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2005 Annual Meeting Wrap-Up
Texas Chapter members gathered in The Woodlands Nov. 4-5 for an outstanding annual scientific meeting. Feedback from more than 95 percent of the attendees rated the overall quality of the program as “excellent” or “near excellent.” When asked what they liked best about the program, attendees said:
New officers and directors were elected during the annual awards and business meeting luncheon. Six distinguished TAIM members were presented Chapter awards. The exhibit hall was filled with a variety of commercial exhibitors who shared information about products and services of interest to members. A newly competitive poster exhibition attracted 38 residents and medical students displaying their posters. Thanks to host Herbert L. DuPont, MD, FACP, Houston, governor of the Texas Northern Region, and local program committee co-chairs, Daniel P. Hunt, MD, FACP, and Alberto Puig, MD, PhD, for an outstanding meeting. -----Local Houston Physicians Highlight Annual Meetingcademic physician leaders from Houston's Texas Medical Center took center stage Nov. 4-5, 2005, at the TAIM Annual Meeting at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. The presentations provided a broad look at issues facing internists, from cardiac disease to legal challenges.Dr. Biykem Bozkurt, ACP Member, of Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), reminded the audience that while cardiac disease is decreasing in the United States, risk factors for cardiac complications are increasing. The early treatment of heart attacks together with the rapidly growing elderly population explains the increasing occurrence of heart failure. In heart failure, ACE inhibitors reduce mortality by 15% and ?-blockers by one third. A description of how physicians in Texas played a major role in providing emergency relief to the evacuees from the New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina's destruction was provided by Stephen B. Greenberg, MD, FACP, of BCM. During an address by the College's national representative, attendees were asked to become key contacts to help the ACP contact congressional leaders. Unless Congress acts, Medicare payments will be cut by 4.4% in 2006 and 26% over five years resulting in an average annual loss by a general internist of $46,000. A major future agenda item nationally for practitioners is Pay for Performance. Kevin W. Finkel, MD, FACP, of The University of Texas - Houston Medical School discussed how the growing incidence of end stage renal disease will become financially impossible to manage in the future. Thus, clinical and financial efforts need to concentrate in prevention of the disorder. Less than 1/3 of persons with chronic renal diseases are given ACE inhibitors which lessen proteinuria and disease progression. Victor J. Narcisse III, MD, of Baylor gave a moving account on how all physicians are seeing early Alzheimer's disease as they treat common medical disorders. Recognizing the condition early may allow more effective management as underscored by a patient of Dr. Narcisse who gave a vivid description of what it is like to live with the disease. Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), should be evaluated by gastroenterologists as discussed by Rhonda A. Cole, MD, of Baylor. Fifty percent of persons in the U.S. have symptomatic reflux. One of four patients with Barrett's esophagus will develop esophageal cancer emphasizing the need for diagnosis and treatment. Remaining upright for two hours after eating, elevating head of the bed 6 inches and use of PPIs are important. John Mendelsohn, MD, FACP, of UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, reminded the audience that cures of cancer have gone from 30% to 60% over the past decades. He presented evidence that the future of cancer research and care will focus on prevention: lifestyle and molecular and genetic marker detection and novel therapies directed to metastases (relating to angiogenesis and growth factors); immunologic approaches designed to kill tumors ("cancer vaccine"); proton therapy (use of protons rather than gamma waves); and imaging including PET scanning. Dianna M. Milewicz, MD, PhD, of UT-Houston, explained how future medical intervention will include determination of genetic risk factors which control predisposition to acute and chronic disease. In turn patients will learn about these associations and request genetic testing. Brian J. Miles, MD, of Baylor, indicated that one in six men will develop prostate cancer representing the sixth most important cause of death in men. