Recent News Archive


June 2008:      
We had a great showing at the 2008 SAEM meeting. Dr. Susan Promes (didactic on Feedback), Dr. Michelle Lin (didactic on Crowding & Education), Dr. Renee Hsia (oral presentation on Elderly Patients and Trauma Centers), Dr. Robert Rodriguez (oral presentation on Predictive Factors in Endocarditis). Named to 2008-09 SAEM committees: Dr. Chris Fee (Crowding Task Force, Guidelines Committee), Dr. Michelle Lin (Nomination Committee, National Affairs Committee, Clerkship Directors of EM academy) Dr. Keith Loring is a cyclist for and was the 15th highest fundraisiers (of 2,500) for this year's AIDS LifeCycle (cycling event from SF to LA). Dr. Renee Hsia publishes an economic analysis of health measurements on child mental health in Internal Review of Psychiatry.
The Moodle educational management software site is finally built for the EM Residency. It houses the 2008-09 conference schedule, all the handouts and relevant pdf articles, discussion forum, and a wiki site for our residents/faculty. The inaugural Intern Welcome Party at Dr. Karl Sporer's Sonoma home was a huge hit! Photos of event and Orientation week Dr. Martha Neighbor is one of the finalists for the John Murray SFGH Excellence Award. Dr. Eric Silman (PGY-1 resident) gets highlighted on the UC Irvine website.
Dr. Rachel Chin officially launches her new textbook "Emergency Medicine of Infectious Diseases". Dr. Nima Afshar, Dr. Eric Isaacs, Dr. Ingrid Lim, Dr. Michelle Lin, Dr. Susan Promes, Dr. Jeff Tabas publish chapters in the new textbook-- Adams' Emergency Medicine. Dr. Jeff Tabas publishes a Femoral Line video in New England Journal of Med. Dr. Brian McBeth is named a Top Reviewer again this year for Annals of EM.
Dr. Renee Hsia receives a Strategic Opportunities Support grant from the UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) to study socioeconomic disparities in access to emergency and trauma care. Dr. Christopher Fee publishes in Annals of Internal Med on the lessons learned from the flawed performance measure of 4 hours for time-to-antibiotics for pneumonia. Pubmed Dr. Eric Silman (PGY-resident) publishes in Western J of Emerg Med on imaging of a pediatric SCIWORA injury. Reference Dr. Prasha Ramanujam publishes in Prehosp Emerg Care about accuracy of stroke recognition by EM dispatchers vs paramedics. Pubmed

Apr 2008 Dr. Karl Sporer was a speaker for the European Assoc of Poison Control Centers in Seville, Spain.
  Dr. Robert Rodriguez publishes a prospective study of primary surrogate decision makers' knowledge of intensive care in Crit Care Med. Pubmed
  Dr. Michelle Lin publishes in Annals of EM on fingertip burns being a clue for crack cocaine use.
  Dr. Renee Hsia publishes in Acad EM that overall reimbursements for pediatric ED visits from 1996 to 2003 are declining. Also, Medicaid reimbursement payments average less than the payments by the uninsured. Pubmed
  Dr. Gelb receives the 2008 UCSF School of Medicine's Essential Core Teaching Award for Inspiration Teaching for his MS 1 Prologue course.
  Dr. Martine Sargent and Dr. Rob Rodriguez give national lectures for the 2008 Resuscitation Conference in Las Vegas.
  Dr. Karl Sporer leads the UCSF/SFGH branch of the multicenter, prehospital RAMPART study comparing IM midazolam to IV lorazepam for seizures (Rapid Anticonvulsant Medication Prior to ARrival Trial).
  Matthew Lewin published an article on CT imaging of a neoceratopsian dinosaur egg. Pubmed, Journal cover
  We are approved for a new EMS fellowship starting June 2009, under the direction of our EMS Fellowship Director Dr. Karl Sporer. The fellowship is jointly supported by our department and the SF EMS Agency.
