Dec. 5, 2019
Phi Kappa Phi inducts 30-plus UMMC faculty, students; digestive diseases staff, acute care NPs earn awards
National honor society inducts UMMC scholars, faculty
On Nov. 11, more than 30 University of Mississippi Medical Center students and faculty members were welcomed into Phi Kappa Phi, the collegiate honor society recognizing academic excellence.
The initiates are now members of the Phi Kappa Chapter of the University of Mississippi, which was established in 1959 and includes faculty and students at UMMC.
The nationwide honor society accepts more than 30,000 members each year on 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. More than 1.5 million members have joined since its founding in 1897 at the University of Maine.
Phi Kappa Phi is described as “a global network of the best and brightest, a community of scholars and professionals building an enduring legacy for all generations.”
For campuses with chapters, membership is by invitation to the top 7.5 percent of juniors with at least 72 credit hours and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have demonstrated scholarly achievement are eligible for membership also.
Representatives from the various schools were on hand to present the pins and honor cords to the 31 initiates present. Dr. Tony Ammeter, president of the chapter, conducted the ceremony.
Digestive diseases staff earn ACG presidential awards
Dr. Sarah Glover, professor of medicine and chief of digestive diseases at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; Dr. Anna H. Owings, an internal medicine resident at UMMC; and Landen Burstiner, research volunteer in digestive diseases at UMMC, each received a Presidential Poster Award at the American College of Gastroenterology’s annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in October.
Glover presented “Increased Mucosal Innate Immune Activation in Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia Subjects is Predictive of Clinical Response to Tofacitanib Therapy;” Owings presented “Real World Use of Tacrolimus in Combination with Biologics Found to be Beneficial in the Treatment of IBD;” and Burstiner presented “E. coli O157:H7 Sepsis Following Fecal Microbiota Transplant in an IgA Deficient IBD Patient: A Case Report.”
According to its website, the ACG is the “preeminent professional organization that champions the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders by facilitating delivery of the highest quality, compassionate and evidence-based patient care.”
Its stated mission is to “enhance the ability of our members to provide world class care to patients with digestive disorders and advance the profession through excellence and innovation based upon the pillars of patient care, education, scientific investigation, advocacy and practice management.”
SCCM accepts surgery acute care NPs’ scholarly projects
Dr. Elizabeth Starnes and Dr. Christy Barrick, acute care nurse practitioners in the Department of Surgery, have been honored by the Society of Critical Care Medicine.
Starnes and Barrick received their Doctor of Nursing Practice from the School of Nursing during May 2019 commencement at UMMC. The Society accepted their DNP scholarly projects for its 2020 Critical Care Congress.
Starnes’ project involved the implementation of a nurse-initiated protocol for spontaneous breathing trials in adult ventilated patients. Barrick’s project involved the implementation of a reduced fasting protocol for surgical intensive care unit patients before general anesthesia.
Barrick and Starnes “continue to set a stellar example of excellent clinical practice as they work within our multidisciplinary team in caring for some the most critically ill patients of Mississippi,” said Ashley Seawright, executive director of UMMC’s Advanced Practice Providers.
“During their D.N.P. studies, both investigated true clinical concerns and sought a way to truly influence outcomes in hopes of improving patient care,” said Seawright, surgical chief of advanced practice and clinical director of transplant and surgical oncology. “The results of these efforts were noted to be clinically significant, and we are proud to see their work published and recognized.”