|
|
MUSC Psychiatry Chair Update
Thomas W. Uhde, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Institute of Psychiatry |
|
|
ONGOING STUDIES & PUBLICATIONS |
|
| |
|
 |
Researchers have discovered that there may be a new pathway in the brain that provides pain relief and reduces cravings for opioids.
Over a third of the U.S. population suffers from chronic pain, with little to no reported relief from medication. Transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive form of brain stimulation that may offer a new treatment option for these underserved members of our community.
In a recent paper in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina evaluated two different strategies for relieving pain with TMS: applying TMS to the motor cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
Colleen Hanlon, Ph.D., a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at MUSC and the principal investigator for this paper, expected to support her hypothesis that the DLPFC would be the most effective target for TMS treatment, but the results show just the opposite.
Historically, TMS-based treatments have targeted the DLPFC. In addition to being an FDA-approved target for managing depression, data show that the DLPFC is important in regulating emotions as well as addiction to substances like tobacco, cocaine and alcohol. While the motor cortex has been a popular target for TMS pain relief studies, there was no data to suggest it could also be helpful in opiate users. The new study points to its success as a target.
|
|
|
|
|
T-SHIRTS TO SUPPORT C.A.R.E.S. |
|
LOWVELO TRAINEE SYMPOSIUM |
|
MANDATORY MYQUEST MODULES |
|
Beginning February 1, 2021, the annual mandatory online lessons for all employees/care team members in MyQuest were assigned. MyQuest reminder emails and this notification are the only confirmations you will receive pertaining your mandatory assignments.
- Starting in 2021, a new Diversity mandatory was added for all MUSC employees.
- This is the second year employees/care team members/contractors can provide feedback via a REDcap survey at the end of each mandatory. MUSC subject experts review all feedback to improve each mandatory to ensure an optimal learning experience.
2021 MUSC General Mandatories (Enterprise-wide)
- Crime Prevention and Jeanne Clery Act Training
- Code of Conduct and HIPAA
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment
- Information Security
- Active Shooter
- OSHA Review
- Tuberculosis (Charleston only)
- Conflict of Interest training (hourly employees only)
2021 MUSC Health Mandatory Training (Charleston, Florence, Lancaster Divisions)
- MUSC Health General Compliance (+ Billing)
- Culture of Safety
- Emergency Management Campus Security
- Infection Control for All Employees
- Stroke and Heart Early Recognition
- Meeting the Unique Needs of Patients
- Workplace Violence
- MR Safety for Healthcare Workers
- Interest training (hourly employees only)
2021 Medical Staff Office - MSO Mandatories
- Adult Inpatient Diabetes
- Pediatric Inpatient Diabetes
- Pediatric Inpatient Anticoagulation Safety
- Health Information Services
- Transfusion Medicine
- Patient Safety Initiative
- Sleep and Fatigue/Clinical
- Adult Impatient Anticoagulation Safety
NEW Diversity Mandatory
- As a part of MUSC's ongoing commitment to leading and learning in the domains of equity and inclusion, you will notice a new 4-hour Diversity Equity and Inclusion DEI mandatory for all MUSC employees. When we join in the learning about one another as we become OneMUSC. Three types of offerings include: virtual curriculum, face to face &/or “professional development option of choice” approved by your leader.
2021 Annual Clinical Education (MUSC Health Clinical Care Teams Only)
- Varies depending on your clinical role
2021 Conflict of Interest Training (Hourly Care Team Members only)
- Hourly employees are now excluded from the annual COI disclosure process. To ensure they continue to receive conflict of interest policy training, a COI module has been developed.
- Salaried employees of the MUSC enterprise receive annual COI training every April, in combination with their annual COI disclosure form; training modules precede the mandatory disclosure.
All of the annual mandatory training modules must be completed no later than June 30, 2021. Employees who fail to complete annual mandatory training requirements will be subject to disciplinary actions. If you have any questions, please email the MyQuest Administrators at myquesthelp@musc.edu. |
|
|
FENTANYL URINE TEST
CLINICAL NEUROBIOLOGY LAB |
|
FENTANYL URINE TEST NOW OFFERED BY
THE CLINICAL NEUROBIOLOGY LAB (CNL)
The use of the powerful opiate drug, FENTANYL is on the rise, accounting for a large share of overdose deaths in SC, and the greater US.
Previously, urine drug testing at MUSC could not detect Fentanyl use. The Clinical Neurobiology Laboratory has recently completed an extensive validation of a qualitative (positive vs negative) urine test for the presence of Fentanyl which can be used to distinguish this drug from other commonly used/abused opiates such as oxycodone, buprenorphine and morphine. This test should aid clinicians in the evaluation of patients in multiple clinical settings, especially when illicit drug use is suspected.
