U-M Cardiology

Hey Everyone,

Eric its good to hear that you are liking Duke. I'm really enjoying cardiology at Michigan. Great program and great co-fellows. I originally was headed straight to cath, but I found out that I really like echo and imaging, go figure. I also realized that once you become a cath jockey you are often removed from clinical decision making and patient care.

I really miss San Francisco, but I'm excited to be near family and friends. Our daughter Alethea is talking up a storm and we are expecting our second in March.

Jeff, I tried to email you but it may have failed. Give me an email at davidcorteville@hotmail.com, or dcortevi@umich.edu. I'm participating is some pretty amazing outcomes research and I also have a couple quick questions.

Dave

Eric Williams a Dukie!

Hey Jeff,

How are things at the VA?

I've only been a fellow for 2 weeks now, but the stuff I've seen here is amazing. There's a ton of inpatient cardiology here, and the fellows are expected to run the show much more than was the case at UCSF. On the HF/transplant service, we've been following: 28 yo woman with myocarditis who presented with incessant VT despite amio, procainamide, balloon pump, almost went for a BiVAD but EP says "we'll ablate her!" Then last night a 19 yo kid comes in with an acute STEMI, and the cath attending comes in to shoot what he expected to be clean cors, but finds a totally occluded left main--stents him right down to his LAD, balloon pump in, then he goes into cardiogenic shock and is now intubated on ECMO. I think they want to put in an LVAD at some point.

You'd be happy to hear about the evidenced-based medicine that goes on here too. I presented the myocarditis case at fellows' report and the discussion was so high level--tons of literature cited right down to the molecular medicine stuff! Also, people are really aggressive about getting patients who come in for care into clinical trials. I just got a page about someone who was brought in for an MVR but apparently my attending is running a study on surgery vs. medical management for MR in dilated cardiomyopathy. So now she's on our service getting randomized...

Anyway, hope the first PRIME journal club of the new year went well. I may be back in San Francisco sometime this fall for a litte bit. If I end up making it out there, I'll be sure to stop by the VA for a visit.

take care,

Eric

weekly update

Hi All- Have just spent the last four weeks on the wards and am just now trying to dig out of all the work I have left behind- so of course, I am blogging instead.

I just got wonderful news from Chicago- Sue Alt and Hartwell Rogers are parents for the second time! Katie joins big brother James as the newest cubby fan. I will put the link to the pictures for you all to check out. I wanted to cut and paste one for everyone but couldn't figure out how to do it off the web (only email pictures)!

I was sitting next to Goop in report yesterday (you remember in the back row with Paul Volberding and now Tracy Minichiello who has had a baby and came back to run the VA anticoag clinic!). I was leafing through JAMA and there was Joe Ix's article with Mike Shlipak on Fetuin and incident diabetes. I showed it to everyone and gave a small cheer of congratulations! It is great to see Joe doing well in his new digs in San Diego!

I also want to thank Nathan Gunn, Ellie Grossman and Art Ramsey for supporting my triathlon fundraising efforts for the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society. I am participating in the "Big Kahuna" 1/2 ironman triathlon in Santa Cruz in memory of Rick Haber who died last year of myeloma. He had been my program director and a mentor for many years- I continue to miss him.... If anyone wants to visit my website it is at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/bigktri08/jkohlwes

Keep in touch! I haven't heard from a lot of you for awhile - let us all know where you are.

Jeff

Hey all-
just sharing an email from Jimmee Hwang- sounds like things are going great!
Jeff

Hey jeff,

I can't believe a whole year has gone by since I started EIS and got married. Did you know I drove out to Atlanta the same month I got married? I'm so glad that I decided to do this (both EIS and marriage) although the long distance part is not ideal. I've really enjoyed working in the malaria branch. The CDC really is a unique place with lots of interesting research, no worries about funding, and collaboration with ministries of health and multi-laterals that I would have never dreamed of a year into EIS.

I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing next but one thing is certain and that is I'll be in SF. Greg just signed a 5 year contract! My branch chief has been great and is trying to work out a way for me to work for the malaria branch but be based out of SF. How great would that be?! It's a little too good to be true, so waiting to sign on the dotted line before I get too excited.

Btw, Warren came to visit me while I was working in Ethiopia. Still haven't had a chance to get out to Uganda to visit both Larry and Warren but I might see them at IDSA this fall. A little PRIME reunion.

I might also be spending a little time in SF this month to assist in a Morgellon's investigation at Kaiser Oakland. Maybe I can sneak away to visit the VA spa.

Talk to you soon,
jimee

Hey- another future PRIME Resident was just born to two of our not too distant graduates. Urmimala Sarkar and Ted Omachi just sent me this notice that I am sure they will be alright with sharing. Mika is just beautiful- just check out the photo!

Here is their announcment:
Hello everyone,
Ted and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our daughter, Mihika Sarkar Omachi (Mika for short). She was born on Tuesday, June 24th at 4:30 in the morning. She weighed 7lbs 9oz and has a full head of black hair. Big brother Nikaash is enjoying giving her hugs and kisses. Attached is a photo. Everybody in the family is doing well, and we are heading home today.
-Urmimala, Ted, and Nikaash

Jeff

Incomplete list!!!

