Teachers of Quality Academy
TQA 5.0
The recognition ceremony for the fifth cohort of Teachers of Quality Academy (TQA) scholars was held on May 18, 2022 at the East Carolina Heart Institute. The event recognized 26 program participants from ECU® and Vidant Health who completed the year-long, longitudinal professional development program.
This cohort endured many curricular changes; they were the first to receive an innovative thread in Systems Thinking and seamlessly navigated from the virtual to in-person learning pivot. In addition to expanding the number and frequency of learning sessions, they showed up for each session ready and eager to learn. Their ongoing commitment to their learning, self-reflection and completion of a quality improvement project is a testament to the profound dedication of these participants.
“I am so impressed with the scale, reach, and impact of the TQA projects. If you consider the number of patients and families impacted, it reinforces all that we have accomplished together. You, collectively, will save lives, reduce morbidity and improve the patient experience.”
Dr. Timothy Reeder, TQA Program Director
TQA 5.0 Quality Improvement Projects:
For additional information, visit the TQA website or contact Jenna Garris, garrisj15@ecu.edu
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BIG Core Genomics Lab
The Brody Integrative Genomics Core (BIG Core) Lab is located in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 7S-24 and 7S-32, Brody Medical Science Building. The lab is led by the Chairman of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, John T. Fallon, PhD, MD. Associate Professor Weihua Huang, PhD, is the director, and Assistant Professor Changhong Yin, MD, is the associate director. The research specialist and lab coordinator is Kim Briley.
The BIG Core houses both basic and translational genomics research and provides individual investigators, fellows and students access to state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Investigators can run integrative genomic experiments and bioinformatics analyses. The lab also provides education and training opportunities in genomics and bioinformatics. To date, the BIG Core have tested more than 1,000 wastewater samples and more than 18,000 saliva samples, and have sequenced more than 12,000 nasal swab samples for COVID-19 surveillance. The lab has detected various SARS-CoV-2 variants in eastern NC, including very recent omicron BA.4 and BA.5.
The BIG Core is a brand-new build-up that took place during the pandemic, with funding support from Federal, State and the University. The BIG Core opened in or about October 2021.
The BIG Core provides both Illumina short-reads NGS and PacBio long-reads NGS. Also, the BIG Core provides single-cell genomic and epigenomic analysis, as well as various automated liquid handling. In addition to providing cutting-edge instrumentation, the BIG Core provides up-to-date technical support from upstream experimental design to downstream data analysis in genomics research. The multitude of genomics services the BIG Core provides will take any potential difficulty out of NGS-related projects for all the users, novice and experienced.
The BIG Core is open to the whole community, research and/or industrial.
Please refer to the website for details of contact info, instrumentation, services, news, learning resources, etc.: Genomics Lab.
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Mentoring Advice Program
2021 - 2022 Cohort
The Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development executed the third cohort of the Mentoring Advice Program (MAP) 2021 – 2022 with 11 mentees and 13 mentors. Each mentee was assigned a career mentor and participated in programming to promote retention, development and advancement. The mentee/mentor pairs met at least once monthly.
In addition to monthly one-on-ones with their mentor, mentees attended workshops at least once a month between August and May. Each of the workshops was planned around a specific topic with specified learning objectives, and guest speakers/experts delivered the programming. Workshop topics included Research Support, Writing Skills, Team Building, Work-Life Balance, Promotion and Tenure and Teaching and Feedback.
The program culminated with each mentee presenting a research project. See below for the 2021 - 2022 Mentor/Mentee pairs & the Mentee MAP Project Titles:
The Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development is currently accepting applications to the 2022 - 2023 Mentoring Advice Program. MAP workshops will typically be held once a month on Friday afternoons. Space is limited, and preference will be given to female and/or underrepresented minority faculty, as this is an objective within the BSOM strategic planning unit report. All junior faculty at BSOM for five years or fewer are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 15, 2022. See the call for applications and more info on applying in the last section of this newsletter.
See here for past cohorts.
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8th Annual
Medical Education Day
The 8th Annual Medical Education Day on April 27 showcased 18 projects related to undergraduate and graduate health professions education.