Simply order: “Fentanyl, Urine, Qual (IOP LAB)” or “LAB9066”
|
|
|
|
|
FACULTY AWARD NOMINATIONS |
|
Nominations are now underway for all MUSC faculty to recognize their peers who have made outstanding contributions to the university through teaching or research initiatives. Nominations for the following awards are being sought:
- Distinguished Faculty Service Award
- Outstanding Clinician Award
- Population Health Award
- Developing Scholar Award (Research)
- The Peggy Schachte Research Mentor Award
Any regular, full-time faculty member who holds an academic rank of instructor or higher in a college or department at MUSC and has not been the recipient of the award within the previous three years is eligible for nomination. The specific nomination procedures for each award are located on the Provost’s website.
The deadline for nominations is March 31. If you have any questions, Juli Wilt at wiltj@musc.edu or 843-792-0945.
|
|
ENTERPRISE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION TRAINING SESSIONS - VIRTUAL |
|
Addiction Sciences Division
Assistant Professor/Psychologist (UNIV, Full-Time): This position is for a clinical psychologist who will be working as a faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina in the Outpatient Clinic of the Addiction Sciences Division of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, providing individual and group therapy to individuals with addiction-related and other psychiatric illnesses and their families.
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.
|
|
|
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH DAY |
|
The South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research (SCTR) Institute will host its annual Translational Research Day on March 19, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in a virtual setting. The event is a forum for trainees, scholars and investigators to display their translational-based research to the MUSC community via poster presentations.
This year's featured speakers are Peter Kalivas, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor, MUSC and Kevin Gray, M.D., Professor, MUSC. The title of their combined presentation is “From here to there and back again: The story of glutamate transporters in treating addiction”. Their research personifies the translation from a basic science discovery to clinical investigation to population health. Their combined experiences provide an exciting opportunity to see how outstanding discoveries are translated to improve human health.
Because this is a virtual event, pre-registration is required to attend. Pre-registration will close on March 12, 2021.
Abstracts will follow a structured format and are limited to 300 words or less. Each abstract must include the following headings: title, authors, affiliation, introduction, methods, results, conclusion/discussion and sources of support. Submissions that do not adhere to the formatting requirements outlined above will not be considered for presentation. Monetary prizes of $500 are awarded to first place abstracts in four separate categories (pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, professors, and research staff)! For any questions, please contact Michael Watson, Special Projects Coordinator, SCTR.
Registration/Abstract Link
Contact
Michael Watson, MA
Special Projects Coordinator
843-792-2994
watsomic@musc.edu
|
|
UNDERSTANDING LEGAL ISSUES CONFERENCE |
|
Program for Researchers Affected by Pandemic
COVID-19 Voucher Program
The College of Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, and South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR) are pleased to offer a new funding opportunity open to all MUSC tenured and tenure track faculty members whose research has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding of up to $2,000 is available to help investigators gather preliminary data for inclusion in a grant proposal by covering the cost of supplies and/or core and laboratory services; pay for publication costs; or develop a translational focus to their research. Vouchers cannot be used to fund computer purchases, PI or staff salary, or travel. These funds will be distributed through SCTR. A total of $200,000 is available to support these awards.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to receive a voucher an individual must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member and serve as PI on an active research grant. A faculty member can receive only one COVID voucher.
Apply
To apply for a voucher, select the COVID-19 Voucher Program in SPARCRequest. Awards will be made on a rolling basis until all funds are expended.
|
|
|
COVID VACCINE CALL CENTER |
|
Individuals needing to contact the MUSC COVID Vaccine Call Center can utilize the information below:
|
|
|
The long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines have started arriving at MUSC Health. The vaccine is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. The COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force will be posting updates on the COVID-19 Vaccine intranet site, including information about the vaccine safety and efficacy, so our care team members can make an informed decision.
|
|
|
LAB & TESTING OPTIONS
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.
MUSC Health Lab & Testing Options
|
|
|
MANDATORY SELF-MONITORING
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.
|
|
|
TRAVEL BAN
As a reminder, the MUSC travel ban is still in effect. The policy on this ban can be found here. This ban is in effect until further notice and includes all MUSC-sponsored travel in all forms of transportation (planes, trains, automobiles, boats/ships, etc.).
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
NEUROCOVID RECOVERY & REHAB RESEARCH STUDY RECRUITMENT |
|
Testing a Wearable Telemedicine-controllable
taVNS Device for NeuroCovid Recovery and Rehab
Researcher: Mark George, M.D.
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
huffmans@musc.edu
|
|
|
|
|
Please see the calendar below for a list of diversity & inclusion offerings from the Office of Training and Intercultural Education.
|
|
|
COVID-19 RESILIENCY CLINIC |
|
NAMI CONNECTION & NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT |
|
UPDATED MOONLIGHTING POLICY |
|
COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC
CARE SPECIALISTS (CPCS) |
|
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS |
|
If you would like to submit content to include in next week's Chair Update, please submit to Dr. Jamie Fisher by 12:00 pm on Monday. Thank you. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|