summer 2009

Medical SchoolMedical School on Parade on Parade

l INSIDE lStudents Match to ResidenciesStudy Abroad Opens EyesNew Harvey Thanks to Shaws

Medical SchoolMedical School on Parade on ParadeMedical School on Parade

News In Brief

Students match to residenciesOn March 19, 53 4th-year medical students from Wichita received word about where they’ll do their residency training. Page 4

New Harvey arrives in WichitaA new digital cardiac trauma simulator called Harvey allows students, residents, and physicians to simulate cardiac diseases as well as monitor heart and lung sounds. Page 7

How You Can helpThere are many ways you can help support our efforts to educate doctors for Kansas:

Donations by Mail – KU Endowment, 1010 N. Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214Online Giving - kuendowment.org/givenow

We welcome the opportunity to visit with you about how you might help. And we assure you that 100 percent of your gift will benefi t the area of your choice. Please call Shanna Bassett at (316) 293-2601 or send her an e-mail at KUEAwichita@kumc.edu.

Fred Chang, MDInterim Dean

Janice ArbuckleAssociate Dean for Administration

Kristie EubanksUniversity Relations Director

KU WICHITA StaffWriters

Fred Ervin

Kristie Eubanks

Tom Schaefer

Designer

Chris Webber

Photographer

Mike Shepherd

Coordinator

Jennifer Eaton

KU WICHITA is published four

times a year by the KU School of

Medicine-Wichita. We welcome

your comments, suggestions, and

questions at (316) 293-2643 or

KUWICHITA@kumc.edu. © KU 2009

KU SCHOOL OFMEDICINE-WICHITA

Summer 2009, Vol. 2, No. 3wichita.kumc.edu

Parading the KU colorsA total of 37 students, residents, staff – and one brave faculty member – participated in the KU School of Medicine-Wichita’s River Festival parade entry in front of more than 40,000 spectators. Page 8

On a medical missionFourteen 4th-year students had eye-opening experiences serving in other countries. Page 10

Welcome class of 2011Fifty-fi ve students who comprise the new 3rd-year class at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita have begun their clinical training. Page 12

Health care competition and cooperationWichita’s CLARION team faced off against other health care competitors in Minnesota at an event designed to encourage interprofessional education and cooperation among students in various health professions. Page 14

3wichita.kumc.edu

CoverMore than 40,000 people witnessed the Wichita medical school’s “JayDoc Goes to Woodstock” parade fl oat in the 2009 Wichita River Festival Sundown Parade. Staff, faculty, residents, guitar-strumming students, and even JayDoc promoted the school while celebrating the ‘60s. Photo by Mike Shepherd.

Educating Doctors for KansasOver the years, the messages

from our students and residents have been consistent. Wichita offers: tremendous hands-on

opportunities a low ratio of teachers to

students and a warm, welcoming

atmosphere.

I’m happy to report that our success preparing students for residency continues as many are on their way to some very competitive specialties, while an especially high number of our graduates are going into much-needed primary care specialties, and about half of all graduates will be staying in Wichita.

At the same time, 72 residents are graduating from the 14 residency programs offered by the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education. And in keeping with tradition, more than half will be practicing in Kansas.

Welcoming a New DeanWith the 2008-2009 school year

coming to a close as I write this, I’m

once again saying goodbye as I go back into retirement and Wichita welcomes a new Dean – H. David Wilson, MD. With 14 years of experience at the community-based University of North Dakota School of Medicine and fi ve years as chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Section on Community-Based Deans, Dr. Wilson is well prepared to lead Wichita’s medical school.

Saying Goodbye While I’ve been interim dean,

I’ve appreciated the support of the Wichita community and the school’s staff and faculty. As we move forward under Dr. Wilson’s leadership, I ask that you join me in showing him the same support.

I’m leaving you in good hands, knowing that we’re delivering on our promise to educate doctors for Kansas and improve the health of Kansans.

Once again, it has been my honor to serve the KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

Our MissionWe educate students, residents,

and physicians through patient

care, service, research, and

scholarly activities to improve the

health of Kansans in partnership

with Kansas communities.

Core Values• Excellence in Education

• Social Responsibility and

Community Orientation

• Excellence in Leadership

• Responsible Stewardship

• Continuous Quality

Improvement

Wichita’s rich tradition continues

Fred Chang, MD

Dean’s Message

Since Wichita doctors fi rst started talking about opening a medical school in the middle of Kansas, the focus has always been on training exceptional doctors to care for Kansans. And for most of

the school’s 36 years, I’ve been proud to be part of that mission … from a professor of surgery to an associate dean – twice – and most recently interim dean.