  We are starting a new Ultrasound fellowship, under the direction of our Ultrasound Fellowship Director Dr. Ralph Wang. Our first ultrasound fellow is Dr. Liz Kwan.
Feb-Mar 2008 Dr. Chris Fee publishes an editorial in Academic EM on the overestimation of preventable deaths in pneumonia and AMI. Pubmed
  Dr. Susan Promes publishes a consensus study on outcomes assessment for EM residency program in Academic EM. Pubmed
  Dr. Susan Promes publishes a study on career satisfaction amongst female emergency physicians in Annals of EM. Pubmed
  Dr. Karl Sporer just returns from being a Visiting Professor in Vietnam (University of Medicine at Hue and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City).
  Dr. Jeff Tabas and Dr. Rob Rodriguez publish a meta-analysis on the predictive role of ECG findings for AMI with a Left BBB. Pubmed
  Dr. Clement Yeh (course director), Dr. John Brown, Dr. Preston Maxim, and Dr. Prasha Ramanujam receive approval for a new UCSF medical student clinical elective on "EMS and Disaster Medicine" (Med140.38). Details
  Dr. David Malmud (course director) successfully ran our ever-popular medical student elective "Procedures in EM". Photos
  Dr. Susan Promes and Dr. Michelle Lin give lectures at the annual Council of Residency Directors (CORD) Academic Assembly.
  Dr. Jeff Tabas is named the SFGH Director of Performance Improvement.
  Updated information on national High Risk Emergency Medicine Course, hosted by SFGH's Dr. Jeff Tabas and Dr. Rachel Chin.
Jan 2008 Dr. Matthew Lewin is invited to be a "Virtual Mentor" for the AMA Journal of Medical Ethics.
  Dr. Karl Sporer co-authors an article on cigarette smoking in opioid-users in Am J of Addiction.
  Dr. Jeff Tabas and Dr. Rob Rodriguez get an abstract accepted in the International Conference in EM on LBBB not being predictive of AMI.
  Dr. John Brown presents a poster on "Mass gatherings do not increase ambulance transport rates" at the National Association of EMS Physicians Annual Conference.
  Dr. Prasha Ramanujam presents a poster on "Research and Funding Trends in Prehospital Medicine: 1996-2006" at the National Association of EMS Physicians Annual Conference.
  Dr. Brian McBeth is first author in a publication in Academic EM on "Substance Use in EM Training Programs".
  Dr. Ronald Dieckmann publishes an editorial about pediatric drug dosing based on patient length in EM Australia journal.
  Dr. Prasha Ramanujam receives a Hellman Award grant to study the difference in t-PA use in stroke, based on regionalization.
  Our EM program was selected as a beta test site for the ACGME Resident Learning Portfolio as a means to lead EM in competency-based learning and assessment. Congrats to Dr. Susan Promes.
Dec 2007 As part of Dr. Beth Kaplan's CDC grant to screen HIV in the ED (particularly minorities), all SFGH ED social workers are trained in HIV counseling and rapid HIV testing is available from the ED 24/7.
  Dr. Eric Isaacs is named Medical Director for the SFGH Emergency Department.
  Dr. Chris Barton is named Interim Chief for the SFGH Emergency Department.
  Two reviews of our residency program are posted on the StudentDoctor.Net discussion forum website. #1, #2
  Dr. Michelle Lin co-authors a publication on the difficulty of diagnosing "dizzy patients" and the over-reliance on symptom quality. Pubmed
  Dr. Robert Rodriguez got an article accepted in Critical Care Med on primary surrogate decision-makers’ knowledge of ICU care.
  Dr. Eric Isaacs is quoted in CNN news articles, and Dr. John Brown is interviewed on Good Morning America regarding the SF Zoo tiger attack on Christmas Day.
  Dr. Robert Rodriguez receives an UCSF Office of Med Education grant to study defensive medicine practices by medical students.
