May is a busy month at the College of Medicine with several events on the calendar. I encourage all of you to attend as many events as possible to support our students – particularly our 4th year students as we congratulate them on a job well done and send them off to their residency programs.

I recently returned from the Annual Spring Meeting of the AAMC Council of Deans. Several of the sessions were particularly relevant to the College. Dr. Carol Aschenbrenner, the recently appointed LCME Secretariate, reviewed emerging expectations and standards for accreditation, including "musts" for ongoing institutional planning, professionalism objectives, and access to preventive and therapeutic health services. Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director of the NIH, outlined the NIH's strategic priorities and the "Roadmap" for biomedical and clinical research. Between FY-2004-09, NIH will devote about $2.17 billion to the Roadmap. For FY-2005, $237 million will be allocated to the Roadmap, or about 0.8% of NIH's budget.

Dr. Zerhouni outlined three broad themes for the Roadmap: New Pathways for Discovery, Future of Research Teams, and Clinical Research. He acknowledged the necessity of preserving investigator-initiated research, but NIH will continue to incentivize interdisciplinary research and translational research, e.g., bridging basic science to the bedside, and bedside to populations. He further described NIH’s new initiative, the National Electronic Clinical Trial Research Network (NECTAR), which is expected to develop common data standards, software applications, IRB management and adverse reporting protocols to facilitate large scale population based clinical trials to occur.

We also heard from Dr. Alan Guttmacher, Deputy Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. His presentation focused on the Human Genome and the three priority areas for future research activities: genomic research on biological systems, health and disease, and genomic research’s impact on society.

Admissions

Filo Maldonado, Assistant Dean for Admissions

The Class of 2008.
Total formal applications: 2,350
Total interviewed: 649
Total acceptances: 252
Applicants Matched: 78
Medical Science Scholars (MSS) Enrolling: 4
Partnership for Primary Care (PPC) Enrolling: 3
M.D./Ph.D. Enrolling: 1
Total Applicants Matriculated (to date): 82
Mean GPA of Matriculants: 3.68
Mean MCAT of Matriculants: 28
Mean Age of Matriculants: 23 (Age range: 19 - 37)
Degrees: BS: 93%, BA: 6%, No Degree: 1%
Majors (most frequent): 38% Biology, 11% Biomedical Science, 6% Biochemistry, 5% Chemistry, 4% Psychology, 4% Public Health
Texas Schools (most frequent): TAMU 23%, UT Austin 6%, Baylor 6%, Houston Baptist 4%
Out of State Schools (most frequent): Brigham Young 4%, Louisiana State 2%, Santa Clara U 2%,
Total # of Schools Represented: 40

PPC

South Texas Community College and TAMU 2+2 Articulation
On Friday, May 7, in McAllen, Texas, Mr. Filo Maldonado, Dr. Kate Fallon, Dr. Tom Peterson, Ms. Wanda Watson, Dr. Skip Landis, Director of the Biomedical Science Program (BIMS) at TAMU and Dr. Tim Scott, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, TAMU College of Science will finalize the details to a cooperative program between the COM and South Texas Community College (STCC) and Texas A&M University.

The program is for the purpose of recruiting, enrolling, and graduating significantly greater numbers of physicians to serve the designated health professions shortage areas of south Texas, to correct disproportions in physician distribution, and to meet the health care needs of rural and underserved south Texas.

The partners will cooperatively recruit qualified students for simultaneous admissions to STCC and to the COM, provided students transfer successfully to the TAMU BIMS and Biology programs. Students are expected to complete an associate of science degree at STCC with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.60, earn a baccalaureate degree in BIMS or Biology at TAMU with a minimum cumulative 3.50 GPA, and complete the M.D. degree program at the COM. Students selected for the program will be exempt from taking the MCAT before entry to the COM.