Chang Named 2009 Honorary Medical AlumnusInterim Dean Fred Chang, MD, KU School of Medicine-Wichita, was selected

from a number of nominees to receive the 2009 KU Medical Center Honorary

Medical Alumnus Award, the highest honor the KUMC Alumni Association presents

to individuals for their outstanding contributions to the profession, the health of all

people, and KU. He will receive the award at the 2009 KUMC Gala on Saturday, Oct.

17, in Kansas City. For more information on the KUMC Alumni Weekend and Gala,

visit kumc.edu/alumni or call 913-588-5255.

4 KU WICHITA SUMMER 2009 5wichita.kumc.edu

Some events in life are so signifi cant we remember every detail. For a physician, Match Day is certainly one of those days.

For several months, 4th-year medical students nationwide rank programs, and programs rank students through an interview and application process in pursuit of a residency match. Every year on the third Thursday

of March, students participate in this rite of passage to learn where they’ll spend several years training in their specialty.

Wichita’s students were very competitive with many matching to rather exclusive residencies throughout the United States:

“Many people think that if they want to go into a specialty

fi eld, Wichita is not the place for them. On the contrary,

specialty rotations are available in Wichita if you seek them out.

Many of my classmates, including myself, matched into very

competitive fi elds.”

Nicholas Wessling, MDOrthopaedic SurgerySt. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York City

Paige Clark, MD, matched to 1 of 2 Family Medicine/Preventive Medicine residency positions.Neil Kumar, MD, matched to 1 of 15 Vascular Surgery residency positions.Ashley Robertson, MD, matched to 1 of 19 Medicine-Emergency Medicine residency positions.Lindsay Abbott, MD, matched to 1 of 87 Plastic Surgery residency positions.

Where Wichita’s Class of 2009 Matched (A-M)Name Specialty Location City State

Lindsay Abbott, MD Plastic Surgery Wright State University Dayton OH Boonshoft School of MedicineHolly Allen, MD Family Medicine Wesley Regional Medical Center Wichita KSVeronica Amey, MD Psychiatry KU School of Medicine Wichita KSAndrew Barker, MD Anesthesiology Texas A&M College of Medicine- Temple TX Scott and White ProgramJudd Bauer, MD Internal Medicine University of Nebraska Omaha NE Affi liated HospitalsEmily Blankenship, MD OB/GYN Exempla St. Joseph Hospital Denver COCaleb Bowers, MD Family Medicine Wesley Regional Medical Center Wichita KSTyler Buser, MD Family Medicine David-Grant Medical Center Travis Air Force Base CAKayla Chapman, MD Pediatrics KU School of Medicine Kansas City KSPaige Clark, MD Family Medicine/ Oregon Health & Science University Portland OR Preventive Medicine Kari Clouse, MD Family Medicine Smoky Hill Family Practice Center Salina KSSonder Crane, MD Pediatrics Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City MOLan Dang, MD Pediatrics KU School of Medicine Wichita KSJared Davis, MD Medicine-Primary University of Colorado Denver CO School of MedicineMiranda Feagan, MD Pediatrics Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte NCJulia Gaston, MD OB/GYN Aurora Health Care/Aurora Milwaukee WI St. Luke’s Medical CenterEmily Haury, MD Medicine/Pediatrics University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City MOJustin Haynes, MD Emergency Medicine Pitt County Memorial Hospital/ Greenville NC Brody School of MedicineLandon Johnson, MD Medicine-Preliminary KU School of Medicine Wichita KS Dermatology University of Colorado Denver CO School of Medicine Jeremiah Kempke, MD Internal Medicine KU School of Medicine Wichita KSStefanie Kempke, MD OB/GYN KU School of Medicine Wichita KSNeil Kumar, MD Vascular Surgery University of Rochester/ Rochester NY Strong MemorialJanna Lang, MD OB/GYN KU School of Medicine Wichita KSDwight Leggett, II, MD Medicine-Preliminary KU School of Medicine Wichita KS Physical Med and Rehab University of Toledo Toledo OHMy Luu, MD Anesthesiology University of Toledo Toledo OHEdwin Malone, Jr., MD Emergency Medicine Cook County-Stroger Hospital Chicago ILAshley Mathews, MD Medicine/Pediatrics University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City MOJohn May, MD Family Medicine Via Christi Regional Medical Center Wichita KS

Match Day reveals future for resident physicians

The envelope please!

