Brunson Teaching Day, residency and fellowship graduation ceremony

On June 16, the Anesthesiology Department at UMMC gathered for its annual Brunson Teaching Day. The event highlighted graduating senior residents and the research projects they worked on throughout the year.  The following were the presented projects:

• Patricia Amolenda-"The Incidence and Risk Factors for Cancellation of MRI Studies Scheduled with Anesthesia at the Univeristy of Mississippi Medical Center"
• Jordan Brice-"The Relationship between Resident Turnover Time and Clinical Experience in the ISC"
• Kevin Dang-"Cost Reduction in Anesthesia"
• Forrest Duncan-"Evaluation of Peripheral Nerve Block Complications at a University Day Surgery Center"
• Peter Fliss-"Analgesic Nitrous Oxide Use for Labor and Delivery: A Study Comparing Newborn Rat Brains Exposed to an Analgesic Dose of Nitrous Oxide During Labor"
• Thomas Hamilton-"Leo Fabian: A Life of Shocking Accomplishment"
• Raisa Nguyen-"Does Size Matter? Comparison of Left-Sided Double-Lumen Tube Sizes For Thoracic Surgery"
• Jim Rabalais-"Perioperative Hypotension and Myocardial Ischemia: A Quality Improvement Project"
• Jeremy Rainey-"An Evaluation of Vitamin C and Thiamine in Trauma and Surgical Patients with Shock"

Drs. Loretta Jackson-Williams, Charles OMara, Jimmy Stewart, and David Zvara all served as judges, and awarded Dr. Rabalais with the first place prize, Dr. Nguyen with second place, and Dr. Amolenda with third. Many thanks to the efforts of the program committee: Drs. Claude Brunson, Doug Bacon, Arthur Calimaran, and Charles Robertson.

Later that evening, the residency and fellowship graduates were honored with a graduation ceremony at Jackson Hilton. The night began with cocktails, followed by the program and dinner. Our guest speaker was Dr. David Zvara, Professor and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Jordan Brice brought home the Resident of the Year Award, and Dr. Jenna Strother was awarded the resident Citizenship award.  Along with the senior residents mentioned above, the pain fellows, Drs. Richard Webb, Rachel Roberts, Christian Oliver, Kelly Marcus Coleman, and Muhammad Ubaidulhaq, were all recognized.  Dr. Olga Ostrovsky received the faculty Citizenship Award, and Drs. Harris Baig, Brian Heirlemeier, and Sara Robertson were all awarded Teacher of the year. 

Dr. Jim Rabalais was also recognized for his being awarded the Claude Brunson Distinguished Service Award by the MSMA earlier in the year.  This award is given in recognition of exemplary service to patients and the profession of anesthesiology through his efforts in advocacy and education on issues that improve and influence the delivery of safe anesthesia.

Included are several pictures from the night. Congratulations to all our graduating residents and fellows!