Fall/Winter 2012/2013 Winter 2010 Alumni Association Illuminations Alumni The Magazine for the University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni and FriendsAssociation Volume 8 Number 2 Innovation and Discovery Innovation Illuminations The Magazine for the University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni and Friends Editor University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni Association Kristin Wann Gorang Board of Directors Communications Committee Christine A. Cheng, M.D., Chair David N. Sundwall, M.D., 1969 President James T. Roth, M.D. Saundra S. Buys, M.D., HS 1984 Past President Saundra S. Buys, M.D. Sherman Smith, M.D., 1976 Vice President Bryan L. Stone, M.D. Dale B. Hull, M.D. Susan M. Wiet, M.D., HS 2003 Secretary A. Mason Redd, M.D. G. Marsden Blanch, M.D., M.P.H., 1974 Christine A. Cheng, M.D., HS 1997 Photography Camille Collett, M.D., 1983 Steve Leitch, University Medical Graphics Thomas D. Coppin, M.D., 1967 Spencer C. deBry, M.D., 2003 Illuminations Elizabeth H. Hammond, M.D., 1967 is published by the University of Utah Scott A. Hopkins, M.D., 1994 School of Medicine Dale B. Hull, M.D., 1985 Alumni Relations Office Dale G. Johnson, M.D., 1956 Kirtly Parker Jones, M.D., Faculty School of Medicine Richard H. Keller, M.D., HS 1963 Alumni Relations Staff: James O. Mason, M.D., Dr.P.H., 1958 Kristin Wann Gorang, Director Jacqueline Voland, Associate Director Donald M. Pedersen, P.A., Ph.D., 1978 Stacey Peterson, Data Entry Specialist A. Mason Redd, M.D., 1963 James T. Roth, M.D., M.S.P.H., 1989 Ex-Officio: Send address changes to: Bryan L. Stone, M.D., 1986 Vivian Lee, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., Illuminations Sr. Vice President Health Sciences, Office of Alumni Relations Medical Student Representatives: Dean, School of Medicine 540 South Arapeen Drive, Suite 120 Salt Lake City, Utah 84108-1298 Austin Trinh, MS IV Kristin Wann Gorang, [email protected] Tony Trinh, MSIV Director, Alumni Relations Kyle Kimbal, MS II Stephen Warner, Associate VP for Health Visit our Web site: Daryl McLaren, MS II Sciences, Development/Alumni Affairs www.medicine.utah.edu/alumni Update your information at: https://app.medicine.utah.edu/SOMAlumni/index.htm or email [email protected] University of Utah School of To opt-out of Illuminations mailings email: Medicine Alumni Association [email protected] Letters to the editor: These will be posted on the SOM Alumni Web site. Submit letters at [email protected] What’s Inside 1 Alumni President’s Message 9 Innovations in Pediatric 17 Student Life 26 Alumni Notebook Cancer Research • Dean’s Roundtables with • Homelessness In Our City 2 The Importance of Discovery William DeVries, M.D. and • Orville Nielsen M.D. 12 2012 Alumni Weekend 4 The Power of Scholarship Homer Warner, M.D. Endowed Fellow Award • Reunions • Treadmill Study • New Board Members 6 Then & Now • Awards Ceremony • Student Wellness Program • Alumni News • Continuing Medical • In Memoriam Education 23 News Notebook Alumni President’s Message This is my first message as president of the U. of U. SOM Alumni Association, and I am honored to represent graduates from the School of Medicine and/or residency programs. I am astonished to have this position at all, remembering how fortunate I felt to have been admitted to our medical school so many years ago! Alumni Board President Alumni Board I recently attended a conference at state’s legislature is likely to be reluctant funding for our public medical school Princeton University, just a week after to expand Medicaid eligibility, but with is among the lowest in the nation). Dr. our national elections. Their “Center other reforms of health insurance regula- Vivian Lee, our Vice President of Health for Health and Wellbeing” [part of the tion being implemented, and function- Sciences, has committed to do just that, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and ing health insurance “exchanges”, many by seeking sufficient funding from the International Affairs] convened a group more people are likely to have coverage state legislature during the 2013 ses- of well-known academics, economists in the coming years. Even prior to the sion to allow restoration of the class size and health policy experts to discuss a ACA, Utah was on its way to chang- to 102 students, (the level it was from M.D., HS 1969 range of issues related to implementation ing how health care was paid for, by 1975 - 2009). Furthermore, she hopes to of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and enacting our own version of Medicaid increase the class size to 122 as soon as it the portent of our nation’s budget deficit reform. Starting in January of 2013, the is feasible. More state funding is essential on health care. Their