“I chose to do my clinical training in Wichita because I was

looking to get the most hands-on experience during my third

and fourth years. My understanding was that Wichita would

allow me that. I defi nitely was able to have great experiences

here in Wichita and haven’t regretted my decision. I believe the

hands-on experience and quality of education we receive here

allows for better retention of information and gives Wichita

students a strong advantage when moving to residency.”Holly Allen, MDFamily MedicineWesley Medical Center

7wichita.kumc.edu6 KU WICHITA SUMMER 2009

Name Specialty Location City State

Scott McLaren, MD Anesthesiology KU School of Medicine Wichita KSJason Nugent, MD Family Medicine Wesley Regional Medical Center Wichita KSJodi Palmer, MD Internal Medicine Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego CAAndrew Pope, MD Family Medicine Via Christi Regional Medical Center Wichita KSAlison Raymond, MD Family Medicine Via Christi Regional Medical Center Wichita KSAshley Robertson, MD Medicine- Pitt County Memorial Hospital/ Greenville NC Emergency Medicine Brody School of MedicineClark Rogers, MD Medicine-Preliminary KU School of Medicine Wichita KS Radiology-Diagnostic Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis INMatthew Schmidt, MD Family Medicine Southwest Washington Medical Center Vancouver WAStephanie Seiler, MD Medicine/Pediatrics KU School of Medicine Wichita KSOurania Stephanopoulos, MD Medicine-Preliminary KU School of Medicine Kansas City KSBryan Stucky, MD Family Medicine Via Christi Regional Medical Center Wichita KSJoanna Toews, MD Internal Medicine Providence St. Vincent Medical Center Portland ORAdam Tritsch, MD Internal Medicine Eisenhower Army Medical Center Augusta GARobert Ullom, MD Family Medicine Via Christi Regional Medical Center Wichita KSAmanda Valliant, MD Internal Medicine KU School of Medicine Wichita KSChristina Veenstra, MD Medicine/Pediatrics Banner Good Samaritan Phoenix AZ Medical CenterAli Wait, MD General Surgery Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Roanoke VAAmanda Waltner, MD Internal Medicine KU School of Medicine Wichita KSDaniel Warren, MD Family Medicine Naval Hospital Bremerton WANicholas Wessling, MD Orthopaedic Surgery St. Luke’s-Roosevelt New York NYCameron West, MD Medicine-Preliminary KU School of Medicine Wichita KS Radiology-Diagnostic KU School of Medicine Wichita KSLaura Whisler, MD OB/GYN KU School of Medicine Wichita KSJoella Wilson, MD Transitional Year Methodist Hospital Houston TX Radiation Oncology University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TXErin Zahradnik, MD Psychiatry Yale-New Haven Hospital New Haven CT “Medical school places a person in a position to be part of a

vast array of experiences. One of my most memorable was

during my OB rotation. I was given an opportunity to be the fi rst

assist on a Caesarean section with Dr. Brown. He supervised

while allowing me to guide the procedure and complete a large

part of the surgery on my own. While it was both nerve-racking

and exhilarating, it was also the fi rst time I felt respected as a

peer, giving me confi dence that I chose the right path for my

life. During this experience, I learned more about the practice of

medicine than a hundred books could teach.”

Where Wichita’s Class of 2009 Matched (M-Z)

“Overall, it’s been very interesting to live somewhere

completely different from anywhere else I’ve been. Also, in

general, people are really, really, really nice. In Wichita, I

learned that 80-year-old farmers are a tough breed. Even

after they fall off their tractors and get run over, they’re still

demanding to be discharged from the hospital the next day

because those fi elds have to be worked!”

“My most memorable experience in Wichita was helping to deliver

a baby – actually 17! This is not particularly unusual for a 3rd-year

medical student in Wichita, but it was very valuable to me because I

learned that I love taking care of pregnant women. It is what I want

to do for the rest of my life!”