Hey-
I unintentionally left out two key graduates!!

Keegan Checkett- who is going to be doing a UC 4th year
Cesar Castro- Heme/Onc fellowship in Boston!

Jeff

PS- Omar Khan is the guy in back who you can't see because he is being blocked by his beer bottle... some guys will just not grow up!

Another year gone by

Hi All-

Its amazing to me how quickly the years go by... I wanted to update you on the past week and will try to do so weekly as the year goes by.

First, I wanted to say congratulations on the latest (and largest) PRIME graduating class. It is an amazing group who are going to do really cool things. I am going to take a minute to list them all and then say what they are going to be doing next year. This is their graduation photo at the R3 dinner.

Nicole Appelle- Fellowship in med-ed
Rhonda Bitting- CRI attending followed by Duke Heme-Onc fellowship
Danielle Brandman- UCSF GI Fellowship

Andrew Braun- UC 4th year then Pulmonary fellowship
Anh Bui- Cards Fellowship at UCLA

Rebecca Cogswell- Cards Fellow, UCSF post CR year at VA

Suzanne Chang- International Research, Peru
Mathew Gubens- H/O fellowship at Stanford
Kurt Hoffmayer- Cards fellow at UCSF
Omar Khan- UC 4th year then GI fellow at U. Chicago
Paul Kleinschmidt- Hosptilist, Eugene Oregon

Larry Lazar- Cards Fellow, Cleveland Clinic
Michelle Mourad- UCSF Hospitalist Fellow
Rita Ng- Cards Fellow, Cedars Sinai

Jennifer Poehls- Endocrine Fellow,U. Wiscosin

Michael Richardson- Hospitalist, San Diego
Justin Sewell- GI Fellow, UCSF
Delphine Tuot- Renal Fellow, UCSF

Sreek Vemulapalli- Cards Fellow- Duke, CR VA

Jeremy Warner- CRI attending, BI for Heme Onc Fellowship

Mani Sharma, Eric Williams were this years VA CRs who are going on to H/O in Chicago and Cards at Duke respectively. Elizabeth Kaplan was CR at Moffitt and is going to be joining the staff here at the VA in GIM.

It is another impressive group! They are going to get invited to join this blog tomorrow by Art as I am still clueless on how to do this.

I had a tea with Christina Ghaly (nee Rall) with her lovely baby Cayna last week. It was fun to catch up and it was disapointing for me that Cayna just slept the whole time and I couldn't pick her up and hold her. Leslie and I are sure we are done with babies so we have to live vicariously through others...

Please keep in touch and let me know how things are going with all of you! I am wicked sore as I am training for my first triathlon and ran long yesterday and at 46 cannot do the miles as easily as before... I promise to keep writing each week as long as all of you keep checking in!

Jeff

Greetings from Seattle

Hi Everyone - We are enjoying life here in Seattle. This picture is actually from a recent (cold) trip to Montana. I still wish Jeff and his family would have moved back up here....but I'm glad to have Justin Ortiz & Warren Phipps here with me to reminisce about life in San Francisco from time to time. Hope you are all well. Congratulations to all the new parents -- Please keep posting baby pictures!

Great way to keep in touch

Jeff, 

Great idea for this blog and so fun to hear about fellow Prime Alumni.  I'm still in Orange County, CA with my husband Kevin and two girls, Emma and Abigail.  Working for St. Jude Heritage Medical Group doing clinic work 2 days/week and medical informatics 2 days/week.  If anyone is ever heading down this way be sure to give a call!!  My website is: www.emmafoley.com

Allison Klein Foley ('01)

the home base

PRIMErs,

Hope everyone is doing well. Eric and I are still here at the VA spa, living the dream. Pretty cool to think about how many great minds have passed through these halls and moved on to other places! We'll soon be joining the ranks of the distant alumni, as I'll be off to Chicago for Hem/Onc fellowship and Eric to Duke for Cardiology.

In the spirit of PRIME friendships continuing on, Alison and I just got back from a trip to Peru with fellow PRIMErs Jon Li and Elaine Yu. Check out the link if you are interested in seeing some photo highlights:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=ab2s3h9.afuv8we5&x=0&y=v8sb5y&localeid=en_US

Take care,

Mani

Alumni Blog - It's Up! It's Running!

Hey Gang,

This blog is now functioning. I've thrown up some recent emails I've received from some you as a means to break the ice. Please peruse. I really hope you guys will do some posting here as it would be great to stay in touch with all of you. And absolutely forward this on to any alums who are using new addresses or have gotten lost in the shuffle.

Jeff

Sarah Gratton's new baby!

Thanks for the email! I'm glad that I mailed the form to you, because last Monday, I went into labor so had other things on my mind!
ELISE CLAIRE Gratton was born at 7:54am on tax day (4/15/08), and we are so blessed to report she is a healthy baby! Elise weighed in at 8-pounds, 1-ounce and was 21” long.

She is one week old today! She is doing really well. I'm tired, but very happy.

