MUSC Psychiatry Chair Update
Thomas W. Uhde, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Institute of Psychiatry
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ONGOING STUDIES & PUBLICATIONS |
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Did you know the Brain Stimulation Laboratory/Division (BSL)
recently devised and tested a new method for delivering
training courses in brain stimulation?
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In 2008, the Brain Stimulation Laboratory/Division (BSL) in the MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences pioneered teaching and training courses in ECT and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Since then, many groups and universities began to offer courses similar to the ones offered twice yearly at MUSC. However, the COVID pandemic brought all of these courses to a screeching halt. Because these methods are hands-on procedures, they do not lend themselves easily to online only instruction. COVID is making depression and anxiety disorders worse and there is a pent-up demand for training of new psychiatrists who can use these tools as treatments.
In a new experiment, the BSL held its biannual weeklong conference in mid-November with nine psychiatrists in-person from across the country attending. Lectures were given in the Institute of Psychiatry auditorium, with students widely spaced (10 people in a room that normally seats 50). Lecturers were either in person or Zoomed in. In addition to those attending in person, another 20 attendees, mostly MUSC faculty or staff, attended by Zoom.
One of the truly novel innovations was that all of the hands-on training was done in groups of less than three people. Also, instead of practicing TMS on each other or other humans, all TMS was done on a phantom designed and built at MUSC. This phantom allows for TMS testing without a risk of COVID infection from operator to subject or vice versa. MUSC calls the phantom ERIK (Evaluating resting Motor Threshold and insuring Kappa). Erik was also the name of the phantom in the Phantom of the Opera. Ha Ha. (Finetto et al., 2019)
In the two weeks after the large course, Dr. Baron Short and colleagues taught five psychiatrists how to provide ECT. This was done in a COVID possible manner with very small groups and dispersed lectures as well.
MUSC BSL is the only university currently offering instruction in these methods during the COVID pandemic.
‘We were very pleased that we could resume these in a COVID friendly manner,” said Dr. Mark George, BSL Director and Course Director. “Two psychiatrists came from North Dakota, which was the last state in the US not to have a TMS provider. Patients had to drive up to five hours for a treatment before now. These docs are now back home using TMS to treat patients. I’m glad we could figure out a way to do this even during the pandemic. We will do it again in April, either in the older way or in this new method modified for COVID.”
References: Finetto, C., Glusman, C., Doolittle, J., & George, M. S. (2019). Presenting ERIK, the TMS phantom: A novel device for training and testing operators. Brain Stimulation, 12(4), 1095-1097. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2019.04.015
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Dr. Kathleen Brady received the Julius Axelrod Mentorship Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. This award is presented to an ACNP member who has made an outstanding contribution to neuropsychopharmacology by mentoring and developing young scientists into leaders in the field. Congratulations to Dr. Brady on this outstanding achievement!
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Dr. Dean Kilpatrick received the Outstanding Service Award from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. This award is designed to recognize a member of ISTSS who has made a significant and sustained contribution to ISTSS that has enhanced the Society and helped it achieve its goals. Congratulations to Dr. Kilpatrick on this significant distinction!
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Dr. Connie Guille was recently interviewed for the Statehouse Report regarding the expansion of telehealth treatment options in rural areas. The full article can be accessed here.
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Dr. David Schultz has created the web site IOPClinics.com to assist patients in accessing their provider's Doxy.me waiting room. This site is a great resource for patients who may not receive or remember their provider's doxy link. The goal of this site is to reduce the frequency of calls to scheduling and support staff requesting this information, and to further ensure that appointments are not missed. Thank you to Dr. Schultz for his diligent work on this project and his dedication to our patients!
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SPRING CYCLE FOR PROMOTION & TENURE |
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For anyone who is requesting promotion or tenure effective January 1, 2022, all promotion and tenure requests must be received in the Chair’s office no later than February 4, 2021, in the form of complete packets accompanied by a letter of recommendation from your Division Director. Packets with checklists, requests for materials, and forms specific for regular and modified faculty have been developed to make the submission process more straightforward. Packets are available on the College of Medicine’s website. Follow this link: https://horseshoe.musc.edu/university/colleges/com/faculty/appointments-promotion-and-tenure.