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) should be repeated annually for three years and with a level exceeding 2.5, prostate biopsy should be performed. Herbal remedies reduce the levels of PSA giving false negative tests. Herbert L. DuPont, MD, FACP, the South Texas Governor, warned that after three decades of relative quiescence of epidemic infectious diseases in our country we have seen the emergence of a bewildering number of infectious disease threats starting with the Legionnaires outbreak in 1976 leading up to the current global avian flu crisis. The solution will relate to improved public health efforts in the United States and the world. Frank C. Arnett, MD, FACP, of UT-Houston, spoke of osteoarthritis and its association with genetic, metabolic, traumatic and degenerative factors. With the recently encountered medical complications of COX-2 inhibitors, patients are once again using traditional NSAIDs. He provided an update on Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis and the use of anti-CCP (cyclic citrullinated peptide). Philip R. Orlander, MD, of UT-Houston, emphasized that insulin should be given to ambulatory patients with fasting blood sugar (BS) > 250 and in hospitalized patients with average BS > 150. He reiterated that insulin infusions must be used in high risk hospitalized populations and introduced newer insulins which appear to be more stable and more predictable than previously used ones. Bruce Kone, MD, FACP, of UT-Houston, provided insight into diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease. Legal issues relevant to practicing internists were discussed by David C. Pate, MD, JD, FACP, of St. Luke's Health System, which included the topics of upcoding, filing non-documented claims, as well as representing false claims. The audience was reminded of how poor handwriting and altering medical records after receiving a notice for legal investigation can both lead to legal problems and the EMTALA laws regarding emergency medical case by a medical center lacking expertise and its effect on transfer to a tertiary hospital were revised. Mark your calendar for the 2006 annual meeting Nov. 3-4 at the new Marriott Resort at Horseshoe Bay, located on the shores of Lake LBJ in the Texas Hill Country, just 60 miles west of Austin (link). ----- Medical Students, Residents Compete at Annual MeetingA spirit of camaraderie and excitement was palpable throughout the many activities planned specifically for the more than 90 medical students and residents who attended the TAIM Annual Meeting in November 2005. The medical student clinical vignette contest was highly competitive, providing a challenge for the judges to select a single first-place winner. Norris J. Nolan III, UTMB, won with his presentation, “A Rare Case of Hypercalcemia.” Coming in a close second was Kelly N. Wright, Texas A&M. Third place went to Evelyn T. Chang, Baylor. The top three received cash prizes. Norris will advance to the national competition with an all-expense paid trip to Philadelphia, compliments of the Texas Chapter. Karen Szauter, MD, FACP, Galveston, co-chair of the TAIM Medical Students Committee, once again devoted many hours to planning and hosting the student activities. The Associates clinical vignette competition featured five residents who were selected in their regional competitions to compete at the statewide meeting: Sushma Vemulapalli, MBBS, TTUHSC-Amarillo; Rajasekhara R. Mummadi, MBBS, UTMB; Thomas G. Van Dinter, MD, Baylor; Capt. Gregory T. Austad, MD, Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio; and Anabel Lopez-Coronado, MD, TTUHSC-El Paso. Dr. Van Dinter won the competition with his vignette, “Green Stuff.” He will receive an all-expense paid trip to Philadelphia to represent the Texas Chapter at the national level competition during the ACP Annual Session in April.
In a dramatic conclusion to the annual Doctor's Dilemma competition, the team from UTMB emerged as champions. Team captain Brad Broussard, MD, lead his team members to victory: Umamahesh Rangasetty, MD; Nischita Reddy, MD, and Ramanna Merla, MBBS. The UTMB team will represent the Texas Chapter in the Doctor's Dilemma competition at the ACP Annual Session. Congratulations also are due to the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas team that took second place, and the Austin Medical Education team with third place. Special thanks go to: Drs. Join Luh, San Antonio, and Suma Pokala, FACP, Temple, for organizing this event; and to Drs. Kent DeZee, FACP, El Paso, and George Crawford, FACP, San Antonio, for their assistance. During the first competitive year in the annual poster contest, more than 40 abstracts were submitted from medical students and residents, which more than doubled the number from 2004. The submissions came from four Texas medical schools and nine residency programs. Attendees were allowed to view and discuss the research and case presentations, unveiled at Friday evening's reception. Thanks to the work of dedicated TAIM volunteers who judged the posters, the following winners were announced during the reception: Medical Students First place: Dana Bui, UT-Houston Tied for second: Zsuzsanna McMahan, UT-Houston Associates First place: Michail Lionakis, MD, Baylor Second place: Jennifer Gonzales, MD, Lower Rio Grande Valley Regional Academic Health
Center in Harlingen Third place: Shilpa Taneja, MD, UTMB More photos from the 2005 Annual Meeting are available. (link) Mark your calendar for the 2006 Annual Meeting Nov. 3-4 at the new Marriott Resort at Horseshoe Bay, located on the shores of Lake LBJ in the Texas Hill Country, just 60 miles west of Austin (link). ----- Thanks, SupportersThe following companies generously provided financial support for the 2005 TAIM Annual Meeting. TAIM is grateful for the assistance and thanks the sponsors for helping to make the meeting a success Gold Level Grantors
Silver Level GrantorsMerck & Co., Inc. Bronze Level GrantorsOrtho Biotech ExhibitorsAbaxis -----
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