RESEARCH

Dr. Charles Sanders, Interim Head, Humanities in Medicine Department

Pilot Study of “Medical Student Attributes”

The Humanities in Medicine Department is conducting a prospective research study with the first year medical students. The purpose of the study is to find evidence that positive personality attributes contribute to the well-being of medical students and to sustaining a positive mental outlook during the stress of medical school. David H. Rosen, M.D. and Janine C. Edwards, Ph.D. are the principal investigators. This is a multidisciplinary pilot study involving faculty in the Leadership in Medicine Program, Humanities in Medicine, the Medical Biochemistry Department and the TAMU Department of Psychology. Previously, Dr. Rosen has studied positive personality traits of undergraduate psychology students. If results of the medical student pilot study are encouraging, the Humanities Department will submit an NIH grant proposal to conduct a four–year study.

The current first year students have enthusiastically participated in this pilot study. The dependent measures for the study include eight paper and pencil instruments designed to measure such attributes as hope, meaning of life, empathy, depression and anxiety. These dependent measures have been collected three times: at the beginning of the first year, in December, and again in April to measure levels of stress and coping under different circumstances. An innovation in this study is genetic analysis for the 5-HT gene, which was found by British researchers in 2003 to predict persons prone to depression under stress. The Medical Biochemistry Department is conducting the genetic analysis using buccal smears obtained in April. Dr. Richard A. DeVaul, who brought this new genetic discovery to the attention of the department, said, “ This finding represents a breakthrough in the field of psychiatry, which, prior to this finding, has not had physical evidence for depressive susceptibility.” It may be possible to predict, on the basis of genetic analysis, which medical students will be most susceptible to depression brought on by the stress of medical school and, thus, to develop and implement support systems which may be most effective in assisting them.

Pavilion Dedication

The Dr. Robert S. and Mary E. Stone Pavilion was dedicated on Thursday, May 6th in the Courtyard. The Pavilion was given to the College of Medicine by S.H. Black in recognition of insightful and incisive leadership and an uncompromising dedication to excellence in medicine, service, and the arts.

Robert S. Stone, M.D., Dean Emeritus of the College of Medicine, served with distinction as dean from 1978 to 1987. Prior to his coming to Texas A&M University, Dr. Stone was Dean of the School of Medicine, University of New Mexico; Director of the National Institutes of Health; and Dean of Medicine and Vice President, University of Oregon Health Science Center. From 1987 to 1989, he served as Interim Deputy Chancellor and Director of the Institute of Biosciences and Technology and, until his retirement in 1995, as Director of the Institute for Health Systems Technology.

Mary E. Stone is an accomplished artist who has had her paintings exhibited locally at the Texas Gallery and in the lobby of the Reynolds Medical Building. She has regularly had selected pieces entered into juried art shows all over the country and has captured many awards.

Preceptor Appreciation Dinner

John Holder, HSC Office of Communications
The College of Medicine held its annual Preceptor Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, March 30, at the Messina Hof Winery. The purpose of the event, which was sponsored by the Department of Family and Community Medicine, was to honor the efforts of Brazos Valley area physicians who have served in the O.C. Cooper Preceptorship Program as preceptors over the past year to second-year medical students. In addition, the dinner provided an opportunity for recognition of College of Medicine clinician faculty members and preceptors who have completed 5, 10, 20 and 25 years of service. The featured guest speaker was Nancy W. Dickey, M.D., president of the A&M Health Science Center and vice chancellor for health affairs for the A&M System.

Honored this year as Preceptors of the Year were:

Manuel José, M.D., Internal Medicine – Primary Care Preceptor of the Year

Wade Richardson, M.D., Family Medicine – Primary Care Preceptor of the Year

Richard Cashion, M.D., Cardiology – Elective Preceptor of the Year

Those recognized for 20 years of service were Stephen Braden, M.D., Haywood J. Robinson, M.D., Noreen Z. Johnson, M.D., Nalini M. Dave, M.D., Kumud S. Tripathy, M.D., and G. Mark Montgomery, M.D. In addition, George R. McIlhaney, M.D. was honored for 25 years of service to the College of Medicine.