Stefanie Kempke, MDObstetrics and Gynecology

Dwight Leggett, MDMedicine-Preliminary; Physical Medicine and RehabilitationKU School of Medicine-Wichita; University of Toledo, OH

Erin Zahradnik, MDPsychiatryYale University, New Haven, CT

MEET HARVEYCardiac trauma simulator enhances medical education in Wichita

Without saying a word, Harvey provides community-based, hands-on education to students, residents,

and community physicians at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita. The school’s newest cardiac trauma simulator, nicknamed Harvey, allows students, residents, and physicians to increase the number and type of clinical situations they face without having to experience the actual cases, some of which can be quite rare.

Harvey was donated by Dr. Richard and Ruth Shaw. Dr. Shaw, a graduate of the KU Medical School, said the original simulator provided excellent training for many years, but it was time for students to train on a new and improved model.

“This donation by the Shaws is greatly appreciated and will provide a terrifi c teaching tool,” said Boutros El-Haddad, MD, Internal Medicine assistant professor. “The new Harvey is more technologically advanced and offers realistic simulation of the physical signs of cardiac disease. It’s a terrifi c asset for our campus and one I know our students appreciate.”

Two of the Shaw’s sons completed their clinical and residency training in Wichita. “I was a volunteer faculty member during my practice, and now I’m president of the Deans Club,” Dr. Shaw said. “The medical school does a lot of good work and has developed some excellent physicians. We’re proud to help in any way we can.”

The new and improved Harvey, donated by Dr. Richard

and Ruth Shaw, is the latest in cardiac trauma simulators.

It allows students, residents, and physicians to simulate 27

cardiac diseases as well as monitor heart and lung sounds.

8 KU WICHITA SUMMER 2009 9wichita.kumc.edu

Third-year students

JulieAnn Minns and Leonid

(Terry) Hansen rock on at

the parade.

JayDoc, energized

by third-year student

Matthew Butler, greets

some of the kids along

the parade route.

Wichita struts its stuff

Third-year students

(from left to right)

JulieAnn Minns, Jennifer

Blades, and Anne

Monroe Blair

show off the fl ower

power of balloons.

High-fi vin’ and having fun, JayDoc was clearly a

crowd favorite.

Wichita struts its stuff

“Peace out” is the message from

third-year student Leonid (Terry)

Hansen, while resident Denise

Drake, MD, waves to the crowd

and resident Natacha Esber,

MD, strums a guitar.

Showing the KU spirit

was the order of the

day. Above, Tara Shirley,

Pediatrics, gets into

the “hippie” spirit of

the day. While below,

Jennifer Blades (W10)

is “groovin’ ” with

dark shades and her

Jayhawk tattoo.

And the beat goes on with resident Natacha

Esber, MD, (front) and Lynn Loveland, KU

Endowment Association (back).

Decked out in tie-dyed t-shirts, more than 35 students,

residents, and staff, along with one brave faculty member

(Dr. Garold Minns) went back in time to the Age of

Aquarius as they marched in the May 8 Wichita River Festival

Parade. More than 40,000 spectators cheered the “JayDoc Goes

to Woodstock” fl oat that featured JayDoc (circa 1969, the year

of Woodstock) along with a hospital bed and a bevy of “fl ower

children.” They strummed guitars, sang, and danced while raising

awareness for KU and the Wichita medical school.

11wichita.kumc.edu 1110 KU WICHITA SUMMER 2009

INTERNATIONAL STUDY deepens desire to become a doctor During an international

leadership conference in high school, Ashley Robertson, MD,

(W09) was introduced to South Africa. “My roommate was from there, and her stories were so compelling I wanted to experience it for myself when I got the opportunity,” Dr. Robertson explained.

In her fourth year of medical school, she spent a four-week rotation in Johannesburg, South Africa, treating patients in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the world’s largest facility, located in the township of Soweto, with 3,200 beds.

In Soweto, Dr. Robertson discovered that the HIV infection rate was as high as 20 percent of the total population of South Africa.

“I found it amazing that the government was in denial of a link between HIV and AIDS. In fact, some of the men actually believed if they had sex with a virgin it would cure them of AIDS.”

Efforts to educate the public and open communication include the “Consent is sexy” banner (pictured above) that hangs on the campus of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to Dr. Robertson, the lack of education about HIV/AIDS extends beyond the general public.

”A high-ranking government offi cial was allegedly dating a woman who was HIV positive. However, he believed he wouldn’t become infected because he showered after having sex.”

