in an area that had 500 families and only one toilet. The mission trip was an eye-opening experience,” he said. “I’ll never be the same.”

Recently, I reviewed personal statements from medical students applying for residency positions in our department. Their passion and deep-seated desire to help people are refreshing. Skeptics may argue that the applicants have a motive to appear altruistic and show empathy toward those suffering from illness. To me, the statements are genuine reflections of young people’s desire to be of service to mankind through the

practice of medicine. Medical students have a simple and abiding faith in the fundamental ethos of medicine, to provide service to the ill and restore them to good health. This message can get lost in the daily

grind of patient care, but to provide excellent care, one must have a heartfelt desire to help patients surmount their suffering. Many patients and their families view physicians as authority figures who provide them not only with

medical care but also comfort and help to transition from illness to health or to cope if they cannot be healthy again. In this newsletter, we recognize members of the Department of Medicine who are engaged in activities that go beyond the realm of “fee-for-service” patient care to generously serve the community.

Resident Physician Joins Medical Mission to Ethiopia

Points of View

Rajiv Dhand, M.D., Chair

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.”

Kahlil Gibran

Department of Medicine

Connect ing Technolog y, Educat ion and Discover y with Humanism in Medicine Vol. 2 Issue 2 April 2013

David Graham, M.D.Children play in the street of an impoverished village in Ethiopia.

Hands of a patient in Ethiopia who once had leprosy

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Dan Ely, M.D., cares for a patient at People’s Clinic.

The theme for the April issue of In Touch is service, a word that is used most often to describe things that can be done for us, like having our electricity, water and gas delivered without interruption or having our food carried to us promptly, warm and well prepared, at a fine restaurant. This newsletter highlights members of the Department of Medicine who seem to take little in life for granted and offer their answers to Martin Luther King, who asked, “What are you doing for others?” John P. Narro, M.D., associate professor of Medicine and chief of Infectious Diseases (ID), is the medical director of the HIV Specialty Clinic Center of Excellence operated by the Knox County Health Department and Tennessee Department of Health. Mark Rasnake, M.D., Internal Medicine Residency Program director, assists him in seeing patients at the clinic. “The clinic has provided me with professional and intellectual challenges along with the satisfaction of caring for people who have limited access to specialty care,” Narro says. His career in ID has matured in parallel with the discovery of the HIV virus and the evolution of its treatment. Narro, Rasnake and other medical professionals at the Center of Excellence are responsible for the care of indigent residents of Knox and 15 other counties in East Tennessee. Janet Purkey, M.D., associate professor of Medicine, was involved in founding the Samaritan Ministry in Knoxville 15 years ago, the result of an educational program about HIV/AIDS that she attended in her church. This organization continues to perform HIV testing and confidential counseling, as well as serve people with HIV/AIDS, their caregivers and the community at large. Through Samaritan Ministry, Purkey became aware of another need, so for the past year she has donated

her time and energy to an effort initiated by a small, committed group at the Magnolia Avenue Methodist Church in Knoxville. These people whom she calls “The Flock” see the need for a local medical outreach for their neighbors who are indigent. Purkey gives about two days per month taking medical histories to demonstrate and document a real need for what to her seems obvious. “These neighbors do not have money for transportation or other things we truly take for granted. Several of the people I see are transients who may live a few weeks in a shelter or under a bridge,” she says. Purkey hopes to incorporate medical students into this effort to provide them with a taste of indigent patient care and build their appetites for community service. Dan Ely, M.D., an associate professor of Medicine, has served in several roles in the Volunteer Ministry Center People’s Clinic for a number of years. He has given his time as a board member, board chair and volunteer medical director, until the clinic was busy enough to require a full-time medical director. He still works at the People’s Clinic when possible. Annette Mendola, Ph.D., division chief of Clinical Ethics, along with a colleague and with the help of UT nursing students, is coordinating a project to assist homeless people with completing advance directives to demonstrate their wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of mental or physical incapacitation. Mother Teresa spoke for those who serve the vulnerable when she said, “The miracle is not that we do this work but that we are happy to do it.” These compassionate physicians and many others in the Department of Medicine happily donate their gifts of money, time and service, quietly going about doing wonderful things.

Serving the Vulnerable in Our Community

John Narro, M.D.

Janet Purkey, M.D.

Annette Mendola, Ph.D.

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The continuing medical education conference, Ninth Annual Hematology Conference: An Update on Selected ASH Topics, directed by Wahid Hanna, M.D., professor in the Department of Medicine, convened on January 19, 2013. Physicians in hematology, oncology and other specialties attended, and nationally acclaimed experts led discussions on recent advances in the treatment of blood cancers. Expert presenters and their topics include • Craig Kessler, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Section

Chief of Hematology, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University: An update on thrombosis and hemostasis

• Michael Keating, M.B., B.S., Professor of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas: Recent advances in the biology and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

• Thomas Habermann, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic: ASH abstracts regarding the management of malignant lymphomas

• Sagar Lonial, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine: Update on the management of multiple myeloma

• Eric Padron, M.D., Clinical Instructor, Malignant Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute: Recent developments in myelodysplastic syndromes.