Nov 2007 Dr. Michael Callaham is announced as the first UCSF Department of Emergency Medicine Chair by the Dean, effective Jan 1, 2008. Announcement
  Dr. Keith Loring was announced as the new Regional Director for the SF Peninsula Region for California Emergency Physicians (CEP).
  Dr. Clement Yeh is co-author of article in Annals of EM on predictive risk factors for death in syncope. Pubmed
  UCSF-Moffitt EM faculty retreat at Carmel, CA mixing work, family, and lots of laughs. Photos
  Dr. Renee Hsia publishes in Annals of EM about an alarming trend towards decreased reimbursements for outpatient ED visits. Press release #1, press release #2, Pubmed
  Updated the impressive list of EM faculty involved with our residency program at all four institutions (Moffitt-UCSF, SFGH, Children's Oakland, Kaiser SF).
  Dr. Jeff Tabas and Dr. Michelle Lin are featured speakers at Essentials of EM in Las Vegas, one of the largest EM conferences outside of ACEP.
  Dr. Chris Fee and Dr. Ralph Wang publish in Journal of EM a 12-year series on necrotizing soft tissue infections in the ED. Pubmed
  San Francisco Kaiser Hospital has been approved as our community ED site for the PGY-3 year.
  A behind-the-scenes look into the Halloween 2007 night shift at the SFGH Emergency Dept (photos) and the growing "List of Fame".
Oct 2007 Dr. Michael Callaham is elected into the very prestigious Institute of Medicine. There are only about 12 EM physicians in the country on the IOM. The nation turns to the IOM for science-based advice on national matters of biomedical science, medicine, and health. Wow.
  Dr. Chris Fee and Dr. Ellen Weber publish in Annals of EM about crowding's impact on antibiotics and pneumonia. Pubmed
  Dr. Susan Promes and Dr. Michelle Lin give lectures at the national ACEP Scientific Assembly (Seattle, WA)
  Dr. Steve Polevoi, Dr. Ellen Weber, Beth Kaplan, and Dr. Renee Hsia present abstracts at the 4th Mediterranean EM Congress (Sorrento, Italy)
  Dr. Robert Rodriguez publishes in West J of Emerg Med on ED audio-therapy under deep sedation for smoking cessation
  UCSF announces an innovative Pathways to Discovery program, which parallels our Area of Distinction curriculum.
  Dr. Jackie Nemer is awarded a WINGS grant to study medical simulation at UCSF.
  Dr. Eric Isaacs is elected as co-chair of the SFGH Ethics Committee.
  Dr. Matthew Lewin publishes a Wilderness Med study on warm IV fluids in a cold environment. Pubmed
  Drs. Jeff Tabas, Martine Sargent, &Clement Yeh put on another amazing Advanced Procedures Cadaver Lab. Photos
  Dr. Karl Sporer publishes about women receiving less prehospital analgesia than men in Amer J of Emerg Med. Pubmed
  Dr. Jeff Tabas' Electrocardiography in Emergency Medicine sells out! Photo
  SFGH faculty retreat at Napa's Harvest Inn mixing fun and work! Photos
  Dr. Ron Dieckmann offers free PEMSoft software licenses ($290 each) to our incoming EM interns! Photo
  The staggering SFGH trauma statistics for 2006 are published:
* # of major trauma activations = 3,650
* 27% penetrating, 71% blunt, 2% thermal
Sept 2007 Dr. Christopher Fee publishes Images of Clinical Medicine article on intrauterine twin gestation, a single septic abortion, and intact IUD in Annals of EM. Pubmed
  Dr. Christopher Fee and Dr. Ellen Weber publish an editorial on pneumonia and JHACO and CMS core measures for antibiotics in Annals of EM. Pubmed
  More fun rollover pictures of faculty uploaded in the faculty section - most recently uploaded are Drs. Barton, Callaham, Fee, Isaacs, Kaplan, Neighbor, Nemer, Sargent, and Tabas.