job seemed a bit University Hospital (and others along as we absorb all the changes required by easier than it might have been just a few the Wasatch Front) will be paid a set both state and federal “health reforms.” months ago, with the Supreme Court amount of money per Medicaid patient The SOM Alumni Association is letting the law stand, President Obama enrollee, called “capitated managed committed to carry this message to our being re-elected and the Democrats care”. This will put downward pressure elected officials and to make the case for retaining control of the U.S. Senate. on reimbursements, and require docu- increased funding. Having a high quality The “experts” at this conference mentation of specified quality measures medical school is essential for our state reiterated that the ACA is the law of and outcomes of care. The primary goal - for our economy and for the health the land and that repeal is very unlikely. is to contain costs, while also improv- of our population - and it is well worth Update your information at: However, the Court threw a wrench in ing the quality and value of health care investing in. As the provisions of ACA https://app.medicine.utah.edu/SOMAlumni/index.htm the works by making the law’s required [see University of Utah Health Care are implemented more of our citizens or email [email protected] expansions of Medicaid an option for Transformation: The Video at http:// will likely have health insurance coverage, states, stating it would be “coercive” for www.youtube.com/UofUHealthCare]. but it will be of little use if they do not the federal government to require states This will be an enormous chal- have access to qualified physicians. The to take on an estimated 16 million more lenge to our academic health center, University of Utah School of Medicine low income individuals if eligibility were which serves as a substantial part of our has a proud record of training capable David N. Sundwall, increased to an income of 133% of the state’s “safety net”, caring for a signifi- doctors, and strengthening state support federal poverty level. The consensus at cant percentage of Medicaid patients. will ensure our capacity to do so during this conference was that provisions of the Teaching how to deliver care economi- these strenuous times of change. The law will gradually be implemented and cally, efficiently, and safely will need to beneficiaries will be the public, and the over time change the way health care is be top priorities in medical education, in public’s health. provided and paid for in the U.S. addition to learning the art and science So, what are the implications for our of medicine, which is ever expanding. school of medicine? How will it change The inevitable economic pressures the way we educate future doctors? Not on our school make it essential that we David N. Sundwall M.D. a lot in the short term, but significant receive more funding from our state changes will be required over time. Our legislature to support our mission (state 1 The Importance of Discovery As physicians and scientists we all share a passion for discovery. Whether it’s observing something in the lab for the first time or connecting data to make a clinical diagnosis – the opportunity for discovery is one of the great gifts of our profession. By Vivian S. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A. As an educator, I’m equally inspired time to engage with our current students. established a corresponding website at when I have the chance to watch students I encourage you to watch their interviews www.algorithmsforinnovation.org where make their own discoveries. It may be a online at the alumni homepage at http:// we are sharing videos and ideas featuring first-year medical student discovering she medicine.utah.edu/alumni. More inter- voices from across the health care, higher finally understands a concept in bio- views are planned in the coming months education, and research community. I chemistry or a resident discovering that a and I invite your feedback and sugges- encourage you to visit the site and share complex diagnosis he made was correct. tions for future guests. your thoughts and ideas with us. These moments are a reminder of Despite the tremendous contribu- In addition, we’ve started sharing the important role academic medicine tions of these notable alumni and the the stories of our medical students with Aplays in society, and the role our students numerous academic accomplishments local media outlets across the state. We will play in sustaining our country’s of our faculty, the University of Utah are grateful to the community for send- health care and research infrastructure in School of Medicine is still undiscovered ing us their best and brightest students the decades ahead.