The event, held in Brody Auditorium, provided ECU faculty, staff, students and residents the opportunity to present medical education innovations in curriculum, teaching, educational research and leadership to educators, leaders, scholars and learners.
Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Learning Health Sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Helen Morgan, delivered the keynote address, The Role of Scholarship in Defining Your Journey and held a concurrent session: Resources, Tips and Hacks for Propelling Your Scholarship Over the Finish Line.
Podium Presentations
Ashish Khanchandani, M2, Medical Education and Teaching scholar, earned the “Outstanding Podium Presentation” award for his presentation: Improving Patient Health Literacy via Multimedia Presentations for Prostate, Pancreatic, and Colorectal Cancer Pathology Reports.
Matthew Parrish, M4, Medical Education and Teaching scholar, was awarded honorable mention for his podium presentation: Identifying Medical Errors: An Interactive and Case-Based Workshop.
Poster Presentations
The “Outstanding Poster Presentation” award went to Veronica Lavelle, M4, LINC scholar, for her project: 1st Week on the Wards: The role an introductory OB/GYN podcast can play on student success in the clinical space.
Honorable mention for outstanding poster presentation was awarded to Ashish Khanchandani, for his project: Understanding and Manipulating the Components of Multiple-Choice Question Writing within the “Higher-Order” Thinking / Bloom's Taxonomy Rubric: A Preliminary Report.
The “Hot Topic” award for poster presentations went to K’Shylah Whitehurst, M4, Service-Learning scholar, for her work: WE CARE Project-Reducing Socioeconomic Disparities in Health at Pediatric Visits. The “Scholarly Award” for poster presentations was awarded to Arjun Bhatt, M2, for his project: Multipurposing Interesting Clinical Cases to Meet Diverse Medical Student and Resident Physician Research and Educational Skill Sets and Curriculum Vita Needs.
Photo Credits for all above Medical Education Day photos: Jenni Farrow Photography
Medical Education Day judges also awarded honorable mentions for educational efforts presented throughout the day. The “Most Innovative” award went to Michael Larkins, M2, BSOM, for his project: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Potential to Shorten Learning Time with Computed Tomography (CT) Images for Head and Neck Organs at Risk (OAR). The “Cool Idea” award was given to Jennifer McMains, M2, Research scholar, for her work: Utilization of a student-created, simulation-based curriculum to enhance learning amongst preclinical medical students. The “Best Graphic” award went to Nupur Jain, M2, LINC scholar, for her project: Utilizing Art as an Educational Tool for Discussing Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships with Adolescents. The “Hot Topic” award was given to Olivia Campbell, M4, Medical Education and Teaching scholar, for her project: Interprofessional Education (IPE) with Certified Nurse Midwives and Medical Students on the 3rd Year Ob/Gyn Clerkship: A qualitative review of medical student experience.
Shark Tank: Brody Bites Edition
Concurrent Session for Works in Progress
The “Shark Tank: Body Bites Edition” concurrent session featured presentations from works in progress submissions. Seven presenters from across ECU’s Health Science Campus pitched their ideas and received feedback from judges.
Karlene Cunningham, PhD, department of psychiatry and behavioral medicine, received the award of “Shark with the Biggest Bite” for her presentation: Expanding and Integrating the Diversity Frame: Development of a Comprehensive DEI Psychiatry Curriculum.
The judges also awarded the “Community Impact” award to Nitin Gupta, MD, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care for his project: Improving Communication in the Intensive Care Unit by Addressing Patient Spiritual Distress Through Physician Training on Religious Practices and Interpretations of Medical Ailments. Taha Lodhi, M1, was awarded “Most Promising” for his work: 3D Printed Model of the Pterygopalatine Fossa. Robert Allman, MD, department of cardiovascular sciences, received the award for “Best Educational Innovation” for his project: Surgical Technical Video with 3D Anatomic Modeling Integration to Aid Technical Teaching for Surgical Residents.
View a complete list of award recipients, podium and poster presentations here.
