Announcements
WVU Charleston Surgeons Elliot Adams and Albeir Mousa Honored with “Most Viewed Article of 2020” by Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases
CHARLESTON W. Va., September 1, 2021 – Elliot Adams, MD and co-author Albeir Y. Mousa, MD, FACS, DFSVS, RPVI, MPH, MBA of the West Virginia University School of Medicine Charleston Campus have been recognized by the Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases, Innovations and Techniques, the official publication of the Society for Vascular Surgery, for their April 2020 article “Achieving a popliteal venous access for renal replacement therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patient in prone position.”
Faculty Development Zoom session: "Leadership in Health Sciences Academic Affairs"
All faculty are invited to attend the WVU Health Sciences Center Faculty Development Program presentation "Leadership in Health Sciences Academic Affairs: We’re All in this Together" Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, from noon to 1 p.m.
Dr. Bob Goodman Retires
Dr. Bob Goodman retired from the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology on July 31, 2021, after more than 40 years of service to West Virginia University.
WVU Cancer Institute to host virtual Pink Party for Bonnie’s Bus
Each year, the WVU Cancer Institute hosts its annual Pink Party to benefit the Bonnie’s Bus Mobile Mammography Unit.
WVU Medicine Otolaryngology welcomes Director of Audiology, Benjamin Boss, AuD
Benjamin Boss, AuD, will adapt to the role as Director of Audiology for WVU Medicine and the Department of Otolaryngology in the beginning of September. Boss has been practicing at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Eye and Ear Institute since 2014.
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.