Promotion to Associate Professor or Professor requires a minimum of four letters of recommendation, addressed to the Departmental Chair. Individuals selected to write the minimum four letters should be non-MUSC faculty in the candidate’s field at the academic rank of professor or its equivalent stature. At least two of these individuals should not be associated with the candidate by having been past mentors/teachers/students/trainees. We ask that you provide 4-6 names of individuals that we can contact to solicit letters of recommendation.
The letter of recommendation from your Division Director must follow appendix 2 in the COM APT guidelines. Division Director letters should include the following paragraphs: introductory, education, research if applicable, scholarly publications, clinical practice if applicable, administration, and other activities and accomplishments.
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HOLLINGS CANCER CENTER
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
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The Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications for its Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellowship and Graduate Fellowship Programs. Applications for both fellowship levels are due by midnight, Friday, January 15, 2021. Awardees will begin their fellowships July 1, 2021. This program focuses on training the next generation of exceptional cancer scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina.
HCC Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellowship awards provide up to two years of stipend support for postdoctoral fellows and one year of support for clinical fellows.
HCC Graduate Fellowship awards will provide up to two years of stipend and tuition assistance.
For more information or to apply:
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NEUROCOVID RECOVERY & REHAB
RESEARCH STUDY RECRUITMENT
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PRO Number: pro00101270
The purpose of the research is to test out a new form of treatment where we stimulate a nerve in your ear. This is called transcutaneous (through the skin) auricular (ear) vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) which means that you will receive stimulation through the ear. The taVNS device looks like an ear bud you would use with your smart phone or computer. We are investigating whether or not taVNS can treat neurologic symptoms of COVID-19 which are termed NEUROCOVID. Some symptoms you may experience are new onset anxiety, depression, vertigo, loss of smell, headaches, fatigue, irritability, etc. This study is entirely online and all assessments will be completed virtually.
Recruitment Contact
Sarah Huffman
843-876-5141
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WOMEN'S HEALTH INTEREST GROUP |
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PROMOTING INTEROPERABILITY: IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF NOTES AND RESULTS |
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Effective November 2, 2020, federal rules will require the immediate release of patient health information to MyChart as outlined below.
To be compliant with the updated regulations, we are required to allow patients immediate electronic access to their medical information, within the confines of state and federal regulation, such as HIPAA. This applies to both Ambulatory and Inpatient patient information.
The goal of the regulation is to allow patients the right of access to their chart while supporting patient privacy and security. The list of required data elements to be shared with patients will increase over time. The current list of required information to be shared is here.
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ENTERPRISE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION TRAINING SESSIONS - VIRTUAL |
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Please see the calendar below for a list of diversity & inclusion offerings from the Office of Training and Intercultural Education.
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FACULTY POSITIONS
Psychiatry Administration
ICCE Chief (UNIV, Full-Time): The Chief of the Mental Health Integrated Center for Clinical Excellence reports to the Chief Physician Executive of MUSC Health and works in close collaboration with other MUSC Health leaders including the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer. As Vice Chair, this position also reports to the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The ICCE Chief is expected to provide at least 75 percent administrative time in the role devoted to strategic leadership and administrative activities.
Addiction Sciences Division
Open Rank/Assistant Professor (UNIV, Full-Time): The successful applicant for this position will have either an MD or a PhD degree and will be expected to have an established and independent research program that will interface with the multidisciplinary NIAAA P50 Charleston Alcohol Research Center at MUSC.
Open Rank/Professor (UNIV, Full-Time): The successful applicant for this position will have either an MD or a PhD degree and will be expected to have an established and independent research program that will interface with the multidisciplinary NIAAA P50 Charleston Alcohol Research Center at MUSC.
