Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh

David C. Whitcomb, MD PhD will be the 2008 keynote honoree at the National Pancreas Foundation’s (NPF) June 22, 2008 event, Courage at the Turn. Dr. Whitcomb will receive this award in recognition of his pancreatic cancer and pancreas genetics research.

Courage at the Turn was a two-part NPF event. On Sunday June 22, 2008, the charity held a gala dinner and silent auction at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. NPF’s annual golf outing followed on Monday June 23 at the Sewickley Heights Golf Club.

For more information on NPF, please visit www.pancreasfoundation.org.

Dr. Chopra Honored by ALF

Kapil B. Chopra, MD (make name a live link to his faculty webpage, please) received the American Liver Foundation’s 2008 Tribute to Excellence Award recently. Dr. Chopra is an associate professor of medicine and co-medical director for the Center for Liver Diseases with the University of Pittsburgh’s Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

Dr. Chopra received this award for his high level of dedication and commitment to ALF’s Western Pennsylvania Chapter at their annual awards luncheon. The awards presentation was held at The Duquesne Club in Pitsburgh, PA on June 20, 2008. A portion of the proceeds from ALF’s luncheon will support the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Research Grant.

Additional information about ALF may be viewed at http://www.liverfoundation.org/chapters/westernpa/.

Dr. Kahloon Wins Dept. of Medicine Research Day Award

Arslan Kahloon, MD won the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine's Research Day Award in May 2008. Dr. Kahloon received this award for his research project titled, "Surveillance Colonoscopy and Biopsy Underestimates Dysplasia/Cancer in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Patients Undergoing Colectomy." Dr. Kahloon's research mentor for this project was Miguel Regueiro, MD, associate professor of medicine with the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

Dr. Whitcomb Honored by NPF

Courage at the Turn will be a two-part NPF event:

Sunday June 22 will involve a evening reception, dinner and auction at Pittsburgh’s beautiful Phipps Conservatory.
On Monday June 23, NPF will hold their 4th annual golf outing with lunch, raffle and prizes, at the Sweickley Heights Golf Club.

For more information or volunteer opportunities, contact NPF > NPFPittsburgh@live.com.

Dr. Slivka Speaks at National Jaipur, India Conference

Adam Slivka, MD PhD was a featured guest speaker during each day of the 46th Annual Conference of The Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India (SGEI), ENDOCON 2008, in April 2008. Dr. Slivka provided a platform to understand the latest endoscopic techniques and controversies. Click here [live link] to see a photo of Dr. Slivka at this conference.

Whitcomb Pancreatic Cancer Research Featured in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The pancreatic cancer research leadership of David C. Whitcomb, MD PhD, chief for the University of Pittsburgh Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, was featured in the April 14, 2008 issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette > LINK HERE.

Dr. Whitcomb is also the Giant Eagle Foundation Professor of Cancer Genetics and serves as a Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology & Physiology and Human Genetics with the University of Pittsburgh.

For more information on Dr. Whitcomb or his research, please visit his professional webpage, www.pancreas.org, or call 412-648-9604

Motility Study

Constipation from prescription pain medication?
You may want to know about this.

Prescriptions such as Vicodin®, Percocet®, and OxyContin® often cause constipation and even bloating. If your medication is not for cancer-related pain and you’re experiencing this kind of bowel dysfunction, you may want to know about a clinical research study for bowel dysfunction caused by pain medications. Participation provides close monitoring and comprehensive study-related care from a physician specialist at no cost.

For more information, visit us at www.OPALstudy.com or contact:
Michael A. Pezzone, MD, PhD
UPMC – Neurogastroenterology Motility Center
Presbyterian University Hospital
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-648-9939

OPAL
A Clinical Study of Constipation Due to Pain Medical

University of Pittsburgh Physicians Featured in New Pancreas Book

University of Pittsburgh Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Chief, David C. Whitcomb, MD PhD, and associate chief for clinical services, Adam Slivka, MD PhD, have written the June 2007 publication of "Gastroenterology Clinics of North America" --- "Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Diseases." with their Department of Surgery colleagues, Kenneth K. Lee, MD.

Disorders of the pancreas have, in the past, been very frustrating because the diagnosis was often made late in the course of the disease and no significantly beneficial interventions were available. This situation is rapidly changing as new insights from multiple perspectives are integrated and focused on each step of this complex processes. This issue of Gastroenterology Clinics of North America highlights a number of areas of rapid progress in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders of the pancreas. Each chapter represents the integrated knowledge and perspective of experts in the field, and represent the most up to date analysis of these state of the art approaches to complex issues in the evaluation and treatment of pancreatic disorders.

Additional information about "Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Diseases" may be found here.

Additionally, the preface for this book may be viewed here and for the table of contents click here.

Dr. Chopra wins PA State Hepatology Excellence Award

Kapil B. Chopra, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine with the University of Pittsburgh Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition’s Center for Liver Diseases, has received the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 2007 Viral Hepatitis Award of Excellence for being an excellent patient and physician advocate. This award is given annually to physicians showing outstanding clinical service. Dr. Chopra received this award through recommendations from his peers, patients and community health providers.

Dr. Chopra received this award on October 19, 2007 at the Radisson Hotel in Monroeville, PA at the 2007 Pennsylvania Viral Hepatitis Conference. At this conference, Dr. Chopra presented an educational talk entitled, Managing Hepatitis C Treatment Failures and Defaulters.

For more information about Dr. Chopra or the Center for Liver Diseases, call (412) 647-1170

Dr. Sanders Receives Fellow Teaching Award

Michael Sanders, MD , has received the Faculty Teaching Award in appreciation of his dedication to teaching and mentoring University of Pittsburgh gastroenterology fellows. This award was voted on and presented by the 14 GI fellows in the program’s 2006-07 class at a June 2007 fellows’ meeting. Dr. Sanders is an assistant professor of medicine with Pitt’s Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and he specializes in ERCP and EUS procedures.

Dr. Schoen’s Research Featured in NY Times

Robert E. Schoen, MD MPH, a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology with the University of Pittsburgh Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition was recently featured in the Health Section of the New York Times. Please click here to read this article: Study Questions Colonoscopy Effectiveness.

Dr. Schoen Leads Multi-Center Colon Polyp Size and Cancer Risk Study

Robert E. Schoen, MD MPH, professor of medicine with the University of Pittsburgh Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, lead a study regarding medium-sized colon polyps. This study found that these polyps yield significant a number of advanced adenomas and cancer and should, therefore, be watched closely. To read more about Dr. Schoen’s study, please click here > Multi-Center Colon Polyp Study.

Dr. Duerr finds new Crohn’s Disease Gene, Researchers Report in Science

Discovery offers hope of better-targeted therapy for millions with inflammatory bowel diseases.
Click here for article.

AGA-Pitt GI Online Education Collaboration

The American Gastroenterological Association will partner with the University of Pittsburgh’s Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition to create the premier website for online interactive case-based education for gastroenterologists. Later this year, our two organizations will combine the CME cases currently offered on each institution’s website. By visiting either the GI Rounds Online site (http://girounds.pitt.edu) or the AGA-Institute’s site (http://www.gastro.org/online), users can select cases produced by either source.

Marketing efforts by both institutions will prominently promote this collaboration, thereby increasing exposure and awareness of this award-winning educational series. New cases for 2006 and 2007 include chronic pancreatic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease and other timely topics. For more information or questions please do not hesitate to contact Dr. McGee at mcgee@medschool.pitt.edu