UW Medicine School of Medicine Online News 1-18-08

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University of Washington School of Medicine

Online News

Vol. 12, No. 3
Jan. 18, 2008
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To view an archived version of Online News on the UW
Medicine Web site, visit:
http://www.uwmedicine.org/Global/NewsAndEvents/somnews/index.htm

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This week’s news:

* Meg Kerrigan, administrator at Harborview, named executive director of UW Physicians Network

* School of Medicine honors staff and faculty members with Service Excellence Awards

* Study linking genetic mutations to autism supports new paradigm in studying the disorder, UW researcher argues in New England Journal of Medicine

* Lawrence Corey, head of international HIV Vaccine Trials Network, named one of the "Best of Puget Sound" for 2007 by Seattle Times

* Dean Paul Ramsey to address UW Medicine Community on Jan. 31


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MEG KERRIGAN NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR UW PHYSICIANS NETWORK

Meg Kerrigan has been appointed as the new executive director for the University of Washington Physicians Network (UWPN), effective Feb. 4. UWPN is also known as the UW Medicine Neighborhood Clinics.

Kerrigan has been serving as associate administrator for ambulatory and allied care services, mental health services, and rehabilitation medicine services at Harborview Medical Center. She was also responsible for coordinating the UW Medicine Spine Center at Harborview with the Puget Sound Sports and Spine Physicians. Before joining the Harborview staff 13 years ago, Kerrigan held several positions in the public and private sectors, including serving as administrator and CEO at HCA Chicago Lakeshore Hospital.

In addition to her new position at UWPN, Kerrigan will retain her responsibilities for the UW Medicine Eye Institute at Harborview. Johnese Spisso, vice president for medical affairs for the University of Washington and clinical operations officer for UW Medicine, said that Kerrigan has a wealth of expertise in primary and specialty care clinic leadership and in new program development, which prepares her well for leadership of UWPN.

Kerrigan may be reached at megs@u.washington.edu


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SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HONORS SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS

The UW School of Medicine has selected four people to receive Service Excellence Awards for Fall 2007. The recipients are Beverly Bubela, administrative specialist in the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine; Barbara Lovseth, administrator in the Department of Immunology; Terry Mengert, professor of medicine in the Division of Emergency Medicine; and Mika Sinanan, professor of surgery in the Division of General Surgery.

The recipients were honored for a variety of reasons. Bubela was honored for her commitment to her division, effective mentoring, and resourcefulness. Lovseth was recognized for her extraordinary work ethic, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Mengert was honored for his highly professional educational leadership. Sinanan was recognized for his professionalism and reliability.

The recipients each received a certificate of appreciation, a $100 gift certificate from University Book Store, and a letter of acknowledgement from the dean of the School of Medicine, Paul Ramsey.

For more information about the School of Medicine Service Excellence Awards, or to nominate a member of the staff or faculty, contact somstar@u.washington.edu or visit https://depts.washington.edu/domops and click on the link for service excellence.


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STUDY OF AUTISM AND GENETICS SUPPORTS NEW PARADIGM ON DISORDER

A genetic mutation occurring during embryo development at a particular point on a human chromosome may cause some cases of autism, scientists reported Jan. 9 on the New England Journal of Medicine Web site. Though the mutation was found in only about 1 percent of people with autism, the findings could bring about a new paradigm for the genetic basis of autism, according to an accompanying editorial co-authored by a UW genetics researcher.

The editorial was written by Evan Eichler, UW associate professor of genome sciences and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Andrew Zimmerman, associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The study found a link between autism and genetic deletions and duplications, events in which large sections of genetic code are removed from or added to the genome. The mutations occurred at a point along chromosome 16. Researchers found that the DNA of the subjects' parents was normal, suggesting that the mutation occurred in the genes of parental reproductive cells sometime before conception.

The findings support the belief among some researchers that large, spontaneous deletions and duplications may contribute to autism, Eichler and Zimmerman wrote. The research also indicates that, rather than being strictly an inherited disease, autism may also be caused by spontaneous deletions and duplications in mutation-prone areas of the genome, they argue.

The article and accompanying editorial were published online Jan. 9, and both are scheduled for the Feb. 14 issue of the New Journal of Medicine. The article is available online for people at the UW, and can be accessed at:
http://content.nejm.org/early_release/#group01-09b


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LAWRENCE COREY INCLUDED IN LIST OF BEST OF THE PUGET SOUND FOR 2007

Lawrence Corey, professor of laboratory medicine and of medicine in the Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was among 10 people and institutions honored by the Seattle Times recently as part of the "Best of Puget Sound" for 2007.

Corey leads the Program in Infectious Diseases at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its partner, the Virology Division of the Department of Laboratory Medicine. He is also the principal investigator of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, an international collaboration with scientists and research sites in 27 cities in North and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Corey was recognized by the Times for his role in the HIV network and in convening the AIDS Vaccine 2007 Conference. To read the article about the "Best of Puget Sound" recipients, visit:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004086763_bestof23.html


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DEAN RAMSEY TO ADDRESS UW MEDICINE COMMUNITY ON THURSDAY, JAN. 31

Paul G. Ramsey, CEO of UW Medicine, executive vice president for medical affairs, and dean of the UW School of Medicine, will hold an Address to the UW Medicine Community on Thursday, Jan. 31. Ramsey will provide an overview of progress in the past year, challenges and opportunities facing UW Medicine, and plans and strategic initiatives for the coming year.

The address will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., in Hogness Auditorium, Room A-420 of the UW Health Sciences Center. All faculty, staff, students, residents, and trainees are invited to attend. Archive video of this lecture will be on the UW Medicine Web site, uwmedicine.org, beginning Feb. 1.


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Justin Reedy, editor:
206-685-0382, jreedy@u.washington.edu

Online News is copyright 2008. All rights, including electronic
redistribution, are reserved.

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