Strategic Planning Update

The work groups continue to meet regularly and are generating ideas in their assigned areas. Planning documents are due to the Strategic Planning Committee for review in June.

Alumni Affairs

The Dean’s Office has been updating the alumni email address list in preparation for distribution of the newly developed College of Medicine Alumni eNews. The purpose of this new publication is to reconnect with our alumni and keep them informed of what is going on in the College. The e-newsletter will include a feature article as well as separate sections for faculty, student, alumni, and research news from the College. If you have ideas for a feature story, or any news that you would like to share with our alumni please send this information to Dr. Annette Tommerdahl at artommerdahl@medicine.tamhsc.edu.

Faculty Appointments

W. Roy Smythe, M.D.
Dr. Roy Smythe was appointed as Chair of the Department of Surgery at the College of Medicine, effective March 1, 2004. Dr. Smythe most recently served as director of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Mesothelioma Multi-disciplinary Treatment and Research Program.

Dr. Smythe completed his undergraduate degree from Baylor University in 1984 and graduated with honors from The Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine in 1989. He completed his surgical internship and residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, becoming a Postdoctoral Research Fellow of Thoracic and Molecular Oncology and a Clinical Oncology Fellow. He served as chief resident in surgery and as a resident in cardiothoracic surgery. He was awarded the Humaneness in Medicine Award by the Philadelphia County Medical Society and several teaching and research awards from The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In 1998 Dr. Smythe joined The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and later became consultant staff surgeon for the Houston Veterans Administration Medical Center and consultant surgeon for the Harris County Hospital District, Ben Taub County Hospital. He also served as an associate professor with the Graduate School of Biological Sciences, The UT Health Science Center and Medical School, Houston. He received the Institutional Physician-Scientist Award from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 2000 and was named an Alley Sheridan Scholar by the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University/Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education in 2003. He also was named to the list of “Best Doctors in America” for 2003-2004.

Warren Zimmer, Ph.D. Dr. Warren Zimmer joined the faculty of the Department of Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology, effective December 1, 2003. Dr. Zimmer received a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Baylor College of Medicine. He was a postdoctoral fellow in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University College of Medicine. Before joining the College of Medicine, he spent 15 years at the University of South Alabama (USA) College of Medicine where he was Professor of Cell Biology and Neuroscience. In addition, he was co-director of the Transgenic Animal/Embryonic Stem Cell Laboratory at USA. Dr. Zimmer’s research has primarily concerned the mechanisms that regulate specific gene expression during gastrointestinal tract development. His laboratory recently discovered that certain genes considered to be specific to smooth muscle tissue are expressed in non-smooth muscle. This important discovery has broadened the scope of his research to include the cell biology and genetics of bone formation and prostate development. An ultimate goal of his research is to provide strategic knowledge for designing molecular therapies for diseases, such as prostate cancer.
Tom Scott, M.D.
Dr. Tom Scott recently joined the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) as the Chief of Surgery.

Dates to Remember

• May 21 -- Senior Banquet, 6:00 pm Social, 7:00 pm Dinner, Reed Arena

• May 22 – Commencement, 2:00 pm, Rudder Auditorium

• June 3 – Christus Spohn Press Conference If you have any questions, submissions, or comments for this newsletter, please feel free to contact me. Also, we welcome information from committees and faculty for inclusion in this newsletter.

Please contact Dr. Annette Tommerdahl (artommerdahl@medicine.tamhsc.edu) by the 15th of each month for inclusion in the newsletter.

Christopher C. Colenda, M.D., M.P.H.
Dean, College of Medicine
The Texas A&M University Health Science Center
147 Joe H. Reynolds Medical Building College Station, TX 77843-1114
Phone:979-845-3431
Fax:979-847-8663
Email: Colenda@medicine.tamhsc.edu