An alarming 70 percent of patients consult with traditional African healers as their fi rst choice of health care. Because the healers are licensed, Dr. Robertson thinks the healers could help more people if they had more contact with physicians.

Overall, she said studying abroad

was a great experience, and everyone should have the opportunity.

“It provides a deeper understanding of why you practice medicine as well as establishes a more meaningful appreciation of what you have here. I believe studying in a Third World country can be shocking, but getting out of the states to experience what other people are like in different cultures will help you to have more compassion for patients and make you a better doctor.”

An empty package of Aspen Zidovudine, a

drug used to treat HIV infection, lies in a street

in Soweto, where HIV infection is reportedly as

high as 20 percent.

On a medical mission

Robert Ullom, MDSouthern India, Tamil Nadu

Objectives: Study the health delivery system in India and how it affects the prevention of disease

Challenges: “Much as India has been described as a slumbering giant poised to awaken in regard to its economic development, the same can be said for its health care system.”

Clinical moment: “Experiencing Karigiri (India) in person after reading about it in the book ‘The Gift of Pain,’ by Dr. Paul Brand.”

Cultural moment: “Traveling throughout southern India for two weeks by myself and experiencing isolation, feeling cheated, encountering random acts of kindness – the daily contradictions that make India so wonderful and complex.”

Jodi Palmer, MDVellore, Tamil Nadu, India

Objectives: Study the epidemiology of HIV/TB co-infection in India, treatment options, and public education for prevention and treatment

Challenges: India has 20 percent of the world’s TB burden, and the incidence of HIV is increasing rapidly in Southeast Asia

Clinical moment: “TB prevalence has stabilized but the incidence is continuing to rise, especially in countries with a high prevalence of HIV. Many patients bring their children to the TB clinic to be tested. They are expecting the results to be positive, but I saw intense relief and joy with a negative test.”

Cultural moment: Jodi met her future in-laws and experienced being part of an Indian family. She and Maulik Trivedi married on June 6. Maulik works for Amylin in San Diego, CA. Jodi will do her residency at Scripps Mercy in San Diego.

Ali Wait, MDZanzibar Town, Tanzania

Objectives: Evaluate opportunities for safety improvement in site hospital’s operating theater

Challenges: Poor hygiene, sterile technique, and sharps discipline in surgery department

Clinical moment: “I met a small boy who was obviously malnourished. He was brought to the hospital for acute abdominal pain, and it was determined he had a volvulus. When the volvulus was reduced surgically, it was evident the cause was a rampant infection with Ascaris lumbricoides (parasitic roundworms). When asked why she had waited so long to bring the child in, his mother replied: ‘We are very far from a doctor, and there is no money.’”

Cultural moment: “We were enjoying

one of the white, sandy beaches, and my classmate remarked to the guide, ‘It’s funny that the locals don’t make use of these beaches.’ ‘The locals aren’t allowed on the beach,’ he replied. The beach is one of the few treasures to be found in a place where day-to-day life is a challenge, and it’s denied to its own people. Some locals do swim near town, but girls cannot and the water is contaminated.”

Nicholas Wessling, MDSydney, Australia NSW

Objectives: Describe the role of a Forensic Pathologist and the importance of autopsies in the health care community and discuss issues the Australian health care system faces

Challenges: Post-mortem examinations still provide utility even though the rate of their use is declining. More research and studies need to be performed to show their utility.

Clinical moment: “Every morning showing up at the morgue and seeing 14 bodies lying on cold metal tables, reading the ‘story’ of the events that led up to the point of their death. Many times suicide notes were included, and there were stories of shootouts which made me somewhat reluctant to walk the streets, but it also gave me an appreciation for the life I have.”

Cultural moment: “I traveled the east coast of Australia, from Sydney to Cairns, for two weeks with only a small duffel bag, sleeping in hostels or taking overnight bus rides. I visited amazing places and met some wonderful people from all over the world.”

Ashley Robertson, MD, (W09) then fourth-

year medical student at the KU School of

Medicine-Wichita, completed four weeks of

study at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital,

the world’s largest with 3,200 beds.