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BSOM Office of Clinical Simulation
The Office of Clinical Simulation is a unit within Academic Affairs at Brody School of Medicine. The Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Program (ICSP) consists of an Assistant Dean, Administrative Director, Medical Director, Simulation Fellow, Program Coordinator and Simulation Operations Specialists. The ICSP includes a fixed-site Simulation Center at BSOM, a mobile Healthcare Simulation Unit and various programs throughout the region.
The ICSP offers healthcare providers and their trainees faculty-guided instruction using a variety of simulation modalities, including computer programs; virtual reality simulators; self-directed learning opportunities; procedural skills opportunities utilizing task trainers and models; life-sized high-fidelity patient simulators; simulated patients and the use of the Clinical Simulation Center or actual clinical areas for an in-situ simulation experience. These modalities are used for teaching, practice, performance assessment and maintenance of skills.
The goal of the ICSP is to incorporate safe, collaborative, simulation-based interprofessional education throughout ECU Health, the health sciences, the community and the region. It emphasizes clinical competence, patient safety and the safety of healthcare providers and students, as well as promotes the global well-being of faculty, trainees, clinicians and patients through safe, compassionate, interprofessional simulation-based healthcare educational activities.
The mission of the Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Program is to promote excellence in clinical care, promote patient and learner safety and improve multidisciplinary team performance using simulation modalities. ICSP emphasizes that a collaborative approach across institutions and disciplines will offer an opportunity to jointly address safety and quality of care for patients in Eastern North Carolina.
Faculty First
ECU faculty are indispensable to the success of interprofessional simulation-based education throughout the health sciences. The ICSP partners with the Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development to support faculty and assist in their professional development goals as teachers, scholars, clinicians and researchers. Simulation-based educational opportunities support faculty development, scholarly activity, recruitment, faculty well-being and retention. As faculty begin to consider simulation as an educational modality to assist them in achieving their academic goals, the ICSP will provide resources and expertise to help create a successful educational program. The ICSP has a “Practical Simulation” orientation process based on best practices and provides on-site staff support for course design and during educational sessions. Faculty may also schedule individual time to practice procedures for their own maintenance of skills.
Why is Simulation Beneficial?
Simulation uses experiential learning to help learners master cognitive, technical and behavioral skills. Sessions can be designed to improve procedural skills, teach decision making, teamwork and communication skills, and assist the learner in building confidence and competency. Participants can learn at their own pace in a supportive environment. Clinical concepts are formally debriefed during each session to maximize learning opportunities.
Where Are We Located?
The BSOM Clinical Simulation Center is located on the first floor of the Brody School of Medicine, adjacent to Brody Commons. There is an entrance near the BSOM Auditorium (look for the pop-up banner in the hallway). The Center is open Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm. There are self-study rooms available by badge access outside of business hours and on weekends. The ICSP is expanding into a new adjacent administrative suite, 1L09, in June 2022. There will be signs directing visitors to the new office spaces.
Watch a 2-minute video about the Simulation Lab
If you are interested in a tour of the Simulation Center or learning more about its resources, please email csc@ecu.edu or call (252) 744-3251.
Photo Credits in this section: ECU Photos
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Katwa Collaboration
The Pitt County Schools High School Honor Med Students is a joint venture between ECU Brody School of Medicine and Health Sciences Academy of Pitt County Schools, and Dr. Laxmansa Katwa, associate professor in the department of physiology has been involved in this research-oriented training program for more than two decades.
Dr. Katwa worked with student Chelsea Mendoza (who was a senior at South Central High School) in 2020 - 2021 via Zoom and with student Madison Clements (who is a recent graduate of DH Conley High School) in 2021 - 2022 in his lab.
Katwa, Mendoza and Clements collaborated on a review article entitled Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19: Emerging Role of Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts, published on April 13, 2022 in Cells.
"This is first time we have seen students publishing an article before their high school graduation. In my opinion, this review article is very timely publication in the field of science." Dr. Katwa
"I wanted to write a research paper on a topic that combined Dr. Katwa's research with the major health issues that are currently within the community. I'm excited to see how far the work has progressed, and I hope it informs how COVID-19 has affected individuals with cardiac fibrosis."
