Endocrinology director, pharm tech, IM residents garner awards

Published on Monday, June 28, 2021

To view previous accolades items, click here.

MS ACP chapter bestows Laureate Award on endocrinology director

Dr. Lillian F. Lien, professor of medicine and division director of endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes, has received the 2021 Laureate Award from the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

Lien was recognized during the 2021 Alabama and Mississippi Chapters Scientific Meeting this month in Meridian.

The Laureate Award honors fellows and masters of the ACP for their achievements and commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research and in service to their community, chapter and the college.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Lien spent most of her childhood in Colorado and Idaho. A graduate of Harvard University, she completed her medical training in internal medicine and endocrinology in 1999 at Duke University Medical Center, where she also did her internal medicine residency and an endocrinology fellowship.

She devoted her early career to translational research in diabetes and obesity. Before becoming division chief at UMMC in 2014, she had served as associate professor of medicine and medical director of inpatient diabetes management at Duke.

Lien, who has managed chronic diseases and provided safe care for all patients with diabetes mellitus, has written or coauthored about 60 published works on obesity and diabetes.

“Dr. Lien is a shining example of a servant leader whose commitment to patient care and humility as a person knows no bounds,” said Dr. Javed Butler, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine and Patrick H. Lehan Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine. “I am lucky to have her as my colleague.”

Previous Medical Center recipients of the Laureate Award from the Mississippi chapter include Dr. John Bower, professor emeritus of medicine and a nephrologist; the late Dr. Patrick Lehan, professor of medicine and director of the Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Diseases; Dr. Kenneth Bennett, professor emeritus of cardiology; Dr. Helen Turner, associate vice chancellor emeritus; Dr. Joe Files, professor emeritus of medicine; the late Dr. Gilliam “Swink” Hicks Jr., professor of medicine; Dr. Richard deShazo, professor emeritus of medicine; Dr. Shirley Schlessinger, professor emeritus of medicine; Dr. Dan Woodliff, professor emeritus of medicine; and Dr. Kimberly Harkins, associate professor of medicine.

MPhA names UMMC’s Manuel Pharmacy Tech of the Year

The Mississippi Pharmacists Association has named LaRonda Manuel, a pharmacy technician in the University Hospital Specialty Retail Pharmacy, as its 2021 Pharmacy Technician of the Year.

Manuel was recognized during the MPhA’s annual meeting in June.

According to the association, the award “recognizes a pharmacy technician who exhibits professional characteristics inherent of a model technician.”

National organization lauds UMMC internal med residents’ abstract

Dr. Himmat Brar and Dr. Jannat Kang, second- and first-year internal medicine residents, respectively, received a Best Research Abstract Award during the virtual American College of Physicians national meeting April 29-May 1.

Their research, “Utilization and the Cost Burden Analysis of Amylase Testing in Acute Pancreatitis,” found that conducting this test has limited clinical benefit and higher costs compared to other available methods.

Brar and Kang conducted this work as part of their quality improvement project for this academic year.