Jeffrey Robinson Garnett, KS Piano Performance, University of Kansas School of Fine ArtsWhy did you get into medicine?I’ve always enjoyed mathematics and, therefore, like solving problems. As an undergraduate, I took an elective course in chemistry – my fi rst real exposure to serious science – where our professor frequently illustrated scientifi c concepts using medical examples. I was amazed at how basic science could explain various functions of the human body and how this arena of problem solving translated to helping people live healthy lives. What fi eld do you plan to pursue?I am fortunate to have great mentors in pulmonary and

critical care medicine, as well as in general pediatrics. I can see myself practicing in either of those settings. Though I have not previously had exposure to many of the other areas of medicine, I’m looking forward to third-year rotations and the opportunity to learn from and work with patients and faculty in different settings. Why did you choose Wichita?To be quite honest, I was initially lotteried to come

to Wichita. Subsequently, though, I wanted to come to Wichita because of the people I had met at the med school there. The med students who have trained in Wichita consistently praise the hands-on learning approach, high expectations, and camaraderie of the program.

13wichita.kumc.edu12 KU WICHITA SUMMER 2009

They’re here! The 55 students making up the new 3rd-year class at the KU

School of Medicine-Wichita have begun their clinical training in Wichita,

where they will receive incredible hands-on opportunities thanks to more

than 900 volunteer and 125 paid faculty members.

WELCOMEStudent Name HometownAlbrecht, Ryan Herington, KSAst, Allison Conway Springs, KSBaalmann, Christopher Andale, KSBraksick, Sherri McLouth, KSBrown, Mega Hutchinson, KSCheng, Laura McFarland, CA Coiner, Amanda Concordia, KSConsole, James Topeka, KSCreed, David Olathe, KSDimitt, Stacey Bazine, KSFields, Jessica Arma, KSGuex-Clark, Erin Shawano, WIGuo, Lisa Wichita, KSHaack, Hannah Stockton, KSHemphill, Erin Hoisington, KSHernandez, James San Antonio, TXHinkin, Stephen Manhattan, KSHirt, Jesica Waverly, KSJohnston, Benjamin Wichita, KSJordan, Benjamin Buena Vista, COKaiser, Matthew Inman, KSKnoernschild, Dennis Lyndon, KSKrob, Rachael Wichita, KSKuhlman, Daniel Kensington, KSLe, QuyChi Kansas City, MOLewis, Marcus Elmira, NYLoo, Colleen Wichita, KSMancillas, Annabel Hutchinson, KS

Student Name HometownMaurer, Chad Topeka, KSMcCully, Robert El Dorado, KSMisasi, Adam Wichita, KSNedved, Drew Shawnee, KSNelson, Clarice Hutchinson, KSNesmith, Brooke Augusta, KSNewth, Alyssa Sabetha, KSOlsen, Delane Mulvane, KSPatton, Simon Wichita, KSPham, Anh Wichita, KSPham, Hang Wichita, KSPham, Mary Wichita, KSRobinson, Jeffrey Garnett, KSRohr, Melanie Wichita, KSSchoen, Alicia McPherson, KSSloan, Kara Tribune, KSSmith, David Olathe, KSSmith, Nathan Hays, KSStanford, James Haynesville, LAThompson, Matthew Beloit, KSTjaden, Bruce Wichita, KSWark, Kellie Colby, KSWedel, Whitney Leoti, KSWilson, Matthew Wichita, KSWitt, Laurel Kansas City, MOWolfe, Mark Iola, KSYeager, Stephanie Emporia, KS

Wichita’s Class of 2011

Delane Olsen Mulvane, KS

Nursing, Wichita State University

Why did you go into medicine?

I went into medicine because I love science

and think there is no better way to spend a career

than to use it helping people and making a better

community. I’ve worked in a hospital all of my adult

life, and medical school was a natural progression

for my career.

What fi eld do you plan to pursue?

I’m not sure what I would like to do for a medical

specialty, but I know I want something where I’m

able to encourage people to make healthy choices

and help communities be healthier.

Why did you choose Wichita?

I chose Wichita because I live here! I’ve

commuted to Kansas City during my fi rst and

second years. I have a great husband, three

wonderful kids, and invaluable parents who live in

Wichita. There is no place I would rather be!

Christopher Baalman Andale, KS

Biology, Newman University

Why did you go into medicine?

I got into medicine because I wanted to have

the daily experience and satisfaction of making a

difference in other people’s lives. My mother is a

pediatrician, so I got to see the rewarding experiences

that physicians get to take part in and also the

demands of the profession.

What fi eld do you plan to pursue?

Before getting into medical school, I was almost

certain I wanted to do either family medicine or

emergency medicine. I’ve also become very interested

in radiology because of my interest in anatomy and

how so many disease-managing decisions are made

from cutting-edge imaging modalities.

