news&notes

Dean Emeritus Doug Skelton, MD launches Medical Library

Campaign with $100,000 Challenge Gift
Dr. Doug Skelton, former Dean of the
Mercer University School of Medicine,
recently made a gift of $100,000 to the
school’s Library Endowment while also
assuming the role as head of its endow-
ment campaign. According to Skelton, the
gift is being used as a challenge to Mer-
cer’s alumni, faculty, and other support-
ers to bring about its goal of $1 million.
“This is a high time of need for the Mer-
cer Medical School and the economy has
certainly impacted the support the school
receives every year,” said Skelton. “I’m
hoping that what I do here and what oth-
ers will do with me will help the medical
school at this critical point in its history.”

The Medical Library and Peyton T. An- sources to the students, community-based we have a more than adequate library. I
derson Learning Resource Center serve as faculty, and others escalate ever higher, would like to see this $1 million endow-
the foundation for the high level of self- the endowment will provide a source of ment come to pass so we can generate
directed study which is a cornerstone of constant support every year. even more support for our medical school
the problem-based learning curriculum at and have a great library. That’s what we
the School of Medicine. As costs of provid- “No medical school can exist without an need here at Mercer. A great library for a
ing the numerous amount of required re- adequate library,” said Skelton. “But, great school.”

MUSM Holds 2nd Annual Women in Medicine Celebration

annual Mardi Gras gathering hosted for to benefit the Detmer-Harris Women in
MUSM women by the late Dona Harris, Medicine Endowed Lectureship Series,
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and De- raising over $900 for the fund. The fund
velopment. According to Jan LaBeause, was begun in memory of faculty members
Director of the Medical Library & LRC, Drs. Kris Detmer and Dona Harris by the
“Departments from across the School MUSM Class of 2009. Plans are already
came together to plan the festivities, and underway for next year’s celebration
the MUSM student chapter of the Ameri- which will be held on Fat Tuesday, Febru-
can Medical Women’s Association played ary 21, 2012.
a key role in organizing and promoting
the celebration.”

In keeping with the Women in Medicine

theme, two presentations were given on
notable figures in medicine: James Cun-
ningham, M.D. offered an intriguing
glimpse of Dr. J. Miranda Barry, “Victo-
rian Surgeon and Master of the Masquer-
Mercer University School of Medicine ade” and Amy Christie, M.D. (MUSM
enjoyed a taste of Mardi Gras on March Class of 2006) discussed the challenges
8, 2011 at the Second Annual Women in that faced Elizabeth Blackwell as Ameri- Top left: Amy Christie, M.D. speaks at
Medicine Celebration. The annual Wom- ca’s first female physician. A social hour the 2011 Women in Medicine Celebration
en in Medicine event began in 2010 to with traditional Mardi Gras “king cake” Above: Jan LeBeause and Rita Smith raffle
commemorate MUSM women who had and refreshments followed the presen- off prizes to benefit the Detmer-Harris
passed away in previous years and is held tations. A silent auction was also held Women in Medicine Endowed Lectureship
on Fat Tuesday each year in honor of the Series.
page 10
news&notes
School of Medicine Earns High Marks in Recent Study
The Mercer School of Medicine received on Social Mission Score. “While this study is focused principally on
significant recognition in the recently primary care, there is a need in the state of
released study of medical school In analyzing the ranking results, the study Georgia for physicians of all specialties,”
graduates of 1999-2001 published in the assumed the basic purpose of medical said Dr. William F. Bina III, dean of the
June 15 issue of the Annals of Internal schools is to educate physicians to care School of Medicine. “Mercer ranks highly
Medicine. Mercer was ranked No. 8 for the national population. Fulfilling in these categories because it has not
among the nation’s 141 medical schools this goal requires an adequate number deviated from its mission established in
in Primary Care Output, No. 30 in the of primary care physicians, adequate 1982 to educate physicians and health
nation in Health Professional Shortage distribution of physicians to underserved professionals to meet the primary care and
Area Physician Output and No. 41 in the areas and a sufficient number of minority health care needs of rural and medically
nation in medical school rankings based physicians in the work force. underserved areas of Georgia.”