  Dr. Michelle Lin volunteers for Rock Medicine in Golden Gate Park. Photos
  Dr. Susan Promes was selected as 1 of 10 outstanding program directors in the nation to receive the ACGME's Parker J. Palmer "Courage to Teach" Award. Pdf
  Dr. Beth Kaplan receives a major CDC grant to screen HIV in the ED, with a designated site being SFGH
  Dr. Ron Dieckmann receives a glowing review of PEMSoft, his landmark decision-support software. Download the pdf review from Pediatric Emerg Care.
  New section on real-time weather and traffic information under "San Francisco" section is created.
Aug 2007 Dr. Renee Hsia joins our faculty at SFGH. She was a recent recipient of the Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) Resident Research Award.
UCSF resident salaries are increased, effective July 1, 2007. Resident incentives also updated.
Salary scales & incentives
Dr. Prasanthi Ramanujam joins our faculty at Moffitt Hospital, having just completed her EMS fellowship training.
Dr. John Stein was awarded a prestigious K08 grant from AHRQ to study Ultrasound for Ectopic Pregnancy by Emergency Physicians.
  Dr. Jackie Nemer was one of the doctors for the 2007 San Francisco Marathon.  She does this every year given her long history with the UC sports medicine physicians.   Our EM residents are welcome to participate in the future: http://www.runsfm.com/home.html
Dr. Chris Barton published in Academic EM that "Cumulative dose of hypertension predicts outcome in intracranial hemorrhage better than AHA guidelines."
Jun-Jul 2007 Dr. Ellen Weber wins the 2007 SAEM Sabbatical Award.
  Welcome Dr. Susan Promes back to the Bay Area... finally!
  Dr. Rachel Chin publishes "Assessment of Teacher Interruptions on Learners during Oral Case Presentations" Academic EM.
  Welcome our new EM Residency Coordinator, Eve Phongsasavithes to the team!
  Drs. Matt Lewin, John Stein, and Ralph Wang publish in Annals of Emerg Med that humming is as effective as Valsalva for jugular and femoral venous distension.
  Dr. Susan Promes' new textbook "Last Minute Emergency Medicine: A Concise Review for the Specialty Boards" is officially released!
  Dr. Michelle Lin is elected to a 2-year term on the SAEM Nominating Committee.
  Dr. Karl Sporer publishes "Hospital vs community-based syringe exchange: A randomized controlled trial" in AIDS Educ and Prev. 2007, 19(2): 97-110.
  Dr. Jeff Tabas and Dr. Rachel Chin ran the most high-profile and well-attended "High Risk Emergency Medicine" national conference to date.
Apr 2007 Drs. Chris Fee and Ellen Weber published an article in Annals of EM entitled "Identification of 90% of patients ultimately diagnosed with CAP within 4 hours of ED arrival may not be feasible". Dr. Fee was quoted in JAMA's editorial on community-acquired pneumonia.
  Dr. Chris Barton receives an EMF/FERNE grant studying "Assessment of Secondary Brain Insults in Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage "
Dr. Ralph Wang is hired on full-time at UCSF/Moffitt-Long Hospital.
Dr. Lynn Bui has baby #2. Congratulations!
  Dr. Robert Rodriguez is first-author in an Academic EM article "A Longitudinal Study of EM Residents' Malpractice Fear and Defensive Medicine"
  The following faculty got abstracts accepted at SAEM: Drs. Chris Barton, Esther Choo, Michelle Lin, Martha Neighbor, Steve Polevoi, Robert Rodriguez
Mar 2007 UCSF-SFGH Emergency Medicine Residency Program is approved by the RRC
Feb 2007 SFGH ED acquires Web PACS capability for digital radiology
Nov 2006 Dean Kessler announces initial approval toward making a Dept of Emergency Medicine at UCSF. Currently we are a Division of Medicine. Article
Sept 2006 RRC site visit for New Program Accreditation



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