Why did you choose Wichita?

I grew up in Andale, KS, and have seven brothers,

one sister, and a seven-month-old niece. My wife is

the youngest of 11 children and has 21 nieces and

nephews. In addition, my wife and I were blessed

with a baby boy in January, which meant coming to

Wichita we have family babysitters. I’m convinced

that I’ll get awesome clinical experience in Wichita.

Annabel Mancillas Hutchinson, KS Nursing/Pre Med, Wichita State UniversityWhy did you get into medicine?

I became interested in medicine as a child. Both of my

parents are immigrants from Mexico, so as children my

siblings and I had to interpret for them in many settings,

especially at the doctor’s offi ce. On different occasions, my

mother would take a close friend to help interpret, but if

she was not available, mother would have to rely on my

sister or me to voice her concerns. This sparked my interest

in health care and at 17, I started working as a CNA and

volunteered as an interpreter at the Reno County Health

Department. What fi eld do you plan to pursue?

Regardless of the specialty, I plan on working with

the uninsured and other under-represented populations,

especially the Spanish-speaking-only population. I’m very

passionate about making health care accessible to those who

do not have resources readily available to them. Why did you choose Wichita?I chose to come to Wichita because of the increased

clinical experience offered at the clinical sites. I worked as

an RN at St. Francis for three years and I experienced fi rst-

hand how involved the attending physicians are with their

residents and with the medical students. I’m also excited to

start working with the Guadalupe Clinic again. I volunteered

at the clinic while I lived in Wichita and am very excited to

continue working with them in the JayDoc Clinic.

Calling all KU School of Medicine-Wichita Alumni!Two years at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita had to make for some good stories. We’d love to hear (and share) your stories. Please take a few minutes to think about your time training in Wichita and send us an e-mail to KUWichita@kumc.edu answering the question: What was your most memorable experience as a student in Wichita?

More than 200 volunteers, including 25 from the KU School of Medicine-Wichita, participated in the second annual “Give Kids a Smile” day at GraceMed Dental and Health Clinic on March 7. More than 200 children received $56,900 worth of services, according to Judy Johnston, MS, RD, LD, Preventive Medicine and Public Health research instructor. The event was a collaboration of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Oral Health Coalition along with corporate sponsors Colgate-Palmolive Company, Sullivan-Schein, Patterson Dental, and the Kansas Health Foundation.

A Master of Science in Clinical Research (33 credit hours) and a Certifi cate in Clinical and Translational Research (16 credit hours) will be offered by Preventive Medicine and Public Health in Wichita and Kansas City starting this fall, according to Elizabeth Ablah, PhD, MPH, assistant professor. For more information, contact Dr. Ablah at eablah@kumc.edu or call (316) 293-2627.

Russell Scheffer, MD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences chair and professor, was appointed by the Kansas Health Policy Authority to serve as a Mental Health Prescription Drug Advisory committee member.

Paul Callaway, MD, program director of the Wesley Family Medicine residency program and clinical associate professor in Family and Community Medicine at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita, has been awarded the Nikitas J. Zervanos Outstanding Program Director Award by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors. The award goes to a family medicine director who has demonstrated leadership and advancement of the specialty, service as a mentor to residents and medical students, and service to the community as well as to the organizations.

The latest issue of the Kansas Journal of Medicine, featuring works from faculty and residents from Wichita as well as Kansas City and including topics such as autoimmune disease, diabetes, and breast cancer, is a click away at wichita.kumc.edu/kjom. Manuscript submissions are encouraged. For more information, contact K. James Kallail at (316) 293-2650 or kkallail@kumc.edu.

The University of Kansas School of Medicine received an Achievement Award from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), recognizing the school’s efforts to foster student interest in family medicine and produce graduates who enter the specialty. Based on a three-year average, more than 19 percent of graduates entered an ACGME-accredited Family Medicine residency program, making the KU School of Medicine one of the top 10 medical schools in the nation for producing Family Medicine physicians.