Chelsea Mendoza
Madison Clements will be attending UNC Chapel Hill in the fall, and Chelsea Mendoza will begin her sophomore year at UNC Chapel Hill in the fall. She intends to major in Public Health. See the full article from Katwa, Clements and Mendoza here.
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Congratulations!
Wooten Family Initiative
Research Grant Recipients
Dr. Alessandro Didonna (initial award), Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Project Title: Exploring the Role of Centaurin Alpha-1 in Multiple Sclerosis
Dr. Tonya Zeczycki (second-year renewal), Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Project Title: Preventing the Formation of Toxic Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers: An Alternative Therapeutic Strategy for Slowing the Onset of Parkinson's Disease
Photo Credits in this section: ECU Photos
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Congratulations!
Scholar-Teacher Award Winner
Dr. Jamie DeWitt
Dr. Jamie DeWitt was selected for an ECU Scholar-Teacher Award, which recognizes faculty members who effectively integrate scholarship (research/creative activity) in classroom teaching. Dr. DeWitt shared her poster, Practical engagement through PFAS and preying mantis poop, at the awards ceremony.
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Notable Alum Spotlights
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OFALD
Above and Beyond Spotlights
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Upcoming Opportunities
A great opportunity for those who use OnCore:
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OFALD is accepting applications to the 22 -23 MAP Program:
Mentee applicants must be a Clinical Assistant Professor or Assistant Professor and have joined BSOM within the past five years. Application requirements are:
1. CV
2) letter from department chair with support of your participation in MAP and understanding of the dates/times of the workshops
3) a personal statement of purpose for your participation in the program. This statement should include your reasons for interest in this program, the main areas in which you need mentorship, and your preferred qualities in a mentor.
If you have any questions about this program or would like a listing of the MAP 2022 - 2023 workshop topics, dates and times, contact Allison Flowers at 252-744-2870 or flowersa19@ecu.edu.
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Faculty Support & Reassignment Awards
for Research & Creative Activity:
Visit this link for more information.
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Mindful ECU
Wellness Initiative Program:
For more info, click here.
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Register for the Tate Holbrook
Annual Sickle Cell Disease Update
The Tate Holbrook Annual Sickle Cell Disease Update has been announced for Friday, September 30th, 2022. This will be a patient and provider focused conference with the goal to bring together medical professionals and patients to bridge the gap of communication and to improve patient care. We want to encourage further discussion between providers and patients to create an environment which focuses on patient needs.
We are happy to announce that Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, President of Howard University, will be the keynote speaker at this inaugural event.
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Join us for the
Veteran to Scholar Boot Camp
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Check out the
Office for Faculty Excellence's
Grant Writing Series
The Office for Faculty Excellence has joined with campus partners to offer a Grant Writing Series. To attend any or all sessions from intro to grantmaking to proposals, reviewers, eTRACS, funding and more, register HERE.
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Activate your FREE membership to the
NCFDD
The National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) has on-demand access to mentoring, tools and support for faculty. Need to activate your free membership?
1) Go to http://www.FacultyDiversity.org/Join
2) Choose your institution from the drop-down menu.
3) Select “Activate my Membership”
4) Complete the registration form using your ecu.edu email address (i.e. @ecu.edu)
5) Go to your ecu.edu email to find a confirmation email. Click “Activate Account” in the confirmation email
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We've Moved!
Office of Faculty Affairs & Leadership Development
In order to better support all BSOM personnel, the Office of Faculty Affairs & Leadership Development has moved to Brody 1S-04 and 1S-08. Stay tuned to your emails for an Open House invitation once we get settled. We look forward to seeing you!
Visit the Office of Faculty Affairs & Leadership Development Website
Credits:
Cover Photo and TQA Award Photo: Jenni Farrow Photography; TQA Project Table: Jenna Garris; Genomics Core Slide & Sequencing Graphic: ECU Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; Katwa, Reeder and Garris Photos: ECU Photos; Clements Photo: Madison Clements; Mendoza Photo: Chelsea Mendoza; MAP Collages: Nora Brooks; Haga Photo: Kim Haga; MAP Project Table, Above & Beyond Spotlights and Notable Alum Spotlights: Allison Flowers