The update was presented by the UT Graduate School of Medicine and approved for AMA, AAPA and ACPE credits.

The Annual Medicine Conference: Optimizing Patient Care for a Changing Population, was held March 1-2, 2013, at UT Conference Center, Knoxville. Primary care physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and other professionals joined 15 expert presenters to discuss strategies to provide care for today’s changing population. Topics included patient-centered medical home; HIV, diabetes and obesity; complications of drug use; sleep-disordered breathing; guidelines for screenings and more. Presenters included specialists from various disciplines: • Lynn Castle, PA-C• Randall Curnow, M.D.• Jennifer Mendez, Pharm.D., BCPS

And experts from the UT Graduate School of Medicine:

More than 100 professionals from East Tennessee and neighboring states attended the conference and many joined alumni of the Department of Medicine, speakers and guests at a reception on March 1. The educational conference was sponsored by the UT Graduate School of Medicine and approved for AMA, AAPA, AAFP and ACPE credits.

Hematology Conference Addresses Cancers

Inaugural Medicine Conference Examines Changing Healthcare

Calvin Bard, M.D.Stuart Bresee, M.D.Rajiv Dhand, M.D.Dan Ely, M.D.Matthew Mancini, M.D.Kevin Martinolich, M.D.

Kimberly Morris, M.D.Mark Rasnake, M.D.Russell Smith, M.D.Amit Vora, M.D., FACEW. Bedford Waters, M.D.Wesley White, M.D.

Featured speakers at the 2013 Hematology Conference include (L to R) Michael Keating, M.B., B.S., Wahid Hanna, M.D., Craig Kessler, M.D., Sagar Lonial, M.D., Thomas Habermann, M.D., Hanna and Eric Padron, M.D.

Some of the speakers at the 2013 Medicine Conference include Amit Vora, M.D., Mark Rasnake, M.D., Russell Smith, M.D., Dan Ely, M.D., and

Stuart Bresee, M.D.

Joining Department Chair Rajiv Dhand, M.D., (far left) at the 2013 Medicine Conference are alumni of the Department of Medicine: (back row) Kimberly

Morris, M.D., Russell Smith, M.D., Janet Purkey, M.D., David Petty, M.D., Ed Mendez, M.D., and (front row) Kathrine Smyth, M.D., and Rocio Huet, M.D.

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Carmelo Venero, M.D., UT Graduate School of Medicine Cardiovascular Disease fellowship alumnus, joined the faculty as clinical assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology.

Janakiraman Subramanian, M.D., was appointed clinical assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology.

Department of Medicine Grand Rounds8:00-9:00 a.m.Morrison’s Conference Center, University of Tennessee Medical Center, KnoxvilleApproved for AMA creditApril 9: TBAMay 14: Osteoporosis Update 2013May 28: Cardioneurogenic SyncopeJune 11: Ethics and Allocation of ResourcesJune 25: Celiac DiseaseVisit www.tennessee.edu/cme for a complete schedule.

Appointments

Continuing Education Opportunities

In Touch Volume 2, Issue 2: April 2013

Publishers James Neutens, Ph.D., DeanRajiv Dhand, M.D., Chair

Managing Editor Amanda F. Johnson, APR

Editor Ronald Lands, M.D.

Administrative Director Susan Burchfield, CAP-OM

Contributors Susan Burchfield, CAP-OM Rajiv Dhand, M.D. Amanda F. Johnson, APR Ronald Lands, M.D.

Design J Squared Graphics

In Touch is produced by the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Department of Medicine. The mission of the newsletter is to build pride in the Department of Medicine by communicating the accessible, collaborative and human aspects of the department while highlighting pertinent achievements and activities.

Contact Us In Touch UT Graduate School of Medicine

Department of Medicine

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Knoxville, TN 37920

Telephone: 865-305-9340

E-mail: InTouchNewsletter@utmck.edu

Web: http://gsm.utmck.edu/internalmed/main.cfm

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services.

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine offers the following educational courses this spring and summer. To register or for more information, call 865-305-9190 or visit www.tennessee.edu/cme.

Department of Medicine faculty, residents and fellows share their knowledge and experience by publishing and presenting across the world. For a list of our most recent accomplishments, visit http://gsm.utmck.edu/internalmed/scholars.cfm.

Presentations, Publications, Awards

Thank You for Your SupportFor information about philanthropic giving to the UT Graduate School of Medicine Department of Medicine, please contact the development office at 865-305-6611 or development@utmck.edu. If you would like more information about any of the information in this issue of In Touch, please contact the Department of Medicine at 865-305-9340 or visit http://gsm.utmck.edu/internalmed/main.cfm. We look forward to your input. Thank you.

Stay in Touch!Alumni, please update your contact information by completing the simple form at http://gsm.utmck.edu/internalmed/alumni.cfm or by calling the Department of Medicine at 865-305-9340.Thank you!

Carmelo Venero, M.D. Janakiraman Subramanian, M.D.