Malan Named Dean of Savannah Campus,

Vice-Dean of Mercer University School of Medicine
SAVANNAH — Mercer University School Mercer with a strong record of leadership Hospital, Boston, from 1986–1989. Dur-
of Medicine Dean William F. Bina III to- and an ability to work with complex issues ing his career, he has served adminis-
day announced the appointment of T. facing medical schools today. He will be tratively as chair of College of Medicine
Philip Malan Jr., M.D., Ph.D., profes- an outstanding addition to our team, and curriculum, promotion and tenure, and
sor of anesthesiology and pharmacology to the Savannah Campus as it grows and dean’s faculty advisory committees, and
and former vice dean for academic af- prospers.” as a member of multiple curricular plan-
fairs at the University of Arizona College ning and review committees.
of Medicine, as Savannah Campus dean The Savannah Campus of the Mercer
and vice dean of the Mercer University School of Medicine has been under the Dr. Malan is internationally recognized
School of Medicine. Dr. Malan’s appoint- leadership of Interim Senior Associate for his research in pain biology and pain
ment, which is effective July 1, follows a Dean Wayne Glasgow, also the chair of treatment. He has published more than
10-month national search. biomedical sciences, since its opening as 60 articles in prestigious scientific and
a full four-year program in 2008. Dr. Bina clinical journals and is listed in Best Doc-
Dr. Malan has spent much of his academic commended Dr. Glasgow for his ground- tors in America.
career at the University of Arizona College breaking work in leading the new campus
of Medicine in Tucson. He first joined over the past three years. Dr. Malan and his wife, Carole, have a
the university in 1989 as a professor and son, Tim.
practicing physician in the Department of “Wayne Glasgow has made
Anesthesiology. In 2005, he was named exceptional contributions
special assistant to the dean for academic to our four-year medical
program development. In 2006, he was school program,” said Dr.
named vice dean for academic affairs. He Bina. “Without his steady
earned undergraduate degrees in chemis- presence and guidance,
try and biological sciences from the Uni- we would not be poised to
versity of California, Irvine, a Doctor of achieve the next level of
Philosophy from Harvard University in excellence in medical edu-
biochemistry and molecular biology, and cation and research on the
the Doctor of Medicine degree from the Savannah Campus.”
University of Massachusetts, Worcester. Dr. Malan received post-
graduate medical training
“Dr. Malan has a deep commitment to the in internal medicine at
mission of the Medical School, one which the University of Massa-
sets Mercer’s School of Medicine apart chusetts Medical Center,
as the leader in serving the state of Geor- Worcester, in 1985-1986
gia’s medical needs in its small towns and and in anesthesiology at
rural areas,” Dr. Bina said. “He comes to Brigham and Women’s T. Philip Malan Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
page 11
 February
April 2011
2011

Scholarships Help Fulfill School of Medicine’s Mission

If Crystal Bailey Gary, M.D. ’05, could say care climate, it’s going to be difficult to Aside from saying thank you to the do-
anything to the donors who contributed to convince future physicians to choose a nors of the scholarship she received, Dr.
the scholarship she received, it would be primary care specialty and live in a region Gary said she hopes they realize what an
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” that is financially less beneficial than liv- impact their contributions had on her
ing in a city practicing as a specialist,” Dr. education and profession. “When patients
Dr. Gary operates a family practice in her Gary said. “Most students will choose to walk through my door, the last thing on
hometown of rural Blairsville with her go large cities where it’s easier to pay off my mind is whether his insurance is going
husband, Thomas Gary, M.D. ’05. She their debt.” to reimburse well enough to help pay off
received the Joseph A. Ray Scholarship my medical school debt,” Dr. Gary said.
— one of the first scholarship funds estab- Currently, 187 scholarships offered in the “Rather, I think about the kindness that
lished at the Mercer School of Medicine School of Medicine assist 159 medical stu- was shown to me through the scholarship
(MUSM). dents. money, and I pass this kindness on to my
patients.”
She said that though she has always been Dr. Gary encourages current medical
passionate about practicing medicine in school students to consider practicing in If you would like to establish a scholarship
her hometown, without the scholarships a rural community. “There are few career in the School of Medicine or contribute to
she received, achieving her goal would choices that offer as much personal sat- an existing scholarship, contact Donavan
have been impossible. “Without financial isfaction as being a family physician in a Eason in the Office of University Advance-
assistance, I never could have attended small town,” she said. “Family physicians ment at (800) 837-2911 ext. 5648 or ea-
medical school,” she said. “I am reminded are a needed, vital entity of the commu- [email protected].
of this everyday when I put on my white nity, and are treated as such. I feel very
coat and head into a patient’s exam room.” blessed to enjoy going to work each day.”