Congratulations to Donna Sweet, MD, Internal Medicine professor, and to 14 students from the KU School of Medicine-Wichita. They were among the 2009 members inducted into the KU School of Medicine chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, April 17, in Kansas City. The Gold Humanism Honor Society, sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, recognizes faculty and 3rd-year medical students who have shown outstanding humanistic and professional behaviors as well as the highest standards of compassion and sensitivity in their interactions with patients, faculty, student peers, and institutional administration. Wichita students include:Peg Bicker Cameron LedfordBruce Bowser Scott T. PaulyDanae Doubek Nichole RiddelKyle V. Goerl Khaleel SayeedSandy Huynh Deborah ScraffordMegan Jones Patrick StilesAlan Kovar Shane Thoreson

Congratulations to the following KU School of Medicine-Wichita faculty promoted effective July 1:

Michael P. Brown, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Associate Professor

Sanford Fitzig, MD, Surgery, Clinical Associate Professor

Scott S. Johnson, MD, Anesthesiology, Clinical Associate Professor

Milton H. Landers, DO, PhD, Anesthesiology, Clinical Associate Professor

J. Mark Melhorn, MD, Surgery/Orthopaedics Division, Clinical Associate Professor

C. Maria Riva, MD, Pediatrics, Associate Professor

Timothy M. Scanlan, MD, Family and Community Medicine, Clinical Professor

More than 200 attended the 17th Annual Research Forum, May 7, at WSU’s Eugene M. Hughes Metro Complex to learn about eating disorders from nationally known speakers. The event was sponsored by the Offi ce of the Associate Dean for Research and the Offi ce of the Dean at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita. On the second day of the forum, a $100 cash prize and $500 stipend were awarded for the 1st place winners in two poster competition categories:General Medical - Ryan C. Pate, MDBehavioral/Community/Health - Brooke R. Mason, MDA new addition to the forum this year was the Cramer Reed Award open to Health of the Public Medical Students. Members of the 1st place team received $50 each for their Pandemic Infl uenza Survey:D. Olivier Alipui, (W09)Holly Allen, (W09)Eric Chau, (W09)My Luu, (W09)

The KU School of Medicine-Wichita Web site at wichita.kumc.edu has a fresh new look designed to:• highlight Wichita’s students,

residents, faculty, and staff• promote the school’s efforts to

educate doctors for Kansas• make it easy for people to fi nd the

information they need on the site.

14 KU WICHITA SUMMER 2009 wichita.kumc.edu 15

Happenings

A Hispanic mother was struggling to get medical care for her 3-year-old son but couldn’t communicate with health professionals. The hypothetical case was the assigned challenge for a team of

students from Wichita as they began their presentation at the national CLARION competition April 4 at the University of Minnesota.

CLARION is a student-led, faculty-advised effort that encourages interprofessional education and cooperation among students in various health professions. Wichita’s team competed for the fi rst time against seven other health care teams.

For 30 minutes, Sapna Shah (W10) and her colleagues — Paige Clark, MD, (W09); WSU graduate nursing student Kathy Winslow; and WSU Speech and Language doctoral student Daiquirie Crumrine — presented their analysis of the case with detailed recommendations for system changes.

Watching from the audience was the rest of Wichita’s team: Neil Kumar, MD, (W09); Christina Coiner, WSU speech and language student; and Ellen Frick, WSU physician assistant student. Wichita advisors present were David Downs and Lyn Goldberg, WSU Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Jenni Koontz, KU School of Medicine-Wichita Sports Medicine Fellow; and Paul Uhlig MD, associate professor, KU School of Medicine-Wichita Preventive Medicine and Public Health.

To resolve the case, team suggestions ranged from developing a hospital-wide accountability initiative to implementing a new electronic medical records system.

“Our presentation was praised time and time again for being so polished and professional, especially considering that we were the only rookies at the competition this year,” Dr. Kumar said.

At the evening’s banquet, the judges awarded fi rst place to the University of Missouri, second to Dartmouth University, and third to the University of Minnesota.

“It was an overall good experience because of what I learned during the process, the people with whom I worked, and what we learned from each other,” Sapna said.

Dr. Uhlig said he was grateful to everyone who helped and to Wichita State University, the KU School of Medicine-Wichita and its Deans Club, as well as the Medical Society of Sedgwick County for fi nancial support.

“We learned a lot, made many new friends, and established Wichita as an important new force on the CLARION scene,” he said. “It will be exciting to return next year.”

Wichita’s CLARION team faces off against health care competition in Minneapolis

“It was an overall good

experience because of what I

learned during the process,

the people with whom I

worked, and what we learned

from each other.”

Sapna Shah, MD (W10)

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