Announcements
WVU Heart and Vascular Institute receives recognition as a Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center from the American Heart Association
The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute has received the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award from the American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation for a demonstrated record of superior clinical outcomes resulting from evidence-based, guideline-directed degenerative mitral valve repair.
J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital gastroenterologist performs hospital’s first fecal microbiota transplant
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital gastroenterologist Asad Pervez, MD, performed the Hospital’s first fecal microbiota transplant on Aug. 19. Fecal microbiota transplant is a treatment for debilitating gastrointestinal infections, such as clostridium difficile (C.diff.), that resist antibiotic treatment. C. diff is a serious infection that causes debilitating diarrhea. It can be treated with antibiotics but commonly recurs. Antibiotics become less effective against the treatment with each recurrence. In these cases, a fecal microbiota transplant may be required to help the patient recover. “C. diff is a particularly difficult and potentially life-threatening infection,” Dr. Pervez said. “These patients experience diarrhea, cramps, nausea, loss of appetite, and other symptoms that can be quite unpleasant. Fecal microbiota transplant offers another line of defense for us against this disease and has a close to 92 percent cure rate.” The procedure transfers donor stool into the gastrointestinal tract of the recipient through colonoscopy, enema, nasogastric tube, or in capsule form. This allows the healthy gut bacteria to repopulate the recipients’ digestive system so they can recover from the infection. Fecal microbiota transplant is safe and presents little risk to the recipient. It has been found to be well tolerated, even in high-risk patients. Stool donors are healthy volunteers without any comorbid conditions who go through an extensive screening process to assess their eligibility to donate stool. Research has shown that fecal microbiota transplant may be effective for the treatment of conditions other than C. diff, including inflammatory bowel disease, functional gastrointestinal disorders, or metabolic disorders.
BeWell Blog — "Try This Tuesday: Yoga"
The BeWell team is offering a series of helpful tips for mental health and wellbeing called "Try This Tuesday." This week, Seth Haxel discusses the mental health benefits of yoga. Studies have found that engaging in yoga can help improve your sleep, increase your energy, improve your mood, and help you manage stress.
Medicine Grand Rounds hosts Dr. Chirag Lavani
Dr. Chirag Lavani will speak as part of the Medicine Grand Rounds on Friday, September 3, at 8 a.m. This presentation titled "Salt and Water: Insight into Hyponatremia" will take place over Zoom and in person at the Fukushima Auditorium, Room 1901.
Guidance for WVU Health Sciences faculty, staff and students working in patient care environments
While West Virginia University is not requiring COVID-19 vaccination at this time, all students, residents, faculty, and staff practicing, working, or serving on clinical rotations will need to follow COVID-19 vaccination mandates issued by healthcare organizations where these activities occur.
Guidance for West Virginia University’s Engagement in the Build Back Better Program
The $1B Build Back Better Regional Challenge, led out of the US Economic Development Agency (Build Back Better Regional Challenge | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov)), has a deadline of Oct. 19, 2021 for Phase 1 proposals from regional coalitions.
HSC faculty, staff and students invited to upcoming Safe Zone training
Health Sciences faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a Safe Zone Training through the WVU LGBTQ+ Center. The training is set for Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 4 to 5 p.m. at 1909 Health Sciences Center - North. A Zoom option is available.
Applications now being accepted for NIH K Grant Writing Group
WVCTSI is now accepting applications for its K Grant Writing Groups (K-Clubs).
Zoom Recordings of HSC Faculty Development Sessions Available
The noon HSC Faculty Development sessions are posted on SOLE; to gain access to the HSC Faculty Development Noon Sessions one needs access to the SOLE site.
WVU Walk with a Future Doc program works to promote wellness, generate discussion among medical students
A student-led organization at the West Virginia University School of Medicine is working to promote wellness through bi-weekly walks that generate discussion on ways people can improve both their physical and mental health.