Scholarships often play a crucial role in a Dr. William F. Bina III, dean of the School
student’s decision to attend MUSM. The of Medicine, said that scholarships and fi-
School’s mission is to provide a medical nancial aid play a crucial role in a student’s Upcoming Continuing Medical
education for future physicians who will decision to attend Mercer and eventually Eduaction Opportunities
meet the health care needs of Georgia’s return to his or her hometown to prac-
rural and underserved communities. For tice medicine as a primary care physician. Internal Medicine:
students without financial aid or scholar- “These scholarships are very important Evidence-Based Update
ships, this goal can be impossible to meet. to both the School and the students in re- July 14 - 16, 2011
ducing the cost of a medical education,” Harbour Town Conference Center
In spring 2011, Doctor of Medicine gradu- he said. “Any reduction in individual stu- Hilton Head, South Carolina
ates completed their degrees with an av- dent debt we can offer, especially for those
erage debt of $197,000. Annual tuition at from rural areas, increases the probability
the School is approximately $40,000. that they can afford to return and practice
“In today’s shaky economic and health medicine in rural and underserved areas.”

Board of Trustees Approve New Degree Programs

The School of Medicine will add a Mas- postgraduate studies in the biomedical a one-year graduate program for students
ter of Science in Biomedical Sciences and sciences or employment in academic re- who need more time to prepare for the
a certificate in preclinical sciences to its search laboratories or in the pharmaceu- academic expectations of medical school.
academic programs. The Master of Sci- tical/biotechnology industries. Following The curriculum will be uniquely designed
ence in Biomedical Sciences at Mercer successful completion of a Research The- for students who are passionate about the
University School of Medicine is a two- sis, students will be awarded the degree of medical field but have some gaps in their
year, research-based graduate program. Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences educational background. We have con-
Students will work closely with research with a concentration in one of the disci- fidence that a program that invests time
mentors in either the Division of Biomedi- plines represented by the Basic Science in these students will support MUSM’s
cal Sciences on the Macon Campus or in faculty in the Mercer University School mission by generating greater numbers of
the Division of Biomedical Sciences on of Medicine. The Certificate in Preclini- physicians practicing in rural and under-
the Savannah Campus. The goal of this cal Sciences, currently in the early stages served Georgia.
program is to prepare students for further of program development, is conceived as

page 12
upcoming
Upcoming events
Events
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Medical School Commencement Ceremony
5 PM at the Mercer University Center
Got News?
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Twelfth Annual Armour Family Therapy Lecture Series
Let us and your fellow classmates know
9 AM – 4:30 PM at Mercer Universiy
School of Medicine Auditorium
what’s new in your life. Email your class notes
to Donavan Eason at [email protected]
Saturday, August, 13, 2011
Class of 2015 White Coat Ceemony
Details to follow

Mercer Medicine
A Mercer University School of Medicine Publication http://medicine.mercer.edu

Editor: Leslie Jackson

Desing and Layout: Derek Hart
Photography: John Knight
Contributing Writers: Mark Vanderhoek and Donavan Eason

Mercer University Click here to see more photos from

School of Medicine is Match Day, The Women In Medicine
now on Facebook
Celebration and other events.