THE MAGAZinE OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICinE Alumni AssoCiation - UniVERsitY OF UtaH ILLUMINATIONSSummer 2017 Volume 13 Number 1 ASPIRATIONS BY CatHY ManGUM MSIII EDitor Kristin Wann Anderson, MS COMMUnications COMMITTEE Jennifer M. Coombs, PA-C, PhD, Chair Marcia Feldkamp, PA-C, PhD The Magazine for the University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni and Friends Dale Hull, MD Tommy Skidmore, MD Bryan Stone, MD Eric Vanderhooft, MD PHotoGRAPHY CREDits: ILLUMINATIONS Kristan Jacobsen Photography Blythe Stewart Alumni Relations Staff WHat’S InsiDE D1 ean’s Message 2 Executive Director’s Message 3 Bone Marrow Transplant in Brazil: The Utah Connection The 1980s - Pioneering the Impossible Jacqueline Voland, 6 Kristin Wann Anderson and Blythe Stewart Alumni and Community Weekend University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni 11 Association Board of Directors Bryan L. Stone, MD 1986 Event Schedule President Dale B. Hull, MD, MPA, 1985 UTEMED Talks Past President Terry Box, MD, HS 1983 Distinguished Awards Vice President J. Eric Vanderhooft, MD, 1988 18 Student Life Secretary/Treasurer Rubor Submissions Jennifer M. Coombs, PA-C, MPAS, PhD, 2011 Thomas D. Coppin, MD 1967 What Training a Medical Student Really Costs John C. Edwards, MD 1987 Marcia L. Feldkamp, PAC, MPH, PhD, 1986 Match Day Brent C. James, MD, 1978 R. Kent Jex, MD, 1982 Commencement 2017 Karen L. Miller, MD, HS, 1990 Teresa L. Ota, MD, 1988 Dean’s Roundtable Kathy Pedersen, PA-C, MPAS, 2002 Karly Pippitt, MD, 2006 Angelica R. Putnam, MD, 2002 26 News Notebook J. Charles Rich, MD, 1965 Thomas B. Skidmore, MD, 2007 These Mice are Walking: New Discoveries in MS Research Adam Stevenson, MD, 2001 P. Daniel Ward, MD, 2004 36 Alumni Notebook Susan Wiet, MD, HS 2003 John R. Wood, MD, 1977 Back Cover I Know You... or do I? MEDICAL stUDENT Representatives: Appointed in September EX-OFFICIO: A. Lorris Betz, MD, PhD Sr. Vice President Health Sciences, Dean, School of Medicine, LETTERS to THE EDitoR: FoR ADDRESS CHANGES OR to CEO University of Utah Health These will be posted on the SOM OPT OUT OF Illuminations Alumni Web site. Submit letters at Join the University of Utah School of ContaCT: Wayne M. Samuelson, MD [email protected] Medicine Network on LinkedIn [email protected] Interim Dean, School of Medicine Office of Alumni Relations Kristin Wann Anderson, MS VISIT OUR WEB SITE: 515 East 100 South, Suite 300 Executive Director, Alumni Relations, www.medicine.utah.edu/alumni Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 Find us on Facebook School of Medicine Update your information at: 801-585-3818 https://app.medicine.utah.edu/ University of Utah School of Medicine Stephen R. Warner, MBA SOMAlumni/index.htm or email Alumni Association Senior Executive Director, [email protected] Health Sciences Advancement “I always look forward to the excitement of graduation. As I looked out at the faces of our graduating class of 2017, I realized I was witnessing a historic moment. I have never been more certain of the promise the future holds.” Dean’S MessaGE I thought about how this fresh crop of highly continues. We will strive to maintain the momentum capable, well-trained doctors from the University of generated by her transformational leadership. She Utah are following in the footsteps of a long line of expanded our reach in research, health care delivery trailblazers, who were—and still are—compelled to and education. Her influence will be seen and felt come to Utah to be part of a distinctly collaborative for years to come. ecosystem where they are accomplishing things that really can’t be done anywhere else. This remarkable The university has received national recognition for class is blazing new trails of its own. The Class of 2017, providing high-quality and patient-centered care, while now officially joining the ranks of U of U School of stabilizing and reducing costs, securing our ranking as Medicine alumni, will always hold a special place #1 in the nation for quality and the #1 hospital in the in our history as the first expanded class to benefit state. U of U Health was also the first health care system from Senate Bill 42. Passed four years ago, the bill to publish online patient reviews, now more than 30 provided for a phased increase in the medical school health care organizations follow suit. class size, expanding from 82 to 102 students—and ultimately to 125. As illustrated by the stories and news in this issue of Illuminations, our health system, research productivity While it’s true that our world is in transition and and training programs have never been stronger. uncertainty abounds, these students are entering We are grateful to Dr. Lee for her vision and contributions. the profession of medicine at a time of amazing Dr. Betz is committed to carrying them