Psychiatry Hospitalist Division
Open Rank - Psychiatry (UNIV, Full-Time): Candidate must be a psychiatrist with the ability to hold an unrestricted license to practice in South Carolina. The candidate must be board-eligible or board-certified if having completed residency training greater than five years ago. Candidate will be a member of the Psychiatry Hospitalist Division and provide inpatient care on a general adult psychiatry unit and provide coverage across other inpatient areas as needed. Candidate will provide care as a Consult Liaison, and have research coverage. *Note: This position is coded under an ECT identifier through Human Resources; however, it is not ECT for doctors. This position is for the Psychiatry Hospitalist Division.
Women's Reproductive and Behavioral Health Division
Social Worker LISW-CP (MUSCP, Full-Time): The Department of Psychiatry is seeking a candidate to fill their Social Worker position within their Mental Health Division. The candidate will work collaboratively within an integrated behavioral health program and provide evidence-based psychotherapies to pregnant and postpartum women with mental health and substance use disorders.
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TriNetX RESEARCH PLATFORM |
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TriNetX is a user-friendly platform that researchers can utilize to query de-identified data from MUSC’s Electronic Health Records (EHR). The TriNetX platform is available to MUSC research teams to support enhanced research feasibility assessments, create a cohort of patients for research data sets, protocol development, and the creation of participant lists for recruitment. More information can be found on SCTR’s website at https://research.musc.edu/resources/sctr/spotlight/2020/06/trinetx. You can also download a pdf copy of MUSC TriNetX Basic Guide by clicking here and the Data Guide by clicking here.
Individuals may contact Elizabeth Szwast or Amanda Cameron to request access to the July TriNetX recorded training session. Currently, there are no scheduled live TriNetX training sessions for November or December.
Should you have any questions, please contact Romeka Washington at washiros@musc.edu.
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All MUHA and MUSCP employees as well as clinical providers (physicians, residents, fellows, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, etc.) are required to have flu shots or have completed the declination by December 14. Please remember that, if you receive your flu shot outside of the MUSC system, you will need to upload documentation to the system. For additional information on where to receive the shot or upload documentation, please see the links below.
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UNIVERSITY DIRECTIVES REMINDER |
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2021 DART SUMMER RESEARCH |
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37th ANNUAL JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS CONFERENCE |
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SC SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK
2021 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
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UNDERSTANDING LEGAL ISSUES CONFERENCE |
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COVID-19 TESTING RESOURCES |
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The following resource provides MUSC Health lab and testing options pertaining to COVID-19. Included on this page is information regarding drive-thru and “pop-up” mobile COVID testing locations, antibody or serology tests, drive-in lab and nurse visits, and original/classic lab testing.
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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATES |
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UPDATES VIA THE HORSESHOE
In addition to updates provided by MUSC Enterprise, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will also provide updates through our employee intranet, The Horseshoe. Updates will be provided regularly as new information becomes available. For your convenience, direct links are provided below.
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VOLUNTEER BAN
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and until further notice, all volunteers and observers are barred from participation in departmental and MH-ICCE based activities. If there are circumstances wherein this policy causes a significant and critical issue, it should be brought to my attention for consideration of a written waiver (on an individual basis) of this policy. Thank you.
Thomas W. Uhde, M.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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MANDATORY SELF-MONITORING |
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Due to the activity of COVID-19 within the hospital and community, all employees, residents, fellows and students within all MUSC entities are directed to begin daily self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms. This applies regardless of whether you have been working remotely on a full-time or intermittent basis. You need to continue daily self-monitoring, even if symptoms are not present.
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COVID-19 RESILIENCY CLINIC |
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NAMI CONNECTION & NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT |
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NAMI Connection and NAMI Family Support Offered Online
Social distancing does not mean that you have to go through difficult times alone. NAMI is here to help! We are offering NAMI Family Support and NAMI Connection online.
NAMI Connection Support is offered every Monday at 6PM until further notice.
NAMI Family Support Group is offered the 2nd and 4th Thursdays
of the month at 6PM until further notice.
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UPDATED MOONLIGHTING POLICY |
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COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC
CARE SPECIALISTS (CPCS)
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THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS |
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If you would like to submit content to include in next week's
by 12:00 pm on Monday. Thank you.
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