Sarah

Christina and her new baby

Mark and I are excited to announce the birth of our daughter, Cayna Grace Ghaly, on Friday, March 7th. She was tall (21") and thin (6 pounds, 10 oz), just like her dad. We are all happy to be home and are doing great. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, support, and good wishes. We hope to share her in person with you soon but have attached a couple of pictures in the meantime.
Christina (and Mark)

This from David Corteville

Hey everyone, Just wanted to say hi. Tiffany, Alethea and I are doing well. We just got back from a house hunting expedition and ended up buying an old home in a great neightborhood in Ypsilanti. We'll be moving in the first week in June. Our new address will be 916 Pleasant Dr.Ypsilanti, MI 48197 If you want to see pictures of our chubby babe or the house check out the link below.

Dave

http://picasaweb.google.com/davidcorteville

This is what Joe Ix had to say when I asked him about the recent fires in his area...

Jeff:

Our place did fine, but my folk’s house (where I grew up) went down. They’ve got architect plans and will be rebuilding soon. Interesting, my sister went into labor that same night and delivered a pre-me (34 weeks) within hours of when the house burned. It put everything in healthy perspective – no house and lost tone of memories, but a new grand-son/nephew/son, and everyone is healthy. Funny how things work some times.

Joe

From Garth Beinart

Hi Jeff,Great email. I am shocked and saddened about Melinda Gordon. We are still in Houston. We now have 3 boys (Jake (6), Noah (4), and Kyle (7 mos). I finished MD Anderson fellowship in '07; and now am doing general med onc at Methodist Hospital in Houston. I have a faculty appt w/ Weill-Cornell as Asst Prof; but doing mostly clinical work.

Tell us how you are doing in your next email!

Garth

From Elaine Yu

Hi Jeff,

good to hear news about PRIME. I hope this year is going well with the new larger group!
Fellowship has been going well, although I miss the fact that our conference room doesn't have a couch and my program doesn't have a Poetry in Endocrine class... I just resubmitted my paper w/ Doug to another journal a few weeks ago (unfortunately since we got scooped it last year, it got rejected by our 1st choice). But I should be hearing soon, and I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Best,

Elaine

From Deepu Nair

Jeff,This is a great idea. It's amazing to see the list of PRIME graduates and how much everyone has accomplished. What a talented group!! And we owe a good portion of it to you. Even more amazing, of course, is that Brent Kinder and Pamina Kim are married! I had no idea that was in the works....that's great news!

current status: chief fellow, cardiology, cleveland clinicstatus as of july '08: cardiologist, palo alto medical foundation, camino medical groupI can't wait to come back West. I'll definitely stop by once I'm back.Look forward to catching up,

Deepu

From Pamina Kim

hey jeff!

good to hear from you. brent says hello, by the way. the scoop on us is that brent is faculty at univ of cincinnati, where he continues his clinical research in ILD. he also lives and breathes the Reds (it's sick!). he's very happy and is doing well. i am working as a hospitalist at bethesda north hospital, a private hospital in cincinnati. but as you know, i'll be starting dermatology residency at univ of cincinnati next year.

hope all's well!

pamina

Here's a hello and a job posting from Lily Huang

Hi Jeff,

Hope you're doing well! Amelia and I keep meaning to stop by sometime to see you at the VA-- we'll get around to it one of these days!

I wanted to pass on to you info about part-time job possibilities, in case you knew of anyone job-hunting for something in geriatrics. One of my fellow attendings at the Free Clinic, John Fullerton, has a private practice part-time in Marin, as well as being medical director at a number of SNF's/residential communities. He is looking for some part-time help (geriatrics certification not necessary).

Anyone interested should contact his wife/P.A. Kate McElroy-Fullerton at katemcelroy@gmail.com.

How are the kids? They must be so grown up by now!
Take care, and hope to see you soon!

Lily

Jeff,

I ran into Lisa Young at IDSA this weekend. She is doing very well.
All is fine here in Atlanta. I am busy (probably work more than I did as a resident), but the work is good. I look remarkably awake in this picture considering that I had about 4 hours of sleep the night before.
I hope you are well. Please say hi to all the PRIMErs, and don’t forget to get your flu shot.
Justin
Justin R. Ortiz, MD

Up to Speed

Hey Everyone,

To kick things off here I thought I'd share some of the news I've gotten from PRIME folks lately. Lots of great stuff.

Jeff

Dearest Alums

Welcome All,

This site will serve as the forum for the new millinium grads of the UCSF PRIME Program. Yes, it’s the much awaited PRIME alumni blog - your site for staying in touch, sharing photos, talking medicine, and reliving the glory days of your UCSF Residency. As members, you’ll also serve as the authors of this site and should feel eternally welcome to post opinions, news, pictures, links to cool articles, shout outs, etc. at your leisure. To sign on, you'll need to have a gmail account if you don't already.

If you have questions about how to do any of this try the help page on the blogger.com homepage or send me an email at arthur.ramsey@va.gov and I’ll do my best to help.

I hope eveyone enjoys the site and I now leave it now in your capable hands.

All the Best,

Art Ramsey, PRIME Program Assistant