forward. scientific discovery. There will be endless opportunities As we move full speed ahead with the exciting to address problems in the human condition through transformation of our health sciences campus, we advanced technologies. are poised to continue as a leader in health care innovation here and abroad. New facilities will enhance We find ourselves in the midst of an important our ability to provide world-class interdisciplinary transition in leadership. Dr. Vivian Lee has stepped training for our students, providing a holistic approach down from her roles as Senior Vice President for for the best possible patient care. Health Sciences, CEO of University of Utah Health and Dean of the School of Medicine. Dr. A. Lorris Betz has agreed to come out of retirement to lead the Health Sciences on an interim basis. He has asked me to assume the role of interim dean of the School Wayne M. Samuelson, MD of Medicine while the search for Dr. Lee’s successor Interim Dean, School of Medicine 1 “We are only able to assist Executive our students and encourage successful completion of their Director’s training thanks to the support we receive from you, our Message alumni and friends”. On behalf of the School of Medicine taken from their publication, Rubor: Alumni Association and Alumni Relations Reflections on Medicine from the Wasatch office, I welcome the Class of 2017 Front. The magazine continues to explore into our alumni family. It was wonderful to participate how artistic expression allows students to reflect on their in their journey through medical school, starting with experiences in science and medicine (pages 18—20 and the stethoscope gift program at their White Coat cover art work). ceremony, through hosting the freshman class social with our School of Medicine Alumni Board members, This edition also depicts how training in hematology/ sponsoring Dinner with a Doc and HOST events (Help oncology at the U became a family affair for one Brazilian our Students Travel for fourth year students) through family, leading them to make a significant difference in their training years and encouraging them with healthy bone marrow transplantation progress in Brazil and the treats in the student lounge on test days. This year our United States. The magazine continues with highlights Student Emergency Fund saw more use than usual with from the 2015 School of Medicine book, How the almost $10,000 distributed to support medical students West Won Medicine, with this edition focusing on the who found themselves in serious financial straits due to pioneering work at the medical school occurring during unexpected illnesses or life events. With tuition and fees the 1980s. News Notebook features significant prizes for in-state students almost $40,000 this coming year, many awarded to current faculty and important research and students do not have any discretionary income to spare if an outreach occurring at the school. Of particular note is unexpected medical or family emergency arises. the article on research Thomas Lane, PhD is doing in the area of multiple sclerosis found on pages 26 and 27, We are only able to assist our students and encourage These Mice Are Walking: New discoveries in MS research. successful completion of their training thanks to the This is a topic near and dear to my own heart as I have support we receive from you, our alumni and friends. We ridden in the MS 150 bike ride for six years raising money are glad to be able to step up and not only help these to support Dr. Lane and other researchers searching for students financially, but make them feel they are part of a cure for MS. a larger family of University of Utah School of Medicine graduates who continue to care for current U students We are looking forward to the 2017 School of Medicine even after they have completed their own training and Alumni and Community Weekend on October 13—14 are out in practice. and hope many of you will join us, even if it isn’t your reunion year, to participate in some of the wonderful We were encouraged that many of our 2017 graduates want programming, such as the UTEMED talks and Alumni to pass along the generosity. Almost 100% of graduates Awards Banquet. We plan these activities to connect our going out of state for their residency training signed up for alumni from across the entire generational continuum to the HOST program to assist future fourth year students as learn from one another and stay involved with their alma they travel for residency interviews. A majority of students mater. Hope to see you there. show up every fall at our Thank-a-thon party to write thank you notes to their scholarship and stethoscope donors. They See you in October! are truly grateful for all the support and encouragement they receive from the School of Medicine Alumni Association as they progress through medical school.